The Shadow
BEDFORD, Va. (VR) — The National D-Day Memorial honored the service and sacrifice of the Bedford Boys on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with the dedication of two commemorative benches during its annual Veterans Day ceremony.
The benches, donated by the Bedford International Alliance (BIA), were installed at the Ridgway-Deming trailhead and serve as a lasting tribute to the Bedford soldiers who served during World War II.
The benches were inspired by those located at MacAndrews Field in Ivybridge, England, where members of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division trained in preparation for the D-Day invasion.
Each of the 32 upright posts bears the name of a Bedford Boy who served in Company A while stationed in Ivybridge. The height of each post represents the soldier’s lifespan, with many of those lives ending during the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Bedford suffered the highest-known per capita loss of any American community on D-Day, a sacrifice that continues to be remembered more than eight decades later.
The original benches in England were designed by Peter Lanyon and constructed by the Friends of Ham Woods and volunteers from Plymouth. The replicas installed in Bedford were designed and fabricated by Central Virginia Manufacturing.
The Bedford International Alliance sponsored, funded and oversaw the project, with financial support from several local businesses, organizations and individuals.
The dedication also recognized the lasting relationship between Bedford and Ivybridge. During World War II, residents of the English community welcomed American soldiers preparing for the invasion. That connection continued long after the war, particularly following the loss of so many Bedford servicemen.
Wednesday’s Veterans Day observance featured award-winning writer and professor Marilyn Moriarty as the guest speaker. Moriarty is the author of Splintered Shadows: Recovering a French Résistante, which explores the wartime experiences of her adoptive mother, Andrée, and the challenges faced by women living under German occupation.
Area JROTC students and the Brookville High School choir were also part of the ceremony. Musical group Brass 5 performed the “Armed Forces Medley” as veterans were recognized for their military service.
In addition to the bench dedication, the Memorial marked Veterans Day with the opening of the first phase of its expanded Higgins boat exhibit.
The new digital education kiosk allows visitors to hear firsthand accounts from veterans who traveled aboard the landing craft during D-Day. The exhibit also provides information about Andrew Higgins, the boat’s designer, and how Allied troops prepared for the Normandy invasion.
New photographic panels have also been installed at the rear of the Higgins boat shelter, providing additional historical information about the landing craft and its role during World War II.
Memorial officials said additional exhibit signage will be installed in the coming months as work continues to expand the educational display.
The Veterans Day observance served as another opportunity to recognize the sacrifices made by American servicemen and women while preserving the history of the Bedford Boys for future generations.
