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Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The National D-Day Memorial is the official national D-Day war memorial, opened on June 6, 2001 with then-president George W. Bush present alongside 15,000 other people. It states that the memorial's purpose is "In Tribute to the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of Allied Forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944", honoring the 4,414 Allied soldiers who died in the invasion out of 150,000 servicemen from 12 countries. Overlord Arch is the signature feature of the monument with flags of the Allies overlooking incredibly detailed sculptures of soldiers in a pond. Many times through the year, events ranging from reenactments of the war to a religious mass are held throughout the year.
The National D-Day Memorial is a war memorial located in Bedford, Virginia, United States. It serves as the national memorial for American D-Day veterans. Additionally, its scope is international in that it is "our nation’s memorial to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces on D-Day, 6 June 1944" and commends all Allied armed forces during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, during World War II.
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The Bedford Boys Tribute Center serves as a memorial to the "Bedford Boys" – the 22 men killed in D-Day and the Invasion of Normandy – and a glimpse into the historical pieces of World War II. Bedford suffered the heaviest per-capita losses of any American settlement from D-Day, the center pays tribute to the sacrifices of the Bedford Boys, displaying multiple pieces of clothing, diary entries, guns, and a variety of World War II-era cultural artifacts immersing you in the small but fascinating details of the town's history.
The Bedford Museum provides detailed glimpses into the past of the region, ranging from Native American culture to the American Civil War. The Genealogical Library holds 1,600 books and a further 1,000 files on Bedford families' names and history, along with historical artifacts from a variety of groups. Three floors of exhibits feature information on Native Americans, African Americans and the Civil Rights Movement, World War I and II, the Cold War (including the Korean and Vietnam Wars), Operation Enduring Freedom, the Civil War, and the American Revolution, along with annual events including the Train Layout, Fridays at the Museum, and the Women's History Month Essay Contest, all dedicated for children.
For over 175 years, Avenel has served as Bedford's centerpiece for cultural, political, and social activity. It was built in 1838 by William M. and Frances Steptoe Burwell. His entire family later moved into the house, which was later purchased in 1906 by J.W. Ballard. The house has a simultaneous atmosphere of 1800s American architecture and the Greek Revival architecture of that time. Today, a plethora of historical furniture pieces, paintings, and other details are present here. While group tours are offered, vibrant corporate events and wedding venues are also held here.
An elegant historic estate centered on peaceful streets, the Bedford Columns are an iconic conference center and wedding venue, with stunningly beautiful gardens enhancing the already modern decor. The outdoor ceremony area is complemented by exquisite furnishings that are ideal for weddings, all with the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking it all. The estate date backs to 1848, where it was first used as a college preparatory school and later a Confederate hospital. For years after, the estate was a symbol of the wealth of Bedford, until it was converted into a wedding venue. Today, it still features elegant and historical experiences.
The Peaks of Otter are three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, overlooking the town of Bedford, Virginia. Within the three peaks is a little over 12 miles of hiking. Johnson Farm is a historically restored site along one of the side trails towards Harkening Hill, it is an interactive, still functioning farm building from the early 1900s. On the summit of the far side of the main peak; Sharp Top, there is a famed crash site of a World War II B-25 bomber. Manmade Abbott Lake lies in the valley between the three peaks, behind the Peaks of Otter Lodge and restaurant. The National Park Service preserves the peaks and lake as part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.