A new memorial to the military engineers

On Saturday, June 6, a new stele dedicated to American military engineers was inaugurated in Vierville-sur-Mer. Veterans from the 6th Engineer Special Brigade attended the ceremony, led by Mayor Jean-Marie Oxéant and Colonel Georges A. Itzel, former member of this unit.

The newspaper recalled the role of the military engineers who landed in Omaha on June 6: opening a passage through the German defenses to allow the progress of the Allies. A first monument had been erected under the cliff after the war, in a location deemed unsatisfactory.

In his speech, the mayor stressed the importance of military engineering for the liberation of Europe, through the construction of ports, aerodromes and bridges necessary for the advancement of troops. The veterans evoked their memories and thanked the inhabitants for the signs of sympathy and recognition received at each of their visits. After the unveiling of the stele, wreaths were laid in memory of the victims.

Archive image: https://vierville.cordelle.eu/PhDoc10/1998Juin8-memo.jpg