- Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
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Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial American Battle Monuments Commission 
Used for those deceased 1941 - 1945 Established June 8, 1944 Location 49°21′37″N 0°51′26″W / 49.36028°N 0.85722°W near Colleville-sur-Mer, France Designed by Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson
Markley Stevenson (landscaping)Total burials 9,387 Unknown
burials307 Burials by nation - United States: 9,387
Burials by war - World War II: 9,386 World War I: 1
Statistics source: American Battle Monuments Commission The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II cemetery and memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, that honors American soldiers who died in Europe during World War II.
Contents
History
On June 8, 1944, the U.S. First Army established the temporary cemetery, the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II.[1] After the war, the present-day cemetery was established a short distance to the East of the original site.
Like all other overseas American cemeteries in France for World War I and II, France has granted the United States a special, perpetual concession to the land occupied by the cemetery, free of any charge or any tax. This cemetery is managed by the American government, under Congressional acts that provide yearly financial support for maintaining them, with most military and civil personnel employed abroad. The U.S. flag flies over these granted soils.[1]
Description
The cemetery is located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion) and the English Channel. It covers 70 ha (172 acres), and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. Included are graves of Army Air Corps crews shot down over France as early as 1942.
Only some of the soldiers who died overseas are buried in the overseas American military cemeteries. When it came time for a permanent burial, the next of kin eligible to make decisions were asked if they wanted their loved ones repatriated for permanent burial in the U.S., or interred at the closest overseas cemetery.
Time capsule
Embedded in the lawn directly opposite the entrance to the old Visitors' Building is a time capsule in which have been sealed news reports of the June 6, 1944 Normandy landings. The capsule is covered by a pink granite slab upon which is engraved: To be opened June 6, 2044. Affixed in the center of the slab is a bronze plaque adorned with the five stars of a General of the Army and engraved with the following inscription: 'In memory of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and the forces under his command. This sealed capsule containing news reports of the June 6, 1944 Normandy landings is placed here by the newsmen who were here, June 6, 1969.
The Memorial
The names of 1,557 Americans who lost their lives in the Normandy campaign but could not be located and/or identified are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular garden at the east side of the memorial. This part consists of a semicircular colonnade with a loggia at each end containing maps and narratives of the military operations. At the center is a bronze statue entitled Spirit of American Youth. Facing west at the memorial, one sees in the foreground the reflecting pool, the mall with burial areas to either side and the circular chapel beyond. Behind the chapel are statues representing the United States and France. An orientation table overlooks the beach and depicts the landings at Normandy.
Notable interments
Grave marker of Medal of Honor recipient Jimmie W. Monteith.
Among the burials at the cemetery are three recipients of the Medal of Honor, including Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of President Theodore Roosevelt. After the creation of the cemetery, another son of President Roosevelt, Quentin, who had been killed in World War I, was exhumed and reburied next to his brother Theodore, Jr.
Notable burials at the cemetery include:
- Lesley J. McNair, U.S. Army general, one of the two highest-ranking Americans to be killed in action in World War II
- Jimmie W. Monteith, Medal of Honor recipient
- Two of the Niland brothers, Preston and Robert
- Frank D. Peregory, Medal of Honor recipient
- Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of President Theodore Roosevelt, Medal of Honor recipient
- Quentin Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt, aviator killed in action in World War I
In popular culture
- This cemetery was used in the original horror film The Omen as a main photo poster with Damien standing next to the thousands of graves.
- The cemetery is featured in the beginning of Steven Spielberg's 1998 film Saving Private Ryan. A World War II veteran, accompanied by his family, makes his way to the grave of Captain John Miller (played by Tom Hanks) and segues into the movie's opening battle sequence, the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach. The grave does not actually exist; the headstone for Miller was only brought to the cemetery for the movie. The Captain John Miller portrayed in the movie never existed, but the Private Ryan story is based upon the story of the Niland Brothers, two of whom are buried in the cemetery.
- Symphonic Prelude (The Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer), by Mark Camphouse, depicts the battle in the usual way battles are depicted for bands: a slow introduction followed by a moderate tempo body and a majestic ending.
Pictures
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A view of the gravestones
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A view of the gravestones in the rain
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The grave marker of the American soldier Robert B. Seyler
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Jewish-American soldiers bear the Star of David at their gravesite, rather than a cross. This grave belongs to Szymon A. Friedman.
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Grave inscription for unknown soldiers. It reads 'Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God'.
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Omaha Beach as seen from the Normandy American Cemetery
External links
- Complete List of Memorial Events for 65th Anniversary od D-Day
- American D-Day: Omaha Beach, Utah Beach & Pointe du Hoc
- World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, American Battle Monuments Commission
- Organization Les Fleurs de la Mémoire
- Aerial movie of the Cemetery, film taken from a low flying propeller plane. British Tours.
- Niland brothers
- WW1 cemeteries.com a comprehensive guide to the military cemeteries and memorials around the world
- Medal of Honor page for TSGT Frank Peregory
Notes
- ^ a b Source:American Battle Monument Commission
Categories:- United States military memorials and cemeteries
- Buildings and structures in Calvados
- World War II memorials in France
- World War II cemeteries in France
- American Battle Monuments Commission
- Military history of Normandy
- 1944 establishments
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