News
"On Thursday, December 16th at 7:00 PM, the National D-Day Memorial will look back on what it was like to celebrate Christmas during WWII. Learn how America coped with the shortage of store clerks, delivery boys, and wrapping paper. Come and hear the words of local leaders to the troops who were fighting over-seas, and let us all become much more thankful during this special time of year. Please feel free to bring period Christmas ornaments to show at the end of the program. Light refreshments will follow. The Wartime Christmas program will be held at the new Bedford Welcome Center. There is no charge to attend; however, donations will be welcomed and appreciated.
"If you have a WWII Holiday Memory, the National D-Day Memorial would like to hear about it. Please send a written copy of it (no more than 500 words) to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523 Attn: Carol Tuckwiller. The Holiday Memories will be shared with the community and put on display in the front windows of The Resource Center... .at 106 E. Main street. Please feel free to stop by, read them and learn about other's memories as we celebrate and reflect on the holidays during WWII."
-- April Cheek, NDDMF news release, December 3, 2004
"On Thursday, November 11th, the staff at the National D-Day Memorial will pay special tribute to the many contributions made by military personnel in the armed forces. Over 300 local Air Force and Army Junior ROTC members will participate in a moving program which will include special music, speakers, and the dedication of new memorial plaques listing additional names of those who gave their lives on June 6, 1944 during the Normandy invasion. Several narrative plaques will also be dedicated including large plaques honoring Company B (Lynchburg) and Company D (Ronoake) of the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division."
-- April Cheek, NDDMF news release, October 29, 2004
On October 7, the National D-Day Memorial Foundation held an open house at its new resource center. Located in the former ABC store at 106 East Main Street, it is now called the "Archives Books and Collections" facility. For more information concerning this new facility, call 540-586-3329.
"The US Attorneys Office says it is dropping all charges against the former president of the D-Day Memorial Foundation ending the legal rollercoaster ride for Richard Burrow.
"The morning after his second fraud trial ended in a hung jury the man at the center of the D-Day Memorial controversy stood at the center of the Memorial itself. In a tear-filled reuion, Richard Burrow and his wife prayed with one of their most avid supporters, former foundation board chair and D-Day veteran Bob Slaughter.
"...shortly after President Bush christened the memorial, federal investigators announced Burrow had also incurred a debt of more than 5 million dollars the foundation said it couldn't repay. Burrow was charged with defauding banks and the state, leading to two lengthy trial and two deadlocked juries."
"Now, three years later, it appears Burrow's journey has ended. Late Thursday afternoon prosecutors said they were dropping the case because, 'After two deadlocked juries and mistrials, it is clear that opinions as to Mr. Burrow's guilt are divided. The National D-Day Memorial and our community must now move forward.'"
-- Jay Shaylor, WSET-TV-13, October 7, 2004
"A $25,000 gift from the founders of a food processing company has funded a plaque at the D-Day memorial honoring the USS Nevada, as well as further pared down the memorial's debt. Longtime Bedford residents Earl and Ethel Childers, who founded and later sold Childers Foods, announced their donation Wednesday at a ceremony dedicating the plaque.
"The Nevada has a particular significance for Earl Childers, who served on a ship that fought with it in the Pacific during World War II. The Nevada is important to D-Day history because it was one of three American battleships that took part in the Normandy invasion. Childers, who served on the USS Washington, said he felt a kindship with the Nevada's crew. He also said he was proud to support the D-Day memorial....
"The $25,000 gift was the Childers' second donation, bringing their donation total to $35,000....
"Cliff Wolford, the memorial site's assistant manager, also spoke at the dedication ceremony, recounting a recent exchange he had with two Nevada veterans touring the monument. The veterans said, 'Hey, look, our ship is here,' according to Wolford. With tears in their eyes, they went on to ask Wolford to shake Childers' hand and thank him for underwriting the plaque...."
-- Victor Reklaitis, The News and Advance, September 16, 2004
"With American flags flying on the front of motocycles and POW/MIA flags perched alongside, (Rolling Thunder) draws awareness to the fact that we should never forget the soldiers who remain prisoners of war or missing in action...
"...A POW/MIA awareness ceremony ...will be held at the National D-Day Memorial on September 18th, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.... Many local organizations will participate: the Jefferson Forest High School Band, the Bedford Science and Technology Center's "Otters" Jr. ROTC, and American Legion Bedford Post 54 and Lynchburg Post 16...."
-- April Cheek, NDDMF news release, September 10, 2004
"According to Joe Banner, the D-Day Memorial Foundation's development associate, the VMI Class of 1943, graduating into the teeth of WWII, is the most decorated class in the school's history. Gray has issued a challenge to that class, his class, to match his effort (see below) and sponsor a similar bronze table to honor General Leonard Gerow. General Gerow, VMI Class of 1911, commanded the 5th Corps during the D-Day landing."
-- John Barnhart, The Bedford Bulletin, September 1, 2004
"Former state Sen. Elmon T. Gray gave the D-Day Memorial another boost Thursday, as the primary donor in a $750,000 pledge. The gift will reduce the National D-Day Memorial Foundation's $2.6 million debt to less than $1.9. It also will underwrite a plague honoring Gen. George C. Marshall.
