House passes D-Day resolution co-sponsored by Nye

The US House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday honoring the anniversary of D-Day, which is this Saturday. 2nd District Congressman Glenn Nye was a co-sponsor of the resolution and you can hear his statement on this by clicking on the audio link below:

The text of the statement as well as the resolution is below the fold.

Text of statement:

This Saturday, June 6th, we will honor the sixty-fifth anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy. Along with nearly XX other members of Congress, I introduced a resolution to extend our gratitude for the heroism and service of the members of our Armed Forces who took part in Operation Overlord.

Occasions like this are even more important now, as we once again have American men and women serving our country in harm’s way. Just like in WWII, troops from Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore have volunteered to defend the freedom of innocent civilians overseas.

And just as we must never forget the service of the brave Americans who sacrificed for our nation on the shores of France, we must honor the Americans who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan by making sure they have the support, health care and benefits they have earned.

The resolution:

H.RES.529

Expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the House of Representatives 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, 2009, marks the 65th 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 Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower called Operation Overlord a `Crusade in Europe’, telling the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who would participate in the operation that `The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.’;

Whereas the naval assault phase on Normandy was code-named `Neptune’, and the June 6th assault date is referred to a D-Day to denote the day on which the combat attack was initiated;

Whereas over 300 planes dropped approximately 15,000 tons of bombs in advance of the amphibious landing to weaken the enemy defenses;

Whereas more than 13,000 soldiers parachuted behind enemy lines to secure landing fields in the 24 hours preceding the amphibious landing;

Whereas soldiers of six divisions (three American, two British and one Canadian) stormed ashore in five main landing areas on beaches in Normandy, which were code-named `Utah’, `Omaha’, `Gold’, `Juno’ and `Sword’;

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 and more than 3,000 vehicles, which embarked on 208 vessels from Weymouth and Portland, England;

Whereas of the approximately 10,000 casualties incurred by Allied troops on the first day of the landing, more than 6,000 casualties were members of the United States Armed Forces;

Whereas only five days after the initial landing, Allied troops secured a beachhead that was 50 miles long and 12 miles deep and was occupied by more than 325,000 soldiers;

Whereas on July 25, 1944, Allied Forces launched Operation COBRA to break out of the beachhead and began the liberation of France, which culminated in the destruction of the Nazi regime on May 7, 1945; and

Whereas members of the `greatest generation’ assumed the task of freeing the world from Nazi and Fascist regimes and restoring liberty to Europe: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) recognizes the 65th anniversary of the Allied amphibious landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France, during World War II;

(2) expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the D-Day operations; and

(3) 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.