American Cemetery

American Cemetery

The Normandy American Cemetery is the final resting place for 9.387 Americans. It covers 172 acres and is an actual battleground as it overlooks the “Easy Red” sector of Omaha Beach. Soldiers of all ranks (private to general) honored here were buried after the war was over (close to where they died during the summer of 1944) on their families’ request.

Soldiers all equal in death and their graves in no particular order, they are all marked with the same beautiful Italian white marble headstones. Only around 300 soldiers remained buried here in unidentified graves, but over 1.500 M.I.A’s are listed on the Wall of Missing.

Even though the story behind each grave is a sad one and the sacrifice of all deserves to be recognized, some of them are better known, such as the three Medal-of-Honor recipients or the three Generals (including General Th. Roosevelt Jr). Also the two Niland brothers, base of Saving Private “Ryan”, or the Ollie Reed father & son. And more recent 1Lt. Billie D. Harris, whose wife Peggy first visited the grave in April 2006!