III 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 625 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 19, 2012 Ms. Landrieu (for herself and Mr. Vitter) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the January 12, 2013, opening of the United States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, and supporting plans for other educational pavilions and initiatives.

Whereas historians Stephen E. Ambrose and Gordon H. Nick Mueller, among others, founded the National D-Day Museum on June 6, 2000; Whereas section 8134(c) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-87; 117 Stat. 1105) designated the National D-Day Museum as America’s National World War II Museum; Whereas the National World War II Museum advances the mission of educating the public about the experience of the United States in World War II, covering all branches of the Armed Forces and the Merchant Marine, and documenting and highlighting activities on both the battlefront and home front; Whereas the exhibits and programs of the National World War II Museum portray why the War occurred, how the War was won, and what the War means today, and celebrate the spirit of the United States and enduring values displayed during the War; Whereas the National World War II Museum emphasizes the diverse nature of the war effort of the United States, reflecting the contributions of women, African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and other groups that have been neglected in many accounts of World War II; Whereas the 12,000 landing craft designed and built by Higgins Industries in New Orleans made amphibious invasions possible and carried United States soldiers ashore in every theatre and campaign during the War; Whereas President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the former Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe, credited Andrew Jackson Higgins, the chief executive officer of Higgins Industries, as the man who won the war for us, in a 1960s conversation with the preeminent historian Stephen E. Ambrose, leading Ambrose to initiate plans for the National World War II Museum; Whereas the National D-Day Museum, now known as the National World War II Museum, has made great strides in the development of the facilities, exhibits, and programs at the Museum; Whereas the National World War II Museum, since the grand opening on June 6, 2000, which was the 56th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, has attracted more than 3,000,000 visitors from across the United States and around the world, and has reached millions more through Internet-based and other distance learning programs; Whereas World War II veterans and home front supporters, recognized as the greatest generation because of the sacrifices of the veterans and home front supporters at a pivotal time in United States history, are passing away at a rapid rate, creating an urgent need to preserve the stories, and to pay tribute to the service of the veterans and home front supporters; Whereas Congress recognizes the need to preserve forever the knowledge and history of the most decisive achievement of the United States during the 20th century and to portray that history to citizens, scholars, visitors, and school children for generations to come; Whereas Congress appropriated funds in 1992 to authorize the design and construction of the National D-Day Museum to commemorate the epic 1944 Normandy invasion, and appropriated additional funds in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2009 to help expand the Museum to cover the entire experience of the United States in World War II, and the transformational impact on the United States and the world; Whereas the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, will always be the symbolic memorial where people come to remember the sacrifices made during World War II; Whereas the National World War II Museum in New Orleans will always be the educational institution where people come to learn about the monumental struggle by the United States against would-be oppressors, so that future generations can understand the role the United States played in the preservation and advancement of freedom in the middle of the 20th century; Whereas the State of Louisiana and thousands of donors, including foundations, companies, and Museum members in every State, have contributed millions of dollars and other support to help build and advance the National World War II Museum, and hundreds of volunteers, many from the World War II era, have provided invaluable assistance to the Museum; Whereas the Board of Trustees of the National World War II Museum, national in scope, and the Presidential Counselors advisory group, featuring leading historians and museum professionals, provide effective guidance and oversight for the National World War II Museum; Whereas the National World War II Museum continues to add to and maintain 1 of the largest personal history collections in the United States, representing the experiences of the men and women who fought in World War II and served on the home front, with more than 7,000 videotaped, oral, and written accounts in the collection, and plans to digitize the collection to vastly improve public access; Whereas the National World War II Museum is an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, with a formal agreement to borrow Smithsonian artifacts for exhibits; Whereas the National World War II Museum collaborates with other museums and memorials in the United States and around the world; Whereas the National World War II Museum has added major facilities in recent years through donor support, including the Solomon Victory Theater complex, which features a 4-D theater, the Stage Door Canteen, a United Service Organization-styled entertainment venue, and the Kushner Restoration Pavilion, home to a major patrol torpedo boat restoration project; Whereas the National World War II Museum will open the United States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center in January 2013; Whereas the Pavilion will feature aircraft such as the B-17 bomber and the P-51 fighter, the latter flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, and a submarine experience and exhibits honoring Medal of Honor recipients, government leaders who served in World War II, and industries that became known as the Arsenal of Democracy; and Whereas other major pavilions and interactive exhibits are planned or under development as the Museum anticipates the completion of the campus by 2016, including the Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters Pavilion, the Liberation Pavilion, and a Union Station train experience in the original Louisiana Memorial Pavilion: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes and applauds the planned January 12, 2013, opening of the United States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, an iconic pavilion funded in part by the Federal Government and a major feature of the institution designated by section 8134(c) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-87; 117 Stat. 1105) as America’s National World War II Museum; (2)recognizes the generous assistance from private individuals, corporations, foundations, the Federal Government, the State of Louisiana, and other public entities committed to offering a lasting tribute to the achievements of the United States in World War II; and (3)expresses support for the mission of the National World War II Museum as vital to the preservation of democratic values, to the understanding of United States history and founding principles, and to the education of future generations about the relevance of the War experience to the past and future greatness of the United States.