National D-Day Memorial

Stopped here on our way through town. Good decision to stop. What a well put together memorial. The grounds are kept up so beautifully. Everybody, from the ticket booth rep to the museum host, was super nice. LOTS to read if you're into that.

A Truly Remarkable Place – Thoughtfully Designed and Full of Heart The memorial site left a deep impression on me – I’ve rarely seen a place so incredibly well maintained. It felt like you could eat off the floor! The entire area is beautifully embedded in nature, and even the walkways themselves feel like part of the experience. The memorial is designed with a sense of elegance and modernity, without ever feeling artificial or overdone. On the contrary, it’s both refined and respectful. The integration of water elements is particularly well done and adds to the serene atmosphere in a meaningful way. In short: this site is unique and absolutely worth visiting. But as we all know, the best is often saved for last. Every member of the staff we encountered was kind, dedicated, and clearly passionate about their role. Thank you so much for your commitment and presence! I would especially like to mention one remarkable staff member in the small museum behind the gift shop. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch her name, but she truly made a lasting impact on my visit. She explained the exhibits and background stories with such clarity, enthusiasm, and depth – and in a way that was perfectly adapted to my language level (I’m not a native speaker). What touched me even more was how warmly and naturally she welcomed my young daughter as well. I was truly impressed. Her warmth and passion genuinely made my day!

Excellent Memorial! The tour was fantastic and our guide was very knowledgeable about every aspect of the park. He was also a wonderful story teller and I feel like I learned a lot while I was there. He also took plenty of time to answer questions at the different stops on the tour!

A very fun memorial to visit. Plenty to do and see with all the different monuments. A really good gift shop that has mementos related to D-Day. Expect to spend at least an hour visiting and reading all the different exhibits.

I really like the National D-Day Memorial. They did a fantastic job in helping you to re-live the event. It was sobering to think of the risk our soldiers lived and died for. It is well worth your time and money to visit.

Due to the heat, I was not able to take a guided tour, but the printed materials do a good job of explaining the memorial. This is a fitting tribute to the men that planned and executed D-Day. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

How anyone can give this less than 5 stars - barring some nit-picky things that really have nothing to do with the memorial itself - is beyond me. What a solemn, beautiful, and well done memorial to the young men who gave their all on that critical and brutal day. I highly recommend you take the guided tour. The guides are great and offer lots of first-hand experience and comments from previous guests - veterans of D-Day, relatives of vets, etc - that you can't get anywhere else. Symbolism is built into everything there. It's not just statues and memorials. What impressed me most, perhaps, was that the main plaza was built to resemble a German bunker. The attention to detail is amazing. It's well worth a detour from your trip to see this beautiful and moving memorial. Of note, the guided tour was longer than I had anticipated - it can be upwards of an hour, I think. Expectations are everything, so don't expect a short, succinct tour. It's full and rich with detail, perspective, commentary, and insight. Highly, highly recommended. We went on a cold, overcast December day, so there were no crowds at all, which was great. Made for great photo ops and reflection. The only downside was, it being winter, they had drained the pool area that represented the beach/tide in Normandy.

VERY moving. I advise taking the guided tour. You will learn a great deal more than just the self-guided tour. Do both and allow at least a half day; more if you take the time to read ALL the plaques.

This is without a doubt one of the most powerful memorials I've ever visited. The depth of history behind it is incredible, and the designers did an outstanding job capturing every aspect through the memorial itself. From the way they depicted the scale of the wall, to the soldiers climbing, the beach layout, simulated gunfire hitting the water, and even the landing ramp from the boats--every detail was thoughtfully designed and deeply impactful. I spent a good 20-30 minutes just taking it all in. The statue and the story of the Bedford Boys were especially moving--truly powerful and emotional. I also stopped by the gift shop and picked up a small souvenir. This place is absolutely worth a visit!

If you love history this place is for you! It was so cool walking around and seeing the monuments and artifacts from D-Day. Easily spent an hour here, there is so much to see and read. They also have facts about WW2 and WW1, not only D-Day.

We enjoyed our tour with Jeff. He did a great job walking us through the memorial and the history of D-Day. Whether you're a history buff or a novice, this is worth visiting. We look forward to coming back in the spring with everything in bloom.

