Notice to Visitors About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

UPDATE: NATIONAL D-DAY MEMORIAL REOPENS ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 WITH A FOCUS ON SAFETY

The National D-Day Memorial will reopen to visitors on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, as part of a phased approach to welcoming guests back on site for the summer.

“We have been busy readying the Memorial for visitors by focusing on the safety of our staff, volunteers, and visitors and instituting a number of changes in response to COVID-19,” said April Cheek-Messier, President of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation.  “After three months of closure, we look forward to opening our gates and letting visitors in to enjoy our beautiful monument, the outdoor space, and our shared history of D-Day.”

The Memorial has established a number of initiatives to prepare for reopening which include the following:

  • Regular cleaning intervals throughout the Memorial; particularly in high touch areas such as tables, counters, bathrooms, and doorknobs.
  • Memorial staff and volunteers have been trained in safety procedures regarding COVID-19.
  • Ticket sales have moved from the Bedford Area Welcome Center to the Memorial’s hospitality booth on-site to make ticket purchases as “contactless” as possible. Visitors should drive directly to the Memorial site to redeem their online tickets or to purchase tickets on the day of their visit. Visitors are encouraged to purchase online tickets prior to their arrival. (Please bring your printed ticket with you or have the confirmation on your phone or tablet when you arrive. Tickets purchased online are discounted from tickets purchased directly at the Memorial.)  The Memorial accepts cash and credit cards.
  • Since the Memorial is an outdoor site, visitors are not required to wear masks, however, social distancing of at least six feet is encouraged at all times between guests, individual family groups, volunteers, and staff.
  • Plexiglass shields have been placed in front of registers at the ticketing area and in the gift store.
  • Hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout the Memorial to supplement handwashing. Public restrooms are available and cleaned regularly.
  • Signage located throughout the Memorial reinforces protective protocols.
  • Guided tours of the monument are currently suspended; however, self-guided tours are available with the use of our walking tour brochure and/or the tour feature on the National D-Day Memorial app, available free for Apple or Android. Docents will be stationed on-site at various times to answer questions.
  • Golf carts for assistance are currently unavailable; however, wheelchairs are available upon request and wiped clean after each use.
  • Water fountains are unavailable. Drink machines are available and are cleaned regularly.
  • Pet kennels will be open and cleaned routinely.

Though the Memorial site will reopen on June 10, the Memorial’s Gift Store and Education Quonset Hut will reopen on July 1, 2020, with limited guests allowed inside at any one time.  Until then, visitors are encouraged to visit the Memorial’s online gift store. Your purchase supports the Memorial.

The National D-Day Memorial has aligned its safety protocols with those recommended in Governor Ralph Northam’s Forward Virginia plan, the Virginia Department of Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please understand our plan may need to be adjusted according to federal and state guidelines or current conditions in our area. Updates will be posted to this page or call  540-586-3329 for information. Please refrain from visiting the Memorial if you are sick or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

If you are unable to visit during this time but would like to help in some way, you are encouraged to consider one of our many giving opportunities. The National D-Day Memorial does not receive state or federal funding and relies solely on donations and admissions revenue.

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact our country and our community, the National D-Day Memorial Foundation has made the difficult decision to temporarily close the Memorial site and Foundation office.

With guidance from the CDC and officials from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Foundation is diligently working to protect its visitors, staff, and volunteers during the current crisis. We look forward to welcoming guests again in the near future.

In the meantime, however, we continue to bring our educational programming to you with informative online lectures and digital content including live streams, blogs, videos, and more. Though we must distance ourselves physically, we are still working behind the scenes to ensure we stay connected during these unprecedented times. Educational resources are available online and we have an array of lectures and videos you can access at any time with new content coming out weekly. Continue to check our website and social media for details.

Please also consider making a donation if you are able. We need your support now more than ever to protect the Memorial from the impact of this crisis.

Thank you for being a friend of the Memorial. We wish you good health and well-being in the days ahead. We will see you again soon.