Steve Huppert
Columnist
hupps440@aol.com
Short trips are good
As spring creeps into Southwest Virginia, it is a good time to look for short day trips within a couple of hours. One that is often forgotten is the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va.
The National D-Day Memorial honors the 10,000 allied casualties and 4,427 men who died attacking the Germans on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6,1944.
The memorial specifically honors the 26 members of the “A” Company, 116th Regiment, known as the “Bedford Boys” who served in “Operation Overload,” many were wounded or killed assaulting the beach.
A comment was made, “They were some of the bravest men the world has ever seen. The valor they showed should never be forgotten.”
When people visit the D-Day Memorial and the tour of the 55-acre campus, it is something that they will not forget soon, and it will help them realize what fellow Americans have done to protect this country.
The D-Day Memorial is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The location is well marked, off Rt. 460, with tours given every half hour. Each tour is approximately one hour. Visitors are encouraged to wear walking shoes and to be prepared for an experience you will not soon forget.
Remembering Harry Collins
In 1926 Will Rogers wrote that if “we could just send the same bunch of men to Washington for the good of the nation, and not for political reasons, we could have the most perfect government in the world”.
Harry Collins never made it to Washington, but he had an effect on the Christiansburg Town Council.
Harry passed away several weeks ago; during his time on council his goal was to do the best he could for the citizens of Christiansburg. He had the desire to make the town a place that citizens would be proud to be a part of.
His legacy was for all of us to treat each other with compassion and support and do what is right for the community. Will Rogers would be proud that people like Harry are still part of our government.
One of Harry’s programs that he supported was being President of the Lung Transplant Foundation, he advocated working for others who needed help.
Harry Collins will be missed and his desire to make this a better world will be too.