Incredible monument, the water features were spot on. Great gift shop. Moved to tears.

This was a real eye opener. So many details lost to the time and what all happened and how things were handled needs to be remembered and learned from. They've done a great job and there is so much detail it deserved More time than we had. But I'm Glad it made it. It is not government run so there is a charge. But it is well earned for sure.

Extremely well don't as a military family we really enjoyed this gem. So much history my kids loved it and learned so much from it.

This was an amazing memorial that I had never heard of. It was beautifully and thoughtfully designed and told a beautiful (and sad) story. It's a pretty large memorial and has a lot of walking, but it's worth it! The walking tour was awesome. We learned so much. If you love history or if you have a connection to WWII, this should be on your list of places to visit!

Highly Recommended. As you begin to read this review it might occur to you to ask the question,"... why is there a National D-Day Memorial in this rural area of Virginia?..." The answer is the nearby Town of Bedford sustained the highest per capita number of young man killed in the invasion of France during World War II. We had the good fortune to visit this place after having seen Normandy Beach and the towns nearby in France only a few months prior to our visit here. Normandy sustained the greatest military invasion in the history of the earth during World War II. Or course, this site cannot compare with Normandy. But the makers did a masterful job of selecting and presenting the history and imagery of D-Day that matters so much to this day to many who recall or imagine the staggering losses of this war. The memorial is a circular lay out with the magnificent entry headstone but the mark the entrance. Off to the side there's a tent we're visitors can listen to video clips and narratives about the history of this era and of course, there's a storm is Momentos for sale. So, to sum up, just because you've seen Normandy doesn't mean you shouldn't stop here. You'll find it worth your while.

I had one main question and it was answered almost immediately. Why is the D-Day Memorial here in Bedford which is the very definition of "middle of nowhere" USA? The answer is that the town had the highest per-capita number of young men who were killed in the invasion of France. Big thanks to volunteer Twila Sue who was our tour guide today. Our timing worked out perfectly for us, in that it was only my brother and I on the tour effectively making it private for just us. As my brother is a veteran having served 20 years in the US Navy, he was thanked repeatedly and our tour guide pointed out special Navy stuff along the way. About 90 minutes of walking around, seeing the various sites and learning the history of Bedford, of the memorial site and of course, the history of D-Day that began the liberation of Europe. I would not recommend touring the site without a guided tour. There was so much that we would have missed without her kind help and knowledge. It is a private organization and gets much of its funding from paid admissions and purchases at the gift shop. It is not part of the National Parks Service. As such, it is not free but it's well worth the price. [Review 15074 overall, 576 of 2021, number 1291 in Virginia.]

This memorial was excellent. Very well constructed (if you do it the way it was designed). Not many people understand that there is a "flow" to the layout. They just immediately head to the "noise". The layout is designed to follow the events of (and lead up to) D-Day. Everything from the planning to the execution. My suggestion is to start - where the sign says "tour starts here" and listen to the story.

I stumbled across this on my way across VA. Boy am I glad I stopped. Tours were suspended for to the extreme heat. I was able to explore on my own before lightning closed the monument. I got to speak with one of the volunteers, Bob, who was a wealth of knowledge. He showed us a virtual tour of the site and answered questions. He spoke of the symbolism running through the site especially the 3 of sacrifice, valor, and fidelity. He pointed out that the site receives no state or federal funds. Its survival is predicated upon visitors' entrance fees and gift shop purchases along with donations. Having 2 great uncles who stormed the beaches, I am honored that their memory along with all the others who served is being preserved for future generations.

Took my wife, daughter and Army veteran father in law here. We loved the guided tour. Super informative and just a lot of little details on the property for you to take in. The sculpture work and other memorial pieces are incredible and very powerful in terms of their imagery and emotion. The grounds are manicured and really beautiful. The price was fair, especially since it goes to a good cause. And they have a very cool gift store and indoor museum with some amazing items to see. Call ahead and make sure the museum is open. Definitely worth visiting.

An amazing look into the historic past of D Day. A must see memorial. To understand the memorial be sure to take a guided tour, included in entry fee.

