Normandy American Cemetery

Normandy American Cemetery The U.S. Army

American Flag with the French word "Merci" (thank you), Normandy American Cemetery TCY

Statue "Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves" at Normandy American Cemetery Dennis Jarvis

Injured American Soldiers of the 3d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st U.S. Infantry Division, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, 6 June 1944. Taylor, Photographer (Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer.)

Normandy American Cemetery Louis Segal

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial Dieglop

Normandy American Cemetery Dieglop

Normandy American Cemetery Leslie Polgar

Into the Jaws of Death - Landing in Normandy, 6th June 1944 Robert F. Sargent

Landing in Normandy, 6th June 1944 Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives

Normandy American Cemetery Gianni d'Anna

Normandy American Cemetery Richard Matthews

Normandy American Cemetery John Carkeet

Normandy American Cemetery mat's eye

Normandy American Cemetery Mdschick

Inscription at the American WWII Memorial at Normandy American Cemetery Casper Moller

WWII Memorial at Normandy American Cemetery, view from the front Dennis Jarvis

WWII Memorial at Normandy American Cemetery, view from the back Dennis Jarvis

WWII Memorial at Normandy American Cemetery, Detail Gianni d'Anna

WWII Memorial at Normandy American Cemetery, Detail John Carkeet

Normandy American Cemetery Abangell

Chapel at Normandy American Cemetery JrPol

Inside the Chapel at Normandy American Cemetery Eric Daugherty

Normandy American Cemetery Mon Œil

Grave at Normandy American Cemetery, Floyd Hubble jr. Archangel12

Grave of an unknown American Soldier, Normandy American Cemetery Archangel12

Flags of the Allied Forces, Visitor Center, Normandy American Cemetery W.Rebel

Visitor Center, Normandy Americn Cemetery EagleFour50

Belongings of American Soldiers, Visitor Center, Normandy American Cemetery Nico 88

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates tours the American Cemetery visitor center during the 63rd Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, June 6, 2007 Cherie A. Thurlby

Visitor Center, Medal of Honor and Purple Heart of Frank D. Peregory, who is burried at Normandy American Cemetery DCM1000

Grave of Theodore Roosevelt jr. at Normandy American Cemetery Nicolas Rota

Normandy American Cemetery Maurice

Normandy American Cemetery Nitot

Basin leading to Omaha Beach, Normandy American Cemetery Gianni d'Anna

Viewpoint to Omaha Beach with Explanation Plaque, Normandy American Cemetery John Carkeet

Normandy AMerican Cemetery mat's eye

Remembering a fallen Friend, Normandy American Cemetery US Air Force

Visitor Center at Normandy American Cemetery mpwheatley

Story of theNiland Brothers told at the Vistor Center, Preston and Robert burried at Normandy American Cemetery Eric Daugherty

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Detail on the memorial at the Normandy American Cemetery Rob Fearn (Atlas Obscura User)

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View from the visitors centre at the American Cemetery Rob Fearn (Atlas Obscura User)

"Garden of the Missing" at Normandy American Cemetery Justin Ruckmann

Normandy American Cemetery Claudev8

Normandy American Cemetery Archangel12

"Garden of the Missing" at Normandy American Cemetery Justin Ruckmann

Without the invasion in Normandy, which lead to the withdrawal and defeat of the Nazis, the world would be a different place. Today, the sacrifices of the American soldiers who landed on the beaches of France on D-Day are not forgotten: Every year people visit the Normandy American Cemetery bringing flowers and flags to show their respects. Standing between the endless lines of crosses the reality of the sacrifice sets in. Nobody leaves this cemetery without feeling moved.

The Allied Forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in June 6, 1944, which were divided into sectors where the troops would land. The American troops landed on Utah Beach and on Omaha Beach, the last sector and the one best secured by the German troops. The number of casualties at Omaha Beach was much higher than at the other five landing points put together.

An accurate casualty count might never be known, but officially the U.S. Army counted 124,394 casualties, among them 20,668 dead soldiers. On D-Day alone 2,499 Americans died on the beaches of Normandy to help free Europe from the tyranny of Adolf Hitler.

On June 8 the American troops started to bury their dead soldiers in a temporary graveyard on top of a hill in Colleville-sur-Mer, close to Omaha Beach. After the war, France granted the United States the use of that land and an additional area, all together 172 acres of land, free of charge and tax. In this place, 9,387 American soldiers found their final resting place at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Among them are Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the son of President Roosevelt, and the former president’s brother Quentin, who died in WWI and was brought to rest beside him. A father is resting beside his son, just like 33 other pairs of brothers buried together here, among them Preston and Robert Niland, two of the brothers whose story the film Saving Private Ryan is based on. Approximately 14,000 other American soldiers, who originally were buried here, were brought home upon request of their families. Also on the grounds is a chapel, a lookout point over Omaha Beach with educational signs, several statues and the American WWII Memorial. A monument in the “Garden of the Missing” features the names of another 1,557 Americans who lost their lives during the invasion of Normandy but could not be found or identified.