Time Capsule at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

The staff are very friendly and they have very clean facilities, with clean toillets, which is surprisingly to find it in France

I cried and was emotional. I loved this place. It was so moving and you see pictures and you truly can't grasp the gravity of the site.

Breath taking away place. I had tears in my eyes

powerful, actually saw Dwight Eisenhower's grandson doing an interview.

Went on. The free tour and it was so informative.

Remenber

Åkt 200 mil och fick inte komma till kyrkogården då vi hade hunden med oss

Einen Eindrucksvollen Friedhof. Es zeigt nur zu einem Bruchteil wie viele Menschen sterben mussten um die Freiheit zu behalten so wollen wir doch an alle Toten Menschen auf allen Seiten Gedenken Leider hat die Welt nichts gelernt aus der Vergangenheit. Sehr schade.

Wow! The American Cemetery in Normandy is unbelievably gorgeous; so well manicured and maintained! Those who gave their all so that future generations could live free paid a very high price, and being laid to rest here they receive the respect and honor they deserve. A visit is very worthwhile and very moving.

Words cannot express... Reflect upon the sacrifice... Remember the lives that were never lived... Do not be a tourist.

We came here as part of our tour today. Obviously, this is a very famous cemetery as it was in the beginning scene of Saving Private Ryan. We walked around as the grounds are nice. We took a lot of pictures. Very cool and powerful.

The Normandy American Cemetery sits on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. It contains the grave sites of 9,389 American GI's and any American who died in the Battle of Normandy was eligible to be buried here. The very precise and symmetric layout of the multitudes of white crosses was visually very impressive also. Four veterans onboard our river cruise ship were given the opportunity to lay a wreath as part of a moving memorial ceremony conducted at the cemetery's colonnade.

The Normandy American Cemetery was a very moving place to visit. Many of our service people gave their lives for the freedom that we have today. If you have an opportunity to visit, the history, the cemetery, the lives lost tell a chilling story of what took place and how the world defected Hitlers vision to change the world. Thank you all that served our country.

Very solemn and moving experience as part of a full day in Normandy. The grounds are quite expansive and beautiful, and just walking through is very moving. Having a guide is very helpful, as they can point out and share some of the important stories of those buried there. We also got to witness a laying of a wreath where they played taps and a bagpiper played AmazingGrace. There's an area of the cemetery, which is on a bluff overlooking the beaches where you can see some bunkers as well. There are also nice restrooms available which was helpful.

American Cemetery at St Laurent-sur-Mer honoring WWII casualties. It covers 172.5 acres & contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. On the Walls of the Missing, in a semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial, are inscribed 1,557 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The memorial consists of a semicircular colonnade with a loggia at each end containing large maps and narratives of the military operations; at the center is the bronze statue, "Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves." An orientation table overlooking the beach depicts the landings in Normandy. Facing west at the memorial, one sees in the foreground the reflecting pool; beyond is the burial area with a circular chapel and, at the far end, granite statues representing the United States and France. In 2007, the Normandy Visitor Center 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.

Definitely one of more heavy hearted things we did here in France. As an American born and raised, the American Cemetery in Normandy is a must see to honor and pay respects to those that stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day to destroy the German Nazi regime. If you've ever seen Saving Private Ryan, this cemetery is where the opening scene takes place where Matt Damon visits the grave of those that fought and died to save him. This cemetery is nothing to take lightly. I for one got a little choked up when our group walked from the water at Omaha beach and up to the German bunker where the Nazis where shooting at the Americans that stormed the beach. I cannot imagine what went through their minds as their adrenaline was rushing as they went up that hill. This cemetery is very well done. The walkways, the well-taken care of grass and the Chapel thats in the middle of the cemetery are all things to take note of. Being here I do get sad at the current state of America today politically and socially. I get sad because I know these heroes didn't fight and die for the non-sense and wokeness we are seeing in America today. I think many young people in the states could learn a thing or two from these amazing heroes that fought bravely and selflessly for "real freedom".

This is a must visit when you come to Normandy. The final resting place of many of the brave young men who gave their lives in the pursuit of freedom for others. I have been here many times and each is just as amazing. The beauty of Omaha Beach in the background. The peace and serenity. The beautifully kept grounds. All very humbling and awe inspiring of those who gave all. The wall of men missing and never found, many of whom are from the 66th division. Let us never forget their sacrifice.

