Linda took this picture as we had to say our goodbyes to Elizabeth and John at the Lynchburg airport, just prior to their flight back home to Arizona on Tuesday afternoon, September 1.

It is hard to put in to words what our family means to us and how much we love them and how happy we are when we see them or get to hear from them in any sort of way.

Thanks, John and Elizabeth for this wonderful visit here with us in Virginia!

After the women had their nails all beautified we finished our tour of the D-Day Memorial and picked them up from the nail salon and took them for lunch back up to the Peaks of Otter resort and restaurant on the Blue Ridge Parkway north and west of Bedford.

We had a most enjoyable time!

Here they took a seat on the porch at my insistance so I could get a picture. Neither one of them would have thought to sit down otherwise. They are so full of energy!

Nineteen soldier boys from this little village of Bedford, Virginia were killed by massive enemy fire on June 6, 1944 as they tried to struggle ashore from their landing craft during the first minutes of the invasion at Omaha Beach. Three others from Bedford would die that same day. That is why Bedford was later selected for this Memorial. They had sacrificed so much.

This is an attempt depict the climb up virtical cliffs that had to be surmounted by American forces as they stormed the shores of France in an area designed as Utah Beach.

This is the very recognizable bronze of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of all the military forces involved in the D-Day invasion. It was the quiet, intelligent and untiring thoroughness of this remarkable man that helped make it possible for all the many elements of the army, navy and air forces of England, America and all its allies to work in harmony and support of each other in this mighty accomplishment of turning the tide against Hitler. What a superb accomplishment! We should not forget their heroic efforts in behalf of freedom!

It was good to be there with my son, John. It was my first time to visit the memorial, even though we have been here in Bedford since last January.

Monday, while Elizabeth and her mom were getting manicures and pedicures at a local shoppe in Bedford, John and I visited the National D-Day Memorial which is located in Bedford.

It is a beautifully designed and maintained memorial, paying honor to the sacrifice of those who participated in the invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944, in Operation Overlord; perhaps the descisive day in the ultimate victory over Hitler and the Axis in WWII.

Before dropping down off the Blue Ridge and returning to Bedford, on our Sunday drive, we stopped for a few minutes at the lake located at the foot of the famous Peaks of Otter.

We promised them we would return the next day for lunch at the restaurant that is part of a resort located here.

Later, in the afternoon on Sunday, August 30, we took John and Elizabeth a ride through the Virginia countryside, including a short stretch of the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.

It was a little hazy, but still a nice day to be out.

This is at an overlook on the Parkway, about 15 miles west of Bedford.

John arrived on his birthday, August 29, so the next day, after they attended our Bedford Branch Sunday meetings with us we had the traditional Chapman family Sunday dinner complete with Roast beef, mashed potatos and gravy, tossed green salad, hot rolls, and fresh peach shortcake and ice cream for dessert! Not too bad!

Of course, just because it was John's birthday dinner didn't mean Elizabeth and I should forgo our practice of mustard on our roast beef!

Two of our children, John and Elizabeth, flew out from Arizona for a 3-day visit with us, August 29 to September 1. They were coming by way of Charlotte, North Carolina and were due to arrive at the Lynchburg airport at 11:28 p.m. We got to the airport in plenty of time, we thought, to be there when they got off the plane. I let Linda off at the main entrance while I parked the car. She took a seat near the entrance to wait for me. I came in and saw her waiting and told I was going to look for a monitor to see the status of the flight. I stepped into a small eating area (this is a small regional airport) and saw a young fellow seated there, eating a large burrito. Oh, my gosh! It was John! I was so surprised!

They had arrived in record time!

Linda said that just as I walked away she heard someone in the nearby women's restroom sneeze. She said to herself, "That has to be Elizabeth!" And sure enough, out came Elizabeth from the rest room and spotted her mom!

This picture was taken just as their mother greeted them for the first time! How great it is to get a visit from members of your family when you have been away from them so long.