Guests enjoyed lunch at the Olde Liberty Station, a restaurant in Bedford located in the former Norfolk and Western Railway Station. This station once transported men, supplies and ammunition during World War II. Once the hub of community life, it has been restored and now serves lunch and dinner.
The guest speaker was John Long, Educational Director of the D-Day Memorial. This national memorial represents American D-Day veterans on its 50 acres located in Bedford. Thirty-four Virginia National Guard soldiers from Bedford were part of the D-Day invasion; 19 were killed during the first day, and four more died during the rest of the Normandy campaign. This town and the “Bedford Boys” proportionately suffered the greatest losses of any American town during the campaign. After his talk, Long took questions and comments.
Members who were present at this meeting knew of the Bedford Boys, and some were neighbors to their families. Barbara Helms spoke about them from personal knowledge as members of her church.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political organization open to any woman who has lineage to a Patriot who contributed to the success of the American Revolution. If you are interested or have questions about joining this organization, contact Membership Chair Emily Talbot-Guillote via email at eptg1019@gmail.com or Regent JoElla Hall John at jjohnregent@gmail.com. Visit the website at https://bocodar.wixsite.com/bocodar.
