March 3, 2004
Press Release

Sheriff's Office sends off Deputy Dan Fowler

As part of the first federal mobilization of soldiers from Bedford, VA since World War II, guardsmen from Company A of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment set out on March 3rd, 2004, for Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

> Right: The 116th marches through downtown Bedford.

Crowds of well-wishers, easily in the thousands, lined the streets as Company A marched through Bedford, following the same route through downtown that the Virginia Army National Guard unit took during the buildup for World War II.

Bedford Elementary School children lined the entrance to the D-Day Memorial waving flags and chanting "USA" as the solders marched by in perfect formation to the top of Burke's Hill.

< Left: Heading up to the National D-Day Memorial.

Company A is known as the storied "Bedford Boys" that spearheaded the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944. D-Day veteran Roy Stevens, now 84, was key in the planning of this patriotic send off and addressed the crowd with "We did it before, and we can do it again", drawing applause from the hundreds of supporters gathered in the D-Day plaza.

Above: Elementary School students line the way, waving flags, singing God Bless America and chanting "USA" as the troops march by.

Sheriff Mike Brown and his staff attended this emotional ceremony to bid farewell to one of our own; Deputy Dan Fowler.

> Right: Sheriff Brown with Deputy Fowler's family; wife Janine and daughter Megan.

Deputy Fowler has been with the Sheriff's Office since 1999 as a road deputy and is also specially trained for the tactical response team.

He is currently a Sergeant of his regiment and is slated for at least 18 months of overseas duty in the war on terror, though it is not yet known where he and his battalion will be sent.

Staying behind awaiting for his safe return is his wife Janine and their 2 year old daughter, Megan.

This is being posted on our website in honor of all members of the 116th and special recognition to Deputy Fowler. He will certainly be missed by all of us here at BCSO and we will pray for his safe return.

> Right: Dan takes a good long look at his daughter, Megan, before he prepares for deployment overseas.

Contact: Robin Sundquist – Admin Officer – 540.586.4800