On June 6, 1944, Bedford's Company A of the Virginia National Guard's 116th Infantry Regiment stormed Omaha Beach, one of the first two assault regiments. Of the 35 Bedford men in the company, 19 died in the invasion. Historians say that 19 deaths from Bedford, with a 1944 population of about 3,200, was the highest per capita loss from any single community in the United States.
Decades later, the National D-Day Memorial was built in Bedford to honor those men and all others who served during that historic invasion. This year, the memorial celebrates its 10th anniversary even as it faces questions about its uncertain future.
In their own words: D-Day veterans speak
Bob Sales
Bob Sales, of Madison Heights, landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 as part of the Virgina National Guard's Company B. The 85-year-old was the last man to survive from his landing craft and went on to fight for half a year following the Normandy invasion. He received the Purple Heart for being wounded in battle. Click the Play button on the lower left of the slideshow to hear his story.
Timeline: 10 Years of the D-Day Memorial
Credits
Photography, audio & slideshow production by Kim Raff | Timeline & text by Justin Faulconer | Web production by Matt Busse