ArmchairGeneral.com received the following information from the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Contact information for those who wish to respond appears at the end of the article.
National D-Day Memorial Seeking D-Day Vets Across Nation for Coming Anniversary
The National D-Day Memorial is inviting all D-Day veterans from around the nation to gather at the nation’s memorial to the Normandy invasion for the 65th Anniversary of D-Day coming this June. With most D-Day veterans in their mid-80s, the gathering is anticipated to be the last large-scale observance of the anniversary. As such, this anniversary is expected to be especially poignant for vets and their families. The National D-Day Memorial has a four-day observance planned to provide opportunities for veterans to share their stories and have them preserved for posterity.
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Admission to the Memorial is free all day on June 6th, but the Memorial is still anxious to hear from D-Day veterans planning to attend the commemoration to share news about special vets-only opportunities. Special seating is available for veterans at the commemoration ceremony on the morning of June 6th, but they must contact the National D-Day Memorial to reserve seating now. D-Day vets can also arrange to have their oral histories recorded during their visit by appointment, or by phone following the anniversary. Planned activities for June 6th include a commemoration ceremony at 11AM featuring wreath-layings and recognition of D-Day veterans, USO shows, displays, booksignings by D-Day veteran authors, and a nighttime illumination of the Memorial with thousands of luminaries in honor of the D-Day fallen.
More than 150,000 Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen participated in the Normandy invasion of June 6th, now known simply as D-Day. Approximately half of that number were Americans. More than 4400 Allied servicemen lost their lives on D-Day. The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia commemorates the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of Allied D-Day forces. Now in its eights year of operation, the Memorial is located in the town sustaining the highest per capita D-Day losses in the nation. 19 of the 26 sons Bedford sent to D-Day were killed in the first wave at Omaha Beach.
D-Day veterans are encouraged to contact the National D-Day Memorial Foundation at (800) 351-3329 to make arrangements or via email at dday@dday.org. For full details about the Memorial and the 65th Anniversary, click here. are available at www.dday.org.
