Recognizing and honoring the American troops who gave their lives on D-Day at the Battle of Normandy.

Madam Speaker, today, we honor the brave men who stormed the beaches of Normandy 66 years ago. I hope H. Res. 1251 causes Members of this body and our Nation to pause, even if for just a moment, and remember what 70,000 brave Americans did on June 6, 1944. June 6, 2010 marked the 66th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy.

It was an invasion whose timing depended on Mother Nature as much as anything. Only a full moon would provide enough light. The tide had to be low enough to allow those manning the landing crafts to see German obstacles on the French shore but high enough for our troops to avoid too much unprotected beach.

Code-named ``Operation Overlord,'' the invasion would give Allied Forces a chance to break the Nazi's hold on Western Europe, but was expected to come at an extremely high cost. For paratroopers, including members of the 101st Airborne and the 82nd Airborne Divisions, the likelihood of death was seventy percent.

On the day it launched, even the Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight Eisenhower, was uncertain the invasion would succeed. He penned a note, to be released in the event of failure, stating that all blame was entirely his.

At 0630, on the morning of June 6, Americans landed on two of five Normandy beaches earmarked for the invasion: Utah and Omaha. Bombers did their best to pave the way. The B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, and B-26 Marauders filled the sky. Their task was to drop their 500 pound bombs right at the water's edge, to stun or kill the Germans in their pillboxes, forts, and trenches. Lt. William Moriarity, a B-26 pilot, said, ``As we approached the coast, we could see ships shelling the beach. One destroyer, half sunk, was still firing from the floating end. The beach was a bedlam of exploding bombs and shells.''

Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., former President Teddy Roosevelt's son, was in the first boat to hit the shore at Utah beach. Maj. Gen. Ray Barton had initially refused Roosevelt's request to go in with the 8th Infantry, but Roosevelt had argued that having a general land in the first wave would boost morale for the troops. ``They'll figure that if a general is going in, it can't be that rough.'' Almost all the objectives were accomplished. In the span of 15 hours. the Americans put ashore at Utah more than 20,000 troops and 1,700 motorized vehicles. By nightfall, the division was ready to move out at first light on June 7 for its next mission.

If the Germans were going to stop the invasion anywhere, it would be at Omaha Beach. It was an obvious landing site with the only sand beach within 25 miles. There was no way to outflank it, with cliffs on each side. Fortifications and trenches could be easily built on the slope of the bluff, giving the Germans the high ground looking down on a wide, open killing field. Although Eisenhower hated the idea of assaulting it, it had to be done. The gap between Utah and the British beaches was too big.

When the ramps went down, the Germans opened fire. ``We hit the sandbar,'' one coast guardsman recalled, ``dropped the ramp, and then all hell poured loose on us. The soldiers in the boat received a hail of machine-gun bullets.'' The bluffs were too steep for a vehicle or even a man to get up them. So the plan was to go up the ravines instead. But the Germans knew this and zeroed in on the ravines, raining artillery fire down on them.

Junior officers and noncoms who had been college students two years before were pinned down at the sea wall and couldn't retreat. It was absolute chaos behind them. But they couldn't go up the ravines or stay where they were. They were getting butchered because the Germans had fixed their mortars on them and were coming down on top of them.

So junior officers across the beach looked at the situation and said, ``The hell with this. If I'm going to get killed, I'm going to take some Germans with me.'' And he would call out, ``Follow me,'' and up he would start. Sgt. John Ellery of the 16th Regiment, was one of those leaders said, ``we sometimes forget, I think, that you can manufacture weapons, and you can purchase ammunition, but you can't buy valor and you can't pull heroes off an assembly line.''

In 1964, Walter Cronkite interviewed General Eisenhower on Omaha Beach. Looking out at the Channel, Eisenhower said, ``It's a wonderful thing to remember what those fellows 20 years ago were fighting for and sacrificing for, what they did to preserve our way of life. Not to conquer any territory, not for any ambitions of our own. But to make sure that Hitler could not destroy freedom in the world . . . To think of the lives that were given for that principle . . . it just shows what free men will do rather than slaves.''

Hitler didn't believe this was ever possible. Hitler was certain that the soft, effeminate children of democracy could never become soldiers. Hitler was certain that the Nazi youth would always outfight the Boy Scouts, and Hitler was wrong. The Boy Scouts took them on D-day.

In the end, it was no easy fight. More than 1,400 Americans lost their lives that day in a land they had never seen to free a people they had never met. For those who survived, the horrific sights and sounds of that day were singed on their memories. Many would return home, unable to ever speak of that fateful day again. The memories were too overwhelming to recall.

Pvt. Felix Branham was a member of K Company, 116th Infantry, the regiment that took the heaviest casualties of all the Allied regiments on D-day. ``I have gone through lots of tragedies since D-day,'' he said. ``But to me, D-day will live with me till the day I die, and I'll take it to heaven with me. It was the longest, most miserable, horrible day that I or anyone else went through. I would not take a million dollars for my experiences, but I surely wouldn't want to go through that again for a million dollars.''

For others, only a visit back to Normandy would break the chains off their lips and allow them to once again speak of that day. For us, today, 66 years later, we honor them and recognize their enormous accomplishment.

It is impossible to exaggerate what they did that day. As renowned historian Stephen Ambrose put it, ``It was the pivot point of the 20th century.'' They won freedom for the world that day, but at tremendous cost. In all, 9,387 GIs lie in rest at Normandy.

Today we say to them and the thousands of others who gave their lives that we will not forget your sacrifice. And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1251) recognizing and honoring the United States troops who gave their lives on D-day at the Battle of Normandy, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1251, to recognize and honor the United States troops who gave their lives on June 6, 1944, D- day, at the battle of Normandy on the coast of France.

I would like to thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Poe) for bringing this measure before the House.

In June of 1944, Nazi Germany still controlled all of Europe, save those portions of Italy which had already been liberated. Operation Overlord, the code name for the main landing of Allied Forces in France, was to be the deciding battle of the war in Europe, opening up a major second front which would lead to the ultimate defeat of the Nazi regime.

Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed that it was a battle that he would accept nothing but complete victory. Shortly after midnight on the 6th of June, 24,000 Allied Forces consisting of American, British, Canadian, and Free French parachuted behind enemy lines in Normandy. Their mission was to disrupt the German ability to successfully repel the upcoming invasion.

During the night, the largest flotilla of vessels ever assembled before or since began its trip across the English Channel to disembark some 150,000 Allied troops across a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy beach. The initial beach assault began at 6:30 that morning. The code names of those beaches are seared in our memories: Utah and Omaha, the American objectives; and Sword, Gold and Juno, the British and Canadian objectives.

Approximately 70,500 American soldiers went ashore as part of a larger operation to secure beachhead from which to continue the offloading of troops, supplies and equipment necessary for the push across France into the German homeland.

This undertaking was one of the largest single amphibious operations ever conducted in the history of warfare. On that one day, American Armed Forces suffered an estimated 5,400 casualties with 1,400 killed in action. The immeasurable sacrifices of those men should never be forgotten.

House Resolution 1251 is our way of commending the United States Armed Forces who participated in Operation Overlord for their leadership and valor in a mission that helped bring an end to World War II. This resolution commemorates the actions of heroism and military achievement by those soldiers.

So I now call upon the Members of the House to join me in supporting this resolution, thereby expressing our common appreciation and gratitude for the members of the United States Armed Forces involved in the D-day operations and honoring the sacrifices made by our fellow countrymen so that others around the world may continue to know the gift of freedom.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Again, Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Poe for bringing this to our attention. At the end of what was possibly the greatest movie ever made, ``Saving Private Ryan,'' the central character played by Tom Hanks is a Captain Miller, and, as he is dying, he says in a voice barely more than a whisper to the character that is playing Private Ryan, ``Earn this.'' It is a phenomenal message for every American, and it is great that Congressman Poe brought this message to the floor for those of us who are here and the descendants of those who survived that battle to say ``Thank you'' to those who didn't.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1251, a resolution to recognize and thank the men

and women of our Armed Forces that participated in the D-day invasion on June 6, 1944 at Normandy, France during World War II.

