#ddaymemorial

Oct. 1, 2017—Rats visit the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford on Sunday to learn about the sacrifices made at Normandy from veterans and volunteers. After rotating through the various sections, a wreath was placed at the memorial while Taps played in honor of the fallen soldiers.—VMI Photos by Ashlie Walter.

Flames of Memory, National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, Va Dec 3rd-5th, 5pm-9pm Free admission, donations welcomed. 4,415 luminaria placed for each who gave all on D-Day, and in honor of those who have served since that day. #nofilter #flamesofmemory #ddaymemorial #nationalddaymemorial #bedfordva #luminaria #dantesspirit (at National D-Day Memorial) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXCo0akLNqT/?utm_medium=tumblr

Flames of Memory Luminaries at the @ddaymemorial . #nofilter #ddaymemorial #flamesofmemory #bedfordva #luminaria #yule #dantesspirit (at Dante's Spirit) https://www.instagram.com/p/BreGrsJFdSA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8xaja2y398rh

This is the actual BBC emergency radio alert announcing to the English people that D-Day had begun 74 years ago today. #history #dday #ddaymemorial #allies

Learn more about The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia at www.dday.org.

Troops and crewmen aboard a Coast Guard manned LCVP as it approaches a Normandy beach on "D-Day", 6 June 1944. (U.S. Coast Guard Collection in the U.S. National Archives) In honor of the Coast Guard’s 224th Birthday, all active duty or veteran Coast Guard members receive free admission to the Memorial today. During the Normandy invasion of 6 June 1944, a 60-cutter flotilla of wooden WPB 83-foot Coast Guard cutters, nicknamed the "Matchbox Fleet", cruised off all five landing beaches as combat search-and-rescue boats, saving 400 Allied airmen and sailors. Division O-1, including the Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase (APA-26), landed the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division on Omaha Beach. Off Utah Beach, the Coast Guard manned the command ship USS Bayfield (APA-33). Several Coast Guard-manned landing craft were lost during D-Day to enemy fire and heavy seas. In addition, a cutter was beached during the storms off the Normandy coast which destroyed the U.S.-operated Mulberry harbor.

VOTE for Bedford Boy John Schenk's Bible nominated by the National D-Day Memorial as Virginia's Top Endangered Artifact! Visit www.vatop10artifacts.org click "Yes" under National D-Day Memorial then scroll to the bottom and click "Done" Please share with your friends and family to help the National D-Day Memorial Foundation preserve this piece of history! John Schenk's Bible was gifted to John by his step-mother, Rose Lewis Schenk, prior to the D-Day invasion. Assigned to the 29th Division, 116th Regiment, Company A, Ssgt. John Schenk landed in the first wave of the assault on Omaha Beach at 0630 with 34 young soldiers from Bedford, Virginia. In his pocket, he carried this Bible—a physical connection to his family an ocean away—when he became part of the largest amphibious invasion in history along the Normandy coastline on June 6, 1944. The Foundation is delighted to be selected for this preservation initiative conducted by the Virginia Association of Museums. Schenk’s Bible is currently housed in a climate-controlled environment to help protect from further deterioration. “We are concerned with the conservation of this piece and ensuring that it is preserved to tell the story of the Bedford Boys and D-Day for future generations,” Lowrance said. The Virginia Top 10 Endangered Artifact competition highlights unique artifacts throughout Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area. The program addresses the national recommendations of the Heritage Health Index Report to raise public funding and awareness of the importance of collections care. #vatop10

Bible Belonging to Bedford Boy Nominated by the Virginia Association of Museums as a Top 10 Endangered Artifact John Schenk's Bible was gifted to John by his mother, Rose Lewis Schenk, prior to the D-Day invasion. Assigned to the 29th Division, 116th Regiment, Company A, Ssgt. John Schenk landed in the first wave of the assault on Omaha Beach at 0630 with 34 young soldiers from Bedford, Virginia. In his pocket, he carried this Bible—a physical connection to his family an ocean away—when he became part of the largest amphibious invasion in history along the Normandy coastline on June 6, 1944. The Foundation is delighted to be selected for this preservation initiative conducted by the Virginia Association of Museums. Schenk’s Bible is currently housed in a climate-controlled environment to help protect from further deterioration. “We are concerned with the conservation of this piece and ensuring that it is preserved to tell the story of the Bedford Boys and D-Day for future generations,” Lowrance said. The Virginia Top 10 Endangered Artifact competition highlights unique artifacts throughout Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area. The program addresses the national recommendations of the Heritage Health Index Report to raise public funding and awareness of the importance of collections care. Voting for artifacts will begin on August 4 at www.vatop10artifacts.org. #vatop10