[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 722 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 722
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 4, 2024
Mr. Boozman (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Scott of Florida,
Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Risch, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Schmitt, Mrs.
Fischer, Mr. Daines, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Braun, Mr.
Grassley, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Marshall, Ms.
Ernst, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Thune,
Mr. Cotton, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Young, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Collins, Mr.
Moran, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Durbin,
Mr. King, Mr. Carper, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Manchin, Mr.
Markey, Mr. Tester, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Booker, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Peters, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, Ms.
Sinema, Mr. Warner, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Smith, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Hassan,
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Reed, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Kaine) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
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.
Whereas, June 6, 2024, marks the 80th 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 code-named
``Operation 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 combined arms amphibious assault in
history, consisting of--
(1) approximately 132,600 members of the Allied Expeditionary Force,
including 57,500 members of the United States Armed Forces;
(2) more than 23,000 airborne troops supporting the seaborne landings;
(3) approximately 7,000 naval vessels; and
(4) more than 14,000 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) and 3
British armored brigades 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 80th 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 80th
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 (UNESCO) World Heritage
List; and
(5) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling on the people of the United States to observe the 80th
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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