[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 75733-75734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29822]



[[Page 75731]]

Vol. 79

Thursday,

No. 243

December 18, 2014

Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 9221--70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 2014 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 75733]]

                Proclamation 9221 of December 15, 2014

                
70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                By the winter of 1944, the United States and Allied 
                forces had stormed the beaches of Normandy, thundered 
                into Europe, and liberated Paris, turning the tide in 
                the struggle against the forces of oppression. With the 
                fate of freedom in peril, millions of Americans went to 
                fight for people they had never met to defend ideals 
                they could not live without. But as Americans and our 
                allies advanced through the Ardennes Forest region of 
                Belgium and Luxembourg, German forces launched a 
                desperate and massive assault, attacking the poorly-
                supplied and heavily-outnumbered Allied front during 
                the early hours of December 16, 1944. Against 
                improbable odds, patriots of exceptional valor and 
                remarkable courage beat back Hitler's armies and 
                achieved a crucial victory at the Battle of the Bulge, 
                marking the beginning of the end of a world war.

                The Battle of the Bulge was one of the United States 
                largest and bloodiest encounters of the Second World 
                War. Over the course of more than a month, some 500,000 
                American service members fought through snow and bitter 
                winter conditions. In extraordinarily difficult 
                circumstances, our Armed Forces faced down bullets and 
                German tanks. From the grip of hatred and tyranny, they 
                won a victory for liberty and freedom. But our triumph 
                came at a tremendous cost; over 76,000 Americans were 
                killed, wounded, or missing in action.

                On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, we 
                are called to do more than commemorate a victory. We 
                must honor the sacrifice of a generation who defied 
                every danger to free a continent from fascism. As we 
                salute the unfailing dedication of a free people, we 
                tell their story so as to commit it to the memory of 
                our Nation. The world will never forget the heroes who 
                stepped forward to secure peace and prosperity far from 
                home, and we will always remember those who gave their 
                last full measure of devotion.

                The warriors who defended the promise of liberty during 
                the Battle of the Bulge are an inspiring and heroic 
                link in an unbroken chain that has made America the 
                greatest force for freedom the world has ever known. 
                Today, we lift up their memories and carry forward the 
                proud legacy of the veterans who gave their all and in 
                doing so, changed the course of human history.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, December 16, 
                2014, as the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the 
                Bulge. I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn 
                day of remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities.

[[Page 75734]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                ninth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2014-29822
Filed 12-17-14; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5