The American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, is nearly silent, despite the number of visitors walking softly and respectfully between the crosses and through the memorial's colonnade and garden and gathering for photos on the memorial's steps.   The memorial itself, with its 22-foot statue (The Spirit of American Youth Arising from the Waves), is powerful and modern even though its form isn't everyone's cup of tea. The crosses and stars in the cemetery are the real sources of the emotion that overwhelms visitors.  The fresh whiteness of the markers contrasts graphically with the manicured lawn and surrounding trees.  Their shade can be accurately described as "pure white." The cemetery, fittingly, stands on the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, where American casualties on D-Day were the greatest.  The cemetery is best seen after standing on Omaha Beach.

Seen from any angle, the markers are at perfect intervals in an analogy to the soldiers' pre-D-Day parade formations. The markers suggest the men are still standing at attention, ready for inspection, ready for action.

From the other end of the reflecting pool, the memorial appears more modest. 

The individual markers, prominent when they're in the foreground, gradually merge as the back rank is approached.  The arrangement commemorates the sacrifice of each individual soldier as well as the collective sacrifice of the multitude.

Most of the markers bear an identical date: June 6, 1944.

The sculpture is less restrained, and finally less powerful, than the grave markers.

Polished pebbles near the statue suggest the invasion forces.

The grounds mimic assembled ranks.