[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 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

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

                              S. Res. 135

       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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