Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 12, 1994 TAG: 9411150034
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's too bad the memorial was not even started, much less completed, by this year's 50th anniversary of the momentous Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy during World War II. Lack of a monument may have cost our region worldwide attention during the international commemorations of the invasion.
But this year's events did serve to remind home folks - and educate those too young or new to the region to know - that little Bedford, population 6,000, gave far more than its share of sons to the fiercely fought endeavor. Bedford suffered the highest number of casualties per-capita of any community in the United States.
Many in Bedford still remember the pain of that distinction, and the city has enthusiastically courted the National D-Day Memorial Foundation. The foundation made a good choice in picking the Bedford site - 20 acres in a pastoral setting - over one in the heart of downtown Roanoke.
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers congratulated the foundation on its choice, while in the same breath expressing regret that the memorial won't be added to Roanoke's list of tourist attractions. And in the next breath he criticized Salem and Roanoke County officials for saying they would support a memorial in Bedford or elsewhere in the Roanoke Valley.
Pardon? Is this the same Mayor Bowers who underwhelmed the foundation with his lack of enthusiasm earlier this year? Bowers expressed support for the monument, but made it clear the city was not promising any funding.
The city finally came through with an offer of a site at Entranceway Park, but the cramped space near heavily traveled roads was problematic. Add to that the heartfelt pledges of support from Bedford's officials, and the decision between the two cities couldn't have been too tough.
Now, as Salem Mayor James Taliaferro is pledging $250,000 for the memorial, Bowers is criticizing valley officials for daring to support a project outside Roanoke's city limits. Such a display, sad to say, reinforces perceptions that the city's enthusiasm for regional cooperation extends only to undertakings within the city.
Roanoke is making a fine effort to become a center for tourism in Southwest Virginia, and wants to offer as many attractions as possible in search of a critical mass that will give it significant drawing power. That is commendable.
But Roanoke will benefit as surely as Bedford will from a memorial in the neighboring county if it becomes a major attraction. Where, for example, does Bowers think most of the tourists visiting the memorial would stay for the night?
The city ought to join other valley governments in supporting the project enthusiastically. One place or the other may draw tourists for a particular reason, but if something worthwhile is close by, visitors will stay all the longer to take it all in. That is one benefit of regionalism.
by CNB