Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge all of my colleagues to support S.J. Res. 28, a resolution recognizing the sixtieth anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy.

Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, this past weekend both my wife Marie and I joined with President Bush, former Senator Bob Dole and tens of thousands of veterans, many of them from the Second World War, as the new National World War II Memorial was dedicated.

As Marie and I stood on the Mall, we were reminded of the valor and sacrifice of millions of American men and women who wore our Nation's uniform during this war, including my father, a combat Army veteran who saw horrific combat that began in New Guinea and ended in the Philippines, and my wife's father, who served with honor and distinction on the USS Canberra in the South Pacific.

Several of our relatives saw combat during the Second World War, including Marie's uncle, Joseph Hahn, of the 29th Division, 116th Regiment, 121st Engineering Battalion, who hit the beaches on that historic day when the tides of war were turned in our favor. Corporal Hahn hit the beach on Omaha Beach on June 6, and he was part of that very courageous group of men who bravely fought their way through one of the most treacherous battlefields in history and made it to St. Lo on July 18th. Six weeks to advance about 30 miles underscores how bad that battle really was and how vociferous were the forces that were arrayed against them. But they prevailed!

It occurred to me at the monument dedication Saturday, Mr. Speaker, that World War II could have had a different outcome and could have turned out differently. Nowhere is this more evident than the D-Day landings on June 6 of 1944.

Many Americans look back upon D-Day and think that it was the inevitable beginning of Europe's liberation from the clutches of Nazi Germany. Yet, on June 6, 1944, failure was still possible. In fact, when we pause and consider the magnitude and the scale of such an enormously complicated military operation waged by multiple nations, it sometimes seems amazing that the operation ever succeeded.

Historian Stephen Ambrose put the significance of this operation into perspective. He said, ``You can't exaggerate it. You can't overstate it. D-Day was the pivot point of the 20th century. It was the day on which the decision was made as to who was going to rule this world in the second half of the 20th century. Is it going to be Nazism, is it going to be Communism, or are the democracies going to prevail?'' He goes on to say, ``If we would have failed on Omaha Beach and on the other beaches on the 6th of June in 1944, the struggle for Europe would have been a struggle between Hitler and Stalin, and we would have been out of it.''

Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting that even General Dwight D. Eisenhower himself was not completely confident of victory. Prior to the launch of the great amphibious assault, he scribbled a note, a brief note about what he would say to the press in the event that the invasion failed, and he kept it in his wallet. While General Eisenhower had reasonable faith in his war plan, he was also fully cognizant of just how badly things could go awry in the fog of war, even if everything else had gone perfectly and went out on schedule.

As we all know now, Mr. Speaker, as dawn broke on June 6, 1944, a great invasion force stood off the coast of Normandy awaiting the commencement of Operation Overlord. In all, there were nine battleships, 23 cruisers, 104 destroyers, and 71 large landing craft of various descriptions, as well as troop transports, mine sweepers, and merchantmen. Combined, these forces constituted nearly 5,000 ships of every type, the largest armada ever assembled. Allied air forces flew 11,000 sorties to provide air cover, bomb fortifications, and, most importantly, to pin down German tanks poised to drive any Allied beachhead back into the sea.

As Operation Overlord continued, several of the Allied beach landings went relatively smoothly and according to plan. But at the beach code- named Omaha, many things seemed to go wrong all at once for the primarily American force. According to some estimates, barely one-third of the first wave of attackers ever reached dry land. Only sheer bravery and the monumental effort of human will posed against impossible odds carried the day at Omaha Beach. About 2,500 men were killed or wounded at Omaha Beach alone.

By the end of D-Day, the total of dead and injured topped 9,000. The American share was about 6,500. Among the American airborne divisions, about 2,500 became casualties. Canadian forces experienced about 1,100 casualties, and another 3,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded. Approximately one-third of the casualties were killed in action.

Despite the losses and the unspeakable hardship endured by so many, the invasion succeeded. More than 100,000 men and 10,000 vehicles came ashore that day, the first of millions who would join them and finally put an end to Nazi Germany.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation must never take for granted the sacrifices that were made to liberate Europe and to preserve freedom. We must never forget the veterans who scaled the cliffs and stormed the beaches of Normandy against overwhelming odds.

I urge all Members to strongly support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 28) recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S.J. Res. 28.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, 60 years ago this month, on June 6, 1944, Allied airborne and seaborne forces invaded Normandy, France, at the start of Operation Overlord. On that first day, more than 150,000 Allied military personnel came ashore and over 6,500 American troops became casualties.

Leading the overall Allied effort in what he would describe as a ``Crusade in Europe'' was a Kansas native, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Among the first wave of soldiers on June 6 to storm ashore into the devastating fires of the German defenses were soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, a proud Army unit with long-standing ties to Fort Riley, Kansas, which I am privileged to represent.

By the end of the ``Crusade in Europe,'' the 1st Division, also known as the Big Red One, had suffered more than 21,000 casualties among the nearly 44,000 men who had served in its ranks. Sixteen of its soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor. The division's motto exemplified its service: ``No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great. Duty first.''

Mr. Speaker, this resolution properly honors the valor and sacrifices of our fellow countrymen who 60 years ago answered the call to duty and fought to restore freedom and human dignity to millions of people.

