[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 59 (Thursday, April 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S2387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 421--EXPRESSING THE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF THE
SENATE FOR THE ACTS OF HEROISM AND MILITARY ACHIEVEMENT BY THE MEMBERS
OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE JUNE 6, 1944,
AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT NORMANDY, FRANCE, AND COMMENDING THEM FOR
LEADERSHIP AND VALOR IN AN OPERATION THAT HELPED BRING AN END TO WORLD
WAR II
Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Ms. Landrieu) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 421
Whereas June 6, 2014, marks the 70th anniversary of the
Allied assault at Normandy, France, by American, British, and
Canadian troops, which was 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 assault phase on Normandy was codenamed
``Neptune'', and the June 6th assault date 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 approximately 31,000
members of the United States Armed Forces, 153,000 members of
the Allied Expeditionary Force, 5,000 naval vessels, and more
than 11,000 sorties by Allied aircraft;
Whereas soldiers of 6 divisions (3 American, 2 British, and
1 Canadian) 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
casualties were members of the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas the age of the remaining World War II veterans 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 these events,
particularly to younger generations;
Whereas the young people of Normandy and the United States
have displayed unprecedented commitment to and involvement in
celebrating the veterans of the Normandy landings and the
freedom that they brought with them in 1944;
Whereas the significant material remains of the Normandy
landing, such as shipwrecks and various items of military
equipment found both on the Normandy beaches and at the
bottom of the sea in French territorial waters, bear witness
to the remarkable material resources used by the Allied Armed
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 Normandy landings, and constitute both now and for all
time a unique piece of humanity's world heritage, and a
symbol of peace and freedom, whose unspoilt nature,
integrity, and authenticity 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 70th anniversary of the Allied
amphibious landing 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 recognizing and celebrating
the 70th 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 the Government 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 landing, by
inscribing them on the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage
List; and
(5) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling
on the people of the United States to observe the anniversary
with appropriate ceremonies and programs to honor the
sacrifices of their fellow countrymen to liberate Europe.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, on June 6th, 1944, the brave men and
women of the Allied Forces began the opening phase of Operation
Overlord in an effort to break the Nazi stranglehold on Western Europe.
On that early morning, 31,000 members of the United States Armed
Forces, and 153,000 of their counterparts in the Allied Expeditionary
Force, stormed ashore five landing areas on the beaches of Normandy,
France, in what is known as D-Day. In that first day alone,
approximately 10,000 allied soldiers were wounded or killed, including
6,000 Americans. Now, 70 years later, it remains our duty to remember
the sacrifices made by the members of the ``greatest generation'' who
answered the call of those being oppressed by the Nazi and Fascist
regimes. In recognition of the incredible feats achieved by our
veterans, the Parliament of the French Republic has asked to join us in
the passage of an identical resolution in both bodies, honoring these
sacrifices made in the name of liberty. As co-chairs of the Senate
French Caucus, I have joined with Senator Landrieu to introduce this
resolution to recognize the upcoming 70th Anniversary of the D-Day
Landings and to express our gratitude and appreciation to the members
of the U.S. Armed Forces who participated in these operations.
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