The American Cemetery at Normandy

Omaha Beach, 2012

This is a rerun of a post I wrote following a visit to the American Cemetery, in recognition of the 70^th anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy.

Humbling. Sobering. Awe-inspiring.

Perched high atop a cliff overlooking the rugged coastline of France, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a place that defies all superlatives. Everything about it is staggering: the size, the number of graves, the way the sheer beauty of the place contrasts with the desperate battle that waged just below, on Omaha Beach. Looking out over the English Channel on a peaceful day, it's hard to imagine the bloodshed of June 6, 1944.

Visitors enter through a museum that tries to bring some of that enormity down to size. A video tells the stories of a few individual soldiers. World War II uniforms, ration packs, medical kits, letters, equipment, maps, photographs, and more depict the build-up to D-Day and the execution of Operation Overlord. The museum alone could absorb half a day of contemplation. And somehow, it still doesn’t prepare you for what’s next.

For beyond the museum doors lies a sea of green grass and white marble headstones, seemingly without end. Stretched out in neat rows are 9,387 Latin crosses and Stars of David, each marking the final resting place of an American serviceman. Many are unknown. A reverent hush lies over the place as visitors wander through, some looking for a special grave, some just trying to take it all in. There is no doubt that this is sacred ground.

The markers are engraved only with the person’s name, company or division, state, and date of death. Perhaps, as someone suggested to us, it was believed that including the date of birth would make the cemetery seem overwhelmingly sad. We were reminded that 60 percent of the Americans who perished in Europe were sent back to the states for burial, so the ones buried here represent only a fraction of the total losses.

The Memorial, which sits in front of a large reflecting pool, features a striking statue depicting “The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves.” Engraved tablets record the names of 1,557 missing in action, while stone maps show the positions of the D-Day landings and air operations. Fresh flowers at the base of the statue express gratitude to the sacrifices of the World War II generation. The families of Dachau concentration camp victims and survivors send a new arrangement every week.

Two American flags fly proudly over the cemetery. At the end of each day, the flags are lowered, one at a time, while a single trumpet plays Taps.

It’s a sight and sound I hope I never forget. Thank you, all who served, and especially those who rest today in Normandy.

--Shelley

© Shelley Bishop 2013. 

The World War II Memorial: Tribute to a Generation

Family historians practice the concept of remembrance whenever they tell the story of an ancestor’s life. While we research our veteran ancestors year-round, on Memorial Day we also recognize the cemeteries where they rest and the memorials created to their service. On previous occasions, I’ve written about:

Visiting the American Cemetery at Normandy (Normandy, France)

Honoring Civil War Veterans at The Ridges (Athens, Ohio)

Dublin, Ohio Veterans’ Park and Indian Run Cemetery

On this Memorial Day, I’d like to recognize our country’s striking memorial to the American servicemen and women of World War II. The National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. is a beautiful and stirring tribute to those who fought to defend democracy in a terrible war waged on two fronts.

Dioramas leading into the center of the memorial illustrate some of the soldiers’ experiences, starting with enlistment and saying good-bye to loved ones. This diorama depicts the landings on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, May 6, 1944.

One side of the circular memorial is dedicated to the Atlantic theatre of operations, and the other side to the Pacific. The names of battle sites and operations for each theatre are engraved around low fountains. A colonnade of wreath-adorned pillars—one for each state—rings the perimeter.

Engravings recall memorable quotes by presidents and generals. Some were originally meant to encourage men in the thick of battle, while others, like this one by General Douglas MacArthur, commemorate peace.  

The Washington Monument provides a fitting backdrop for the World War II Memorial. Across the wide expanse of the Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial stands in silent tribute to the sacrifices of another terrible conflict, the Civil War.

I’ll leave you with this quote from President Harry S. Truman, which summarizes perfectly what we pause to remember every Memorial Day: “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”

--Shelley

Related Posts: 

Thank You to a Special WWII Veteran

Fred Herrel, Curtiss-Wright Production Soldier