This is such a surreal and solemn place to set foot on. My trips to Normandy were some of the most eye opening and historical events I've ever done. On this trip, I didn't have a lot of time, but I wanted to see the Cemetery. There are just so many laid to rest here. I have the utmost respect to the citizens of Normandy for how well they take care of this monument and how amazing they are. They are still so grateful today for American soldiers. If you ever get the chance, this is an experience not to be missed. Especially if you ever served in the Armed Forces.

We visited the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach during the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The site really brings home the magnitude of what happened. Located beautifully along the beach the rows and rows of white crosses in a nicely landscaped environment are a stark reminder of the sarcoma de. We had the pleasure of 2 veterans visiting and C47s flying over.

I have pay a visit to our country sacred site for our fallen hero during the war. It is an honor to visit the site and learn their sacrifices are for the peaceful world of our generation. This site is really beautiful overlooking the Normandy beach. During the 1944 this was the battle ground for the allied forces turning point. The white crosses have the name of the hero who sacrificed during the invasion. They are well organized in rolls and align in straight or skew look. The cemetery is well maintained for the soldiers who buried here. There is memorial and museum at this location. The memorial has the invasion map how allied force take control the Normandy beaches. It is great sites where the hero buried. I am forever remember the their contribution to freedom.

The American Cemetery is a must-do when in Northern France. Or anywhere even remotely close to it. Almost 10'000 brave souls lost their lives here in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. You (hopefully) know about this cemetery from TV, movies, history class etc. You know about the WWII. You heard the numbers. But to see the unreal amount of crosses....it's just something else. It really makes you quiet, makes you take a deep breath. Doesn't matter what nation you are from. I'm European and was deeply hit when I saw all the crosses, all the names on the wall. All these brave folks here died to defeat the biggest evil the world has probably seen so far. And they succeeded. The world wouldn't be what it is without these (and of course many other) men and women. Some sections are fenced in and off limits. But a good number of graves you can visit up close. You could locate a fellow relative if you look for a specific person. There are also some crosses without names - for the unknown fallen soldiers. Pay them respect as well. The cemetery is really big. There's the attached museum (for a small fee), many memorials, a chapel. There's really a lot to see and to pay respect for. It's impressive, it's interesting, it's important. Don't let the next generations forget what happened in the 1930's and 1940's. A visit to this cemetery might teach some folks (hopefully) an important lesson. And that's where I have to come in about the only negative part. And these are some people. I know not all come here to visit the graves of related folks. Some might "have" to come because the family wants to visit. But seeing grown up people talking loud, I mean really loud, giggling and laughing. It's just not the place to do that. It's really disrespectful. And it's all kinds of ages and nations. Mid-forties persons, young folks, teenagers. American, European.... Well, in that part at least we're all the same. But that really shouldn't be. It really made me upset. Can't you just be quiet for the time being here? If you want a fun day at the beach, don't make it Omaha beach and the cemetery. Besides that it was an impressive, powerful visit. A must-do, a must-see. A must-not-ever-forget.

We requested a private tour with Viator (company was Blue Fox) for our 3 couples, with hotel pickup. Were told that would be done, however the morning of the tour, we were contacted that hotel pickups weren't done. Thanks to great communication between our guide, Brune, and Viator - we were on our way, although with another couple. Brune negotiated the 3 hour drive to and from Normandy, and gave us much detail and information about D-Day along the way. Normandy is a "must see;" words can't begin to explain the feelings that overwhelm one when realizing the planning and all that our soldiers and our allies did to secure our freedoms. The rows of crosses and Stars of David at the American Cemetery - at the top of the Omaha Beach hill that many did not reach, and all now facing to the west and their American homes - broke me.

Are we in a time of war? Clearly, the enemy is invisible (Covid), and I'm sorry if anyone has lost a sibling or two, during this crisis. My favorite movie is Saving Private Ryan, which is about siblings lost at war. FYI, I believe Tom Hanks and his wife are recuperating well, from Covid. And that movie inspired me to come here - to pay my respects and to learn even more about D-Day. D-Day was won by the Silent generation and if you read up on these folks who are disappearing one by one - they're probably the toughest generation...ever. They had very little to work with, yet - they banded together and got things done. Looking back on my visit and my first hand observations of where European and American history took place - I can't help but admire this generation. No excuses, no whining, no back-biting, no posting on social media - they just said, let's land on these beaches and win this thing. I'm sure they're looking at us and just shaking their heads. Can you blame them??

