Thursday, July 9, 2015

D-Day Memorial, Part 2

The D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, as mentioned in Part 1, includes an area called the Beach Tableau, which comprises statues of soldiers landing on the Normandy beaches.  This one portrays two soldiers moving across the sand, with a fallen soldier behind them.  In the water is a replica of a Czech Hedgehog, one type of obstacle placed on the beaches by the Germans, but first developed in Czechoslovakia.

To the west of the Beach Tableau is the George "Jimmy" Green Circle, in which the contributions of the Allied naval forces are recognized.  In the middle of the Circle is this anchor.

The Green Circle also includes this ship's bell.

South of the Beach Tableau and Gray Plaza is Estes Plaza, which includes the Overlord Arch.

This statue, surrounded by flags, is at the south end of Estes Plaza.

South of Estes Plaza is a walkway named Stettinius Parade, along which is a recasting of the statue Le Monument aux Morts, originally by French sculptor Edmond de Laheudrie.  The statue was created to honor 44 men from Trévières, of which Laheudrie had been mayor, who died in World War I.  Believed to have sustained damage to its face on or around June 9, 1944, the as-damaged statue was later recast to produce the replica seen here.

Stettinius Parade was the southernmost part of the Memorial.  On the way back to my car, parked near the northern end, was the statue Homage, which was unveiled only a year ago.  This sculpture was specifically dedicated to the men from Bedford who died on D-Day.


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