Omaha Beach Cemetery and Museum, Normandy.

Last Year I had the honour and the pleasure of visiting Omaha Beach an the American Cemetery.

The location is stunning with the cemetery located just a stones throw away from the landing beach itself. I thought I would share some of the images should you be thinking of visiting.

This is the view of the Beach from the cemetery grounds:-

 

The actual location of the Cemetery is in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy.
It covers 172 acres (70 ha), and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. Included are graves of Army Air Corps crews shot down over France as early as 1942 and three American women.

 

Only some of the soldiers who died overseas are buried in the overseas American military cemeteries. When it came time for a permanent burial, the next of kin eligible to make decisions were asked if they wanted their loved ones repatriated for permanent burial in the U.S., or interred at the closest overseas cemetery. This differs considerably from the Policy of British and Commonwealth forces.

 

Like all other overseas American cemeteries in France for World War I and II, France has granted the United States a special, perpetual concession to the land occupied by the cemetery, free of any charge or any tax. This cemetery is managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

 

The Memorial - This part consists of a semicircular colonnade with a loggia at each end containing maps and narratives of the military operations. At the center is a 22-foot bronze statue entitled The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves.

 

In 1951 Donald Harcourt De Lue received a commission to create seven works for a memorial to the fallen soldiers of D-Day located on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, the most famous of which is his celebrated sculpture The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves which is the centerpiece of the Normandy Memorial and the Normandy American Cemetery.

A 22' high nude bronze figure of an American youth is shown with arms outstretched and looking towards the sky. His legs and feet are curved back together as his curved body appears rising from the waves below. The statue was cast in Milan, Italy by the Battaglia Foundry. Encircling the pedestal of the statue on the floor in bronze letters is the inscription:

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD.

 

The memorial looks like an impressive temple from the front overlooking the graves and a lake of peacefulness.

 

This is the Chapel - A place for quiet reflection located at the heart of the Grave plots.

 

The names of 1,557 Americans who lost their lives in the Normandy campaign but could not be located and/or identified are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular garden at the east side of the memorial.

 

Here are some examples of headstones and inscription styles/content:-

 

In 2007, the Normandy Visitors Centre opened.The $30 million visitor center was dedicated by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) on June 6, 2007 during the commemoration of the 63rd Anniversary of D-Day. The center is sited in a wooded area of the cemetery approximately 100 meters east of the Garden of the Missing.

 

Clearly the museum is very modern in its layout with space, light and design complementing the exhibits. Here is some of the equipment on display:-

 

Many individual stories are told, with large display's like these:-

 

The museum also shows several looped films.

 

The formidable beach obstacles are well described and brought home very well.

 

Although an American Museum and landing beach, the visitor centre aknowledges the contribution of all nations to the Success of D-Day, and their sacrifice.

 

The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 15 to September 15, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. There is no charge for admission.

The $30 million visitor center is ABMC's most visited cemetery, receiving approximately one million visitors each year.

The Visitor centre is very modern and one-third of the building's 30,000 square feet is dedicated exhibit space. Using personal stories of participants and a mix of narrative text, photos, films, interactive displays and artifacts, exhibits portray the competence, courage and sacrifice of Allied forces.

 

Some more of the personal stories:-

 

Some iconic and memorable exhibits catch the eye!!............ The first to land!

 

In the words of IKE.................