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

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 259

       Expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the House of 
Representatives for the acts of heroism and military achievement by the 
members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the June 
 6, 1944, amphibious landing at Normandy, France, and commending them 
 for leadership and valor in an operation that helped bring an end to 
                             World War II.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 2009

   Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Skelton) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
       Expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the House of 
Representatives for the acts of heroism and military achievement by the 
members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the June 
 6, 1944, amphibious landing at Normandy, France, and commending them 
 for leadership and valor in an operation that helped bring an end to 
                             World War II.

Whereas June 6, 2009, marks the 65th anniversary of the Allied assault at 
        Normandy, France, by American, British, and Canadian troops, 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 over 300 planes dropped approximately 15,000 tons of bombs in advance of 
        the amphibious landing to weaken the enemy defenses;
Whereas more than 13,000 soldiers parachuted 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 approximately 10,000 casualties incurred by Allied troops on the 
        first day of the landing, more than 6,000 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 culminated in 
        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 the D-Day 
        operations; 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.
                                 <all>