[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13795]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                THE D-DAY MEMORIAL IN BEDFORD, VIRGINIA

  (Mr. PERRIELLO asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PERRIELLO. I rise in honor of the lives sacrificed by our brave 
men in uniform on the beaches of Normandy 65 years ago. This Saturday, 
let us remember the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, and the bravery 
of those involved. In the town of Bedford, Virginia, 19 of the 34 
servicemen who landed on the beaches gave their lives for freedom. 
Bedford suffered the largest per capita death toll of any American 
community during the invasion. These were the famous Bedford Boys, and 
we mourn the recent loss of the last of the survivors. Our Nation 
should not forget their sacrifices, which is why this Chamber 
recognized the D-day Memorial in Bedford as the National D-day 
Memorial. Sadly, that memorial faces financial difficulties in these 
grim economic times. Because of this and the sacrifice these men made, 
I am introducing legislation to ensure this memorial in the memory of 
the servicemen does not fade. The men we lost were local heroes, but 
the freedom and security bought with their sacrifice is a national 
treasure. So too is our D-day memorial, and I urge my colleagues to 
join me in making this a permanent part of our Nation's life.

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