What can you possibly say about this place? Just down the hill, the fate of the world was decided on a beach. Here lies the brave young men who gave their lives for the US, and for the free world to exist. A sobering, humbling place. Visit, pay your respects, learn from history.

An absolute must do when visiting the Normandy region. It was an incredible experience being in such a powerful yet tranquil place, overlooking the beaches where those brave men died. The whole cemetery with its museum, monuments, and chapel is meticulously maintained and I was relieved that just about everyone behaved respectfully while there.

If you're visiting Normandy, then this is a must visit! France did such a fantastic job honoring the Americans that fought & died during D-Day. It feels as though you're in America when you walk in this cemetery and visit their memorial. This place is huge too! When I was here, I also saw a lot of school buses that were dropping off French students, so you know that France is very grateful for what the Americans sacrificed during D-Day. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial (French: Cimetière américain de Colleville-sur-Mer) is a World War II cemetery & memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy France; that specifically honors American troops who died in Europe during World War II. There are a total of 9,387 Americans that are buried here. On June 8th, 1944 (two days after D-Day) the U.S. First Army established the temporary cemetery, the very 1st American cemetery on European soil in World War II. After the war, the present-day cemetery was established a short distance to the east of the original site. The U.S. flag flies over these granted soils.

If you're an American and anywhere near Paris I'd like to believe this would be a MUST for you. The day we visited it was quiet and later in the day, so we explored on our own. I have a sense it is always peaceful but after a long journey it was very tough to stay strong during our visit. I often felt I just had to let my mind blank instead of focusing on any one thought for longer than a second or I'd be a serious mess. It's a beautiful memorial to all of our husbands, brothers, sons, uncles, friends and more that we lost here. Walking the beach with my toes in the sand was a bit surreal. Walking through some of the exposed bunkers was just as difficult but I wanted to nonetheless. The 16 minute video and stories inside are very nicely put together. I'm proud of our men and appreciate having the opportunity to pay my respects to our American cemetery here.

Stunning. Beautifully laid out campus. Start at the Visitor Center - the basement exhibit is incredibly rich with lots of great information panels, artifacts and a theater. The water feature makes for a very serene atmosphere as one transitions toward the cemetery area. Solemn, neatly and well kept. Makes one very grateful for those who fought for the world that we now live in, even if I'm not American.

I never know cemetery can make me feel so emotion until I am here at American Cemetery. After visiting the site for Invasion of Normandy and the museum makes the strolling down and looking at these rolls of rolls of endless grave markers more meaningful. May they all RIP.....

This cemetery is amazing. It reminded me of the Arlington Cemetery in USA when I visited a long while back. What's incredible is that this cemetery actually resides in another country (France), and we had the privilege to visit and pay tribute to those veterans who died for freedom and the future of their children. It was a somber moment to see all the crosses lined across the grounds, some with writing that indicate a lost soldier (unnamed but who is known only to God). So glad our tour guide (for the day) was able to share some of the stories of those fallen soldiers, so we can hear a glimpse into their history and the fighting during WWII. This year happens to be the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and we had WWII veterans on site at these D-Day sites to celebrate and remember the past. All heads of state came to Normandy back in June 2014 to remember this time too. On the day we visited, my husband and I were able to see the American Cemetery staff take down the 2 USA flags in the late afternoon (around 4:30 pm?). A crowd of people gathered around to see this event, and there was music playing in the background to really stir up emotions. :) Walk towards the fountain / sculpture section of the memorial -- and you'll see carvings of the D-Day events and writing on the walls, telling the story of what happened during WWII, and how the Americans contributed. Fascinating... We're so glad we were able to visit this site!

A must stop when in Normandy. My biggest tip: take a guided tour (I think there are 2 tours a day led by docents). We learned so much from our wonderful tour guides. They told us personal stories and informed us of what was still happening recently with some of the soldiers buried there. It was fascinating and so moving! And I am not going to give away any secrets here.... Sadly the visitor's center was closed for updates--I've heard it's a good one too.