"The plaque's design was unveiled Thursday before more than 400 'rats,' as freshmen at Virginia Military Academy are called. Both Gray and Marshall graduated from VMI....
"'You will be well-served to study George C. Marshall and try to emulate him,' (Harry) Warner said (president of the the Lexington-based Marshall Foundation). Marshall served as the Army's chief of staff during World War II and later as secretary of state, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953...."
-- Victor Reklaitis, The News and Advance, August 27, 2004
"The National D-Day Memorial Foundation has received a grant from The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust for technology upgrades and enhancements in the development office. The $9,150 in funding comes as
the D-Day Memorial continues to build a firm foundation for current and
future fund raising initiatives...
"'The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust is very pleased to support the National D-Day Memorial Foundation's efforts to enhance their abiliy to attract and retain contributors,' said George H. Murphy, president of the Trust and resident of Bedford."
--The Bedford Bulletin, July 7, 2004
"The legacy of D-Day veterans was extolled repeatedly Sunday as thousands gathered here to observe the 60th anniversary of the Allied invasion of France in World War II....
"The harmony from the U.S. Navy Band and Sea Chanters drifted across the pond as veterans, their families and friends strolled the memorial's grounds snapping pictures, videotaping speeches and shaking hands with their heroes.
"Overcast skies forced a cancellation of a military flyover but added to the solemnness of the day in which D-Day veterans were applauded and former President Ronald Reagan was lauded.
"For Charles Chitbitty, 81, the observance was another chance to introduce himself as 'the last surviving Comanche code talker.'....Chibitty, who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma was a special guest at the memorial. He and 16 other Comanche Indians are credited with saving the lives of countless Allies by translating Army messages in their native languages so enemy code breakers couldn't intercept them....
"In recognizing the contributions made on D-Day, U.S. Sen. George Allen said lessons from those who stormed the beaches of Normandy are inspiring and make us remember that there are times when sacrifices are needed. 'Your legacy will be motivation for future generations,' he told veterans....
"'I cried when I walked up there. It is very impressive,' said Sarah Brite, a 'military brat,' who was making her first trip to the memorial in Bedford."
-- JoAnne Poindexter, The Roanoke Times, June 7, 2004
"Virginia Tech Cadet Anthony Madeira will become an engineer and live the life of a civilian when he graduates next year. A back injury led him to choose that path instead of becoming a Marine.
"But his appreciation for those who serve in the military will not waver....He is leading the Corps of Cadets fund-raising campaign for the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford that has raised almost $40,000 in three years....
"Madeira met a few D-Day veterans at the memorial last month, when he and cadets Katie Sansbury and Lauren McNair presented this year's donation of $29,500....
" 'It's always nice to meet a vet," Madeira said. 'Talking to them is an experience. They're both talking and not talking to you. They're looking past you into the past,' Madeira said. His grandfather fought in World War II, and the grandfather of Madeira's fiancee is a D-Day veteran.
"Madeira has set a fund-raising goal of $100,000 next year (for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets War Memorial Fund). The D-Day Memorial is still $2.9 million in debt. He wants to support other war memorials, as well: the women's memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor and the World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam memorials..."
-- Dawn Baumgartner, The Roanoke Times, May 29, 2004
"The National D-Day Memorial Foundation is revved up about a new partnership with the motorsports world. An upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race in Dover, Del., will honor D-Day veterans and benefit the foundation.
"The MBNA 400: A Salute to Heroes" will take place a the Dover International Speedway on June 6, the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Bobby Labonte and MBNA bank are giving the D-Day foundation prime space on a car."
-- Victor Riklaitis, The News and Advance, Lynchburg, VA, May 23, 2004
"A luncheon to thank American D-Day veterans will be held again this year, after it was canceled a year ago because of ill feelings about France's oppostion to the US-led invasion of Iraq.
"Bernard Marie, who has dual American and French citizenship, started the banquets 20 years ago. They were first held in Indiana, and for eight years in Charleston, SC when Marie lived on nearby Sullivans Island.
"Marie moved to Roanoke, Virginia two years ago and, after suspending the banquet last year, the event will be held June 5 in nearby Salem, Va.
"The event is being held a day before the 60th anniversary of the allied invasion of France in World War II. Holding it a day early will give vets a chance to travel to Bedford, Va., to attend ceremonies at the D-Day memorial there, Marie said.
"Last year, there were some bad feelings about France's position on the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, said Marie, who ususally spends about $1,500 on the luncheon...."
"...Marie, who celebrated his fifth birthday the day before D-Day, said he thinks France was right on Iraq, but that has nothing to do with what the American troops did in freeing France in 1944.
"Marie huddled in the basement of a house with his mother about 12 miles from Omaha Beach and heard the naval guns pounding the shore before the invasion.
"Marie was a member of the advisory board for the National D-Day Memorial Foundation and is expecting as many as 60 D-Day veterans to attend the luncheon. General Pascal Vinchon, military attache and head of the military mission at the French embassy will attend, as well as state and French officials."
