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Old 08-14-2007, 04:20 PM
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D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA

More pics from my vacation last week. What can I say, I got a new camera!

We visited the national D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA.

Operation Overlord...
Some of you may know, the tiny town of Bedford lost more soldiers on D-Day than any other town (as a % of population). They are known as the Bedford Boys in a recent book. That's one of the reasons this memorial is located here.

I must say, it is not possible to visit this memorial without getting a knot in your throat and a tear in your eye. It is extremely well done. One feature is a depiction of the beach complete with intermittent sounds of gunfire and water streaming into the air as if gunfire was striking the water. The bronze statues of the soldiers are very detailed and lifelike.

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D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_1.jpg   D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_2.jpg   D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_3.jpg   D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_4.jpg   D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_5.jpg  

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Old 08-14-2007, 04:22 PM
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Eisenhower

The Eisenhower section of the D-Day Memorial is a relatively recent addition.
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D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_6.jpg   D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_7.jpg   D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA-ddm_8.jpg  
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Old 08-14-2007, 05:38 PM
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My hometown has been raising private money and sending charter flights of WWII veterans to see the memorial. No doubt this is the last trip some of them will make while living.
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Old 08-14-2007, 05:41 PM
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My hometown has been raising private money and sending charter flights of WWII veterans to see the memorial. No doubt this is the last trip some of them will make while living.
That's outstanding!

They have golf carts the WWII vets can use to get around so they don't have to walk too much. The memorial is mostly staffed by vets. It's first class all the way.
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Old 08-14-2007, 05:46 PM
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The father of my next door neighbor landed at Normandy the day after D-Day. His ship had problems which caused the delay. This Spring they took him back there. He had not been there since the war. It was quite emotional. A retired British General toured them around the beach and the cemetary. They also visited the nearby village when he was stationed.
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Old 08-14-2007, 05:48 PM
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The father of my next door neighbor landed at Normandy the day after D-Day. His ship had problems which caused the delay. This Spring they took him back there. He had not been there since the war. It was quite emotional. A retired British General toured them around the beach and the cemetary. They also visited the nearby village when he was stationed.
A general giving the tour! Probably made your old guy's millenium!
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Old 08-14-2007, 05:52 PM
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We visited the national D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA.

Operation Overlord...


I must say, it is not possible to visit this memorial without getting a knot in your throat and a tear in your eye. It is extremely well done. One feature is a depiction of the beach complete with intermittent sounds of gunfire and water streaming into the air as if gunfire was striking the water. The bronze statues of the soldiers are very detailed and lifelike.

This memorial was amazing and as you said, you get a lump in your throat when you go there. The gunfire sounds and the bullets ripping in the water effects blew me away. Also the ring of flags that showed that we were not alone in this effort made me feel good inside. When I was there it had just opened and the Eisenhower part was not there.

I only wish they would build more memorials like this one. A "contemplative garden" or a stark wall is not my idea of a fitting memorial.
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Old 08-14-2007, 07:48 PM
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Thanks for the pics... this has been on my list of things to see for quite some time. Beford Boys is a good read, BTW.

I was just in Geilenkirchen, Germany at a NATO air base for a TDY; we had a weekend free and went to Bastogne. We happened past a small monument that identified the woods in which "Easy Company" of Band of Brothers fame were holed up. We wandered down a logging road and ran into some Dutch guys who pointed us toward the shallows in the ground that remained from Easy Co's foxholes. It was a very, very moving experience.

I got to visit Normady several times as a kid -- my dad was in the International Military Staff at NATO HQ in the mid-80's. I was in the Boy Scouts, and we also did several wreath-laying ceremonies at numerous Allied military cemeteries in Europe. It left quite an impression.

Thanks again for the pics!

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