Excellent memorial to those who ga their lives on D-Day. Tour guide Imogene was exceptional, here knowledge on the events on June 6th and the memorial were extremely informative.

I live in Bedford County and have visited the National D-Day Memorial several times. This memorial is a wonderful tribute to those who served in WWII, especially on D-Day. The recreation of the beach invasion is amazing. Water explodes randomly to simulate mortar fire. It leaves you with a deep sense of gratitude and makes you understand the depth of sacrifice made on D-Day. I highly recommend visiting this memorial.

When in VA this is a must see!! I've seen many of the memorials in DC, however, this is definitely one of my favorites. It's spread out and huge, so be prepared to walk. If you have young children, I recommend you bring a stroller. When you arrive you first go to the visitor center to pay for admission. They will give you a sticker to wear. Children 6 and under are free. The visitor center has nice restrooms, a gift shop, and offers many brochures and information on all the surrounding areas. I highly recommend you give yourself some time to look around. You drive down from the visitor center to the entrance of the memorial. There is plenty of parking. I was definitely moved by the many flags that stand tall and that represent all the countries that participated at the battle of Normandy. The statues and the battle scene in the large pool of water is powerful and takes you back to that day in history that will never be forgotten.

Absolutely beautiful monument, memorial and tribute to the fallen on DDay. $26 for three adults. Free tour by a very knowledgeable veteran. Bathrooms close and readily Accessible. Excellent. So glad we stopped. Thank you Bob G!!!

We visited on a Wednesday. The memorial was not busy so we were able to drive in and join the first tour of the day. Tours meet at the gift shop ( the 2nd green building). My husband is active duty Air Force , there is a summer program where active duty military gets in free with up to 5 people. It's called Blue Star Museums. Lots of free museums The memorial is well worth the visit. It is well maintained ( it is obvious they have lots of money to keep the memorial in good order). The tour was informative.

Bedford is surrounded by amazing things like this! Passersby's must stop adding a Hilton hotel 2024 so no reason not to go

This is a amazing piece of history it looks amazing whoever built this I am so very proud I study World War II just about every day this is a dream come true

Stunning. The guides are awesome, the scenery is fantastic, and the monuments almost too much to believe. I was especially amazing by how the water pool - representing the British Channel - was making 'ploop' noises simulating the sound of bullets entering the water. The attention to detail was just that good. I'm a huge WW II buff - even more than I'm a Civil War buff - and even I learned things about the D Day invasion during my tour. Just as poignant were the human stories about the people of Bedford, like the poor telegraph operator who had to receive the messages about the 19 "Bedford Boys" who died on D Day alone. Bedford earned the right to host this monument in the worst way possible.

Moving Memorial with a tremendous impact on the local community My wife and I recently went for a guided tour of the D-Day Memorial and were glad we did. It was a sobbering reminder of how much so many sacrificed for our country. In the town of Bedford, VA, they lost 21 of the 30 Bedford Boys that were part of the D-Day Invasion. With the population of Bedford in 1944 being about 3,200, proportionally Bedford suffered the nation's severest D-Day losses. My wife's father went ashore at Omaha Beach, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and earned a Purple Heart. It was especially meaningful for her. Our guide was quite knowledgeable of the history, which was helpful due to his impaired vision and hearing. He gave us stories and background that helped make the D-Day Invasion more meaningful to all of us. Whether you have family or friends that were involved or not, this is a trip that will make the whole battle more meaningful to everyone who values the sacrifice they made for our country.

Moving experience! The tour guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable. It was humbling seeing the sacrifices these brave souls endured. This experience also opened my teenagers eyes to the rich history.

It's easy to see why this is a top ranked visitor attraction in the region. Make sure you opt in for the free guided tour to learn about the symbology about the various displays.

