Netherlands cemetery honors 63 Rhode Island World War II service members

ARLINGTON, Va (WLNE) — 63 fallen Rhode Island World War II service members were among those honored at the opening of the new visitor center at the Netherlands American Cemetery in December.

The Ocean State service members are laid to rest or memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in the cemetery, located in the village of Margraten.

These Rhode Island service members are among the 10,000 total U.S. World War II fallen laid to rest or remembered in the cemetery.

Among the visitor center exhibits are personal narratives and artifacts which tell the stories of key World War II moments and campaigns, including the crossing of the Ruhr and Rhine rivers, Battle of the Bulge and VE Day.

The Netherlands American Cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), which operates 26 cemeteries and other memorials in 17 countries around the world.

The opening of the visitor center is part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the ABMC.