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American Cemetery, Normandy | |
| This famous cemetery is the final resting place of almost 10,000 soldiers who lost their lives in the D-Day battles. | ||
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Colleville-sur-Mer was a small, quiet village in Normandy prior to D-Day, when its church and other buildings were destroyed. Later, it was chosen as the site of the American Military Cemetery and a focus of D-Day memories. Overlooking Omaha Beach, this peaceful site stands as a memorial to the thousands of soldiers who died during the D-Day battles on June 6, 1944, and their aftermath. Besides the rows of crosses and stars-of-David that mark the graves of the known fallen, the Walls of the Missing include the names of over 1500 soldiers from these operations whose remains were never recovered. The cemetery is an extremely moving place, a peaceful garden that recalls a bloody past. The rows and rows of grave markers, perfectly aligned and spreading as far as the eye can see, give a glimpse of the enormous price paid—only a short walk from where many of them fell.
A Visitor Center provides background information on the cemetery and D-Day. The open Memorial includes maps of some of the battles and is centered on a gracious statue, the "Spirit of American Youth." A small chapel provides a quiet space for reflection. The walkway along the cemetery has an orientation table that overlooks Omaha Beach and explains the various landings. The American Military Cemetery attracts millions of visitors from North America, Frane, and indeed around the world. Some are coming to see the graves of friends or relatives, while most simply want to see and remember. Featured in the opening and closing scenes of the film Saving Private Ryan, the American Military Cemetery stands as an emotional reminder of the impact of war.
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Above, Omaha Beach seen from American Military Cemetery, Normandy.
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