Attendees of the Labour Day ceremony in Hamm carry a ceremonial wreath to the grave of US General Patton; Credit: © SIP / Julien Warnand

On Monday 1 September 2025, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden attended the commemorative Labour Day ceremony at the American Military Cemetery in Hamm.

The OGBL trade union has organised the ceremony for several years to honour the young American workers who, as soldiers, sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Grand Duchy during the Second World War. 

This year’s ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the war and attendees, including Prime Minister Frieden, were welcomed to the ceremony by representatives of the OGBL before proceeding to the grave of US General Patton, where a ceremonial wreath was laid and a minute’s silence was observed.

The Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm is the final resting place of over 5,000 US soldiers, many of whom were labourers themselves before joining the military, who died defending Luxembourg during the Second World War.

Labour Day ("Labor Day") is celebrated in the United States on the first Monday in September to honour and recognise the contributions of workers to the development of the country and has been celebrated as an official US federal holiday since 1894.