The US 29th Division Memorial before its inauguration

Two cuts gathered on this document trace the preparation of the inauguration of the memorial of the 29th American Infantry Division in Vierville-sur-Mer.

The first reports the arrival, on a Saturday morning, of one hundred and twenty soldiers of this division, led by Colonels Langy and Blake. After a stop at the American cemetery, with wreath deposit and medal presentation, they gathered in front of the recently erected memorial facing the sea, where their predecessors had landed on June 6, 1944. This visit was made possible by an exceptional one-day permit after maneuvers in Great Britain. Mr. Rivers, Superintendent of Colleville Cemetery, and Mr. Oxéant, Mayor of Vierville, attended the morning ceremonies. The group continued the afternoon in Saint-Lô, whose 29th division had contributed to the liberation.

The second cut announces the inauguration for Saturday, September 17, in the presence of one hundred and twenty veterans who participated in the Landing and Major General Cook, commander of the 29th Division. A ceremony at the Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery was scheduled at 10:45 a.m., then the unveiling of the stele in Vierville at 3 p.m., forty-four years after the Landing.

The monument, made of Vermont granite in this American state, had been financed by a subscription from the elders of the division. The article also recalls the summer visit of soldiers of the 29th division returned to operation by the US Secretary of the Armed Forces, after exercises in England.

Archive image: https://vierville.cordelle.eu/Photos2008/1988-Mon29DI.jpg