[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14753-S14754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 179--RELATIVE TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR II

  By Mr. THURMOND (for himself, Mr. Dole, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Baucus, Mr. 
Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
Hollings, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Packwood, Mr. Warner, Mr. Cohen, Mr. 
Shelby, Mr. Lott, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Bumpers, 
Mr. Kohl, Mr. Mack, Mr. Biden, Mr. Craig, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Byrd, Mr. 
Stevens, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Brown, 
Mr. Robb, Mr. Inouye, Mr. hatch, and Mr. Campbell) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 179

       Concerning a joint meeting of Congress and the closing of 
     the commemorations for the Fiftieth Anniversary of World War 
     II.
       Whereas 50 years ago, this Nation had just emerged from a 
     war that found Americans fighting a common foe with 32 allied 
     countries and in which over 17,000,000 Americans served in 
     the military;
       Whereas the United States suffered over 670,000 casualties, 
     with more than 290,000 deaths, while over 105,000 Americans 
     were held as prisoners of war by * * *;
       Whereas on the home front, Americans mobilized to support 
     the war by increasing the output of manufactured goods by 300 
     percent and by causing a second agricultural revolution 
     through the efforts and imagination of our people as the 
     American farmers mobilized to support the world;
       Whereas the war led to dramatic social changes as more than 
     19,500,000 women joined the workforce at the Nation's defense 
     plants and 350,000 joined the military;
       Whereas the roles of minorities in both the military and 
     industry were changed forever as more opportunities for 
     employment and involvement in the defense of the United 
     States presented themselves;
       Whereas the contributions by women, minorities, and all 
     those on the home front were legion;
       Whereas the bringing to a close of the commemorations for 
     the Fiftieth Anniversary of World War II should be celebrated 
     across the Nation with programs and activities to thank and 
     honor the World War II generation, our veterans, their 
     families, those who lost loved ones, and all who served on 
     the home front; and
       Whereas it is important to educate the generations that 
     followed World War II on the lessons of this horrific 
     conflict and to reaffirm the values of human decency: Now, 
     therefore, be it
           Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate and the House of Representatives, by 
     previous agreement, shall assemble in the Hall of the House 
     of Representatives on October 11, 1995, for the purpose of 
     saying to the Nation and the world that the American people 
     will never forget those who served our Nation and saved the 
     world, our veterans, and those who served on the home front 
     as we close the commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of 
     World War II;
       (2)(A) November 4, 1995, through November 11, 1995, is 
     designated as a ``Week of National Remembrance and the 
     Closing of the Fiftieth Anniversary of World War II'', with 
     National 

[[Page S 14754]]
     Days of Prayer on November 4 and November 5, 1995, and a World War II 
     Education Day across America on November 8, 1995, and the 
     President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe that 
     period with appropriate ceremonies and activities;
       (B) commemorations during the ``Week of National 
     Remembrance and the Closing of the Fiftieth Anniversary of 
     World War II'' shall include the dedication of the future 
     site of the Nation's World War II Memorial in Washington, 
     D.C.;
       (3) Veterans Day, November 11, 1995, is designated as a 
     ``National Day of Observance and Celebration of the Fiftieth 
     Anniversary of World War II'', and the President is 
     authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States to observe that day with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities; and
       (4) each State Governor and each chief executive of each 
     political subdivision of each State, is urged to issue a 
     proclamation (or other appropriate official statement) 
     calling upon the citizens of such State or political 
     subdivision of a State to participate on November 11, 1995, 
     at 11 a.m., in the ringing of the Bells of Peace and Freedom 
     by striking all bells of the Nation 50 times to signify the 
     50 years without a world war and the world's hope to achieve 
     another 50 years of peace and freedom.

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