Seven years ago, I was at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia for the 75th anniversary. It was a very solemn moment, and I am so glad I was able to go.

June 6, 1944 was D-day, the day in which many Allied soldiers invaded the beaches of Normandy, France, in efforts to drive German soldiers out of Western Europe. Overlord was the mission’s name.

During the memorial I went to, there was an aerial tribute, featuring the RAF hurricane and spitfire, Mosquito, B-17, P-51, and more. But most strikingly, several WWII soldiers were featured, and their stories were shared. I can’t really describe the experience. You would have had to have been there, sitting in the heat on a concrete surface, trying to avoid a sunburn (which I failed miserably at), while yet still feeling cold due to the goosebumps you got as you heard those stories. Those men went through so much for our freedom. They were willing to give up everything. 

While all of the soldiers who fought and died during that long battle certainly deserve to be remembered, Bedford, Virginia, was the town who suffered the greatest losses proportionally and is home to the National D-Day Memorial. Out of the thirty soldiers from Bedford who were deployed to Normandy, nineteen of them died on the beaches, and four more died later from wounds suffered from the battle. While D-Day was not the deciding factor for WWII, it certainly inspired the Allies. D-Day had shown that no matter how small the forces were, the determination of the soldiers outshone the skepticism. 

If you ever have the chance of traveling to Bedford, Virginia, I would highly recommend visiting the National D-Day Memorial.

Today, 82 years after Operation Overlord, please remember all of those who died for our freedom. If you have the privilege of knowing a veteran who served in WWII, give them a call and express your gratitude for their sacrifice. I knew a veteran who served in WWII and I was able to sit down with him and talk about it with him before he passed. If you know any veteran, for that matter, thank them for their service. The one thing I want to stress to you – never forget the price of freedom. The price of freedom is high. But it’s a price every single veteran and military member is willing to pay. Don’t ever forget. 

For more information on the National D-Day Memorial, visit https://www.dday.org. 

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