Remembering D-Day: June 6, 1944

I'm only 37, but I had relatives that were survivors of WWII and the holocaust. Thus, I'd like to share some pictures that I took at the D-Day Memorial near Lynchburg, VA.

Two of the survivors that I know/knew (one is dead, the other still alive) are Colonel J Sydney Wolf and Arthur Seibert. Colonel Wolf died in the mid-to-late 1990's. The character in the BattleTech game, Col Jaime Wolf, might very well have been inspired by the real person. Back to reality . . .

The D-Day Memorial is actually located in Bedford County. It's about a 30 minute drive from the Candler's Mountain Road area in Lynchburg to the memorial. You can find more information at the official D-Day Memorial site.

Overlord Arch

Troops Land At The Beach

D-Day Memorial Emblem

Surveillance Plane

General Eisenhower Memorial

Wall of Fallen Soldiers and Surrounding Area

Although the memorial itself is quite impressive, the surrounding area is beautiful as well. Those who would like a challenging drive as well as some rewarding views can also drive to the Natural Bridge area from Lynchburg. There is a zoo there, beautiful scenery, and the Natural Bridge itself. For those who might not like winding roads, there's the Monument Terrace in downtown Lynchburg along with some cool architecture and the Langley Fountain. If you like to walk, there is a pretty lengthy walking path and bike trail in the downtown area too. Due to the lush landscape, most of the trail is well shaded yet easy to walk.

As you can see, there's a lot of history in western Virginia. There's also a lot of natural beauty. So, whether you're going there as a veteran, someone who likes history, or a nature lover, there's plenty to do.