Every year when school starts back, we eagerly await the
arrival of over 360 first years from Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets for their
annual visit. It is always exciting to watch the next generation of servicemen and women learn
about the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of those who served before them—especially
considering the Virginia Tech and D-Day connection.
Virginia Tech (VT) was established in 1872 with
agricultural and military training central to its mission. During World War II,
not only did students serve but the campus was transformed into an active-duty military
installation. In all, more than 7,000 VT alumni served in WWII, of whom 323
died in service to their country.
One of our Bedford Boys and D-Day fatalities, John
Schenk, was a Business Administration major at Virginia Tech. You can read more
about John’s experience here. Throughout the first month or so of the invasion,
VT lost 20 alumni in and around Normandy. There is a plaque just outside of the
Memorial’s Gray Plaza that memorializes VT’s contribution to the D-Day
Invasion.
Today, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets’ mission is to
nurture and create great leaders ready to pursue military careers or to enter
the public and private sectors after graduation. This summer, many of the
cadets went to Normandy and learned first-hand about the sacrifices made by
those whose footsteps they are following. Read about their trip to Normandy
here.
Thankfully, it was a mild morning for the 360 or so first
year cadets to rotate through seven different stations at the Memorial. Many of
our volunteers, and even one of our World War II veterans, come out year after
year to lead a station and share about the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of
those who stormed the beaches on June 6, 1944 because it is inspiring to see
young men and women who understand the importance of service to their country.
Check out the following news stories to hear more about
the visit from the cadets themselves:
Until Next Time,
Maggie
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