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Today's News

  • Creigh Deeds sweeps Democratic field

        Bath County State Senator Creigh Deeds won an overwhelming victory last week in the statewide Democratic primary. He will now face Republican Bob McDonnell in the fall for the contest to succeed Tim Kaine as Virginia’s governor.

        Deeds was thought to be the underdog to the heavily financed campaign of former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe. But much of McAuliffe’s appeal fell apart under scrutiny, especially his claim to have created so many jobs, a notion pretty much put to rest by a critical Washington Post article.

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  • We can build decent cars

        I had an unpleasant encounter with some Virginia wildlife a couple of weeks ago.

        It was fortunate that I was going around one of the very sharp curves on Rt. 43, on my way up to the Peaks, when the kamikaze deer got me. I was not going fast and, as there wasn’t anybody close behind me, I was able to hit the brakes, minimizing the damage to my car. The impact still was enough to knock out the grill, buckle the hood and crack the bumper.

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  • It’s important that legislation moves ahead to save the Memorial

    This week legislation was introduced in Congress to make sure the National D-Day Memorial continues to fulfill its mission:  Reminding all who enter it of the heavy price that this nation’s communities have paid, and still pay, for freedom.

        Congressman Tom Perriello and U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb have begun the process to bring the Memorial in Bedford under the supervision of the U.S. National Park Service. The legislation, which calls for a study on the proposal, has been written in consultation with the Memorial.

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  • Letters

    Honoring those who participated

        Like numerous other D-Day Memorial Volunteers, I was on hand for the 65th Anniversary Commemoration on Saturday, June 6, 2009.  It was a great experience seeing the number of D-Day Veterans in attendance, especially Bob Slaughter and long time family friend Hubert Hobbs, from Roanoke.

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  • Federal stimulus contains money for rural Internet broadband

    From every corner of the 5th District, I hear about how folks are struggling with the lack of broadband internet access. Two weeks ago, I hosted a roundtable discussion on rural broadband, this time in Altavista after the last one in Rocky Mount. At the roundtable, the need for better broadband access was made abundantly evident, and I will use the stories and strategies offered by citizens to be a more effective advocate for rural broadband back in Washington. Here are some of the stories I heard:

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  • Honoring the Bedford Boys

    Across a vast ocean, 11 boys from Bedford, Virginia are buried overlooking the windswept beaches of Normandy.  Bedford lost 19 during the D-Day liberation…the greatest proportional loss suffered by a single town on that day.  In words inscribed on the wall of a chapel that lies amidst the rows of crosses we are given the following charge: “Think not only upon their passing.  Remember the glory of their spirit.”

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  • Obama’s historic appeal to the Muslim world

        Last week, President Barack Obama was in Cairo, Egypt to give a speech that his administration billed as an appeal to a new beginning between the United States and the Muslim world. It did not disappoint.

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  • Keeping their story alive

        I got to spend the end of last week in the company of heroes.

        On Thursday and Friday, I attended the Overlord Echoes conference, hosted by Liberty University and the National D-Day Memorial Foundation. Along with the historians, several World War II veterans spoke. There were soldiers, including a silver star recipient, a P-51 pilot and an airborne soldier who arrived in Normandy on D-Day via a glider.

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  • Perfect attendance: JF student doesn't miss a day

         As a student at Forest Elementary School, Kelsey Shelton found out early on it paid to go to class, receiving certificates and awards for perfect attendance.

        So she set as one of her goals in life to not miss a day of school. This week, that goal became reality.

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  • Recalling Overlord

    Jenny Creasy and Carolyn Rogers of Roanoke looked intently at the map. They were searching for the spot where their uncle, Joseph Comer Sr., had been dropped during the Normandy invasion that began June 6,1944.

        Comer had been a member of the 82nd Airborne at D-Day. He, along with his nieces and son, attended Saturday’s 65th anniversary commemoration at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.

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