I would highly recommend reading Alex Kershaw's "The Bedford Boys" before visiting Bedford and the D-Day Memorial. While the memorial itself is a worthy monument, there is even more poignant history in this small town if you know where to look for it. I was most intrigued by the Les Monument aux Morts statue replica that is part of the memorial. The original statue sits outside of the Church of St. Aignan in Trévières, France. It was originally commissioned to commemorate the deaths of 44 soldiers from the French town during World War I. However, during German attacks on the town during the Second World War, this memorial was damaged by shrapnel; the removal of part of the face of the statue on account of a second war makes it much more haunting and much less victorious (as the woman is intended to be a sort of Nike). I was so taken with this statue that I photographed it over and over from many varying angles. On a trip to Normandy the following year, I made a point to seek out the tiny town of Trévières to see the original. Many of the Bedford Boys whose bodies were returned to the US are buried at Greenwood Cemetery. There is no real method to finding their headstones, but a friend who had also read the book accompanied me there on a fall day to rustle about the leaves and look for them. It was odd to find them situated so quietly amongst all the rest of the headstones after having read so much about their lives. In a way I felt like we were intruding, but in a way it was much more personal than reading their names on a memorial somewhere. Finally, there is a Bedford World War II memorial located at the Bedford County Courthouse. This memorial is made from stone taken from the Normandy Beach area and was dedicated only ten years after the D-Day invasion. It is a small and dignified precursor to its much larger neighbor. It's amazing what this particular group of men seem to mean, not only to their hometown, but also to the French. I spoke with the guide on the D-Day tour I took in Normandy and asked him if he would be able to elaborate a bit on them while I was there; he was very knowledgeable and proud of their roles. He also made a point to show me the street there that had been named after their hometown. Bottom line: Read up and explore Bedford. It means more to put a face and a story to a name.

If you're ever in the Bedford area, you MUST make time to go by this Memorial. Bedford had the most soldier deaths on D-Day per capita of any other city in the United States. This memorial is beautiful! It's a breath taking view of monuments and sculptures with mountain views behind it all. Words can't describe it - you have to just see it for yourself! It costs $7.00 for an adult ticket - but it's well worth it. They have done away with guided tours - now they have cell phone tours, which is pretty awesome. You can dial a number & it'll walk you through the Memorial or you can dial 2# or 3#, etc depending on the place you are & it'll tell you a tid-bit about that one location. It's nice that you can move through at your own pace. I could tell you about it all day, but you need to see it for yourself!

This was a pretty cool memorial. There was a giant fountain that kept splashing, along with a replica of beach obstacles. Not bad at all there was a very friendly lady who answered all our questions at the desk. it is located right behind the High School. There were lists of names of all the people who were injured of killed there. There is a Gigantic marble arch that says simply "Overlord" it almost brings you to tears to see the tragedy that befell this small town's people during the war. Theres a map room, equipment storage, pinups and all kinds of other artifacts from the famed "Skylighters".

Beautiful, emotional and powerful....I'd read about the memorial on the day it opened (6/6/01) and we finally went there today. We'd visited the Normandy Beaches 15 1/2 years ago and my father & uncle survived WWII, so this memorial was particularly meaningful for me. It's in a rather remote locale, but that actually heightened the impact. It's a beautiful site and also peaceful. We didn't take a tour, but first we watched the very worthwhile (ten-minute) film at the Bedford Visitors' Center (where tickets to the memorial are sold - and the two people working there were very pleasant).

I've been to this amazing memorial twice, and I learned so much each time! The tour guides are so knowledgeable, and they customize the tour for each group. The monuments and all structures are of such great quality, and the grounds are beautiful, with well-maintained plants and flowers! This is a great place to honor those who died on D-Day--especially the local Bedford Boys. Instead of being part of the National Park Service, it is maintained and operated by its own private foundation.

My family visits at least once a year. The memorial is always free Memorial weekend from 10am -12noon. There are tributes and music. The grounds are beautiful. If you need assistance, staff members can drive you in a golf cart during special events. There is a small gift shop inside the park area and a larger one inside the visitor's center nearby. It is worth a visit. The statues are moving, especially the one's portraying battle.

Absolutely amazing. If your in Bedford or even around Bedford you must see it. The amount of statues and information can keep you here for awhile. Even if you are not interested in history you will be doing yourself a favor by going. If you go take the guided tour you learn more, and the information hits you harder. I hope they reach their goals so they can add more, and redo some things.

