WW II Childhood memories California Central Coast & National D-Day Memorial

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Morro WW2 Training1Within moments of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941, life in America instantly transformed for the duration of the war. The harbor town of Morro Bay, California became a major training center for planned amphibious Naval invasions of South Pacific islands and the top-secret D-Day invasion of Normandy. Come along and join Edith Ross and Art Criddle as they share their recollections of the war years in Morro Bay from the perspective of young children. Afterwards we travel to Virginia for a visit with the President of the National D-Day Memorial in the rural town of Bedford. Many of the troops who trained in Morro Bay for the amphibious landing at Normandy were among the 4,413 soldiers who were killed in the first 24 hours of the largest amphibious landing in history. More than 150,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline. Come along and join April Cheek-Messier at the National D-Day Memorial and discover the poignant reason why the National D-Day Memorial is located in the rural town of Bedford, Virginia.

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National D-Day Memorial in Virginia
D-Day Memorial Bedford, VA Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer
Powerful visual moments at D-Day Memorial
Poignant images at National D-Day Memorial. Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer
D-Day Memorial sculpture
Rainy day makes National D-Day Memorial visit even more powerful. Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer
NAT D-DAY MEMORIAL
National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer