Family Day Fun!

 Hello All,

Authentic Navy recruitment tent on display, Family Day 2014.

I trust you all have been enjoying your summer thus far, despite the heat and stormy weather. Also, I hope everyone was able to enjoy the fireworks display in Bedford over July 4th, it was a spectacular sight!! 

If you are looking for a fun, educational and exciting weekend activity, look no further than the National D-Day Memorial. We will be hosting our annual Family Day Event, generously sponsored by the Woodmen of the World of Virginia, on Saturday, July 18, 10AM-5PM. Families will be able to meet over a dozen World War II veterans from the 8th Air Force, the 29th Infantry Division, Merchant Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and other military units. These brave veterans will be situated in the education tent until 1PM to meet with you and share their wartime experiences.

D-Day Veteran signing a veterans poster, Family Day 2014.

One such veteran is D-Day paratrooper Norwood Thomas. Thomas joined the U.S. Army in March 1942 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division where his first combat mission was to parachute into Normandy, just 4 miles inland of Utah Beach, on 6 June 1944. Not only did he survive the Invasion of Normandy, but he also rode a Waco CG-4A troop transport glider into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden and fought in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Meeting a man such as Norwood Thomas is humbling and unique experience nowadays. It is vitally important for us to honor and remember our veterans while they are still with us so that their legacies will be passed on to future generations. Don't miss out on your opportunity to meet a true American hero.

Not only will Norwood Thomas be sharing his heroic narrative, but also B-17 gunners, radio operators, Higgins boat drivers, and men who served in the Navy in both the Pacific and European theaters. "We encourage people to visit our WWII veterans at this event," stated April Cheek-Messier, President of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation. "We are losing them at an alarming rate of 492 a day according to Veterans Administration statistics. Over 16 million served during WWII and just over 800,000 are still with us today. Now is the time to say thank you and hear their stories. They are a national treasure," she added. To guarantee your visit with these remarkable men, be sure to make your way to the education tent before 1PM.

Dedicated D-Day volunteers having some fun at the 2014 Family Day Event.

Family Day is a uniquely interactive event for visitors of all ages to experience life during World War II. Since this year is the 70th Anniversary of the end of WWII, the main focus of the event will spotlight the twelve Allied nations involved in D-Day. Guests will be able to explore artifacts, converse with living historians, view military vehicles and equipment, partake in craft making, and more. Twenty-five activity stations will be throughout the site including stations on WWII propaganda, medics, WWII aircraft, Victory Gardens, V-mail, the home-front, and so much more! Local authors Franz Beisser (Time and Place: The Making of an Immigrant and Red Solstice) and Zoe Myers (We Two: A Story of War and Love) will be on site with their books available for purchase. Guided tours of the Memorial will take place throughout the day and depart from the deck of the Gift Store.

Recently donated authentic WWII Command Jeep.

New this year: the Memorial has partnered with the Red Cross to "Pack the Command Car" with non-perishable food and supplies for our U.S. troops serving overseas. Just like during WWII, our servicemen and women need our support in any form we can provide. If possible, please bring one or more of the following items; TRAVEL SIZE personal hygiene products such as shampoo, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, body wash, foot lotion, non-aerosol insect repellent, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, lip balm, and sunscreen. Other items include Individual Size food supplies such as hard candies, cookies, rice krispie treats, snack cakes, granola bars, power-bars, nuts, chips, pretzels, trail mix, crackers, Cheez-Its, and cheese spreads. DVDs (movies) and international phone cards are also appreciated. The Red Cross will ensure all shipping and handling of donated items overseas is taken care of and will also host a station for guests to write "V" mail to military personnel currently serving.

A big thanks goes out to our generous sponsor, Woodmen of the World of Virginia. Woodmen of the World lodges from all over the state will be volunteering during the event. Thanks to their kind donation, students 18 and under will be admitted free to the event. Adults are $10 per person; veterans are $8; active military service members are free as part of the Blue Star Museum program. All proceeds benefit education initiatives of the Memorial. Please visit www.dday.org or call (540) 586-3329 for more information about the event.

Take care and hope to see you all on Saturday!

Elizabeth

Highlights from the 71st Anniversary of D-Day

Hello All,

71st Anniversary of  D-Day

This past Saturday, 6 June 2015, the 71^st Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day, was held at The National D-Day Memorial. The annual commemoration ceremony honors the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for us on that fateful day of days. They encompass the many reasons why we are here today and why it is of utmost importance to never forget their sacrifice for generations to come.

