National D-Day Memorial

NATIONAL D-DAY MEMORIAL

       The end of June we visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, not far from the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The 50-acre monument reminds us of the sacrifice of more than 4,415 men who died on June 6, 1944, when allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy France.  D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in human history as well as one of the most pivotal battles of World War II.
 

   The most touching and dramatic scene represents a soldier wading through water as bullets whiz around him, another soldier lying in the sand, and life-size soldiers storming the beach.  The pops of water representing bullets is especially chilling.

A soldier bravely climbs toward the enemy bunkers

     This statue of a soldier is a special memorial to the Bedford Boys from that county.  On D-Day, that small, rural county lost more young men per capita than anywhere else in America.  There were 44 Bedford Boys in the battle that day -- 20 of them were killed.  Certainly a mighty sacrifice for this small tight-knit community.

     We are reminded of the courage and bravery of all those men that day -- and throughout the history of our country.  Some who gave their lives and others who fought long and hard in the trenches to bring freedom to those held in the clutches of evil.  We thank God for His blessing on our land.  

      "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.  From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth - He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do," Psalm 33:12-15.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!