[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 413 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
H. Res. 413
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
June 4, 2019.
Whereas June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of the day the United States
launched the assault at Normandy, France, alongside troops of the United
Kingdom, Canada, and Free France, known as ``Operation Overlord'';
Whereas the D-Day landing was the largest single amphibious assault in history;
Whereas an attack by Nazi E-boats during a series of large-scale rehearsals
conducted in preparation for D-Day, known as Exercise Tiger, resulted in
at least 749 American servicemen deaths;
Whereas soldiers of 6 divisions, including 3 from the United States, 2 from the
United Kingdom with troops from Free France, and 1 from Canada, stormed
ashore in 5 main landing areas on beaches in Normandy, code-named
``Utah'', ``Omaha'', ``Gold'', ``Juno'', and ``Sword'';
Whereas approximately 10,000 Allied casualties were incurred on the first day of
the landing, with more than 6,000 being members of the United States
Armed Forces;
Whereas over the course of Operation Overlord, the Allies managed to land more
than 2,000,000 men in Northern France and suffered nearly 230,000
casualties;
Whereas military and civilians on the home front and abroad made significant
contributions and sacrifices toward the success of Operation Overlord,
including more than 19,000 French civilian casualties during the
Normandy campaign;
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 arrival of United States forces in Europe and the ultimate success
of the Normandy campaign, albeit at tremendous cost, ultimately turned
the tide for the Allies and led to victory over Adolf Hitler, the Nazi
regime, and of one of the most evil ideologies the world has ever seen;
Whereas the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy, France, is the
final resting place for more than 9,000 Americans who gave their lives
to the cause of liberating Europe from Nazi tyranny;
Whereas the advanced age of the last remaining veterans of World War II and the
Normandy landings, and the gradual disappearance of any living memory of
the events, make it necessary to increase educational activities
intended to impart these critical moments in history, particularly to
younger generations;
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 the 5 Normandy beaches and a number of sites on the Normandy coast,
including Pointe du Hoc and various paratrooper drop zones, were the
scene of the D-Day landings and constitute a unique piece of world
heritage and a symbol of peace and freedom; 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 in Europe: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing by the
Allies on June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France and this seminal moment in
American history that has shaped security and prosperity;
(2) recognizes this decisive point in history that led to world
leadership which now rests upon the shoulders of a free people,
committed to modern liberal democracy, and all its tenets;
(3) recognizes the importance of World War II history and D-Day as
symbols of the costs of freedom, the perils of fascism, and the
indispensable nature of the global alliances and partnerships of the
United States, through which the United States and its allies together
stand ready to defeat any foe;
(4) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the members of the
United States Armed Forces and allied armed forces who participated in
the D-Day operations, and other military and nonmilitary personnel, at
home and abroad, who contributed to the success of Operation Overlord
and turned the tide of war against the Nazis and the Axis Powers during
World War II;
(5) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the young people of the
United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and all our allies
for their efforts to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy
landings, preserve the historical significance of D-Day, and ensure that
future generations know of the acts of heroism and sacrifice carried out
by Allied troops who gave their lives in the name of freedom;
(6) calls for expanding educational efforts to ensure that the
lessons of World War II and the sacrifices made in pursuit of freedom
are never forgotten;
(7) 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 offshore sunken ship remains by inscribing
those beaches and remains on the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List;
(8) requests that the President issue a proclamation recognizing the
remaining living veterans of the Normandy campaign; and
(9) calls 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 those who liberated Europe.
Attest:
Clerk.