Remembering the Missing at Punchbowl National Cemetery

IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED
THE NAMES OF AMERICANS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE
IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - also known as Punchbowl National Cemetery - includes ten "Courts of the Missing". These garden courts are located on both sides of the stairway that leads to the sculpture of Columbia, the chapel and the information walls about WWII Pacific battles.

On the inside and outside of the walls in the 10 courtyard gardens are engraved the names of the 28,788 troops who went missing in the pacific theatre in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

It is a moving experience to walk into the courts and see all of the names and where they were lost. The majority were sailors lost in WWII, now united in granite with their shipmates.

While these men were never recovered, here they are never forgotten. And, thus, we lift their names to heaven.

To see more pictures of the Punchbowl National Cemetery, go here.