Bedford to renew D-Day ties before anniversary

By Justin Faulconer

Published: September 28, 2008

Like a death grip on a rifle, Bedford holds close memories of its 19 men lost on D-Day and several more during World War II through the city’s National D-Day Memorial.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, 11 villages near Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, also observe the community’s sacrifice. Ten years ago, they forged a written agreement linking the areas to one another through a “twinning” relationship.

Next week, 50 members of the Bedford International Alliance will travel back to Normandy to keep the relationship intact as the 65th anniversary of D-Day approaches in June next year.

“The connection is very strong,” said chairman Bob Bashore, who is making the trip Oct. 6-15.

He was among those who signed the agreement on behalf of Bedford a decade ago.

He and the late Roy Stevens, a Bedford veteran who lost a twin brother during the invasion, stood on Omaha Beach with several French community leaders as memories were exchanged.

The trip was three years prior to the memorial’s dedication. Those same French leaders came to the ceremony in June 2001 when President Bush spoke with thousands looking out on the valor Bedford produced.

“Upon this beautiful town fell the heaviest share of American losses at D-Day,” Bush said in the dedication speech.

Bashore said the French who came were impressed with the memorial and how it depicted the scenes of battle.

They also had a sense of humor, demonstrated when they hosted the Americans in return.

“They told us we would be staying with poor farmers,” said Bashore. “It turns out we stayed in a 30-room castle.”

Bashore said the castle owner had his own tales to tell of the German occupation and how he lost a beloved pony.

Those stories from that time period are what Bashore hopes survives long after the veterans who were there are gone. He said he wants to see young people make the same trip in the future.

Memorial organizers are also hoping to keep those memories strong in the next generation.

The youngest D-Day veteran will turn 82 years old this year. The memorial is planning its biggest event since the 2001 dedication to honor them, said Shannon Brooks, associate of research and publications.

“We’re seeing next year as our last best opportunity to recognize these people while they walk among us.”

Timeline of the plans for the 65th anniversary

- Nov. ’08 – Jan. ’09: Operation Thank You. Students will offer messages to veterans in highly visual formats. A panel of judges will select the most creative, which will be used during the memorial’s anniversary program on June 6.

- Jan – June ’09: Countdown
A daily calendar of events will be posted on the memorial’s Web site with soldiers’ diary entries.

- June 4-7: Veterans Project
The memorial plans to record interviews with D-Day survivors, which would be recorded on DVD and housed in the memorial’s archives.

- June 4-5: Overlord Echoes at Liberty University
A conference at LU kicks off the 65th Anniversary weekend with authors, scholars and veteran speakers discussing a host of D-Day topics. Keynote speakers include author Alex Kershaw and historian Gerhard Weinberg.

- June 5: Outdoor Movie Night
The Bedford Area Welcome Center is hosting an outdoor movie night with a D-Day theme. A canteen will offer period refreshments and entertainment.

- June 6: The 65th anniversary will be observed in special ceremony. A nighttime illumination display will be placed around the grounds to honor the fallen.