June 6, 2010, marked the 66th Anniversary of Operation Overlord, the D-day invasion at Normandy. On that fateful day, 160,000 Allied troops--31,000 Americans--landed on a heavily fortified 50-mile stretch of beach at Normandy. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which ``we will accept nothing less than full victory,'' and he was certainly correct in that statement. More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-day invasion, and by day's end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Normandy. However, this success bore a heavy cost--more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded--but more than 100,000 soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Adolf Hitler.

With a deep sense of appreciation, I would like to express my gratitude as well as the gratitude of the people of Georgia's Eleventh Congressional District to the brave individuals who acted heroically on D-day when they landed at Normandy and took control of the Axis opposition, inevitably leading to the end of World War II. I commend the members of our Armed Forces for their leadership and valor in this operation that led to Allied victory and an end to Nazi oppression in Europe.

Madam Speaker, let us not forget the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on D-day and gave their lives for the freedom that we, as Americans, enjoy every single day. The nearly 10,000 graves in Colleville-sur-Mer, the largest United States cemetery in Northern France, appropriately all face west toward the United States, symbolizing our deep appreciation and eternal memory of the heroes that gave their lives for liberty. Indeed, the democracy on display here today in this chamber is a testament to the courage and dedication of the United States Armed Forces. The sacrifice of lives for the cause of American liberty will never be forgotten and should never be taken for granted.

Let us also make certain that we remember those individuals who are in harm's way today in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of our Armed Forces are giving their best effort--day in and day out--to keep America safe at home and abroad through the Global War on Terror. They have also sacrificed to secure liberty and democracy for other nations and people who desire to be freed from political oppression and given an opportunity for self-determination.

I believe that the brave men and women who sacrifice for our present freedoms deserve our fullest support. Our nation's service men and women represent the best our country has to offer, and they must be treated with the respect and honor they deserve. As we ask these courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines--and their families-- to do more and more, it's only right we continue doing all we can for them. Recognizing the success of our members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-day is just one small reminder of the superior job our troops do at home and abroad, and it is my hope that we will continue to do all we can for the members of our Armed Forces.

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

I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1251, as amended, which honors the members of the United States military who died on D-day, June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy.

I want to commend Representative Ted Poe of Texas for sponsoring the legislation.

The facts of the opening day of Operation Overlord, the start of what General Eisenhower called the ``crusade in Europe,'' are clearly set forth in the text of the resolution. This was the largest amphibious operation in history.

The 1st U.S. Army Group, responsible for the landings on Omaha and Utah beaches was commanded by Omar Bradley, known as ``the soldiers' general,'' and, I might add, a native of Missouri.

In breaching German defenses, the Allied Forces suffered more than 10,000 casualties on the first day of the invasion. More than 1,400 Americans died.

Beyond the facts of the invasion, however, is the heroism and unselfish sacrifice of the men who carried out this most magnificent operation. Because of that heroism and sacrifice, the door to Hitler's Fortress Europe was cracked open.

So it's entirely fitting that today, 66 years after that historic day, we take the time to honor and commemorate the men who made the ultimate sacrifice on June 6, 1944.

Moreover, I would also urge my colleagues to take the time to individually thank every previous and current member of the Armed Forces they encounter for their service.

I heartily recommend that all my colleagues vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1251, and in honor of the United States soldiers who lost their lives on the beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. Their heroic efforts

on what we remember as D-day marked the turning point in the Allies defeat of the Nazi army during World War II.

On June 6, 1944, more than 31,000 American troops and a total of 100,000 Allied soldiers were carried by more than 5,000 ships across the English Channel. At Normandy, in what has become one of the great symbols of American bravery, they stormed the beaches. The efforts of these ground troops were supported by 31,000 Allied airmen, which made it the largest amphibious invasion in history.

Of these courageous men, more than 6,000 United States soldiers died in battle and close to 9,000 Allied soldiers were injured or killed. It is because of their dedication to the cause of freedom that the Allied forces prevailed. These fallen soldiers were laid to rest in the Colleville-sur-Mer United States cemetery in Northern France. The 9,386 graves face west toward the United States, and serve as a much deserved honor and remembrance of the sacrifice made by our Nation's heroes.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the lives lost in Normandy. We owe these soldiers our deepest gratitude and reverence for playing such a crucial role in ending the tyranny of Nazi-controlled Germany and helping to shape the world we live in today.