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Took some folding tables into town this morning. Daughter was having a yard sale. She told me about her trip the day before. Her & husband went a little over an hour away to Bedford, Virginia.
About halfway between Roanoke & Lynchburg, it's at the foot of the Blue Ridge
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About halfway between Roanoke & Lynchburg, it's at the foot of the Blue Ridge
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It's an old, farming community that attracted manufacturing during the 20th century, and when that moved out, was more or less a suburb of the two larger cities.
But one thing stands out with Bedford, more than any other town in the US. It was the price paid on Omaha Beach.
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But one thing stands out with Bedford, more than any other town in the US. It was the price paid on Omaha Beach.
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Bedford's "boys" were part of the 116th Regiment, 29th Division. It's a National Guard unit that was federalized just before WWII started for us. The unit patch symbolizes that members were from Virginia & Maryland.
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The 116th spent almost 2 years in England, training before the invasion at Normandy. On June 6, they were in the 1st wave. Some didn't make it out of the surf before giving the last, full measure of devotion. Others made it in, already wounded, and some died on the beach.
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In the 24 hours past H Hour, 19 of Bedford's "boys" lost their lives. 4 more died before the breakout from Normandy. One small town would receive 19 telegrams and 19 Gold Stars from this day.
Yesterday, July 17, marks the day that the first group of the telegrams arrived.
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Yesterday, July 17, marks the day that the first group of the telegrams arrived.
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I think she told me that 3 or 4 came across the wires on the 17th, and the remainder the next day. After the first group, the town had received what they believed was the worst of their news. The telegraph printer was turned don the 18th & kept printing. 19 total.
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It had a devastation on the psyche of this small town that is still felt by some today. The number killed that first day was the highest total, per capita, of any locality in the US. The 19 became known as the Bedford Boys. They died as men. https://citizen-soldiermagazine.com/the-bedford-boys/
