[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE WHITE HOUSE COMMISSION ON REMEMBRANCE AND THE ``SANDS OF 
                REMEMBRANCE'' MEMORIAL AT NORMANDY BEACH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 8, 2004

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the White House 
Commission on Remembrance and the Sands of Remembrance Memorial 
constructed this past Memorial Day at Normandy beach during the 60th 
anniversary of D-Day.
  The White House Commission on Remembrance was established by Congress 
(PL 106-579) in 2000 and is an independent government agency honoring 
America's fallen, recognizing our men and women who have served our 
nation, and recognizing the veterans who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice as well as those who continue to serve our country.
  The Commission also promotes the values of Memorial Day throughout 
the year.
  In 2002, Carmella LaSpada, the Director of the White House Commission 
on Remembrance and sand sculptors John Gowdy (American), and Dale 
Murdock (Canadian) discussed an idea: to create, from the very sand on 
which blood was shed for freedom, a life-size and historically accurate 
sand sculpture on the Normandy Beach to commemorate the 60th 
Anniversary of D-Day. Thus, the ``Sands of Remembrance'' was born.
  So from May 25 through May 29 a team of award-winning sand sculptors 
from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom began an effort 
to create one of the most memorable and beautiful artistic memorials 
dedicated to one of the most heroic events in our history. To honor D-
Day's fallen heroes in a symbolic and tangible way, this sand sculpture 
was an act of remembrance. This sculpted sand served as a touching and 
unique reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom to those who visited 
the memorial.
  The team of award-winning sand sculptors created a 30 x 30 life-size 
sand sculpture of the D-Day landing commemorating the 60th Anniversary 
of that historic event. Dear Abby and Home Box Office (HBO) partnered 
with the White House Commission on Remembrance for the ``Sands of 
Remembrance'' memorial, initiated by the Commission.
  Some of the reactions of those who witnessed the sculpture were:
  ``It brought tears to my eyes.''
  ``So inspiring.''
  ``It makes you feel gratitude.''
  ``It makes you think.''
  ``Spectacular!''
  ``Superb!''
  ``Stupendous!''
  ``Awesome!''
  ``Astonishing!''
  ``Incredible!''
  ``I've never seen anything like it!''
  ``Magnificent.''
  ``Marvelous.''
  ``How could this have been done? It's unbelievable.''
  ``What a tribute!''
  ``It's so personal and emotional.''
  ``It touches the mind and the heart.''
  ``No other commemoration for those who died has so much meaning.''
  ``I feel the presence of those who died.''
  For the sculpture, fifty tons of sand from the five landing beaches: 
Gold, Juno, Omaha, Sword, and Utah, depicted soldiers landing on the 
Normandy Beaches.
  For the first time in history sand sculptors John Gowdy and Matthew 
Deibert (United States); Mark Anderson and Edward Dudley (United 
Kingdom); and Dale Murdock (Canada) created a historically accurate 
sand sculpture. These sculptors worked for six days, putting in 
approximately 10 hours each day to create the sculpture. Throngs of 
thousands from many countries viewed the sculpture as they attended 
ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. Of the international 
community of visitors that visited the ``Sands of Remembrance'', a 
Russian woman said emotionally, ``It brought tears to my eyes.''
  The sand sculpture, located in Vierville-sur-Mer on Omaha Beach in 
Normandy, France, was dedicated on May 30 and remained on exhibit 
through June 8.
  I want to thank the White House Commission on Remembrance, the 
sculptors who made the Sands of Remembrance a reality, and of course, 
the men and women who made freedom a reality on the shores of Normandy 
60 years ago.

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