Photo by Capt. A. A. Puryear, 29th Infantry Division

C. Richard Cranwell of the Virginia House of Delegates addressed the crowd during the Memorial Day observation in Bedford.

Photo by Capt. A. A. Puryear, 29th Infantry Division  

Members of the delegation from Lynchburg's sister city, Rueil-Malmaison, France, present John R. "Bob" Slaughter with a glass globe with sand from Omaha Beach.

Photo by Capt. A. A. Puryear, 29th Infantry Division  

Bernard Marie was five years old when the Normandy invasion took place and shared what a tremendous impact the D-Day invasion had on his life.

Photo by Capt. A. A. Puryear, 29th Infantry Division  

Peter Thomas shared his experiences as a young private who joined the 1st Infantry Division eleven days after the Normandy Invasion.

Photo by Capt. A. A. Puryear, 29th Infantry Division  

Jim Brothers, the artist that created the sculpture Across the Beach, talks with a D-Day veteran.

Photo by Capt. A. A. Puryear, 29th Infantry Division  

D-Day veteran Isak Nygard unveils the sculpture Across the Beach.

Photo by Capt. A. A. Puryear, 29th Infantry Division  

A side view of the sculpture Across the Beach.