D-Day veterans Arden Earll and W.D. Casey with Korea Veteran Robert E. Key.

Over 1,900 people from across the world honored the Memorial with their presence for the 71st Anniversary of D-Day. Among the audience were at least 50 D-Day and World War II veterans. It is a true blessing to be able to honor these men and women while they are still with us. The theme for the day was honor, fidelity, and sacrifice; not a soul uttered a word when the 29^th Division began the drum roll and Attention, followed by the Presentation of the Colors. The wreath laying portion of the ceremony, in tribute to units involved in the D-Day invasion, was especially emotional to observe, along with the playing of Taps shortly afterwards.

Dame Mary S. Barraco and I in the Education Tent.

Keynote Speaker Dame Mary Sigillo Barraco brought the audience to tears with her stirring and inspiring speech on the subject of honoring the past and preserving fierce patriotism in the face of evil. Dame Mary Barraco was an American teenager living in Nazi occupied Belgium. At the tender age of 17, Mary made the courageous decision to join the “Freedom Fighters”, a Resistance Group known for aiding downed pilots, sneaking supplies and knowledge in and out of detention camps, and providing safe haven for Jewish citizens fleeing from Nazi persecution. Mary and her fiancé were eventually betrayed, for the equivalent of $15, by none other than a fellow Belgian partisan. Both were captured and separated by the Gestapo and were sent to a series of detainment camps. Mary’s fiancé was executed while she spent the remainder of her captivity in a Nazi controlled concentration camp. Mary was subjected to unimaginable horrors while imprisoned, yet despite it all, she continued to fight for liberty and freedom, drawing strength from God, justice, and love of country.

 

U.S. Coast Guard Silent Drill Team

After Dame Mary’s moving speech, the Coast Guard Silent Drill team honored our D-Day veterans with a Tribute to Veterans performance in the Main Plaza. Once again, the audience was completely silent and in awe of the talented group of men and women displaying phenomenal discipline as they swung their battle ready rifles with precise execution.

Col. Arnald D. Gabriel 

Shortly after the conclusion of the ceremony, patrons were treated to the delightful talents of the 29^th Division Band featuring guest conductor Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel, legendary conductor and World War II veteran. Col. Gabriel served as a machine gunner with the 29^th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II, receiving two Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the French Croix de Guerre. He continued his military career with 21 years  dedicated to the United States Air Force, conducting the renowned U.S. Air Force Band, Symphony Orchestra, and the Singing Sergeants from 1964- 1985. Following his retirement, Col. Gabriel was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service to the U.S. Air Force and to music education. 

Woodmen of the World Lodge 175 D-Day cake.

A highlight for so many each year is the Veterans Reunion Tent. D-Day and World War II veterans are able to meet for the first time or visit with old friends as they and their families share memories of the past and hopes for the future. This year, the Reunion Tent had a special treat for our veterans and visitors. The Woodmen of the World, in celebration of their 125^th anniversary, wanted to pay tribute to our D-Day veterans by baking a magnificent cake for their enjoyment. The cake showcased the twelve Allied nations that took part in the Normandy landings, along with all five invasion beaches represented around the cake.

Warmest thanks to all who supported the National D-Day Memorial for our most special event of the year, the Anniversary of D-Day. AREVA, Financial Designs, Freedom Aviation, Winoa USA, and Woodmen of the World Lodge 175 were fundamental to the success of the 71^st Anniversary of D-Day. On that same token, the event would not have been such a triumph without the help of our wonderful, hardworking, and dedicated volunteers!  Thank you on behalf of all of us at the National D-Day Memorial.

President April Cheek -Messier with WWII veteran Bobbie Johnson

Take Care,

Elizabeth

Commemorating the Anniversary of D-Day

70th Anniversary of  D-Day

Hello All,

The 71^st Anniversary of D-Day is fast approaching with only four more days left to prepare! Will you be amongst the thousands to join us for a truly humbling and honoring ceremony commemorating the 4,413 brave Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives in sacrifice for the greater good?

It is hard to believe it has already been a year since the festivities of the 70^th Anniversary of D-Day.  Last year’s events saw the largest gathering of D-Day veterans in the country and record high numbers for visitation, totaling over 11,000 people. Over 300 D-Day Veterans from across the country made the journey to our site for the commemoration of their heroic actions. The day began with a tribute to the paratroopers who went in before dawn on D-Day with the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team descending over the site, landing in front of two D-Day veteran paratroopers.

