PAPER-based packaging specialist Smurfit Westrock has announced its sponsorship of the ‘Standing with Giants’ installation at the British Normandy Memorial, returning for its third consecutive season in 2026.
The installation will begin arriving on Sunday April 12, with the full display in place from April 25 until September 19, 2026. The project features 1,475 giant silhouettes, each representing a serviceman in British units who lost their life on D-Day, 6 June 1944, or during the Battle of Normandy.
Since its inaugural year at the Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer in 2024, hundreds of thousands of visitors have experienced the sight of the silhouettes standing in quiet reflection across the meadow fields above the coastline.
This year, new figures will be unveiled among the 1,475, adding further depth and historical context to the installation. These include representations of beach masters, dog handlers, Royal Navy officers, tank crew, Merchant Navy personnel, and Royal Engineers. 40 additional silhouettes will represent British commando frogmen and members of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
The installation will also feature bespoke figures commemorating the only two women named on the Memorial, sisters Evershed and Field, both nurses who lost their lives while saving 75 men from a sinking hospital ship. In addition, 50 French resistance fighters will be represented and placed around the adjacent French Memorial.
As one of the Normandy Memorial Trust’s principal partners, alongside Airbus UK, BAE Systems and the Gold Beach Tourism Office, Smurfit Westrock said it is honoured to help ensure the continuation of this unique and poignant tribute.
Eddie Fellows, CEO of Smurfit Westrock UK & Ireland, said, “We are incredibly proud to support the return of ‘Standing with Giants’ to the British Normandy Memorial. This installation brings history into sharp, human focus.
“Each silhouette represents not just a name, but a life, a family, and a future that was lost. Supporting this project reflects our deep respect for those who served and our commitment to helping preserve their legacy for future generations. It is a privilege for Smurfit Westrock to play a part in ensuring that their sacrifice is remembered in such a powerful and dignified way.”
www.britishnormandymemorial.org/plaque/
