6 June 1944 was one of the most tragic days in American military history. On that day, referred to as D-Day, the largest invasion force ever assembled approached the beaches of Normandy. A decisive moment in World War II, the force was composed of 9 battleships, 23 cruisers, 104 destroyers, 71 large landing craft of various descriptions troop transports, mine-sweepers, and merchantmen. There were 5,000 ships of every type supporting the invasion with thousands more Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marine ground forces (Kershaw, ch 8). A world away from the fleet preparing to invade Normandy was Bedford, Virginia. It was a small, Mayberry type town nestled just below the Blue Ridge Mountains. Most citizens of this quaint, yet historical community, slept peacefully while hundreds of Soldiers thousands of miles away began final preparations before embarking on their mission to the French Coast. Although most people from Bedford had never heard of Normandy, they would soon feel the effects of its shattering events and its impact upon Bedford's people and its history for the rest of their lives. For, on that day, 19 husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers from a population of 3,000 perished in the first bloody minutes of D-Day when their landing crafts dropped them in the shallow waters off Omaha Beach. They were part of the first wave of American Soldiers to storm the shores of Normandy. Later that day, 2 more Soldiers from the small town died from gunshot wounds. Altogether, 21 men from Bedford paid the ultimate sacrifice. No other town in America suffered a greater one-day loss. It is a story that one cannot easily forget and one that the families of Bedford will never forget. It was, and still is, Bedford, Virginia's longest day (Kershaw, ch 14).

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