This resolution should also remind us, Mr. Speaker, that today many tens of thousands of American military men and women are fighting a global war on terrorism. In the process, they are again answering the same call to duty as the men of D-Day. While the places and enemies have changed, the objective has not. They fight today to protect America and to restore freedom and human dignity to millions.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. It truly is a recognition and celebration of the brave deeds by bold men who earned a rightful place in American history over 60 years ago in the landing zones, beaches and battlefields of Normandy. But as we celebrate their achievements, let us not forget that bold brave men and women continue to serve this Nation admirably around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a ``yes'' vote as a fitting honor for today's heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers; however, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

In closing, I think this is a fitting tribute to the brave men who 60 years ago stormed the sandy beaches of Normandy, risking all, so that we might enjoy the freedoms that we have become accustomed to. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution, a fitting honor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Joint Resolution 28, introduced by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, and commend my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, for introducing an identical bill in the House, H.J. Res. 93.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the 60th anniversary of one of the most important and critical military operations of World War II, the Allied landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944.

This past Saturday, we honored World War II veterans with the official dedication of the first National Memorial that honors all those who served in the Second World War. This memorial is a tribute to the band of brothers who fought to restore freedom and liberty for all across the world.

The turning point in the fight to liberate Europe from the Nazis during World War II was the successful Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944. While officially named Operation Overlord, ``D-Day'' will forever be known as the day the Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy that fateful morning.

As the Supreme Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower led the largest, most aggressive air, land and sea campaign ever undertaken during World War II. On that day, the forces of liberty stared down the evils of fascism. Five thousand naval vessels, including 3,000 landing crafts, carried 153,000 Allied forces across the channel to hit the beaches of Normandy.

While Gold, Juno Sword and Utah were taken by our allies and American forces with relatively minor opposition, for American forces that fought on the sands at Omaha, D-Day will forever live in their minds and hearts.

The landing at Omaha truly captured the bravery, determination and fortitude of the American soldier. Many of them never reached the shores of Omaha, heavily fortified and defended by the Germans. Nearly 2,500 were killed or wounded in the attack.

As the sun set on June 6, 1944, over 6,000 soldiers gave their lives that extraordinary day. Their sacrifices and those of all who fought that day allowed over 100,000 men and 10,000 vehicles to come ashore that evening, the

first wave of Americans that would be sent to the European continent to defeat Nazi Germany.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge the House to adopt this resolution in support of our many fine heroes that participated in D-Day on June 6, 1944.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for this resolution authorizing and recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy, France, during the Second World War. By supporting this resolution, we not only encourage Americans everywhere to honor the heroic deeds and the sacrifices made by the brave Allied troops on June 6, 1944, but we also take a moment to remember our personal debt to what is now known as the Greatest Generation.

Dedication to duty, love of freedom, these things drove these courageous men to undertake and accomplish a task that seemed impossible. Such a comprehensive operation was unheard of at the time, and these men knew the risks involved. On that day, June 6, 1944, when the beaches of Normandy were stormed in the face of intense opposition, over 6,500 American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice so that true freedom could be restored to millions of people across the European continent.

It is interesting to note that I have two good friends who were there: Dr. Tommy McDonald from Marshfield, Missouri, a sniper on that day, a recipient of the Silver Star, wounded three times; Frank Luce, from my hometown of Lexington, who not only was at Normandy but he had three tanks shot out from under him and was the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Mr. Speaker, this last Saturday I had the opportunity to have lunch with many American Legion veterans at Higginsville, Missouri, and any number of them were at day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 at Normandy beach head. It was an honor and a privilege to meet with them and to thank them for their duty.

June 6, 1944, was a pivotal day. At the time, it was almost impossible to understand the full impact it would have, but here we are. Sixty years of reflection have shown that after the success of that landing, the tide of the war swung in favor of the Allies, and Adolf Hitler began his ultimate demise. Allied victory in World War II preserved freedom and humanity for millions of people and for every generation since.

On this day, we honor one generation of heroes. But as we do so, we cannot help but take a moment to remember that there is another generation making its mark right now in the middle of the deserts in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of men and women are currently serving overseas with the same dedication, the same love of freedom that made the landing at Normandy such a remarkable moment in history. Whether the year is 1944 or the year 2004, these individuals deserve our respect, and they deserve our gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support this resolution, and I commend its authors for bringing it before us today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, a measure to recognize the 60th anniversary of D-Day in honor of the Allied forces who participated in that battle.

I want to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), and the gentleman from California (Chairman Hunter) for their leadership as well.

Mr. Speaker, the World War II era was a decisive time for this Nation and the world; and June 6, 1944 marked perhaps the most decisive moment of that time. Winston Churchill, while discussing with President Franklin Roosevelt the Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy stated, ``This is much the greatest thing we have ever attempted.''

The D-Day landing on the Normandy beaches was the largest air, land, and sea invasion that was ever undertaken. Operation Overlord started in the early hours of June 6, 1944, and the battle for Normandy would continue throughout the summer. Indeed, the war in Europe would wage for nearly another year, until May 8, 1945. It is clear now, however, that D-Day was the beginning of the end for the war in Europe and Hitler's forces.

The Allied forces participating in that invasion suffered nearly 10,000 casualties. American troops suffered over 6,500 casualties that day. Over 9,000 American servicemembers now rest on the hallowed grounds of the World War II Normandy-American Cemetery and Memorial, situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, a peaceful and lasting tribute to a generation.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution is indeed an important measure as we approach the anniversary of D-Day. Let us honor and celebrate the commitments and sacrifices of our servicemembers; their efforts that day will forever stand as a defining moment in history. I urge all Members to support the resolution.