C-47 fly over, 70th Anniversary of D-Day

The ceremony continued with heart-wrenching and truly inspiring oral histories of that fateful day, read by various speakers, with Veteran Bob Sales providing the keynote speech for the ceremony. Mr. Sales landed on Omaha Beach, with the 116^th Infantry Regiment, 29^th Division. After the inspirational speeches, numerous wreaths were laid in front of the Invasion Tableau in tribute to those units who sacrificed so much. The ceremony speeches concluded with a C-47 fly over, signifying the importance of such a powerful piece of machinery that helped shape the progress of the Allied Forces in World War II.

After the ceremony, guests and veterans enjoyed the Veterans Reunion tent and sounds of the '40s with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Veterans and their families were able to connect with old friends and get to know new acquaintances throughout the afternoon.

Dedicating "Homage"

To end the day, the National D-Day Memorial hosted a special viewing of Casablanca in the Grey Plaza. The evening was a perfect end to a meaningful day. But the events of the 70^th Anniversary were far from over. The next day, the Town of Bedford enjoyed a special victory parade in honor of our Veterans of D-Day and World War II. And the weekend concluded with a Chapel service on Sunday, June 8^th.

It is important for us to always remember the past sacrifices of our countrymen and women so that we cherish the freedoms they have provided. It is imperative that we continue to honor those who sacrificed before us and to continue their legacy.

Join us for this Saturday’s commemorative ceremony for the 71^st Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, 11 AM at the National D-Day Memorial!

Bob Sales, World War II

“I tell you my story because it is in our hands, as veterans and as citizens, to preserve the legacy of those who were there. Long after the last of us has rejoined their ranks, we have to make sure that there might never come a day when June 6^th means no more than any other day. That there might never be a generation of Americans for whom the name Normandy means nothing at all. Time has…thinned our ranks… since June 6^th, but on this day of all days, we are always together – in spirit if not in body.” – D-Day Veteran Bob Sales. Bob has rejoined his brother’s in arms, passing away this past February 2015.

Take Care,

Elizabeth

Remember their Sacrifice

Hello All,

Alex Kersaw with Elizabeth and Felicia, NDDMF Staff

The staff at the National D-Day Memorial Foundation (NDDMF) would like to thank all those who came to the Memorial to support America’s veterans, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It was impressive to see so many individuals and families honoring our fallen veterans. We are happy to report that about 1,100 people were in attendance for the Memorial Day Ceremony. Our keynote speaker, Mr. Alex Kersaw, author of The Bedford Boys, truly captured the heart and soul of Memorial Day with his poignant reminder of why it is vital to continue honoring the legacy of those who sacrificed before us and those who will continue to protect our freedoms.

Alex and April laying flowers down at Leslie Abbott's grave.

After the ceremony, Alex and our NDDMF President, April Cheek Messier, spent the afternoon at the Oakwood and Greenwood Cemeteries, paying tribute to our fallen Bedford Boys. They, along with family members of the Bedford Boys, placed flowers at each grave site. This is the first year the Bedford International Alliance has coordinated such a moving tribute to our fallen heroes, having been inspired to do so after visiting Normandy for the 70^th Anniversary last year.

The next event for the National D-Day Memorial is, of course, the 71^st Anniversary of D-Day on Saturday 6 June 2015 and will be an event you most certainly will not want to miss!

Message from the President, April Cheek Messier,

“The National D-Day Memorial Foundation will commemorate the 71^st anniversary of D-Day with a full day of activities including special music, wreath-layings, a veteran’s reunion tent, living history, and a twilight remembrance in the evening. The ceremony begins at 11 AM on Saturday, June 6^th. Representatives from France, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom will be in attendance to lay wreaths, as well as representatives from various D-Day service units.

Memorial Day 2015

The keynote speaker for the program is Dame Mary Sigillo Barraco. Barraco was an American teenager living in Belgium when World War II broke out in Europe. Barraco was fluent in French, English, Flemish, Italian, and German which would serve her well in the years to come. Shortly after the war began, she joined a Resistance Group known as the “Freedom Fighters” and was responsible for aiding downed allied pilots, hiding Jewish citizens, and sneaking supplies to those held in Nazi prisons and detention camps. Barraco and her fiancé were eventually betrayed for the equivalent of $12 by a Belgian partisan. They were subsequently captured and subjected to savage torture by the Gestapo. Her fiancé was later executed.  Barraco’s message will center on tolerance, responsibly, and never taking freedom for granted.