-- Associated Press, The Roanoke Times, May 17, 2004
"April Cheek, Director fo Education for the National D-Day Memorial will be honored at the upcoming Governor's Conference on Travel and Tourism as the Virginia Attractions Employee of the Year. This prestigious award will be presented during the Awards Luncheon on April 27 at the Hotel Ronoake. Cheek has provided educational programming at the Memorial to more than 30,000 school children from nine states and her tireless efforts in special and community events have increased overall visitation to the Memorial..."
-- Bedford Tourism, April 9, 2004
"A famous actor received an award for the role he's most proud of today.
Actor Mickey Rooney was joined by friends, family and fans at the D-Day Memorial this afternoon. Rooney served four years in the Army during World War Two.
"Today, D-Day Veteran Bob Slaughter presented him with an award for his service and thanked him for serving the troops as an entertainer on the front lines. Rooney earned a bronze stary for heroism -- which he says is his most precious award. He encourages everyone to take pride in their country.
"Rooney and his wife Jan attended Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg this morning. After the service, while having lunch with Jerry Falwell, the two decided to renew their wedding vows. The couple has been married for 30 years."
-- WDBJ 7, April 4, 2004
"French filmmaker Eric Ellena initially titled his documentary 'Transatlantic Amneisa.' The film was conceived during the spat betwen the U.S. and France over the Iraq war -- and with the upcoming 60th anniversary of D-Day in mind.
"'I wanted to do a film that would give a little more perspective to our common history,' he said. 'We're two people. We're not just two governements opposed.'
"Ellena and a film crew are spending more than a week in the Bedford area in an attempt to capture how it's been impacted by D-Day. On Tuesday, they taped a question and answer session featuring D-Day veteran Bob Slaughter and Liberty High School juniors and seniors. Ellena said he hopes making Bedford teenagers a part of the movie will lead French and American teenagers to pay more attention to it.
"'We need to get history,' he said. 'The French and Americans shouldn't forget about their common history. It's key to the future of our democracies.'
"The roughly 400 Liberty students filling the school's auditorium appeared to respond well to Tuesday's history lesson. They peppered Slaughter with questions and gave him a standing ovation at the end of the session.
"Before the discussion, the students got a sense of the June 6, 1944, Normandy invasion by viewing scenes from the movie 'Saving Private Ryan.' As the students watched machinegun fire rip through infantrymen lurching out of landing crafts, a quiet settled over the auditorium.
"'The gunfire early that morning was as advertised in the movie,' Slaughter said once the question and answer session began. 'It was ferocious.' .... 'We thought we were ready, but in reality there's no way you can get ready for a shooting war,' Slaughter said. "You never get used to watching your buddies get killed.'.....
-- Victor Riklaitis, The News and Advance, Lynchburg, VA, March 15, 2004
"French Filmaker Eric Ellena wants to showcase for the French people what folks here have known for years -- D-Day veteran Bob Slaughter's unflinching effort to pay homage to his fallen comrades through the National D-Day Memorial.
"'I wanted a veteran that is still fighting for the cause, to keep the memory alive,' Ellena said. Ellena and a small camera and sound crew have been filming Slaughter for the past week in and around Roanoke and Bedford. Roy Stevens a Bedford D-Day veteran, is also in the film.
"As the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion approaches, Ellena said he's making the film to preserve the stories of American soldiers for younger generations. 'I thought there needs to be something about the American perspective,' he said.
"Because most D-Day veterans are 80 or older, it's likely that this year's D-Day
anniversary may be the last time the veterans will gather in Normandy for such a reunion...For that reason, the French government is pulling out all the stops to create a big celebration.
"Ellena's compay, Yade French Connenction, plans to fly Slaughter to France for a news conference when the film is shown on French television on June 4, two days before the 60th anniversary....."
-- Jay Conley, The Roanoke Times, March 15, 2004
Compared to movie ticket prices and admission at many other recreation sites, these fees are a bargain. Yet these modest prices will still help the Foundation gain firmer financial footing. Effective January 2, 2004, there is no longer aUp-Coming Event:
$10 parking fee.
Adults now pay just $5, children ages 6-16 pay $3, and children under 6 are admitted free of charge.
Members of the newly created "Overlord Society" (formerly referred to as "Annual Supporters") receive an admission benefit in accordance with their level of giving, as well as a number of other benefits, such as a 10% discount
on most items in the Memorial Store. Memberships are available beginning at $35 and you can now join online at www.dday.org.
Requests for membership information, or questions about the new admission fees, should be directed to the Foundaton's Development Office at 540-586-DDAY or 800-351-DDAY.
--Adapted from the Winter 2004 Overlord Report
Angels of Mercy: The Nurses of WWII: Explore the varied roles of women during WWII. March 25, 2004, Thursday, 7:00 pm, Bedford Central Library.Plans for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day Underway
As more and more members of the WWII generation pass on, it becomes increasingly important to preserve their legacy and to give thanks while they still walk among us. The National D-Day Memorial has committed itself to both tasks. Join the National D-Day Memorial and the community of Bedford, Virginia as it commemorates the 60th anniversary of D-Day in 2004.
