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.

History

On June 8, 1944, the U.S. First Army established the temporary Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer cemetery, the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. After the war, the present-day cemetery was established a short distance to the south of the original site.

Like all other overseas American cemeteries in France for WW 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 cliff 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. The graves face westward, towards the United States.

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 conflict 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.

Medal of Honor recipients buried in the cemetery include Jimmie W. Monteith, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and Frank D. Peregory.

<gallery Caption="Pictures" widths="180px" heights="120px" perrow="5"> Image:P7200558.JPG|The chapel found in the center of the cemetery Image:WW2AmericanCemetery.JPG|A view of the gravestones Image:WW2 Normandy American Cemetery Rain.JPG|A view of the gravestones in the rain Image:American_Flag_and_Cross_in_Normandy.jpg|The grave marker of the American soldier Robert B. Seyler Image:Jimmie_W._Monteith_Jr._Gravemarker_03.jpg|Grave Marker of Medal of Honor recipient Jimmie W. Monteith. Image:P7200568.JPG|Jewish-American soldiers bear the Star of David at their gravesite, rather than a cross. This grave belongs to Szymon A. Friedman. Image:Normandyunknownsoldier.JPG|Grave inscription for unknown soldiers. Image:OmahaBeachFromNormandyCemetery.jpg|Omaha Beach as seen from the Normandy American Cemetery </gallery>

In popular culture

Film

• 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 much older Private James Ryan, accompanied by his family, makes his way to the grave of Capt. 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 Capt. John Miller portrayed in the movie never existed, but the Private Ryan story is based upon the story of the Niland Brothers.

Music

• The song 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.

See also

• Arlington National Cemetery

External links

1. ↑ American Battle Monuments Commission

• ''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

fr:Cimetière américain de Colleville-sur-Mer nl:Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial