[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 259 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 259

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                          June 2, 2009.
Whereas June 6, 2009, marks the 65th anniversary of the Allied assault at 
        Normandy, France, which was known as Operation Overlord;
Whereas before Operation Overlord, the German Army still occupied France and the 
        Nazi government still had access to the raw materials and industrial 
        capacity of Western Europe;
Whereas Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower called Operation 
        Overlord a ``Crusade in Europe'', telling the soldiers, sailors, and 
        airmen who would participate in the operation that ``The free men of the 
        world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your 
        courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.'';
Whereas the naval assault phase on Normandy was code-named ``Neptune'', and the 
        June 6th assault date is referred to a D-Day to denote the day on which 
        the combat attack was initiated;
Whereas significant aerial bombardments and operations (including Operation 
        Fortitude) by Allied forces during the weeks and months leading up to, 
        and in support of Operation Overlord, played a significant role in the 
        success of the Normandy landings;
Whereas more than 13,000 soldiers parachuted, and several hundred soldiers of 
        the glider units participating in Mission Detroit and Mission Chicago 
        landed, behind enemy lines to secure landing fields in the 24 hours 
        preceding the amphibious landing;
Whereas soldiers of six divisions (three American, two British and one Canadian) 
        stormed ashore in five main landing areas on beaches in Normandy, which 
        were code-named ``Utah'', ``Omaha'', ``Gold'', ``Juno'' and ``Sword'';
Whereas the D-Day landing was the largest single amphibious assault in history, 
        consisting of approximately 31,000 members of the United States Armed 
        Forces and more than 3,000 vehicles, which embarked on 208 vessels from 
        Weymouth and Portland, England;
Whereas, of the estimated 9,400 casualties incurred by Allied troops on the 
        first day of the landing, an estimated 5,400 casualties were members of 
        the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas only five days after the initial landing, Allied troops secured a 
        beachhead that was 50 miles long and 12 miles deep and was occupied by 
        more than 325,000 soldiers;
Whereas on July 25, 1944, Allied Forces launched Operation COBRA to break out of 
        the beachhead and began the liberation of France, which contributed to 
        the destruction of the Nazi regime on May 7, 1945; and
Whereas members of the ``greatest generation'' assumed the task of freeing the 
        world from Nazi and Fascist regimes and restoring liberty to Europe: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 65th anniversary of the Allied amphibious landing 
        on D-Day, June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France, during World War II;
            (2) expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the members of the 
        United States Armed Forces who participated in Operation Overlord; and
            (3) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling on the 
        people of the United States to observe the anniversary with appropriate 
        ceremonies and programs to honor the sacrifices of their fellow 
        countrymen to liberate Europe.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.