Normandy American Cemetery

The tragic loss of life in wartime can perhaps only be fully appreciated by observing the battleground and paying your respects at a war cemetery. One of the most significant war cemeteries, for Americans, is located in Colleville-sur-Mer. The cemetery is fittingly situated overlooking the neighboring town Vierville, specifically its picturesque sandy beach and high bluffs. Vierville beach is, however, better known by its WWII codename: Omaha.

Omaha Beach was the site of the central portion of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944. D-Day.

The War Department estimated that 3,000 troops were killed on Omaha Beach in that first day alone. But against heavy enemy fire, the Allied forces fought across the exposed sand and up the bluffs. The beach was finally secured and subsequently used as an impromptu port to resupply troops and evacuate 93,000 fallen soldiers over the next three months. The Normandy American Cemetery is now the final resting place for 9,387 service men and women who perished over the course of World War II.

Albeit a decidedly somber destination, the cemetery does offer several respectful and noteworthy points of interest. The cemetery paths are laid out in the formation of a Latin cross, offering access to all burial sites. Upon entering the cemetery you will find the Visitor's Building, which contains information and guest books, one of which is reserved for visiting veterans to sign.

The Memorial portion of the cemetery holds at its center a dramatic 22-foot bronze statue designed by Donald Harcourt De Lue and titled The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves. Flanking the bronze sculpture are large wall maps displaying aspects of the European campaign for those visitors interested in the progression of the war.

Just past the statue is the Garden of the Missing, which commemorates all those whose final resting place is unknown--1,557 of them, from all branches of the service who perished during the Normandy invasion.