David Berger National Memorial

David Berger National Memorial is a steel sculpture in Beachwood, Ohio, featuring broken Olympic rings arranged on eleven segments. The work represents each of the athletes who were killed during the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.

The memorial was dedicated in 1980 to honor David Berger, an American-Israeli weightlifter, and ten other athletes who were murdered in Munich. This dedication reflected the need to formally recognize and remember a tragedy that profoundly shocked the world.

The memorial occupies space at the Mandel Jewish Community Center, where it serves as a gathering point for reflection on loss within both the Jewish and Olympic communities. Local visitors and athletes come here to remember those who were killed and to acknowledge how that tragedy touched multiple worlds.

The memorial sits on the grounds of the Mandel Jewish Community Center at South Woodland Road in Beachwood, where it remains accessible to the public. The setting allows visitors to approach the sculpture and spend time in reflection without barriers or restrictions.

The sculpture is made of Cor-Ten steel, a material that naturally weathers over time and develops a distinctive rusty-brown patina. This choice of material mirrors how memories age gracefully while remaining visible and present for future generations to encounter.

Location: Ohio

Inception: 1980

Website: https://nps.gov/dabe

GPS coordinates: 41.47470,-81.49250

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:47