“Remembering their valor, fidelity, and sacrifice.”
The Richard Reynolds Sr. Garden, a stylized English garden connects the memorial with England where the Normandy invasion was planned. Here are sculptures of Eisenhower and portrait busts of all his subordinates. The pattern of the garden is the design of the shoulder patch.
The Elmon T. Gray Plaza is on the next level. The plaza floor is divided into five segments: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword, the five landing beaches. Plaques with the names of 4,413 Allied service members killed this day.
The Beach Tableau depicts, with sculptures and water, the landing. In the water the struggle is evident even with the stillness of the sculpture. When shot hits the water the water sprays with startling realism. This area honors the 10,000 aircraft that flew support on this day and more than 5,000 ships.
A triumphal arch rises forty-four-and-a-half feet above Estes Plaza celebrating the success of the Normandy landing and the enormity of the international effort. It recognizes the human toll. The sculputures here are powerful. Flags of the twelve nations fly in an arc along the exterior of Estes Plaza and nearby the sculpture of Valor, Fidelity and Sacrifice honors the Allied Expeditionary Forces at D-Day.
The Stettinius Parade is a solemn walk of statues, memories, and hope. Not to be missed.
This amazing Memorial doesn’t receive any federal or state funds and relies on donations to operate. Pets aren’t permitted, except service animals, but they offer free kennel service.
Why is this D-Day Memorial set in a tiny rural Virginia community? Why Bedford? Bedford suffered the nation’s severest per capita D-Day loss. 44 sailors, soldiers, and airmen were killed in action. A book whose title is The Bedford Boys is available in their gift shop.
If you are ever anywhere in the Lynchburg-Appomattox, Virginia, vicinity, this is a must-see.