S.Res. 421 — Agreed to in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 421 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 10, 2014Mr. Boozman (for himself, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Begich, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Burr, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Rubio, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Shelby, and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations May 20, 2014Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment May 21, 2014Considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the Senate for the acts of heroism and military achievement by the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the June 6, 1944, amphibious landing at Normandy, France, and commending them for leadership and valor in an operation that helped bring an end to World War II. Whereas June 6, 2014, marks the 70th anniversary of the Allied assault at Normandy, France, by American, British, and Canadian troops, which was 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 assault phase on Normandy was codenamed Neptune, and the June 6th assault date 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 single amphibious assault in history, consisting of approximately 31,000 members of the United States Armed Forces, 153,000 members of the Allied Expeditionary Force, 5,000 naval vessels, and more than 11,000 sorties by Allied aircraft; Whereas soldiers of 6 divisions (3 American, 2 British, and 1 Canadian) 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 casualties were members of the United States Armed Forces; Whereas the age of the remaining World War II veterans 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 these events, particularly to younger generations; Whereas the young people of Normandy and the United States have displayed unprecedented commitment to and involvement in celebrating the veterans of the Normandy landings and the freedom that they brought with them in 1944; Whereas the significant material remains of the Normandy landing, such as shipwrecks and various items of military equipment found both on the Normandy beaches and at the bottom of the sea in French territorial waters, bear witness to the remarkable material resources used by the Allied Armed 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 Normandy landings, and constitute both now and for all time a unique piece of humanity's world heritage, and a symbol of peace and freedom, whose unspoilt nature, integrity, and authenticity 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 That the Senate— (1) recognizes the 70th anniversary of the Allied amphibious landing 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 recognizing and celebrating the 70th 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 the Government 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 landing, by inscribing them on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List; and (5) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and programs to honor the sacrifices of their fellow countrymen to liberate Europe.