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Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement today in recognition of the 67th Anniversary of D-Day:
“Today, on the 67th anniversary of D-Day, we pause to remember and honor the 160,000 Allied military men who courageously landed on the beaches of Normandy and began the bold march across Europe that would defeat Hitler and liberate a continent. 9,000 were wounded or killed on that first day of fierce fighting.
Those brave soldiers on the ground were supported by thousands more Allied servicemen and women in the air, sea and at home. My late father, John F. McDonnell, was one of them. Serving with the 306th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force in England he helped provide cover and assistance for the landing. I lost my father last year.
I know many Virginians of my generation have suffered similar losses recently, as the ‘Greatest Generation’ slowly marches into history. These losses should remind us of how important it is that we reach out and thank the World War II veterans who are still with us today. The calendar is always turning; their heroism must never be taken for granted or forgotten.
Today, I will have the honor of visiting with over 80 of our World War II veterans at the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond. I look forward to thanking them, on behalf of a grateful Commonwealth, for their sacrifice and selflessness. When the future of this world hung in the balance, young men and women from all across Virginia answered the call to service. They left behind quiet lives, devoted families, burgeoning careers and ongoing educations. They did so without hesitation. They simply did their duty.
As we reflect on this historic anniversary today, it is difficult to truly comprehend what the Allied soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy felt and faced in that furious surf and bloodied sand. It is even more remarkable to consider that their individual acts of bravery on that day were replicated time and time again from the Hurtgen Forest to the beach at Iwo Jima. We owe our freedom to the men and women of the ‘Greatest Generation.’ We must never forget it. The liberties we enjoy as Americans today were preserved by the bravery of Americans at Normandy nearly seven decades ago.
The stories of the Virginians who died on D-Day are told at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. Today I urge all Virginians to visit these sites to pay honor to our great patriots, and to thank a World War II veteran, and all veterans, on this, the 67th Anniversary of the Allied landings at Normandy.”
About the Author 
Hugh Lessig joined the Daily Press in 1997 as the Hampton city reporter. He spent eight years in Richmond covering state politics and the administrations of three Virginia governors. A native of eastern Pennsylvania, he has spent 27 years in the news business as a reporter or editor. Hampton Roads Military on Facebook
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