to see  french version

     1944 June the 6th, by the end of the day, 21 soldiers all from Bedford va. were killed in action. In memory of this disaster, the Mayor of Bedford proposed to the Mayor of Vierville to sign a charter for a  twinning with Omaha Beach. On October 1998 was born the Omaha Beach Bedford va. Association which objective is  to make alive and regroup 12 villages around Vierville, St Laurent and Colleville which space is center of Omaha Beach.                     

                                                                   The Bedford Memorial Statue >     

 

Thanks to the support of 150 members and 12 villages, the Association target is to welcome Veterans and their families, facilitate the student exchanges and generate different activities. For a first contact some members of our Association went to Bedford in 2000, followed by another trip in 2001 for the inauguration of National D Day Memorial, a unique location in the States commemorating the Overlord Operation.     

                                           The Bedford Memorial  >    

 

In 2002 took place at the National D Day Memorial in Bedford va. the inauguration of the Lady of Trevieres, copy of the Trevieres war memorial - Calvados - Normandy.

These cross visits strengthen the links, which extension is the students exchanges.

    < The Lady of Trevieres

                                          

Our Association reinforces these exchanges by giving Grants to young French students. 

 

 

 

   < Gifts Grants to young French students

      

   

In October 2002, an important delegation of Bedford went to Vierville for the inauguration of  Bedford Avenue

  

 

 

    < The Sign of Bedford Avenue

                                                                                                                    

 

For the celebration of the 60th annniversary of the Invasion in 2004, the Bedford International Alliance was composed of important personalities.

Locally our activities are focused on :

          The Memorial Day and the D Day commemoration each year.

 

American Cimetery of Colleville/Mer A particular place in the Cimetery

Sculpture "Les Braves" on Omaha Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                   

        We cooperate with "Les Fleurs de la Memoire", "Normandie Memoire", "D Day Commemoration Committee", "Normandie Allies, People to People".

       Raising flags on Omaha Beach

     R. Mouquet at Signal Monument of St Laurent

              Welcome to  "People to People"

 

        Since 2002, we organise during Spring a touristic car rally in Calvados.

Some tests Poem and songs

 

       Each year, as well, around fifty members join us for a tour in Normandy..

 

        Since 2006, we have opened the doors to the public ; during Falls we've had a lecture about the supplies problems in 1944 for the American Forces.

            Then we visited the Parliament in Paris.                         

 

The Parliament in Paris

 

 

        At the very  beginning of Summer 2007 we have performed a movie reporting how an American Soldier and a German one have been living the longest day, as they were quite face to face on the D Day.

 

          On October the 9th of 2008, Tenth anniversary of Omaha Beach with the 12 municipalities. Were present Mr O'Brien Consul of U.S.A., J.M. Lefranc Representative at the National Assembly, J.P. Richard Councelor at the Department Assembly, Robert Bashore Chairman of Bedford International. 

                                                                                         

                                                                                           Ceremony at Coilleville sur Mer'American Cimetery

Ceremony at the Monument Signal of St Laurent/Mer

The Bedford International Alliance Group           zoom

 

After the celebration of the 65th anniversary of D. Day with the presence of Mr B Obama, President of the United States and Mr N Sarkozy, President of France, it’s been decided to pay a visit to the States.

Early October 2009, a group of 15 members paid a visit to our friends in Bedford where they’ve got a warm welcome and had a full visit of the National D Day Memorial

 

                           

Then few days were spent in New York City where everybody has been able to understand what is a melting pot..  

 

                            

 

- Siège Mairie de Vierville -  14710

         Président : B. Le Jemtel - courriel :     

   bertrand.le-jemtel@orange.fr

 

Villages twinned with Bedford : ASNIERES EN BESSIN - COLLEVILLE S/ MER - COLOMBIERES - CRICQUEVILLE EN BESSIN - ENGLESQUEVILLE LA PERCEE - FORMIGNY - LOUVIERES - SAINTE HONORINE DES PERTES - SAINT LAURENT SUR MER - SAINT PIERRE DU MONT - TREVIERES - VIERVILLE SUR MER

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                

 

   visiteurs