The Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, contains the graves of 9,388 war dead, and nearly another 1,557 names on the Walls of the Missing, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations– keep in mind that American forces suffered over 4,000 casualties on Omaha Beach alone, the bloodiest of five landing sites on 6 June 1944. The first graves were installed before the D+1 by the Army’s 607th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company.
Forty-five sets of brothers, most side by side, along with a father and his son and uncle and his nephew all rest in that hallowed ground.
The ceremony marking the 80th D-Day commemorative begins at 6:30 EDT and will be livestreamed at the link below.