Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 3, 1994 TAG: 9405030154
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ceremonies dedicating the capsule will be held at 2 p.m. June 5, one day before the actual D-Day anniversary.
The capsule's burial at the city's War Memorial at Lee Plaza will be part of a larger Roanoke ceremony to commemorate D-Day. The invasion on the coast of Normandy in northern France provided a western battle front against the forces of German dictator Adolf Hitler and was a turning point in World War II.
Many Western Virginians in all branches of the armed forces were involved in the D-Day invasion. The participants, many of whom lost their lives, included, in particular, many men from Roanoke, Bedford and other Virginia communities who served in the U.S. Army's 29th Infantry Division.
The division led the assault on the western portion of Omaha Beach, one of five D-Day invasion beaches. The 29th Division's 116th Infantry Regiment, which was the first to land in Normandy, was a Virginia National Guard unit before the war.
Retired Army Gen. William B. Rosson of Roanoke and the 29th Division Band and Color Guard will participate in the dedication of the time capsule. That ceremony will be followed at 2:45 p.m. by a church service at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church across from Lee Plaza.
A highlight of the service will be the performance by Richard Cummins, the church's music director, of a composition written for the occasion by Victoria Bond, director of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.
After the church service, a procession will go to the Roanoke Valley History Museum at Center in the Square for the formal opening of "D-Day Remembered," an exhibit to honor the military contributions by people from the area.
The day's events are sponsored by the National D-Day Memorial Foundation and the museum.
The foundation and museum are still seeking artifacts and memorabilia for the exhibit and the museum's permanent D-Day and military collection.
If you have items that you think might be suitable for the time capsule or for inclusion in the museum's collection, call Nancy Connelly at 342-5770, Bob Slaughter at 989-6512 or John Will Creasy at 774-8101.
The museum also is looking for participants for an oral-history project about World War II and D-Day. Recollections about the war abroad or on the home front will be recorded May 20, 21, 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an interview, call the museum at 342-5770.
by CNB