May 23-June 12, 2004 -- Through Their Eyes(Some activities will have admission fees TBA.)Freedom Week
View an art exhibit at Bedford Public Library featuring various military cartoons and D-Day related prints, maps, and artwork.
May 29, 2004 -- 2:00-7:00 pm -- Red, White, and Bluegrass Show
Main Street Bedford is kicking off the 60th anniversary of D-Day with a patriotic bluegrass show. After listening to old-fashioned bluegrass, drive up to the Memorial for 1940's music and a special tribute to America's service members who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.
May 29, 2004 -- 8:00 pm -- Moonlight SerenadeCheck the www.dday.org for updates on the June 6, 2004 ceremony.
See the Memorial at dusk on the special weekend. The Jefferson Choral Society will perform on evening concert of 1940s music from 8:00-9:00 pm. This 100 member choral group has performed at Washington National Cathedral, Carnegie Hall, and a number of venues in Italy. The Memorial will remain open until 10:00 pm.
May 30, 2004 -- TBA
The Bedford Museum will host a guest speaker in coordination with the 60th anniversary of D-Day.
May 31, 2004 -- Memorial Day Activities
* 10:30 am -- A Pageant of History -- Memorial Day Parade Recognizing veterans of all wars
* Noon -- In Memory of Our Honored Dead
Wreath-laying ceremony at Memorial site
* Noon - 4:00 pm -- 1940's Military and Civilian Car Show
In the Bedford Farmers' Market
June 1 - June 5 -- Freedom Week Activities
Central Virginia offers a wide array of activities for visitors during
their stay. Take a cruise on the Virginia Dare and view beautiful
Smith Mountain Lake. Visit the Peaks of Otter, local orchards, or
take a walking tour of Bedford. Discover Thomas Jefferson's retreat
at Poplar Forest, visit the Avoca Museum, or take a trip to Lexington and visit VMI and the Marshal Museum.
June 5, 2004 -- Living History Encampment
Come to Centertown Bedford and discover the life of a soldier during WWII.
June 5, 2004 -- 2nd Annual G.I. Jive 1940s Dance
Swing to the unforgettable tunes of the 1940s. Enjoy food, dancing,
a silent auction, Big Band music and a special performance by the Liberty Bells, an Andrews Sister Act you will not forget! Black tie optional or period attire. The dance will be held off-site. Limited tickets available. $75 per person. Call 540-586-3329 to order.
June 6, 2004 11:00am -- 60th Anniversary of D-Day
The Memorial will pay tribute to D-Day veterans and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the assault on Normandy. A special guest speaker will highlight the program and the United States Navy band will perform along with the Navy choral group, the Sea Chanters. 1940s military vehicles will be on display throughout the site.
Tickets for the ceremony are $5.00 each and can be reserved by calling the Foundation. D-Day veterans receive free seating, but must call the Foundation to reserve their seat. All reservations must be made by calling 540-586-3329.
June 6, 2004 -- Schedule of Activities for the Day
* 9:00-11:00 am -- Hospitality tent open for veterans. Veterans can enjoy refreshments and visit with old comrades.
* 11:00 am -- Commemoration Ceremony
* 1:00-4:00 pm -- Representatives from the Library of Congress will collect oral histories for those interested in sharing their stories from the war. The "Canteen" will also be open with 1940s music, good food and fellowship with fellow veterans.
From school children's "Patriotic Pennies" and private enterprise to veterans and cadets, ordinary citizens continue to give their financial support to the Memorial -- helping to retire the debt. The sooner the debt is paid, the sooner work can begin toward finishing the Memorial with the Education Center. For more details, see "Help" on the main menu.
"Narrative plaques will not only further the educational mission of the Memorial, but will also pay tribute to the various units, vessels, and services that took part in the invasion. Such plaques offer details docents cannot include in an hour-long tour and thus make a valuable contribution to the Foundation's educational programming."
"The first narrative plaque installed honors A Company of the 116th Infantry Regiment. An appropriate first plaque as 35 soldiers from Bedford serve in that company on D-Day, it was donated by the 24th Masonic District of Bedford County in honor of Roy Stevens, a D-Day veteran who lost his twin brother Ray on D-Day."
In addition to the narrative plaques, there are necrology plaques bearing the names of American and Allied soldiers killed on D-Day. 93 of the 232 of
these necrology plaques have already been mounted on the inner wall of the Memorial's central plaza.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Foundation's plaque program may contact the Foundation's Development Department at 540-586-3329
-- Overlord Report, Issue 13, Winter 2004
"The National D-Day Memorial Foundation has reduced its debt from $3.6 million in June to $3.2 million, partly through memorial plaques that have brought in $5,000 each. Eighty-four plaques are now up in the Bedord memorial's central plaza.....Forty-four of the 87 plaques are for Americans,
and 43 for other Allies....
