The names are inscribed on the walls and are categorized by state and military unit.
Service members who have been identified or recovered since the memorial's 1956 dedication are marked with a rosette next to their names.
The memorial sits atop a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, where many of those listed made their final stand.
The statue is 22 feet tall and cast in bronze, designed by Donald De Lue.
The memorial's design was specifically commissioned to provide a place of remembrance for those with no known grave.
Each pylon is inscribed with the names of the missing sorted by service branch and state of residence at the time of entry into service.
The Garden of the Missing is a semi-circular memorial situated within the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. It honors 1,557 service members who went missing in action, were lost, or were buried at sea during the liberation of Normandy in World War II. The structure features a series of pylons engraved with the names, ranks, organizations, and states of those commemorated. A central bronze statue titled 'The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves' serves as the focal point of the site. The walls are constructed from Vaurion limestone sourced from the Burgundy region of France. It overlooks Omaha Beach, providing a direct visual connection to the landing site of June 6, 1944. The site is managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
From the center of the terrace looking out through the statue toward the English Channel.
Visit the Visitor Center before walking to the garden to obtain context on the individuals commemorated.
Allocate extra time to walk the perimeter of the garden, as the engravings are extensive and require time to read.
Check the ABMC website database prior to your arrival if you are searching for a specific individual's name.
Avoid walking on the grass surrounding the memorial structures and do not touch the inscribed names.
Open daily, but access to specific areas may be restricted during official commemorative ceremonies.
Maintain a quiet and respectful demeanor; dress modestly as this is a site of war remembrance.
