[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4921-S4922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 34 and 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coleman). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 34) designating May 29, 2004, 
     on the occasion of the dedication of the National World War 
     II Memorial, as Remembrance of World War II Veterans Day.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. I further ask that the joint resolution be read three 
times and passed, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and any statements related to this matter be 
printed in the Record at the appropriate place.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The joint resolution (S.J. Res. 34) was read the third time and 
passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The joint resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 34

       Whereas on May 29, 2004, thousands of veterans, their 
     families, and friends will gather on the Mall in Washington, 
     District of Columbia, to dedicate the National World War II 
     Memorial;
       Whereas on that day, Americans will pay tribute to the more 
     than 16,112,000 veterans of all military services who served 
     in World War II between the German invasion of Poland in 1939 
     and the surrender by Japan on V-J Day in 1945;
       Whereas on that day, Americans will be reminded of the 
     heroism and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces who were 
     on duty during some of the critical conflicts of World War 
     II, including the attack on Pearl Harbor of December 7, 1941, 
     the Battle of Midway of June 6, 1942, the invasion of 
     Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942, the Allied campaign in North

[[Page S4922]]

     Africa in November 1942, Operation Overlord (D-Day) on June 
     6, 1944, the capture of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, and 
     the Tokyo bombing raids of March 1945;
       Whereas on that day, veterans and their families from North 
     Dakota will honor the heroism and sacrifice of the 
     approximately 69,000 North Dakota veterans who served in 
     World War II, including 1,569 who made the ultimate 
     sacrifice, and recognize the hardships and sacrifices of the 
     164th Regiment of the American Division, a unit of the North 
     Dakota Army National Guard, who were the first unit of the 
     United States Army to land on Guadalcanal on October 13, 
     1942, in the campaign to recapture that island;
       Whereas on that day, America will acknowledge the supreme 
     sacrifice of the more than 400,000 Army, Army Air Corps, 
     Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine 
     personnel who were killed in action in World War II;
       Whereas 12 distinguished Senators and Members of Congress 
     serving in the 108th Congress, including Senator Daniel K. 
     Akaka, Senator Ernest F. Hollings, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, 
     Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Senator Ted Stevens, Senator 
     John W. Warner, Congressman Cass Ballenger, Congressman John 
     D. Dingell, Congressman Ralph M. Hall, Congressman Amo 
     Houghton, Congressman Henry J. Hyde, and Congressman Ralph 
     Regula, served in World War II; and
       Whereas World War II veterans, members of the generation 
     known as ``the Greatest Generation'', through their sacrifice 
     and hard work over more than 50 years, have enabled millions 
     of Americans to enjoy unparalleled prosperity and the 
     blessings of freedom: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That May 29, 
     2004, is hereby designated as Remembrance of World War II 
     Veterans Day, and the President is urged to call upon the 
     people of the United States to celebrate the day with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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