The U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard Silent Drill Team will also perform during the June 6^th ceremony. Based out of Alexandria, Virginia, the Silent Drill Team travels extensively throughout the nation performing for thousands of citizens and dignitaries at parades, festivals, and military functions. The members of the Silent Drill Team also carry out ceremonial duties for the Military District of Washington at venues such as the White House, Pentagon, and Arlington National Cemetery. The Coast Guard Silent Drill Team exemplifies the Ceremonial Honor Guard’s time-honored values of pride, poise, and perfection.

A moving addition will be music provided by the 29^th Division band which will feature the legendary Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel as guest conductor. Col. Gabriel was a combat machine gunner with the 29^th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. He received two Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the French Croix de Guerre.

The National D-Day Memorial

Col. Gabriel served as Commander/Conductor of the internationally renowned U.S. Air Force Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Singing Sergeants from 1964 to 1985. His 21 year tenure was the longest in that organization’s history. Col. Gabriel retired from the United States Air Force in 1985 following a distinguished 36 year military career, at which time he was awarded his third Legion of Merit for his service to the United States Air Force and to music education throughout the country. In 1990, he was named the first Conductor Emeritus of the USAF Band at a special concert held at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. In 2008, the USAF Band dedicated the Arnald D. Gabriel Hall in his honor, and Bands of America inducted Col. Gabriel into its Hall of Fame. Col. Gabriel has performed in all 50 of the United States and in 50 countries around the world.

After the Memorial’s ceremony, which will conclude around noon, a patriotic concert will follow. The Enduring Freedom Honor Team from Fredericksburg, Virginia will perform from 12:30 to 1:15 PM. The group consists of high school students dressed in WWII era uniforms playing period music. From 1:30 to 2:30 PM, the 29^th Division band will conduct a full performance with Col. Gabriel in the Memorial’s main plaza. Food will be available on site throughout the day, providing guests an opportunity to meet World War II veterans under the veteran reunion tent.

Admission is free throughout the day and the Memorial will remain open until 9:00 PM.  For the evening, the Memorial is hosting a Twilight Remembrance with a portion of the 29^th Division Band playing 7:30 PM to closing. The band will end the evening with the sounding of Taps.

Please join the National D-Day Memorial for the 71^st anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2015. D-Day and World War II veterans and their families are asked to call ahead for VIP parking passes and reserved seating. For more information or updates, visit www.dday.org or call (540) 586-3329. This event is generously sponsored by AREVA, Winoa USA/W Abrasives, Freedom Aviation, and Financial Designs.”

I hope to see you all there!

Take Care,

Elizabeth

Prelude to Invasion: National D-Day Memorial Event

Hello All,

I hope you all had a relaxing and beautiful Easter Weekend! Spring is finally upon us; the weather is steadily getting warmer, the vegetation is blooming, warm days are here to stay! Activity is buzzing around the Memorial now that we have moved into the spring season.

If you are in the mood for an education-packed weekend, than I suggest you make a special trip to the National D-Day Memorial on April 18, 2015, 10 AM-5 PM, for our Prelude to Invasion Event! The event is for children young and old but family and guardians are more than welcome to join in the fun!

Special Announcement from our Education Director:

 “The event is designed to showcase the preparations for the Normandy landings. Omar Bradley and a Polish Living History unit will be on display; WWII veterans will be in the education tent, and several authors will be onsite throughout the day. Several stations will be set up on the site that focuses on several aspects on WWII.”

Scouts are encouraged to attend this event and will receive a discounted admission rate, at $4.00 per scout, as well as the chance to earn a special patch. Pre-registration of Scouts is required by April 10. Family members who wish to join their scouts will be charged regular admission upon arrival.

Some notable attractions include,

·         Book signings throughout the day by…

o   Bob Vandeline, Respect: Forgotten Heroes and Korea

o   Zoe Myers, We Two: A Story of War and Love

o   Thomas Carter, Beachhead Normandy: An LCT’s Odyssey

o   Franz Beisser, A time and Place and Red Solstice

·         Jeff Bush will be in attendance with our WWII Veterans

·         Interactive Living History Stations for a firsthand look at military life during the 1940s, and

·         Dave’s Dogs will be available for lunch.

