A Tour of the Normandy American Cemetery

At the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking the English Channel, the headstones of thousands of American soldiers help us remember those who lost their lives in battles along the French coast.  

The US First Army established the cemetery after the D-Day attack on June 8, 1944. It was the first of thirteen US World War II cemeteries in Europe, reflecting the massive loss of life.  

The memorial is made up of a semicircular colonnade with a covered outdoor gallery (a loggia) at each end. These contain large maps and tell the story of the military operations. At the center is the bronze statue, “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves.”  

The cemetery site covers 172.5 acres and contains over 9,380 graves, mostly of those who lost their lives in the D-Day landings and following operations. There is a circular chapel in the middle of the burial area.  

1,557 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing in a semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial. The names of those who were later found and identified are marked with rosettes.  

Today, the site is a place of remembrance for family members, local residents, and visitors from around the world to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in French waters and soil.