The Virginia Town Devastated by D-Day
B E D F O R D, Va., May 28, 2001 -- For years, World War II was a sore subject
that many families in this small farming community avoided.
"We lost so many men," said Boyd Wilson, 79, who joinedVirginia's 116th National Guard before it was sent to war. "It wasjust painful."
The war hit Bedford harder than perhaps any other small town inAmerica, taking 19 of its sons, fathers and brothers in the openingmoments of the Allied invasion of Normandy. Within a week, 23 ofBedford's 35 soldiers were dead. It was the highest per capita lossfor any U.S. community.
Only recently have residents begun talking about D-Day, mostlyin anticipation of the National D-Day Memorial being dedicated hereon June 6, the 57th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. Thememorial will officially open the day after the dedication.
"A lot of people don't know what happened here," said CarolBurnett, 58, owner of the Old Liberty Antique Mall, a downtownantique shop cluttered with lamps, dolls and other vintageknickknacks.
For the past year, Burnett has kept a collection of old WorldWar II uniforms and pictures in her front window. "People are nowcoming by, some old veterans, and they tell us their story."
On the First Boats in Normandy
In the 1940s, Bedford was a farming town of about 3,200 people.The generation of young men who would go to war attended the samechurches and schools. There were few jobs, so many joined the116th, which paid about $35 every two months.
Wilson said they would train together every month at the countycourthouse. "It was like being on a ball team," he said.
In 1942, the Guard unit was shipped off to England. It was theonly National Guard unit to be on the first boats of the Normandyinvasion. Wilson, who was then fighting with another Army unit thatarrived at Omaha Beach after the 116th, said he kept looking forhis friends, but couldn't find anyone.
"Later they told me that the 116th had been wiped out," hesaid.
In Bedford, Mike E. Reynolds was working in the furniture storehe bought before the war. Reynolds said he first heard about D-Daywhen he went next door to the drug store for a Coke.
Telegraph Brought the News
The telegraph machine inside had been especially active thatday, printing letters to families of the 116th.
"Word passed quickly about what happened," said Reynolds, 88.Families received letters during the next several weeks as morebodies were identified on the Normandy beach.
Lucille H. Boggess, 71, was getting ready for church when thesheriff came by with the letter that her older brother was killedin action. The following day, the town cab driver came by withanother letter, saying that another brother died.
"By then, my parents were just so overcome with grief,"Boggess said. "It was almost like my mom had somehow died."
It was a pain that many people in Bedford kept to themselves,said Mayor Mike Shelton, who began lobbying for the monument in1994 after talking with Boggess.
"A few years ago you could walk down the street and only aboutone out in five people could describe with any sense of knowledgeabout what happened here in 1944," Shelton said. "Frankly, it'sbeen good for the community to talk about it."
A Monument to Sacrifice
The $13.6 million monument, paid for entirely by donations, sitson 88 acres of pastureland in Bedford, about 25 miles east ofRoanoke.
The structure, made mostly of concrete and polished granite,recreates the Normandy landing. An architectural representation ofa Higgins boat, the sort used during the invasion, enters a wadingpool that is pierced from time to time by small geysers meant tolook like explosions. Bronze soldiers claw through the concretebeach and climb over a wall.
Past the wall is a granite arch inscribed with the word"Overlord" — the Allied Forces code name for the invasion. Thearch stands 44 feet, 6 inches high to represent June 6, 1944. It isblack and white, like the Allies' airplanes during the attack.
Surrounding the arch are flags of the United Kingdom, France,Australia, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Canada, Greece,Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland and the United States -countries that participated in the invasion.
Richard Burrow, executive director of the National D-DayMemorial Foundation, said officials will include a story wallbefore the June 6 dedication that bears the names of Allied andAmerican soldiers killed on D-Day.
Organizers are also planning a three-story, 49,000-square-footeducation center designed to resemble a German bunker. It will beequipped with a theater paid for with donations from "SavingPrivate Ryan" director Steven Spielberg.
Bedford officials expect as many as 20,000 people to attend thededication. That number could expand if President Bush decides tocome. White House officials wouldn't confirm whether he plans toattend the dedication.
"This is almost like sacred ground," Boggess said, looking atthe memorial on Tuesday as work crews put the final touches on theparking lot. "This is a place where veterans can finally meet andshare their stories. We can honor them with this."