The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Normandy - September, 2017
"The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur- Mer is situated on the top of the cliff overlooking the famous Omaha Beach. The cemetery, 172 acres in extent, is one of fourteen American World War II Cemeteries constructed on foreign soil. Beyond the reception building, you will see a magnificent semi-circular memorial. Centered in the open arc of the memorial is a bronze statue which represents “The Spirit of American Youth rising from the waves”. In the extension of the ornamental lake there is a central path leading to the 10 grave plots where 9 387 soldiers are buried among which are 4 women and 307 unknown soldiers.
The crosses are oriented Westwards, towards their native land. The precisely aligned headstones against the immaculately maintained emerald green lawn and the omnipresence of the sea convey an unforgettable feeling of peace and serenity. At the crossing of the main paths laid in the form of a Latin Cross, the Chapel shelters a black marble altar on which is the inscription : “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish”. In the garden of the missing located behind the memorial is a semi-circular wall containing the names of 1 557 missing in the region.
The little haven of verdure invites you to meditation and memory. The Normandy American Cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), an independent agency created in 1923 by the Congress of the United States of America and attached to the executive branch of the US Gouvernment. The Commission is responsible for commemorating the services and achievements of the United States Armed Forces through the execution of suitable memory shrines, for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent US military cemeteries and memorials in foreign countries. No one enters the Colleville Cemetery by chance, it must be a voluntary process. The visitor prepares himself to penetrate with attention and contemplation a piece of United States in France."
www.musee-memorial-omaha.com/en/partenaire/american-cemet...
www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/normandy-america...
"Located between Arromanches and Grandcamp Maisy, on the Normandy coast, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a haven of peace which encourages contemplation. Here, in a beautifully green space perched upon a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, about 10,000 perfectly aligned white crosses point towards America. In fact, within 173 acres, the cemetery of Omaha gives a home to the fallen American soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom during World War II, namely the first episode of the battle of Normandy, “Operation Overlord” which commenced on 6th June 1944.
As well as this cemetery, the Omaha Beach site – a codename for one of the 5 ally landing sectors – is home to a semi-circle memorial, where at the centre is a bronze statue titled The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves. A chapel and orientation table stand just a stone’s throw away, pointing towards the beaches where the allied forces landed in 1944. Discover the museum here which puts into perspective the daily life of these soldiers in France, who fought for liberty. Film, reconstitutions, uniform collections, weapons and vehicles will throw you into the heart of the history of the Normandy landings.
Outside of Omaha Beach, the landing beaches of Sword Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach and Utah Beach were the centre stage for the largest airborne military operation in history. Amongst these places of remembrance, Omaha Beach is the place where The Allies lost the majority of their troops. It is also a small corner of America on French turf: given to the US, these Normand territories are managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission."
us.france.fr/en/discover/normandy-visit-omaha-beach-ameri...
The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Normandy - September, 2017
"The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur- Mer is situated on the top of the cliff overlooking the famous Omaha Beach. The cemetery, 172 acres in extent, is one of fourteen American World War II Cemeteries constructed on foreign soil. Beyond the reception building, you will see a magnificent semi-circular memorial. Centered in the open arc of the memorial is a bronze statue which represents “The Spirit of American Youth rising from the waves”. In the extension of the ornamental lake there is a central path leading to the 10 grave plots where 9 387 soldiers are buried among which are 4 women and 307 unknown soldiers.
The crosses are oriented Westwards, towards their native land. The precisely aligned headstones against the immaculately maintained emerald green lawn and the omnipresence of the sea convey an unforgettable feeling of peace and serenity. At the crossing of the main paths laid in the form of a Latin Cross, the Chapel shelters a black marble altar on which is the inscription : “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish”. In the garden of the missing located behind the memorial is a semi-circular wall containing the names of 1 557 missing in the region.
The little haven of verdure invites you to meditation and memory. The Normandy American Cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), an independent agency created in 1923 by the Congress of the United States of America and attached to the executive branch of the US Gouvernment. The Commission is responsible for commemorating the services and achievements of the United States Armed Forces through the execution of suitable memory shrines, for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent US military cemeteries and memorials in foreign countries. No one enters the Colleville Cemetery by chance, it must be a voluntary process. The visitor prepares himself to penetrate with attention and contemplation a piece of United States in France."
www.musee-memorial-omaha.com/en/partenaire/american-cemet...
www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/normandy-america...
"Located between Arromanches and Grandcamp Maisy, on the Normandy coast, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a haven of peace which encourages contemplation. Here, in a beautifully green space perched upon a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, about 10,000 perfectly aligned white crosses point towards America. In fact, within 173 acres, the cemetery of Omaha gives a home to the fallen American soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom during World War II, namely the first episode of the battle of Normandy, “Operation Overlord” which commenced on 6th June 1944.
As well as this cemetery, the Omaha Beach site – a codename for one of the 5 ally landing sectors – is home to a semi-circle memorial, where at the centre is a bronze statue titled The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves. A chapel and orientation table stand just a stone’s throw away, pointing towards the beaches where the allied forces landed in 1944. Discover the museum here which puts into perspective the daily life of these soldiers in France, who fought for liberty. Film, reconstitutions, uniform collections, weapons and vehicles will throw you into the heart of the history of the Normandy landings.
Outside of Omaha Beach, the landing beaches of Sword Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach and Utah Beach were the centre stage for the largest airborne military operation in history. Amongst these places of remembrance, Omaha Beach is the place where The Allies lost the majority of their troops. It is also a small corner of America on French turf: given to the US, these Normand territories are managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission."
us.france.fr/en/discover/normandy-visit-omaha-beach-ameri...