The American cemetery is a place of reverence, remembrance and peace. This enormous cemetery laid out in the style of a Latin cross is the final resting place for the brave men who went to fight for freedom, and what was right. Although not strictly burial grounds for Americans, you should know that there are a handful of other nationalities buried here also. In addition to the traditional cross to indicate those of the Christian Faith, there are also Stars of David to mark the Jewish lives lost also. It is said that some members of the service may have faked their Christian belief in order to avoid dissent within the ranks at such a crucial time in history despite fighting on the Allied side. The curved wall lists every soldier that died, who's body has never been found. Through the use of DNA testing and the cooperation of family members, 16 men have been identified. A brass rosette next to their name indicates that there body has been found. The statue found in the middle of the plaza is entitled "The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves" measures 22 feet high in bronze and was designed by an Italian-American. The stones that make up the plaza underneath were plucked directly from Omaha beach symbolically bringing together the man and the geography into an eternally shared space. A must for any American visiting the area, regardless if you had relatives that fought or died in D-day.

June 6, 1944 Operation Neptune was well underway. It was the last ditch effort of Allied Forces to overcome the tyranny of a madman whose reign of terror waged for 5 years. Operation Overlord would take many American, British and Canadien boys onto several beaches to meet their demise. Fortunately, many did make it up the treacherous beach to overtake the Nazi forces. This cemetery is sovereign American soil given to the USA by the French for their gratitude of liberation. Walking the grounds, brought a sense of melancholy and pride. I cannot fathom the carnage of that morning nor could I express my gratitude for my freedom to those whose bodies lay here. As I continued walking and reading, my heart was overwhelmed to the point of tears. All I could mutter from my trembling lips were... "thank you"

I am not a fan of cemetaries. It is a beautiful location. We did stay for the taking down of the American flag at 4p/1600 hrs. They start with the flag closest to the beach. Do not stand in the circle surrounding the flag pole unless you're invited as a special guest. Plenty of places to watch this ceremony. Then they take down the second flag. It can be overwhelming when you walk down the rows of tombstones and read the names of the soldiers and their hometowns. Very sad.

This is a must must visit if you want to visit Normandy and the D-Day beaches. Their exhibit inside is just wonderful as well as walking the grounds in memory of all the soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Highly recommend a visit to pay respects and learn more about D-Day.

Hard to put this into words. After a full day of seeing museums and battlefields, we ended here. There's nothing that can quite prepare you for the emotion you'll feel when you first see the endless rows of crosses. In a way, it's almost more impactful than Arlington - to immerse yourself in the history of the war all day, trying to appreciate the sacrifice, and then seeing one of the most perfectly manicured, awe inspiring American cemeteries (in a foreign country, no less) is really just incredible. You could hear a pin drop anywhere on the grounds. At the entrance, there's a huge memorial with a statue and two marble diagrams showing the movement of troops on D-Day and throughout the war. Then, it's acres of headstones and park land, with a small chapel in the middle. You can also walk a long trail down to the beach. There are roughly 8,500 people buried here, and another 1,500 inscribed on a wall for the missing. For the headstones, Christians (along with other religions, atheists and the unknown) have crosses. Jews have Stars of David. We were told that two of the Ryan brothers (from the movie) are buried near the chapel, but we couldn't find them. The best thing to do here is just walk around for hours and take in what you're seeing. Highly recommended.

Just up from the beach, this cemetery is touching, a peaceful contrast to what things must have been like here in 1944. The grounds are amazingly well cared for. The monuments are sobering, as are the rows and rows of grave markers. There's a small museum, worth stopping into for a few minutes. Take the time to stop here and reflect for awhile,

A very emotional experience to see the cemetery and memorial. There's an excellent museum with films and information about the lead up to D-Day and it is all free, opposed to the various museums in Bayeux and out near Omaha Beach. If you have limited time, visit here and Pointe du Hoc where the rangers scaled the cliffs in order to get a good overview of German gun emplacements and bombing impact craters, as well as the American memorial near Omaha Beach to view the terrain the soldiers were faced with on landing. A very powerful experience.

A solemn and peaceful place to the GI's who gave the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. Over 9000 Americans GIs buried here overlooking Omaha Beach. The cemetery is well kept with many visitors. These Americans gave up their young lives so we could live free from Nazism.

