Overlooking the English Channel, the headstones of thousands of American soldiers who lost their lives in battles along the French coast are a reminder of the area's turbulent history. The US First Army established the cemetery following the D-Day attack on June 8, 1944. It was the first of a total of thirteen World War II cemeteries that the United States would establish on European soil, reflecting the massive loss of life of the deadliest war in history. Seemingly never-ending lines of stark white crosses communicate not only the loss of life, but also the significant personal impact that the war had on fellow surviving soldiers and loved ones back home. Today, the site is a place of remembrance for family members, local residents, and visitors from around the world to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in French waters and soil, turning the tide of the war in favor of Allied forces.