"In addition to the money coming in for plaques, (Foundation President) McIntosh sees good news for the $25 million memorial in the establishment of a new, three-person development team. On September 1, Jeffrey R. Fulgham, former vice president for development at Wesley College in Dover, Deleware, became the national D-Day Memorial Foundation's development director and the head of the new team....
"McIntosh said if fund raising continues at its current rate, the foundation will be out of the red in two years. But the debt-free date "could be tomorrow if the right person got engaged in this project," he added....The foundation was $3.8 milion in debt when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last November. It exited bankruptcy on June 19...."
-- Victor Reklaitis, The Lynchburg News and Advance, October 22, 2003
"A group of World War II veterans and their families gathered for their 43rd reunion this week in Central Virginia. They were members of the U.S. Army's 531st Engineer Shore Regiment and participated in campaigns in Africa, Italy, Normandy and Okinawa. Friday, they visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, as well as the surrender grounds in Appomattox."
-- The Lynchburg News and Advance, September 13, 2003
"Inclusion in the Top 100 list (by an elite tourism industry selection committee), published as a supplement to the October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that the 60th anniversary of D-Day, nominated by Bedford Tourism, offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, said ABA.
This particular event was selected "from among hundreds of U.S. and Canadian events nominated by state and provincial tourism offices and visitors bureus. Judges considered the event's broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria."
-- Nanci N. Drake, Bedford City and County Tourism News Release, September 11, 2003VMI Freshman Class Visits the D-Day Memorial
"The National D-Day Memorial will once again host the freshman class of Virginia Military Institute on Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 1PM. Apporximately 450 freshmen and upperclass cadets are expected to attend.G.I. Jive Set For August 9
"The annual visit is the culmination of a day-long program of activities spotlighting the legacy of the citizen soldier and his role in D-Day, a legacy which VMI has helped to build over generations. The day will begin with an on-campus presentation by Bob Slaughter, D-Day veteran and founder of the National D-Day Memorial, about his D-Day experiences with Company D. Afterwards, Harold Howard, Memorial docent, will familiarize students with the history and layout of the memorial. Students will then watch the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan before departing for the Memorial. Once on site, students will tour the site and have the opportunity to talk with D-Day veterans from the Army, Navy and Air
Corps."
-- Shannon Brooks, NDMF Tour Coordinator, August 18, 2003
"The National D-Day Memorial and Lynchburg College are joining forces to present 'G.I. Jive,' a world War II-style dance featuring the big band sounds of Dee Roberts and his Orchestra, a silent acution, and more than a few turns on the dance floor.
"'(G.I.Jive is) a chance to transport yourself back to the '40s for the evening,' said Mike Santos, director of Lynchburg College's Center for the History and culture of Central Virginia. 'This is something we hope will become an annual event, as part of raising some funds for the memorial.'
"'Our debt has dropped from over $5 million to approximately $3.5 million within the past 20 months,' said April Cheek, director of education for the National D-Day Memorial Foundation. 'This is due to immense support from community and civic organizations, businesses, corporations, individuals, etc., who have pulled together to assist the memorial. We are deeply grateful for all they have done and continue to do.'
"'The 1940s dance has several purposes,' Cheek explained. 'We do hope to raise approximately $10,000 for the evening, which would be of considerable help to the memorial; however, we also thought a dance such as this would be a fun event that raises awareness about who we are and why the memorial was built in the first place. It is important that people reflect on that peiod in our history and the dance will provide a unique opportunity to do so. I think the dance really is a natural connection to that era when you had so many USO and canteen dances.'
"Organizers hope the black-tie affair will be reminiscent of those dances that were used to boost troop and civilian morale during World War II. People are encouraged to wear 1940s-period attire, 'soldiers' will stand guard at the college gatehouse, elevator operators will accompany people to the third-floor ballroom, and there will be impromptu dance and costume constests.
"Members of the Army airborne living history group -- the '101st Easy Company' -- will collect tickets and everyone attending the dance will be given a souvenir booklet containing the oral history of local people who lived through the WWII-era."
--Theresa Boyes, The Lynchburg News and Advance, July 31, 2003
"Virginia's chapter of the American Legion will work to support the National D-Day Memorial and will encourage the national organziation to do the same. The Virginia unit voted to do this at a convention that they held this past weekend at the Wyndham Hotel in Roanoke.
"The resolution designates Bedford's American Legion post as the Virginia unit's point of contact for contributions and tours. The Virginia unit will ask the national organzation to recognize the D-Day Memorial and solicit support from all legion posts. According to Butch Miller, a past American Legional national commander, there are 15,000 posts nationwide.
"The American Legion only encourages posts to support foundations or museums in which the Legion has some involvement in the management. The Legion became involved in the National D-Day Memorial's management, this spring, when Miller was appointed to the Foundation's board of directors.
"Miller, an Army veteran of Vietnam, said that he has a lot of respect for all his fellow veterans but the WWII vets have a special place for him. (His father landed D+3 in Normandy and fought all the way through Germany.)....
"Miller is a life member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served as the Legion's national commander from 1998 to 1999 and is a permanent member of the Legion's National Executive Committee....
