[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE GREATEST GENERATION HOMECOMING WEEKEND

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 216, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 216) expressing gratitude and 
     appreciation to the men and women of the United States Armed 
     Forces who served in World War II, commending the acts of 
     heroism displayed by those servicemembers, and recognizing 
     the ``Greatest Generation Homecoming Weekend'' to be held in 
     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 216) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 216

       Whereas World War II began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi 
     Germany invaded Poland without a declaration of war and then 
     moved, following the surrender of Poland, to invade and 
     occupy Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and 
     Belgium;
       Whereas following the premeditated invasion by Japan on the 
     United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, 
     the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War 
     II on the side of freedom and democracy;
       Whereas when the fate of the free world was in jeopardy as 
     a direct result of the desire of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi 
     regime for world conquest, the servicemembers of the United 
     States Armed Forces known as the ``Greatest Generation'' 
     assumed the task of freeing the world of Nazism, fascism, and 
     tyranny;
       Whereas more than 16,000,000 Americans served in the United 
     States Armed Forces during World War II, and millions more 
     supported the war effort at home;
       Whereas more than 400,000 brave Americans made the ultimate 
     sacrifice during World War II in the name of freedom and in 
     defense of the ideals that the people of the United States 
     hold dear;
       Whereas units of the United States Army, such as the 1st 
     Infantry Division known as the ``Big Red One'', the 3rd 
     Infantry Division known as the ``Rock of the Marne'', the 
     10th Armored Division known as the ``Tiger Division'', and 
     the ``Flying Tigers'' of the 14th Air Force, valiantly fought 
     to defeat the oppression and tyranny of the Axis Powers;
       Whereas the great tragedy of World War II was the defining 
     event of the 20th century, when the brave men and women of 
     the United States Armed Forces fought for the common defense 
     of the United States and for the broader causes of peace and 
     freedom from tyranny throughout the world; and
       Whereas the members of the United States Armed Forces, 
     including the ``Greatest Generation'' of World War II, made 
     sacrifices and displayed bravery and heroism in the name of 
     freedom and democracy throughout the world: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses appreciation to the members of the United 
     States Armed Forces who served during World War II, for--
       (A) the selfless service of those service-
     members to the United States;
       (B) restoring freedom to the world; and
       (C) defeating the elements of evil and oppression;
       (2) commends the heroism and bravery displayed by the 
     members of the United States Armed Forces who served during 
     World War II, known as the ``Greatest Generation'', in the 
     face of death and severe hardship, and honors those 
     servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice;
       (3) proudly honors the members of the ``Greatest 
     Generation'' on the occasion of the forthcoming 60th 
     anniversary of the end of World War II, and in conjunction 
     with the ``Greatest Generation Homecoming Weekend'' in 
     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
       (4) proudly honors all members of the United States Armed 
     Forces, past and present, who defend the freedom of the 
     United States in times of both war and peace; and
       (5) commends the participants of the ``Greatest Generation 
     Homecoming Weekend'' that takes place from September 2, 2005 
     through September 5, 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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