For more information or to pre-register, contact the Memorial’s Education Department at (540) 586-3329, ext. 114.

This event is generously sponsored by American National and Pro Tech Fabrications, Inc.

Hope to see you all there.

Take Care,

Elizabeth

Winter Lecture Series: Night Witches of the Soviet Union

Hello everyone, 

Join us at the Bedford Area Welcome Center on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at noon for the final winter lunchbox lecture of the season.  This week we will be looking at the 588^th Night Bomber Regiment of the Soviet Union.  Nicknamed the Night Witches by the German soldiers, the 588^th was completely women regiment – pilots, navigators, and mechanics – everyone involved in the regiment.  Marina Raskova was responsible for the formation of this regiment and two others.  A famous aviatrix and national icon, Raskova petitioned Stalin for the right for women pilots to form their own unit.  It was a battle for her, but eventually she won and was named commander of the 587^th Bomber Regiment.  While on her way to the front, she was killed in a crash.  Raskova was given a state funeral and interred in the Kremlin. 

The 588^th Night Bomber Regiment was activated in the summer of 1942 and was honored in 1943 by building designated a “Guards” regiment, officially changing its name to the 46^th Taman Guards Bomber Regiment. Initially comprised of two squadrons, a third squadron plus a training squadron was later added. Their mission was to destroy tactical targets located close to the front lines, such as fuel depots, ammunition dumps, ground troops, support vehicles, bridges, and enemy headquarters.  Members of the regiment were also used on occasion to fly supplies and ammunition to Soviet front-line troops. 

During the course of the war, women accounted for more than 12 perfect of the Soviet Union fighter aviation strength.  They were moved around to different regiments, even flying beside male pilots, who trusted the veteran women pilots as they flew as they flew as trusted wing-men on a number of missions.  One of those women was Lilya Litvyak was a pilot in the 586^th Fighter Regiment.  Known as the White Rose of Stalingrad, Litvyak was the first woman pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft, first female pilot to earn the title of fighter ace, and the holder of the record for the greatest number of fills by a female fighter pilot.  

Litvyak flew her first combat flights in the summer of 1942 before being assigned to the 437^th, an all male fighter unit, for the Battle of Stalingrad.  On 13 September 1942, she scored her first two kills, just three days after beginning the defense of Stalingrad.  Her second kill was a dogfight with Bf 109 G-2 piloted by Staff Sergeant Erwin Maier, an 11-victory ace, three-time recipient of the Iron Cross.  Maier parachuted from his aircraft, was captured by Soviet troops, and asked to see the Russian ace who had out flown him.  When he was taken in front of Litvyak, he thought he was being made the butt of a Soviet joke and was not until Litvyak described each movement of the dogfight that he knew he had been beaten by a woman pilot.  

Litvyak was killed in action on 1 August 1943during the Battle of Kursk.  She never returned from her fourth sortie of the day and it was discovered that she was killed during a dogfight with a pair of Messerschmidt 109s.  At her death, she had achieved the rank Senior Lieutenant and was an ace in the Soviet Air Force with at least 12 solo and 4 shared kills over a total of 66 combat missions.  

 

To learn more about Raskova, Litvyak and more of these incredible women, remember to join us Thursday, March 26, 2015!  We hope to see you there! 

Until next time, 

Felicia 

Lecture Series: The Forecast for D-Day

Hello All!

 I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season and the New Year has started out well for you. Here at the Memorial we are diving right into the New Year with a three-part lecture series beginning January 29, 2015.

The first of the three lectures is called, “The Forecast for D-Day: The Weatherman behind Ike’s Greatest Gamble”. If you have ever wondered just how much the weather changed the course of history during the war then you must join us at the Welcome Center at noon.

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As you may already know, the Allied Expeditionary Force experienced less than ideal weather conditions on June 6, 1944. The seas were rough and stormy, the sky grey and foggy. While the men were aided by the grey cover, the seas roughed them up to the point of sickness. But those conditions were better than the ones they would have faced the day before on June 5, the original landing date. Author John Ross narrates the captivating history of how an entire invasion could be moved by twenty-four hours and the outcome of such a decision if proven faulty.

The lecture will be held in the Welcome Center at 12 PM until 1 PM. There will be a slide presentation and open discussion afterwards. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

Hope to see you there!

Take Care,
Elizabeth