We had heard about the National D-Day Memorial from a friend so while on our trip we decided to make a stop. We are glad we did. It was a very enlightening experience and sobering. I would recommend. It only takes a couple hours to see the movie at the visitors area and walk around the memorial.

Great history reviewed and great location and design to honor those who fought that day and never came home to their families. Very humble experience!

Amazing views and a great memorial to those who fought in WWII. The staff is very dedicated to keeping history alive. Highly recommend going at the peek fall foliage, peek cherry blossom blooming, and any time they have live reenactments!!

If you are interested in World War II history or, perhaps just want to pay your respects to those who served...this memorial is worth the trip!

The word 'awesome' is SO overused, but appropriate for describing this place. 15 acres set aside to honor those of the Greatest Generation who literally saved the world from fascism. Take the walking tour and let the presenter describe it as you go, be sure to visit the gift shops and meet Zoe, the little Sheltie at the shop on the hilltop. The staff will let you give her a treat, but she has to earn it with 'sit' and 'shake hands'. She's so cute!

Thank you, Emma Jean, for a terrific tour today. You did a very good job presenting the DDay story.

We started out on our own but joined the tour. The narrative brings 1944 to life and the sacrifices of D-Day leave a humbling silence in the soul. No words to express the moving emotions...God bless us all.

If you host a group or anyone visiting the area, take them here. I took a group of 25 visitors who were in Bedford County to visit farms and agriculture businesses last week, but I squeezed in a guided tour of the D-Day Mem'l for them too. I was amazed how many told me they were so glad they got to experience it and hear the interesting and moving stories of the Bedford Boys and allied troops who lost their lives. I had many of them in that group thank me sincerely for giving them that experience. Some even planned to buy the Bedford Boys book or research more about it later.

Picked up tickets at the Welcome center and was advised of the next guided tour time, which I would recommend you call first to see what their tour times are. It worked out for us and we had time to watch a ten minute video on D Day prior to the tour starting. Our group was only 4 people, it was 12:30pm on a Thursday, and our guide Jennifer was excellent. It's about an hour and very informative and interesting. You can walk around yourself, but will miss the stories around the significance of some of the features. Really a gem as far as historical monuments go...I highly recommend.

It is always a thoughtful, reflective time every time that I attend this National Memorial in my hometown. It is extremely well kept and the staff and volunteers are hard working, friendly and knowledgeable. It is inspiring to learn about the events of D-Day and I am very grateful that the Memorial exists. Parking is well situated around the Memorial and convenient for those with strollers or with wheelchairs. While there are steps, there are convenient ramped areas for those using wheels for movement also.

monuments and memorials are common but few are epic...this one is!! this state of the art huge emmaculately kept memorial will move you to the core and the memory of it will last forever! the water occasionally makes ripples and sounds much like real gun fire! be prepared to take plenty of pictures and visit the gift shop! god bless the bedford boys and may they all rip!

I don't even know where to begin with this review. This memorial is one of the most complete and moving I have ever seen. Every person present was in almost complete silence.

This is such a cool place to visit... it's out of the way but worth the drive. They have tours guides that walk you through the monument and talk about the different statutes and memorials. We went on a Sunday and it wasn't to busy.

This is a MUST SEE. Fantastic and knowledgable guides, beautiful memorial. Absolutely amazing.

It was worth the $10 guided tour. It's worth more than $10 to be honest. It's beautiful and it's solely is about D-Day. Background is breath taking as you walk through the memorial with the Blue Ridge Mountains as your background.

Great place to visit. Decided to spend the extra money and get the combined memorial and Poplar Forest ticket. If you have the time for both, it's a great value. Tickets are for sale at the visitor center. There is a model of the memorial with notes to give a better idea on what you are looking at and the ideas behind the memorial. Ticket includes a 1 hr tour of the memorial that we decided to skip but one person in our group did go on a tour and really enjoyed it.

Excellent learning experience! The day we were there we were privileged to meet a D-day vet! Our tour guide (Kevin) was great-not only his review of the monument but he was able to answer all questions. He loved and studied about the history. A must-see for anyone visiting Virginia!

If you are in the area make a plan to visit the National D-Day Memorial! Very beautiful memorial to the Bedford Boys and all those that served and those lost their lives on the Beaches of Normandy.