Across a vast ocean, 11 boys from Bedford, Virginia are buried overlooking the windswept beaches of Normandy. Bedford lost 19 during the D-Day liberation…the greatest proportional loss suffered by a single town on that day. In words inscribed on the wall of a chapel that lies amidst the rows of crosses we are given the following charge: “Think not only upon their passing. Remember the glory of their spirit.”

As we commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy we remember their sacrifice and honor their lives which were tragically cut so short. Courage, honor and loyalty -- these are the threads of the American fabric. And these are the qualities these fine young soldiers so nobly exemplified.

This week I had the privilege of attending a special screening of the new documentary “Bedford: The Town They Left Behind”. It was an amazing tribute to those brave young men from Bedford who sacrificed their lives to protect the freedoms we hold so very dear and a community that pulled together in the ultimate display of resilience.

We, the beneficiaries of this seemingly endless stream of valor, often fall short in our efforts to commemorate those who bought with blood the freedom that is our birthright. But try we must… for theirs is a noble story… full of sacrifice for a cause greater than one’s self and so on this special occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy I would like to encourage folks to visit the National D-Day Memorial located in Bedford. This memorial serves as a place to honor and remember not just the famed Bedford Boys but all our brave men who played a role in the largest single-day amphibious invasion of all time.

While we gather this week to honor our brave veterans of the past, it is also important to remember our active duty military who are heroically serving our country today. Daniel Webster once said, "God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it." From the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marines, to the Coast Guard, Webster was speaking of the patriots who have put their lives on the line for our nation. These noble individuals deserve our honor, our respect and our appreciation. From the earliest days of our nation, American patriots have served the twin causes of freedom and justice whenever our nation has asked it of them.

On June 6, 1944, over 150,000 service members landed on the beaches of Normandy with the assistance of over 5,000 ships and 11,000 airplanes. The Allied forces suffered nearly 10,000 casualties before the invasion was complete. Today we are grateful for the sacrifices made by these brave men who so nobly defended our nation on foreign soil and allowed us to enjoy the freedoms and liberties of our great country.

Main page photo courtesy of flckr user, normandyphotos