Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Governor Youngkin to visit gravesites of Virginia service members from D-Day landing
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that he will be paying his respects at Point Du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and at the Normandy American Cemetery where the Bedford Boys and Virginians paid the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day. Following his Normandy visit, Governor Youngkin will then attend the 2023 International Paris Air Show. At the Air Show, he will meet with aerospace principals, defense companies, and other industry leaders. Virginia is home to major aerospace companies such as Boeing, Raytheon Technologies, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Governor Youngkin will be in France from Saturday, June 17th to Tuesday, June 20th.
The 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division is an infantry regiment in the Virginia Army National Guard. Company A is based in Bedford, Virginia. On the morning of June 6th, 1944, Company A was the first wave of assault on Omaha Beach, assigned to take Vierville. During the assault on Omaha Beach, 19 of the "Bedford Boys" of Company A died. Bedford's population in 1944 was about 3,200, and proportionally the Bedford community suffered the nation's most severe D-Day loss. Recognizing Bedford as a symbol of American communities whose citizen-soldiers served on D-Day, Congress established the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.
“I recently had the honor of remembering the Bedford Boys at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. I am humbled to have the opportunity to see for myself where these brave men paid the ultimate sacrifice and pay my respects directly to some of our greatest Virginia heroes at their graves in Normandy. These Virginia born and bred soldiers dedicated their lives so Virginians and Americans can enjoy blessed freedoms today,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
In the past decade, 68 aerospace and UAS projects have been announced in Virginia, representing over 4,200 jobs and over $850 million in investment. Top companies that have recently chosen to locate or expand in Virginia include: Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Rocket Lab, Drone Up, Aery Aviation, Blue Origin, Dynamic Aviation Group, Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, and MAG Aerospace. In addition, the Commonwealth has the NASA Langley Research Center, the National Institute of Aerospace, the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center and the Eastern Shore hosts the NASA Wallops Flight facility.
“With four of the top five major U.S. aerospace and defense leaders based in Virginia, I look forward to engaging with aerospace leaders at the Paris Air Show and reiterating our commitment to be partners in building a safer, more connected world. Virginia has the capabilities and talented workforce for all aerospace companies to expand and grow,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
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