European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A for the free world it Means a  a for the europeans a he adds a its a pilgrimage they have to  before coming to Normandy Rivers 45, spent 31/2 years at Oise Aisne cemetery a world War i grave site near Fere in Lardenois France. Before that he served for three years As an assistant at St. James cemetery in Brittany France. Rivers works for the american Battlefield monuments commission an Independent government Agency. The commission is responsible for All . Military cemeteries on foreign soil dating Back to americans entry into world War i. A native of upstate new York Rivers spent 4vv years in the air Force As a video cameraman. His last Active duty assignment was at Lindsey air station Germany. He worked As a civilian government employee for six years in Germany before taking the Job at St. James cemetery despite All the Long hours of the past two years Rivers seems to relish his Job and the diversity that accompanies it. His Job encompasses history horticulture administration and structural and equipment maintenance. Out of respect for his contemporaries and the other cemeteries Rivers wont say he has the Best assignment the commission has to offer. But its dear that Normandy american cemetery perhaps americans most hallowed overseas burial ground is the place where Rivers wants to be. Normandy a is a very High profile cemetery and its a cemetery situated on a very intense world War ii Battlefield a he  cemeteries cover Norman Countryside by Kevin Dougherty staff writer a Cut Tat 8raves>�?� Albert Schweitzer once a wrote a Marc the greatest preachers t y of peace and their significance As such will continue to  Schweitzer swords hold More resonance this year As the United states and its world War ii allies commemorate the 50th anniversary of a Day. Dignitaries May Well expound on Schweitzer swords during the june 6 ceremony at the Normandy american cemetery. Located near , the cemetery will Welcome 15 Heads of state including president Clinton. But while the Normandy cemetery is the most visited burial ground of its kind there Are 26 other world War ii cemeteries in the Region. More than 109,000 War dead Are buried in the cemeteries of the Region. Britain has the most cemeteries with 16. The United states and Canada each have two and there is a polish military cemetery Between Caen and Falaise. There Are also six German cemeteries that contain the remains of 74,300 War dead. The cemeteries Range in number of dead from the Normandy american cemetery with just More than 9,000 Graves to a British cemetery at camber in Plaine with 224 Graves. Americans other world War ii burial ground in the Region is the Brittany american cemetery near a ranches with 4,410 dead. The cemetery covers Nus dues drum a Yive Mcuri me  St Aesir de Lesieux Between Lesieux and 28 acres of French Countryside and includes a cemetery at Grai Vitle Langa Nerie. Ca Bremer 3,731 Graves. Memorial to 497 missing service members. In the City of Bayeux is Britain a largest cemetery with 4,648 Graves including the remains of service members from Britain Canada Australia and new zealand. South Africa Poland France Czechoslovakia Italy Russia and Germany also have service members buried there. Near the Normandy american cemetery in the town of la Cambe is the regions largest cemetery for German War dead. The cemetery which holds the remains of 21,222 men is unusually somber with Short dark Granite crosses and headstones that seem to stifle rather than elicit sympathy. Following is a list of other world War ii cemeteries in Normandy with the British first amp Michorl Akrom Luft a link a Banneville Bannerville Between Caen and Roarn 2,175. Brouady Between Caen and Bayeux 377 Graves. Chotain Between Bayeux and Tilly sur Eulles 40 Graves. Douvres la deliverance Between Caen and Luc sur Mer 927 Graves. Fontenay be Pesnel Between Caen and Caumont-l�?Tevent6,520 Graves. Hermanville sur Mer on the Beach 986, Graves. Hottot ies Bagues Between Caen and Caumont events 965 Graves. A Jerusalem South of Bayeux 48 Graves. Ranville by Pegasus Bridge 2,151 Grayes. Ryes Between Bayeux and arro Manches 630 Graves. A a a a a. A a a a a a a a. A , Between Caen and Caumont-l�?Tevent6,2,186 Graves. Sec Neville in Bessin Between Caen and Bayeux 117 Graves. , near by Bocage 744 Graves. , by Lesieux 569 Graves. The Canadian forces have two military cemeteries in Normandy. One is in Beny sur Mer by Cour Euiles with 2,043 Graves and another in Bretteville sur Maize Between Caen and Falaise with 2,959 Graves. The polish military cemetery 650 Graves is in Granville Laga Nerie Between Caen and Falaise. In addition the six German War cemeteries in Normandy Are Champigny-St.-andr6, Between Devreux and Nona court with 19,798 Graves. La Cambe Between Bayeux and care Tan with 21,222 Graves. Marigny Between  and Cou Tances with 11,169 Graves. Mont de Huiskes Between a ranches and Pon Torson with 11,956 Graves org Landes  and Cherbourg with 10,155  life marked by returning Veteran by Kevin Dougherty staff writer another a Day Veteran walked into Phil Rivers life the other Day. A casualty of the invasion Frederick Erben returned to Normandy 50 years after he and other members of the 16th inf regt 1st inf div set foot on Omaha Beach in Northern France. Erben a feisty Man in his Early 70s, appeared somber but immensely proud As he toured Normandy american cemetery for the first time. The tour a was very emotional for him a said Rivers the cemetery a superintendent. A a he shaving a hard time dealing with he lost half his squad on the  in his 11 years As superintendent Rivers has met other veterans like Erben. They return he says to relive a proud but painful past that Many have consciously avoided for decades. A we were committed to something and we went through with it a Rivers says. A we were going to liberate Europe from the Boot of the nazis.�?�. Rivers and his staff Accord a Day veterans and relatives of service members buried in the cemetery special treatment. Each is escorted through the cemetery As a sign of respect for what was accomplished in the summer of 1944. A you try not to show your emotions a Rivers says and yet a you can to help but be  Rivers will meet Many More veterans this june when the United states and its world War ii allies commemorate the 50th anniversary of a Day. As of Early May 5,000 veterans have requested and received credentials for the june 6 ceremony at the cemetery. Preparations for the event have been under Way for nearly two years. Aside from the Many issues pertaining to the 50th anniversary Rivers is responsible for the Day to Day Upkeep of the cemetery plus monuments at Omaha Beach Utah Beach Pointe do hoc and about 140 monuments along the Normandy coast. And those Sites can to be forsaken because of the upcoming anniversary which has led to an increase of visitors at All the various Sites. The number of visitors no the cemetery this year for example is about 25 percent higher than at the same time last year Rivers says. In 1993, an estimated 1.5 million people visited the cemetery. A cd Day has a very prominent place in our history and its not just our country a Rivers says. Sis Dave Casey Phil Rivers 38 a stars and stripes commemorative edition june 6,1994