"As a member of the D-Day Foundation's board of directors, Miller feels that the primary thing that he brings to the table is his rapport with America's military veterans community and the experience that he draws from his 30 years of work in the VA. He hopes to be able to expose America's veterans to the Memorial and get the word out to them about what a special place this is."
-- John Barnhart, The Bedford Bulletin, July 16, 2003
"Amphibious warfare is the Marine Corps' traditional specialty, so D-Day is particularly meaningful for the Marines. D-Day is the miliary term for the date of an amphibious assault, with H-hour referring to the actual time that troops hit the beach...
"Dan Villarial, of Bedford, is heading the Lynchburg detachment's effort in Bedford. Phil Wood of Rustburg got the idea late last year... Wood, along with Lloyd Woodford, designed and made collection boxes that are replicas of the Memorial's Victory Arch. The box is clear so that folks can see the there is money in the box and be encouraged to add more... Villarial attributes the group's success to the patriotism of people in this area. 'A lot of people are very generous.'...
"The idea is spreading. Villarial said that people from a Marine Corps League detachment from Maryland carried three boxes back with them, after a visit here. A detachment from the Tidewater area, is implementing the idea there. 'We're really trying to spread this through the country, Villarial said.'"
-- John Barnhart, The Bedford Bulletin, July 2, 2003
"Members of Lynchburg's Marine Corps League stopped by to take some pictures, and offer a check for $20,000."
-- Matt Tansey and Dan Reany, WSLS News Channel 10, June 20, 2003
"You can strike the word 'bankrupt' from any description of the National D-Day Foundation. A federal judge today released the organization from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after the memorial showed it was sticking to a court approved repayment plan with its creditors. D-Day officials say this latest step should help convince some major donors that now is the time to help out the foundation. The memorial has five years to repay $3.5 million in design and construction costs."
-- WDBJ-TV7, June 19, 2003
On Friday, June 20, Moose Lodges across Virginia gave $40,000 to the D-Day Memorial, enough to sponsor eight bronze plaques. The Bedford Moose Lodge #1897 raised $10,000, enough for two of the eight plaques. Wesley Crowder of the state organization and Andy Dooley of the Bedford Lodge will make the presentation.
-- Caroline Wallinger, The News and Advance, June 19, 2003
"Saturday, June 14, over 100 members of Rolling Thunder rode (motocycles) into Bedford for a flag presentation ceremony at the D-Day Memorial. The Rolling Thunder organization donated a POW/MIA flag to the D-Day Memorial to be flown with other flags of the United States and her allies...
"The flag presentation ceremony was emotional for all present. Some were moved to tears, everyone was held in silence. The speakers, all veterans of past wars, demanded, and were awarded, a tremendous amount of respect and admiration from everyone in the crowd. The sole mission of the Rolling Thunder group is to publicize and spread awareness of the existence of American POW's. One does not need to own a motorcycle to do this. We can all help Rolling Thunder by questioning our officials, teaching our children, and refusing to forget those who have fought to preserve the freedoms too many of us take for granted."
-- Hill Vaden, The Bedford Bulletin, June 18, 2003
"The National D-Day Memorial held a tribute, Friday morning, to mark the 59th anniversary of the D-Day landing, June 6, 1944. Students from Thaxton
Elementary School sang patriotic songs as part of the ceremony...After the ceremony, all World War II veterans in the audience were asked to come to the front. They came, nearly all of them now octogenarians. Two were in wheelchairs and one had a cane." They lined up along the arched bridge that
spans the space between "the beach" and "the cliff."
"The children gave each man a little flag, consisting of red, white and blue tissue paper glued to a card, along with a note... Pete Fantacone, a D-Day
Navy vet, said that the handwritten note, given to him by one of the children,was very meaningful to him."
"Fifth grade students at Body Camp Elementary School attended the D-Day Memorial on June 6....one student, Dustin Overstreet, dressed in the attire of the day. They also listened to music of the times and toured the facility with a guide prior to attending the D-Day ceremony....At the end of the ceremony, students received their D-Day dogtags."
-- John Barnhart, The Bedford Bulletin, June 11, 2003
Alex Kershaw's latest book, The Bedford Boys, "is an intimate look at Bedford's D-Day veterans, their relatives and how the small town went to war and sacrificed more than a few good men. 'D-Day was always covered as a news story, but I immediately saw it as something bigger than that,' Kershaw said. 'I wanted to show a family of men at war and a larger family that the men came from, which was Bedford.'"
On one of his trips to Bedford to interview veterans and their families, Kershaw visited the National D-Day Memorial. "'All Americans should visit the monument as a reminder of America's finest hour.'...... '[The book] will help people understand why we built it,' Bob Slaughter said. 'To remember those people involved.'"
"Kershaw says his chief reason for writing The Bedford Boys was to show that ordinary people died on that day. Real human beings with family left behind, a community that suffered terribly, he said.
"'The book was a way to say thank you to a community,' Kershaw said. It's about Americans who always fought the hardest fight...always worked them- selves to the bone for a good living. Those people are sometimes forgotten, but they're the ones that make history.'"
