American Cemetery closed due to US gov’t shutdown

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City was temporarily closed to the public due to the recent shutdown of the United States government.

On its website (http://www.abmc.gov/home.php), the American Battle Monuments Commission posted a notice, saying that ABMC cemeteries and memorials are closed “due to a lack of funding” for its operations.

The ABMC said it “will resume normal operations when a new funding measure is passed by the US Congress and signed by the President of the United States.”

The cemetery’s staff have been told to close the gates. They have also posted signs saying, “Due to the US government shutdown this site is closed to the public.”

The US government shutdown forced the closure on Oct. 1 of all 24 overseas war cemeteries maintained by the ABMC in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Britain, Italy, Panama, Mexico, Tunisia and the Philippines.

The war cemeteries not only serve as final resting places for the fallen American and allied soldiers of World Wars One and Two but also serve as memorials to their gallantry.