This is a remarkable memorial. Firstly, in its honour of the Airborne forces who landed and liberated this small village in Normandy and secondly as it’s one which has been funded by and built in the front garden of the home of David Ashe and his partner Celine Schwab Latour.
Ravenoville stands behind Utah Beach and was an area where paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne arrived from the sky and met with troops from the 4th Infantry Division landing on the sands nearby.
When you meet owner ‘Irish Dave’ you can’t fail to be captivated by his passion for researching and remembering what he calls ‘The Raveno Boys’, the heroes who liberated the village and nearby Marmion Farm on D-Day and D-Day +1.
There are 100 names of troopers listed on the three plinths in the carefully maintained garden. They came from 29 US states. Twenty two of those who have been identified in taking part in the 30 hour battle for the area never got to go home and are remembered alongside those who did.
The memorial was inaugurated in June 2012 and some of those veterans, their families, and the families of those who didn’t make were invited to plant olive trees in the garden as a symbol of remembrance and peace.
Laid out in an arc, the three plinths stand on a circular base of exactly 8.53m in diameter, matching the exact size of a T-5 type US parachute used by the paratroopers on D-Day.
Since it’s inauguration, this memorial has played host to many honoured families, decendents, military guest, and dignitaries including current and past commanders of the two airborne divisions and US secretaries.
It remains a mission for Dave and Celine to maintain the memorial, and they are currently seeking funding to erect a bronze statue in the centre of the site. If you think you can help support the ongoing project you can find out more on their website www.eternalheroesmemorial.org