--Tarah Holland, The Roanoke Times, May 25, 2003
"'Our task today is to honor the men and women who could not come because they died in battle,' said National D-Day Memorial Foundation Chairman Peter Viemeister as he welcomed the crowd. "Our personal debt to them is beyond utterance and beyond comprehension.'"
-- The News and Advance, May 27, 2003
"Earlier today hundreds of people got a glimpse of what is to come at the National D-Day Memorial. The plan is to hang over 200 plaques bearing the names of every Allied soldier killed on D-Day. 4,300 names will be engraved on plaques surrounding the interior of the memorial. 40 plaques have already been completed. The underwriting for each is plaque is $5,000. So far the effort has raised $250,000 dollars with 150 plaques still available.
"Officials at the D-Day Memorial said they will always recognize Memorial Day at the site since D-Day is not a national holiday. Because today's ceremony was so large, they're planning to do something small this year on June 6th. But officials are planning a large event for June 6th of 2004 because it's the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion."
-- WDBJ TV7, May 26, 2003Key Club Volunteers on Memorial Day
"Dozens of students from Hiddlen Valley High School served as volunteers today at the D-Day Memorial. They acted as guides, answered questions, recorded oral histories from veterans and assisted the elderly. The students are members of Hidden Valley's Key Club, a group that promotes community leadership and service projects. The students did some training at the memorial to prepare for today's event."
-- WDBJ TV7, May 26, 2003
Middle Schoolers Raise Big Penny Money
"Thumbs up to the sixth-graders at Staunton River Middle School for raising $1,200 for the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. One of the students, Mitchell Simmons, contributed all of his Christmas money -- $115 -- to the cause. 'I did it for the men who died to give us the freedom we have today,' he said.
"Teacher Angela Myers said the total amount of the gift is about double what the school raised a year ago. This was the third year the middle school has conducted its penny drive for the memorial, which is struggling to pay off its $3.8 million debt over the next five years.
"A group of sixth- and seventh-graders gathered at the Overloard Arch recently to present the gift to the memorial. Jim Bryant, a D-Day veteran and memorial volunteer accepted the check, saying, 'All of our D-Day veterans would be very proud.'
"Memorial education coordinator April Cheek said other school groups have donated to the memorial, but that Saunton River Middle School is the only one that does it on an annual basis. Perhaps other schools -- in and out of Bedford County -- could join Staunton River. Every contribution helps."
-- The Lynchburg News and Advance, May 17, 2003
-- May 17, 2003Bus loads of students from Tennessee and South Carolina visited the Memorial.
-- Early May 2003
Donor Pays for School Buses to Memorial
"Gerald Willis plans to give $5,000 in memory of his father to the Roanoke School Board to fund field trips for sixth and seventh graders to the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. He would like to see all the valley's students make the trip. Robert Willis, was a veteran of both World Ward II and the Korean War; he participated in the D-Day invasion."
-- Joel Turner of The Roanoke Times, April 19, 2003
Patriotic Gardeners
"About 20 members of the Blue Ridge Area Daylily Society donated day lilies, valued between $6,000 and $9,000 from their own gardens to plant at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford on Monday.....The daylilies planted were of varieties patriotically named 'Pearl Harbor,' 'Battle Hymn,' 'The Last Man Standing,' and 'In the Navy.' "
-- The Lynchburg News and Advance, April 16, 2003
"Over 800 donated daylilies were planted at the D-Day Memorial. Donna Bagley (was) up to her knees in plants about to be set out on the grounds of the memorial.... Chairman of the event Don Johnson....issued planting assignments of the numerous varieties to three diggers -- Jacqueline Wente, Carolyn Alley and Gary Osborne."
-- The Bedford Bulletin, April 23, 2003
D-Day License Plate Approved
"A license plate dedicated to the National D-Day Memorial will become a reality if at least 350 people apply for it... Bedford's American Legion Post...has assumed responsibility to promote the program...The plate will include the National D-Day Memorial Foundation's red, white and blue logo on its left side and will have space for six alpha-numeric characters. People with existing six character vanity plates can transfer these plates to a D-Day license plate for a $10 fee, which is in addition to the $25 cost of the new plates.
"(Post commander Nick) Soukhanov said that the new plates should show up in the fall if the required number of people sign up for them. After 1,000 of the plates have been sold, $15 of the fee for each additional plate will go to the D-Day Memorial Foundation...."
-- John Barnhart of The Bedford Bulletin, March 19, 2003
Thumbs Up to Central Virginia's Military Veterans
"Under the guidance of the Marine Corps League Lynchburg Area Detachment, veterans have been dispatched to grocery stores and shopping centers to raise the money to retire the debt "One Dollar (or More) at a Time."
"Organizer Phil Wood said last week the group had collected more than $6,000 in less than a month.
"Lloyd Woodford, a cabinet maker and friend of Wood's who has helped organize the drive, created replicas of the D-Day Memorial's Overlord Arch
as money banks to collect the donations, along with easels to explain their mission."
--The Lynchburg News and Advance, March 8 , 2003
Debt Payment Plan Agreement
Memorial, Creditors Agree on Plan"Clif Coleman, president of Coleman-Adams Construction Company, joined architect Byron Dickson and memorial foundation president William McIntosh Thursday to announce the agreed upon solution and to express a continued spirit of cooperation.
