(NEXSTAR)—On July 17, 1944, the small town of Bedford, Virginia with a population of just 3,200 would learn that 20 men died in the D-Day invasion. It was the nation’s highest known per capita D-Day loss.
Had it been New York City that suffered the same per capita loss, the casualty rate would have been 46,000 men.
The men, known as the Bedford Boys, left their small town, not knowing whether they would return home. John Boggess lost two of his uncles in the war.
“You had truly these citizen soldiers who left the plows and went overseas to fight this great war,” Boggess said.
The corner drugstore in the town is now home to the Bedford Boys Tribute Center. It was founded five years ago by Ken and Linda Parker. For the Bedford Boys’ families, it’s a place they can share the stories of the brave young men who died.
Elizabeth Beverly’s uncle was the captain of the Bedford Boys.
“I would like for all of us to realize what it took to get off that boat and to step foot on that beach knowing what was most likely going to happen. I just can’t imagine that kind of bravery,” Beverly said.
One of Boggess’ uncles is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, his other uncle’s body was never found, but his Bible was located in the sand of Omaha Beach. A fellow soldier picked it up and mailed it back to Boggess family.
“Especially since there was no body, this became the embodiment of my Uncle Raymond. It took on a larger focus because of that,” Boggess said.
That Bible is now at the National D-Day memorial in Bedford.