The Lone Sailor Statue in Normandy
Photo by Chantal Mistral-Bernard
In the predawn hours of June 6, 1944, the “frogmen” of the Naval Combat Demolition Units were the first Americans to set foot onto the shores of France as part of Operation NEPTUNE. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and part of an overarching plan code-named Operation OVERLORD - the beginning of the end of WWII in Europe. These “frogmen”, the ancestors of today’s SEALs, came onto the beaches to dismantle and demolish mines and anti-ship barriers in preparation for the amphibious landing of the 1st Army Division.
This statue will serve as a reminder of the historic day the United States and her allies arrived from the sea to free the world from tyranny and repression, forging a lasting relationship with the people of St. Marie Du Mont, the first city to be liberated in France during WWII.
A Site to Remember
The Lone Sailor statue will stand on a plaza at the UTAH Beach Museum, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from where the US invasion force appeared on the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944. The plaza is open to the public, overlooks UTAH Beach, is well-kept by groundskeepers, has ample security, and looks out to sea – as a Lone Sailor should.
Although people come and go from this statue, the Lone Sailor will continue to serve as a universal sign of respect towards all Sea Service personnel for generations to come. Each donor has the opportunity to build a legacy by helping the Navy Memorial execute its mission.