The Wall of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery

The Walls of the Missing stand in a semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial at the Normandy American Cemetery, inscribed with the names of 1,557 American servicemen whose remains were never recovered or identified. Bronze rosettes beside some names mark the men found and identified in the years since.

Why the Names Are Here

Most of the missing were lost at sea in the landings, in aircraft that went down over the Channel and the countryside, or in ground fighting that left no identifiable remains. The wall gives each man what a grave gives the 9,389 buried in front of it: his name, rank, unit, and state. When a set of remains is later recovered and identified, the man receives a burial and his name on the wall gains a rosette rather than being removed; 19 rosettes have been added over the decades.

Visiting the Wall

The garden sits behind the memorial colonnade and the bronze statue “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves,” at the end of the main axis of graves. Entry follows the cemetery: free, daily except December 25 and January 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 15 to September 15 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. Staff at the visitor center can locate a specific name and escort relatives to it. Our cemetery page covers hours, the visitor center, and the registration change coming for 2027 visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many names are on the Walls of the Missing?
1,557 names of American servicemen missing from the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy, inscribed with rank, unit, and home state.

What do the rosettes on the wall mean?
A bronze rosette beside a name marks a man whose remains have since been recovered and identified. The name stays on the wall; 19 rosettes have been added.

Can staff help find a specific name?
Yes. Staff at the cemetery visitor center locate names and graves and escort relatives to them during opening hours.