[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 135 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 135

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 2, 2019

    Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

Whereas June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of the Allied assault at 
        Normandy, France, by troops of the United States, the United Kingdom, 
        Canada, and Free France, 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 the naval phase of the Allied assault at Normandy was codenamed 
        ``Neptune'', and the date of June 6, 1944, is referred to as ``D-Day'' 
        to denote the day on which the combat attack was initiated;
Whereas the D-Day landing was the largest single amphibious assault in history, 
        consisting of--

    (1) approximately 57,000 members of the United States Armed Forces;

    (2) approximately 153,000 members of the Allied Expeditionary Force;

    (3) approximately 5,000 naval vessels; and

    (4) more than 11,000 sorties by Allied aircraft;

Whereas soldiers of 6 divisions (3 from the United States, 2 from the United 
        Kingdom, which included troops of Free France, and 1 from Canada) 
        stormed ashore in 5 main landing areas on beaches in Normandy, which 
        were code-named ``Utah'', ``Omaha'', ``Gold'', ``Juno'', and ``Sword'';
Whereas, of the approximately 10,000 Allied casualties incurred on the first day 
        of the landing, more than 6,000 were members of the United States Armed 
        Forces;
Whereas the Allied assault and following operations were supported by ships, 
        aircraft, and troops from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Free 
        Norway, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the Polish Armed 
        Forces in the West;
Whereas the advanced age of the last remaining veterans of, and the gradual 
        disappearance of any living memory of, World War II and the Normandy 
        landings make it necessary to increase activities intended to pass on 
        the history of those events, particularly to younger generations;
Whereas the young people of Normandy and the United States have displayed 
        unprecedented commitment to, and involvement in, celebrating--

    (1) the veterans of the Normandy landings; and

    (2) the freedom brought by those veterans in 1944;

Whereas the significant material remains of the Normandy landings found on the 
        Normandy beaches and at the bottom of the sea in the territorial waters 
        of France, such as shipwrecks and various items of military equipment, 
        bear witness to the remarkable and unique nature of the material 
        resources used by the Allied forces to execute the Normandy landings;
Whereas 5 Normandy beaches and a number of sites on the Normandy coast, 
        including Pointe du Hoc, were the scene of the D-Day landings and 
        constitute, and will for all time constitute--

    (1) a unique piece of world heritage; and

    (2) a symbol of peace and freedom, the unspoilt nature, integrity, and 
authenticity of which must be protected at all costs; and

Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the members of the ``Greatest 
        Generation'' who assumed the task of freeing the world from Nazi and 
        Fascist regimes and restoring liberty to Europe: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the amphibious 
        landing of the Allies on D-Day, June 6, 1944, at Normandy, 
        France, during World War II;
            (2) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the members of 
        the United States Armed Forces who participated in the D-Day 
        operations;
            (3) thanks the young people of Normandy and the United 
        States for their involvement in events celebrating the 75th 
        anniversary of the Normandy landings with the aim of making 
        future generations aware of the acts of heroism and sacrifice 
        performed by the Allied forces;
            (4) recognizes the efforts of France and the people of 
        Normandy to preserve for future generations the unique world 
        heritage represented by the Normandy beaches and the sunken 
        material remains of the Normandy landings by inscribing those 
        beaches and remains on the United Nations Educational, 
        Scientific and Cultural Organization (commonly referred to as 
        ``UNESCO'') World Heritage List; and
            (5) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe the 75th 
        anniversary of the Normandy landings with appropriate 
        ceremonies and programs to honor the sacrifices made by their 
        fellow countrymen to liberate Europe.
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