the national d-day memorial
bedford, virginia
3 overlord circle
bedford, virginia 24523
10 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed mondays december through february
closed christmas day, new years day, thanksgiving day
purchase tickets at bedford area welcome center
$8 adults, $5 children
guiding walking tours - $2 per person - at bottom of hour, approximately 45 minutes
participates in blue star museums program which offers free admission for all active duty, military personnel and
their families from memorial day through labor day
veterans receive a free tour
www.dday.org
bedford, virginia 24523
10 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed mondays december through february
closed christmas day, new years day, thanksgiving day
purchase tickets at bedford area welcome center
$8 adults, $5 children
guiding walking tours - $2 per person - at bottom of hour, approximately 45 minutes
participates in blue star museums program which offers free admission for all active duty, military personnel and
their families from memorial day through labor day
veterans receive a free tour
www.dday.org
why bedford in 1944? here's the answer [website]: like eleven other virginia communities, bedford provided a company of soldiers (company a) to the 29th infantry division when the national guard's 116th infantry regiment was activated on 3 february 1941. some thirty bedford soldiers were still in that company on d-day; several more from bedford were in other d-day companies, including one who, two years earlier, had been reassigned from the 116th infantry to the first infantry division. thus he had already landed in both northern africa and sicily before coming ashore on d-day at omaha beach with the big red one. company a of the 116th infantry assaulted omaha beach as part of the first division's task force O. by day's end, nineteen of the company's bedford soldiers were dead. two more bedford soldiers died later in the normandy campaign, as did yet another two assigned to other 116th infantry companies. bedford's population in 1944 was about 3,200. proportionally this community suffered the nation's severest d-day losses. recognizing bedford as emblematic of all communities, large and small, whose citizen-soldiers served on d-day, congress warranted the establishment of the national d-day memorial in bedford. why bedford in 2014?
it becomes imperative that we remember so that future generations will know the cost. bedford honors all american and allied forces and lists each one by name. they have spent years compiling an accurate list, a list that continues to be updated each day. this is not a national park and it is not federally funded; it is operated by a non-profit foundation and runs completely on donations and admission costs. it begins in england where the planning initiates and visitors get to visualize the major players all assembled in the garden. the flags of the twelve nations involved wave above the grounds. moving on, the assault boat (which is to scale) on the plaza represents crossing the channel where 2,499 american soldiers died on d-day. further along, the waterfall represents the disruptive and chaotic nature of the day, and men climbing the wall represents everyone who died that day. at the crest of the monument or at the end of the day, the soliders (and visitors) look back upon what has taken place that day. looking south, they see their accomplishments, their victories; looking north, they see the cost. the arch - which stands at 44 feet, six inches - is symbolic. everything that is placed upon the eight and one-half acres represents a moment of time and its placement or dimensions is not coincidence. "every day here is d-day," says jim mccann who manages the memorial. "we celebrate for what it meant in the 20th century and what it means to the 21st century." his wish is that all visitors who come learn about the experiences and players of one of the most decisive moments in american history. however, with passion and commitment, he says, "we'd rather you be inspired." it is said that the company from bedford lost 93 percent of their company within the first five minutes of battle. |
70th anniversary
stay and see virginia
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from plowboy to soldier: private first class lloyd carter
"you 'bout to make history . . . "
first printed in georgia connector magazine
