I grew up as an American living in France in early '80s. As U.S. Boy Scouts, we volunteered to help maintain the US Cemeteries at Normandy, but mostly at Belleau Woods (WWI battlefield, the first USMC engagement on foreign soil in modern times). They were meticulously maintained by U.S. caretakers, but always welcomed the Scouts. As a 12 year old, it was sobering to think of kids barely older than yourself storming the beaches or fighting trench warfare.