Originally a World War I cemetery, the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial just outside Paris now shelters the remains of U.S. dead of both wars.

The 7.5-acre cemetery contains the remains of 1,559 Americans who died in World War I and 24 unknown dead of World War II. Bronze tablets on the walls of the chapel record the names of 974 World War I missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The World War I memorial chapel was enlarged by the addition of two loggias dedicated to the dead of World War I and World War II, respectively. In the rooms at the ends of the loggias are white marble figures in memory of those who lost their lives in the two wars. Inscribed on the loggia walls is a summary of the loss of life in our armed forces in each war, together with the location of the overseas commemorative cemeteries where our war dead are buried.

Suresnes American Cemetery is in the city of Suresnes, five miles west of the center of Paris. A panorama view of Paris can be seen from the site, which is located high on the slopes of Mont Valerien.

World War I began in August 1914. While the United States remained neutral, the Allies fought the Central Powers across Europe, most intensely along the Western Front. Increasing German hostile actions provoked the United States into the conflict in 1917.