The following schedule is subject to change as we’re still finalizing details — provide your email below to receive updates.
80th Anniversary of D-Day
Schedule of Events
80th Anniversary of
D-Day Commemoration
Thursday, June 6
11:00AM
The 80th Anniversary of D-Day will be observed in a special ceremony at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia.
Program highlights include recognition of D-Day and World War II veterans, guest speakers, music, and more. Representatives from each of the Allied nations and military personnel will take part.
During the ceremony, WWII-era aircraft will take to the sky over the Memorial including Whiskey 7, the Douglas C-47A that served as lead plane of the second wave of paratroopers on D-Day.
The event will also showcase a DUKW amphibious truck and an authentic LCVP (landing craft vehicle personnel) built by Higgins Industries in 1944.
Guests will also enjoy:
- Living History displays
- Portraits of Heroes and Faces of the Fallen photo exhibits
- Book signings by guest authors
Free admission. No tickets required.
The Memorial closes at 6:00PM on Thursday, June 6.
Bedford Boys Tribute Center Ceremony & Courthouse Bell Ringing
Thursday, June 6
6:15PM
This annual public remembrance of the “Bedford Boys” will take place on the West Lawn of the Bedford County Courthouse (123 E Main St, Bedford), where, 70 years ago to the day, the community gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of D-Day with the unveiling of a memorial stone.
April Cheek-Messier, National D-Day Memorial Foundation President & CEO, and Ken Parker, founder of the Bedford Boys Tribute Center, are set to deliver poignant addresses. Family members of “Bedford Boys” will lay an ivy wreath.
The ceremony will culminate with the ringing of the courthouse bell 20 times, once for each “Bedford Boy” killed on D-Day. The bell will begin tolling precisely at 6:44PM (to represent June 6, 1944.) Church bells across Bedford County and communities around the globe will ring at 6:44PM local time in tribute.
Free public event. Bring a lawn chair.
Tour the National D-Day Memorial
Friday, June 7 – Sunday, June 9
10:00AM – 5:00PM
General admission ticket required.
Admission is free for World War II veterans.
Ticket includes guided tour. Ticket sales end at 4:30PM.
When We Went In: The D-Day Experience in Light and Sound
Friday, June 7
7:30PM – Opening Concert, Featured Light Show at Dusk
On the evenings of June 7 and 8, the Memorial will be transformed in a stunning multi-media sensory display as the Memorial presents When We Went In: The D-Day Experience in Light and Sound, created exclusively for the National D-Day Memorial by the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology at Virginia Tech. As night falls, immerse yourself while D-Day unfolds all around you in a stunning display of light, imagery, and sound.
Preceding the show, the acclaimed West Point Alumni Glee Club will perform a stirring patriotic remembrance concert.
Free show admission for WWII veterans plus one guest.
Warning: This show contains flashing light and flickering video which may not be suitable for those with photosensitive epilepsy.
When We Went In: The D-Day Experience in Light and Sound
Saturday, June 8
7:30PM – Opening Concert, Featured Light Show at Dusk
On the evenings of June 7 and 8, the Memorial will be transformed in a stunning multi-media sensory display as the Memorial presents When We Went In: The D-Day Experience in Light and Sound, created exclusively for the National D-Day Memorial by the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology at Virginia Tech. As night falls, immerse yourself while D-Day unfolds all around you in a stunning display of light, imagery, and sound.
Letters From Home will dazzle the audience with a 1940s themed concert to open the second showing of our epic multi-media experience.
Free show admission for WWII veterans plus one guest.
Warning: This show contains flashing light and flickering video which may not be suitable for those with photosensitive epilepsy.
Soldiers and Sailors at Worship:
A Field Chapel Service
Sunday, June 9
11:00AM
Set in 1944, this authentic worship service reveals how soldiers made time for their faith in the most trying of times, and the role of chaplains in guiding and strengthening the spirits of the men in their care.
Free admission to the Memorial from 10:00AM to Noon.