[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Ms. Titus) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs 
Committee, I am honored to join with my colleagues from that committee 
to mark the 70th anniversary of D-day.
  Nevada's heroes have played a critical role in our country's armed 
services throughout history, from the Air Force pilots that have been 
deployed from Nellis Air Force Base to our National Guard's 1st 
Squadron, 221st Cavalry Unit that has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
For generations, our democracy has been defended by those who have 
given so much.
  Next week marks the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. At 
no other time in history has an amphibious assault occurred on that 
scale. On June 6, 1944, 156,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of 
Normandy knowing that they may not survive, and many didn't. They were 
bombarded by bullets and shells and bombs, but without hesitation they 
marched on. In that one day, the United States lost 6,603 brave 
soldiers.
  Nevada Senator Howard Cannon was one of the American heroes who 
risked his life on that fateful day. He piloted the chief troop-carrier 
airplane, leading 44 others from Exeter, England, across the English 
Channel to France. In the middle of a hot June night, at 11:50 p.m. on 
June 5, he took off, the plane departed, the Stoy Hora, carrying 
paratroopers who jumped into France just a little while later.
  A few days after that, on June 17, Senator Cannon was shot down over 
the Netherlands and survived 42 days behind enemy lines. He is one of 
the heroes whose story is told in the book and movie ``A Bridge Too 
Far.''
  I am fortunate that I was able to serve as Senator Cannon's faculty 
intern here in 1982. Every day in my district office, I have the unique 
privilege of sitting behind Senator Cannon's desk. It is a constant 
reminder of the many different forms that heroism takes. From the foot 
soldier at Normandy struggling against the waves to gain the beach to 
the switch operator back in the United States ensuring that the 
communications went through; from the admirals to the privates; from 
the artillerymen to the spies, there were many heroes who showed up on 
that day that changed history.
  These brave men and women have been called ``the Greatest 
Generation'' by Tom Brokaw for a reason. Like many of you, I have 
family members who fought in World War II: an uncle, a father-in-law, 
two of my husband's uncles. Their valor and courage stand as an example 
to all of us as we continue to battle injustice today.
  So, to all of those who risked their lives on those beaches in 
Normandy and beyond and to the families of those who perished on those 
foreign shores, fighting for democracy and freedom, I say a heartfelt 
thank you, and our grateful Nation owes you a debt that it can never 
repay.

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