Smurfit Westrock Proud to Support the Return of ‘Standing with Giants’ to the British Normandy Memorial in 2026
Smurfit Westrock is proud to confirm its sponsorship of the powerful ‘Standing with Giants’ installation at the British Normandy Memorial, returning for its third consecutive season in 2026.
Image source: https://www.standingwithgiants.co.uk/
Back by popular demand, the installation will begin arriving on Sunday the 12th of April, with the full display in place from the 25th of April until the 19th of September 2026. The project features 1,475 giant silhouettes, each representing a serviceman in British units who lost his life on D-Day, 6 June 1944, or during the Battle of Normandy. The figures are inspired by the Memorial’s Roll of Honour and stand in solemn formation overlooking Gold Beach, powerfully illustrating the scale of sacrifice made during the Normandy Campaign.
Since its inaugural year at the Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer in 2024, hundreds of thousands of visitors have experienced the deeply moving sight of the silhouettes standing in quiet reflection across the meadow fields above the coastline.
Image source: https://www.standingwithgiants.co.uk/
In 2026, 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. Reflecting the broader story of the campaign, 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, recognising their courage and contribution to liberation.
As one of the Normandy Memorial Trust’s principal partners, alongside Airbus UK, BAE Systems and the Gold Beach Tourism Office, Smurfit Westrock 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.”
The logistics behind the project remain a remarkable feat of coordination and dedication. Four articulated lorries, accompanied by a Harley Davidson support crew, will depart from Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire on the 10th of April, sailing from Portsmouth to Caen that evening. Installation will be made possible thanks to the support of British and French volunteer groups, including the committed and ever-growing team from the Standing with Giants charity.
Image source: https://www.standingwithgiants.co.uk/
Members of the public can further support both the Memorial and the Standing with Giants charity by sponsoring a commemorative plaque for £150 in honour of a loved one who fell in any battle or conflict. The plaques will stand in front of the Giants during the summer installation before remaining at the Memorial for at least five years as a lasting tribute.
The British Normandy Memorial is free to visit and open year-round. Bespoke Standing with Giants fundraising merchandise will also be available in the Memorial shop, located in the Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning.
For more information about plaque sponsorship and visiting the Memorial, please visit: www.britishnormandymemorial.org/plaque/