Stunningly beautiful and humbling final resting place for the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Elegant and simple, in a magnificent setting overlooking Omaha Beach. The newer museum is quite interesting. A must-see when visiting Normandy. P.S. This is the cemetery from the beginning and end of "Saving Private Ryan".

A must visit for everyone who is interested in it the history of this place. The long wait to enter the visitor center was worth it as the exhibition provides indepth details, many artifacts and extensive audiovisual materials to describe the historic events. Even though this is not really a place to visit with a toddler, we had no issues with the stroller. The visitor center had a clean bath room with a baby changing station.

I'm not a history buff, and even I enjoyed visiting the cemetery. I had the opportunity to visit when I was 17, and I recently got to go back again with my husband while we were on our honeymoon. The cemetery is absolutely pristine, a true work of art. It's sad to look at the never ending rows of crosses. Even though they're beautiful, it's impossible to forget that they are graves. I highly recommend taking a guided tour of the cemetery. Unfortunately, we did not, but we heard tidbits while passing other tours, and there is a lot to learn. Families of the soldiers had a choice of whether or not to bury their loved ones here, and many did not. The movie "Saving Private Ryan" was based off the family of 2 brothers who are buried here. When 3 of the 4 Niland brothers died in the war, the last surviving brother was sent home to be with his family. They later discovered that one of the other brothers was captured, but not killed. I would suggest setting aside an entire day for visiting the site. You could spend hours walking downs the rows of graves. In addition to the cemetery, you can actually walk down to the beach where the soldiers landed. It's quite a trek but well worth it. There is also a museum with a timeline of the events of WWII which was very interesting and helpful for me since I didn't pay enough attention in history!

I think it's relatively unknown, but a true gem of a memorial. Serene, beautiful views over the quiet coastline

This place is such a beautiful memorial to the brave men that fought in WWII. As you walk through the cemetery, you'll see the names and dates of many young and brave men. Many of which gave their lives right nearby at Omaha Beach or Point Du Hoc on D-Day. The grounds are very well kept and the large size of this place really makes the reality sink in just how many gave their lives. Close to 10,000 Americans lay to rest at this cemetery. If you are in the area, this is a must stop!

We visited the American D-Day Cemetery as part of a tour that also went to Point du Hoc and Omaha Beach. The cemetery and museum were both extremely well done. Everything was well maintained and it was not too crowded. Overall it was an amazing experience.

I'm not really into visiting cemeteries, but as an American travelling in France, this seemed like a requirement. Immaculate grounds looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland with pathways lined with cones and cylinder pruned trees. Expansive meadows of perfectly aligned white crosses and, as I discovered, white stars of David. A central courtyard brings you the memorial part - a neoclassical rotunda with mosaics of the battle maps for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. An art deco behemoth sculpture sits in the center, which seems to allude to rebirth. Newly renovated visitors center when we visited. The grounds are situated on a bluff overlooking Omaha beach. If you explore the bluff outside the cemetery grounds you can find abandoned bunkers go inside them. A separate visit to Omaha Beach at ground level is quite nice with a large, modern sculpture situated there as well. Not much else to do in the area, but I thought it was an outstanding and moving experience. I was thinking about skipping this - I would have deeply regretted that.

The heaviest casualties of D day were incurred at Omaha and the American cemetery at Coleville sur Mer overlooks the cliffs where much of the fighting occured.The cemetery is spread over a 172 acre site and has nearly 10 thousand burials. As you enter the cemetery there is a time capsule which is buried and will be opened in june 2044. Within the cemetery there is a amazing bronze statue respresenting the spirit of american youth. This is a very poignant place and is definitely worth a visit. I did not have any personal reasons for going there but was highly moved by what I saw.

Visit on 23 July with my 13-year old son, not much words to be spoken, this history was speaking. We visited British and German cemeteries as well. For all we bow our heads, American cemetery impressed most. Must be because of number of casualties when landing at Omaha. But as well the way we entered the site: first passing detecting gates, then visiting the exposition on the landings. Very detailed information, presented in different ways. Information about various special army-men/heroes - apart from all the others - . We left this exposition hall walking through a hallway, where a voice named the soldiers continuasly, making us very humble. And then we got onto the cemetery. Silence, except a gull's screams, stars and stripes slowly waving. No words could be said.