ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 18, 1996 TAG: 9605200038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOANNE POINDEXTER STAFF WRITER BEDFORD
The Bedford County men who died in the D-Day invasion of Normandy
OMAHA BEACH CIRCLE will be the name of the driveway in front of the Army National Guard Armory and the VFW post on Main Street.. soon will have a street named to honor them.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Peaks of Otter Post 2157 and the Virginia Army National Guard will christen Omaha Beach Circle today at 1 p.m. The VFW will reopen its renovated post hall at the same time.
The street has served as a one-way driveway in front of the Army National Guard Armory and the VFW post on Main Street. The circle will become two-way after its dedication.
Staff Sgt. James Langford and Sgt. Micheal Bentley initiated the effort to name the street. They sought help from VFW Commander Peter Snelling because the armory is on land owned by the VFW post.
Snelling turned to Bedford City officials, who installed the street signs, which were paid for by the VFW. Snelling also worked out details with the U.S. Postal Service about mail delivery to the armory.
The VFW's new address will be 29 B Omaha Circle. The armory's address will be 29 A Omaha Beach Circle, in honor of the Virginia National Guard's 29th division, Company A, which was based in Bedford.
Company A was part of the 116th Infantry that led the Allied invasion of France on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Forty men from Bedford were in the invasion force, and 19 were killed.
Bedford Mayor Mike Shelton said he thinks the street name is a fitting honor "because on D-Day Bedford boys from Company A were the first to hit the beach."
"This is another step in Bedford recognizing soldiers from D-Day and the community's distinction in history," Shelton said.
Today's ceremony will include speeches by John Peters, the state VFW commander, and Brig. Gen. Carroll D. Childers, who represented Virginia at the 50th anniversary observance of the Normandy invasion.
The guard also will display its vehicles, and an open house will be held in the renovated post hall. Representatives from the National D-Day Memorial committee also will have a display.
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff. Peter Snelling, commander of the VFWby CNBPeaks of Otter Post 2157 poses with the new street sign.