The National D-Day Memorial marked Veterans Day with its annual observance ceremony, drawing hundreds of people to honor the men and women who have served and sacrificed for the country. The event was a moving tribute, not only to those who fought but also to the lasting impact of veterans’ service in their communities.

Part of the larger ceremony Thursday included the laying of a wreath to honor the Roanoke 8th Air Force Fellowship.

One World War II veteran said it's hard to believe it's been 80 years since D-Day.

Despite stormy conditions, the Memorial Day ceremony went on a hour later than planned but welcomed hundreds of people.

The National D-Day Memorial announced the theme for the 80th anniversary commemoration of D-Day.

The Bible found on the beaches of Normandy made its way back to the Hoback family in 1944. This month, the family donated the Bible to the National D-Day Memorial.

Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford Tuesday morning for the 79th D-Day Annual Commemoration event.

Some events have been changed, others have been canceled

Governor Glenn Youngkin will be featured as one of the speakers at the 79th Anniversary Commemoration at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford on June 6, officials said.

The Veteran’s Day ceremony at the Bedford D-Day memorial moved indoors this year due to the rain, but their salute to service and sacrifice remains unchanged.

On Monday, the National D-Day Memorial Foundation said that their annual “No Excuse Night” will be held on August 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines in Southwest Virginia.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines in Southwest Virginia.

Ever dream of taking a day excursion to Normandy? Children can experience the history and culture of northern France, right here in Bedford, at this year’s WWII Day Camp at the National D-Day Memorial.

It’s for the annual Run for the Wall event, where riders travel from California to Washington D.C.

Dressed in red, white and blue, a crowd welcomed home Virginia veterans from their Honor Flight to the nation’s capital.

The group will take veterans from our area to Washington D.C. free of charge.

World War II veterans Ash Rothlein and Robert Mayne died this week.

Hugging their families one last time, hundreds of Virginia National Guard soldiers were sent off Saturday to the Horn of Africa.

The ceremony at the National D-Day Memorial returns in person with an elaborate Veteran’s Day celebration this year.

The National D-Day Memorial will be holding a commemoration ceremony on Veterans Day and breaking ground on a new project.

One of the oldest world war two veterans in our region was honored at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford on Tuesday.

The current NASCAR driver and playoff contender made a surprise appearance, joining more than 70 riders on the trek to the National D-Day Memorial.

To date, they’ve raised more than $19 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.

More than 80,000 soldiers have still not returned.

The National D-Day Memorial commemorates the 77th anniversary of D-Day with three days of virtual and on-site events.

BEDFORD, Va. – The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford is hosting its annual Flames of Memory event this weekend. Staff and volunteers were out Friday morning, arranging bags with battery-operated candles throughout the memorial’s grounds. Those luminarias will light up the night sky through Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.Each one represents a man killed on D-Day. There are 4,415 of them. “It’s really hard when you hear a number like that to imagine what that would look like, but this event allows you to see that by seeing all of the bags that are placed, starting at Burks Hill Road, all the way throughout the memorial,” said Maggie Hartley, associate director for programming and events for the National D-Day MemorialAdmission is free and donations are welcome.

Charlotte Powers is related to Jack Powers, one of 19 "Bedford Boys" who died during D-Day.

BEDFORD, Va. – Bedford has a deep connection to World War II, and the town commemorated one of the war’s most important dates Friday morning. Church bells filled the air for the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, the day World War II officially ended in Europe. 19 men from Bedford, known as the “Bedford Boys,” were killed while storming the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, which itself commemorated the 75th anniversary of D-Day last year, had planned a parade in town for V-E Day. Although the parade has been canceled, National D-Day Memorial President April Cheek-Messier said the bells still illustrate the significance of this day.

BEDFORD, Va. - For Veterans Day, thousands came to celebrate veterans at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Local elementary students paid tribute in songs, while high school students brought in the flags. Peter Caddick-Adams writes in "Sand and Steel" more than 4,000 people died on D-Day, but 10,000 soldiers died during the training before the war. So really, I think we need to be paying tribute to those who died in the training and preparation as on that first day of combat," Caddick-Adams said. At the end of the program, veterans lined up to be embraced and thanked by local students and community.

The field trip brought tears and memories for one student, Aaron Cole. Aaron's grandfather, Richard "Dick" E. Cole, served during WWII and was part of the Doolittle Raid. He got an airplane called B-25," said Aaron Cole, the 21-year-old student who has Down syndrome. Aaron even got to carry around a piece of his "pops" -- a leather jacket that belonged to Richard Cole during the raid. Even though Richard Cole is gone, Aaron said his "pops" will always be close to his heart.

BEDFORD, Va. - A World War II veteran who fought in the invasion of Normandy visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford Tuesday for the first time. On Tuesday, he visited the memorial, which was built to honor men and women like him, and shared stories with the media about his time in the Army. He said young people need to learn about these aspects of history to understand what he and other soldiers went through. Theres not many of them left, Oregon resident and veteran Bruce Turner said of World War II veterans. Everything about him inspires me to be a better man, to be a better person, to be a better Christian.