"'We're very proud to be involved in this project and it is our pride that has allowed us to work through this process,' Coleman said....
"Coleman went beyond just talk -- he donated an additional $10,000 on behalf of Coleman-Adams and the Coleman family. The money will be used to underwrite two bronze plaques bearing the names of soldiers who died on D-Day....
"'The key to the completion and stabilization of the D-Day memorial is payment of debts already in place,' McIntosh said. 'Once we have done that, it is our intention to move on with the education center and ultimately to establish an adequate endowment to support and maintain the memorial.'
"McIntosh said he hopes to raise as much as $1.5 million in fewer than two years with the help of a newly recruited blue ribbon development commission.... The development commission consists of fund-raising professionals from across the state, McIntosh said, with more than a century of combined experience in the field. Members include Wallace Stettinius of Richmond, John Shannon of Newport News, Gerald Quigg of Richmond, Thomas Connors of Charlottesville and Stephen Stevick of Bedford....
"The memorial continues to raise money through its underwriting program for the bronze plaques, which cost $5,000 each to underwrite. Beyond Coleman's donation, McIntosh said the money recently raised by the Marine Corps league has paid for two plaques so far and that Moose Lodges across the state have contributed $40,000 for 8 plaques. The foundaton has ordered a total of 50 plaques so far and will dedicate them this Memorial Day...."
-- Caroline Wallinger of The Lynchburg News and Advance, March 7, 2003
"The D-Day foundation will pay off $3.8 million in the next five years as part of the agreement....As part of the agreement, none of the balance owed will be subject to interest initially, but any debt remaining after 30 months will be subject to 8 percent interest, retroactive to August 2002...
"The foundation, however, still must cope with negative publicity from the fraud trial of former foundation president Richard Burrow."
--Jay Conley of The Roanoke Times, March 7, 2003
Dinner, Awards Honor Memorial Volunteers
Woman's Club Thanks D-Day Volunteers"Nancy Tomsic, volunteer coordinator for the memorial, said the Bedford Women's Club organizes an event each year to benefit the memorial, and this year they decided to focus on volunteers.
"'You really can't run this place without the volunteers,' Tomsic said. Tomsic is vice-president of the woman's group.... Tomsic said 212 volunteers logged more than 19,800 hours last year, and that many may have worked more hours that they did not record.
"The money for the event comes from a craft show that the woman's club holds each fall. This year's show raised more than $1,200, Tomsic said."
-- Caroline Wallinger of The Lynchburg News and Advance, March 6, 2003
"Last Saturday (March 8), the Woman's Club sponsored a sponsored a spaghetti dinner for the volunteers. The City of Bedford allowed them to use Bedford Elementary School at no charge and Betty Goode prepared the food, also at no charge. Most of the door prizes were donated by area businesses....
"The top volunteer, Chris Buccola, put in 426 hours and the runner-up, Jim Bryant, logged 320 hours. Bryant is a D-Day veteran himself. He was a glider pilot, one of the men who flew the engineless craft, loaded with airborne troops and equpment, to landings on Norman fields, behind German lines, at about 1 a.m. on June 6, 1944....
"The volunteers are vital to the Memorial's operations. They act as tour guides, assist visitors, man the information desk and work in the gift shop....This has included picking up trash that visitors have dropped and rescuing animals that were left in hot cars. Two-thirds of the volunteers are veterans....
"Top volunteers included Chris Buccola, Jim Bryant, "Mac" McHenry, Joan Kernan, Jim Richardson, Herb Crowder, Bobbie Johnson, Owen Peak, "Pudden" Updike, "Buster" Shaeff, Bob Torien, Lucy Peak, Dave Carroll, Harvey Clarke, Al Vincent, Ernie Ryan and Boyd Wilson."
-- John Barnhart of The Bedford Bulletin, March 12, 2003
A Military Swap
“'Obviously, there’s a synergy between us and the D-Day memorial,’ says Brian Shaw, spokesman for the Lexington-based George C. Marshall Foundation.“The Marshall Foundation and Museum received a large-scale model of the National D-Day Memorial. In exchange, the foundation is sending a bust of Gen. George C. Marshall to Bedford.
“'It only made sense from our point of view,’said D-Day Memorial board chairman Peter Viemeister. ‘The model had been built to show what the memorial would look like when it was finished. Now, there’s really no need to have a model on site.’
“And placing the mockup inside the dramatic, white-columned Marshall Museum at Virginia Military Institute, Viemeister said, ‘raises the hope that people will go to Lexington, see the model and say, Hey, let’s go look at the real one.’
“Similarly, the sight of the Marshall bust may nudge history buffs westward.
“The deal cost the D-Day memorial nothing, since the Marshall Foundation provided the truck that picked up the model last Tuesday.
“Later this month, Viemeister will drive over the mountain and pick up the bust, which is about 30 inches high.”
--Darrell Laurant, The News and Advance, Lynchburg, January 13, 2003