Virginia Capitol Connections Summer 2019

The Bedford Boys: Senator Frank Ruff Remembers By Lydia Freeman At the base of the Appalachian Moun­

one hand. That made the story so much more dramatic. I later learned that he had lost that hand in an industrial accident. But there was something about him losing that hand...” Tragedy shapes communities, and the town of Bedford has been impacted by the losses. Ruff being from this community allows him to have a connection to the community. On the 2019 memorial of D-D, veterans of D-Day were honored at the memorial with veteran Hamlet Percey receiving a commemorative coin. Ruff attended, and he said that people in attendance recognized his name and talked about his father. As a local individual, as well as a politician, Ruff’s community roots give him insight into what the community he serves needs. One observation Ruff made about the war is that people served for different reasons. He contrasted the story of a Farmville man who walked miles to the train because he wanted to fight, with the desperation of many other young men from Southern Virginia. Ruff referred to these young men the same way he refers to himself: as a country boy. These country boys in the 1940s joined the National Guard unit as part of the 29th division and the 116th region ofVirginia. That unit was called into battle, and these men, many of whom joined for spending money, lost their lives. Ruff still sees himself in

tains on a small hill in Bedford, Virginia, stands the National D-Day Memorial. The memorial has been placed because on June 6, 1944, 30 of Bedford’s young men stormed the beaches of Normandy in northern France, and by dusk 19 were dead. This town suffered the greatest loss per capita of any community in the United States. The stories of these men have marked American history: from the iconic The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, which was

adapted to film, to the more recently published book, The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw, the stories of these young men have affected many Americans. One of whom is Virginia Senator Frank Ruff, who represents Southern and South Central Virginia, including Bedford. “When I was, I guess, in about the tenth grade the book The Longest Day came out,” Ruff recounted. “That was done in 1964

his constituents. When the 2008 Great Recession hit, Ruff saw hard working young men and women lose jobs at no fault of their own. He recognized that these young men and women were unable to be successful in a traditional degree program that took extensive time to complete. Ruff pointed out that adults have bills, mortgages, and families, and he does not want these individuals making choices out of desperation. “I knew we needed to change retraining options,” Ruff said.

By dusk, 19 were dead. “ ”

for the 20th anniversary of D-Day. In that book there were people that I knew. That just fascinated me. One of them lived a couple of miles down the road from us.” The D-Day survivor Ruff spoke of was Roy Stevens. Roy traveled from Bedford to the shores of Normandy with his brother, Ray. The two young men rode on the Empire Javelin together, heading toward Normandy to board individual Landing Craft Assault boats.

RUFF

Nobel peace laureate Martin Luther King, Jr. In recent years the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, the Commonwealth Public Safety Memorial and Mantle: Virginia Indian Tribute have added new design forms and inspiring stories to discover on the square. The formal dedication of “Voices from the Garden,” a monument to a diverse group of memorable women from 400 years of Virginia’s history, is scheduled for October 2019. The square has long served as a distinguished setting for civic commemorations, rallies, political campaign speeches, and inaugurations. Every November, Virginia Indian tribal leaders assemble outside the Executive Mansion to pay ceremonial taxes based on 17th century treaties. Suffragette gatherings and World War I bond drives brought colorful banners and noisy tanks to the public grounds. Prominent outdoor speakers have included Daniel Webster, Stephen A. Douglas, Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Inaugurations of Governors, once held inside the Capitol for limited audiences, moved outdoors to Capitol Square in the early 20th century, attracting thousands. In January 1990 Lawrence Douglas Wilder was sworn in as the first elected African American Governor of a U.S. state and Mary Sue Terry, the first woman elected to executive office Capitol Square Has Many Stories to Tell from page 11 “They didn’t know how deep the water was and those guiding the boats were anxious to get the troops out so they could get away as quickly as possible,” explained Ruff. “Some of them were in the water up to their heads. With that 60- or 70-pound pack and heavy clothes, they just didn’t make it. Roy, the brother that lived, only had Once Ruff realized that he personally knew D-Day survivors, he began to hear their stories. He recounted the story of Roy and Ray, and how Ray refused to shake Roy’s hand on the Empire Javelin because he believed they would be able to shake on the beach.

From this conviction was born a continual petitioning for a workforce training program, and, after several years, the House of Representatives agreed. “The Senate already agreed with me, or wanted to stop hearing me talk about it,” said Ruff. “The workforce training has been

See The Bedford Boys , continued on page 14

in Virginia, was inaugurated for a second term as Attorney General. Capitol Square continues to be a place of political power and public inspiration, attracting local citizens, curious tourists and foreign dignitaries alike. Today, the Virginia Capitol Foundation and the Capitol Square Preservation Council work side by side to protect and improve the architectural, landscape and cultural assets available to everyone on the square. Individual components of the square have been celebrated at different times and for different reasons. But Capitol Square, when considered as an active public park and civic campus to self-government, is greater than the sum of its parts. It appeals to both the intellect and to the heart. Capitol Square can truly tell Virginia’s story. And Virginia’s story is America’s story. Mark Greenough is the Tour Supervisor-Historian at the Virginia State Capitol. Before assuming his present duties in 2002, he worked for many years in the field of public history as an author, exhibit curator, living history interpreter, guide and public speaker. Mark’s publications in print and online include a short history of the Virginia General Assembly and several articles about the history of Virginia’s classical Capitol in Capitol Square.

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