SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 542 Offered February 19, 2007 Celebrating the life of Roy O. Stevens. ---------- Patrons-- Newman and Ruff; Delegates: Byron and Putney ----------

WHEREAS, Roy O. Stevens, a D-Day veteran, volunteer, and advocate from Bedford, died on January 1, 2007, after a long battle with cancer; and

WHEREAS, born on August 12, 1919, with his twin brother Ray, Roy Stevens was one of the last surviving "Bedford Boys," as the members of National Guard Company A from Bedford who participated in the D-Day invasion were known; and

WHEREAS, Roy Stevens and his brother Ray were both sergeants in Company A, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division and were part of the first wave of soldiers attacking Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944; and

WHEREAS, Ray Stevens died in the invasion along with 18 other men from Company A, and Roy Stevens was seriously injured by a land mine a few weeks later; and

WHEREAS, the rest of Roy Stevens' life was marked by efforts to remember, memorialize, and educate others about the sacrifice of his brother and the thousands of other American soldiers who died during the D-Day invasion; and

WHEREAS, the personification of the "Greatest Generation," Roy Stevens was a founding member of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation in Bedford, and he regularly volunteered at the memorial, talking to visitors about his experience and answering school children's questions; and

WHEREAS, Roy Stevens retired after 28 years at Rubatex International and also worked as a funeral assistant for Tharp Funeral Home; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the many hours he devoted to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, Roy Stevens was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2157, the Board-Canady Post #54 of the American Legion, the Liberty Masonic Lodge #95, and the 29th Division Association as well as a faithful member and Sunday School teacher at Thaxton Baptist Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Roy O. Stevens, a true patriot and a fine Virginian; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Roy O. Stevens as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.