III

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 179

Concerning a joint meeting of Congress and the closing of the

commemorations for the Fiftieth Anniversary of World War II.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 29 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 25), 1995

Mr. THURMOND (for himself, Mr. DOLE, Mr. ASHCROFT, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr.

DOMENICI, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. GORTON, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. HOLLINGS, Mr. SANTORUM, Mr. PACKWOOD, Mr. WARNER,

Mr. COHEN, Mr. SHELBY, Mr. LOTT, Mr. HATFIELD, Mr. JEFFORDS,

Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. BUMPERS, Mr. KOHL, Mr. MACK, Mr. BIDEN, Mr.

CRAIG, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. BYRD, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. INHOFE, Mr.

WELLSTONE, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. BROWN, Mr. ROBB, Mr.

INOUYE, Mr. HATCH, and Mr. CAMPBELL) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Concerning a joint meeting of Congress and the closing of

the commemorations for the Fiftieth Anniversary of

World War II.

Whereas 50 years ago, this Nation had just emerged from a

war that found Americans fighting a common foe with 32

allied countries and in which over 17,000,000 Americans

served in the military;

Whereas the United States suffered over 670,000 casualties,

with more than 290,000 deaths, while over 105,000

Americans were held as prisoners of war;
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Whereas on the home front, Americans mobilized to support

the war by increasing the output of manufactured goods

by 300 percent and by causing a second agricultural revolution through the efforts and imagination of our people

as the American farmers mobilized to support the world;

Whereas the war led to dramatic social changes as more than

19,500,000 women joined the workforce at the Nation’s

defense plants and 350,000 joined the military;

Whereas the roles of minorities in both the military and industry were changed forever as more opportunities for

employment and involvement in the defense of the United

States presented themselves;

Whereas the contributions by women, minorities, and all

those on the home front were legion;

Whereas the bringing to a close of the commemorations for

the Fiftieth Anniversary of World War II should be celebrated across the Nation with programs and activities to

thank and honor the World War II generation, our veterans, their families, those who lost loved ones, and all who

served on the home front; and

Whereas it is important to educate the generations that followed World War II on the lessons of this horrific conflict

and to reaffirm the values of human decency: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That—

2 (1) the Senate and the House of Representa3 tives, by previous agreement, shall assemble in the

4 Hall of the House of Representatives on October 11,

5 1995, for the purpose of saying to the Nation and

6 the world that the American people will never forget
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1 those who served our Nation and saved the world,

2 our veterans, and those who served on the home

3 front as we close the commemoration of the Fiftieth

4 Anniversary of World War II;

5 (2)(A) November 4, 1995, through November

6 11, 1995, is designated as a ‘‘Week of National Re7 membrance and the Closing of the Fiftieth Anniver8 sary of World War II’’, with National Days of Pray9 er on November 4 and November 5, 1995, and a

10 World War II Education Day across America on No11 vember 8, 1995, and the President is authorized and

12 requested to issue a proclamation calling on the peo13 ple of the United States to observe that period with

14 appropriate ceremonies and activities;

15 (B) commemorations during the ‘‘Week of Na16 tional Remembrance and the Closing of the Fiftieth

17 Anniversary of World War II’’ shall include the dedi18 cation of the future site of the Nation’s World War

19 II Memorial in Washington, D.C.;

20 (3) Veterans Day, November 11, 1995, is des21 ignated as a ‘‘National Day of Observance and Cele22 bration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of World War

23 II’’, and the President is authorized and requested

24 to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the
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1 United States to observe that day with appropriate

2 ceremonies and activities; and

3 (4) each State Governor and each chief execu4 tive of each political subdivision of each State, is

5 urged to issue a proclamation (or other appropriate

6 official statement) calling upon the citizens of such

7 State or political subdivision of a State to partici8 pate on November 11, 1995, at 11 a.m., in the ring9 ing of the Bells of Peace and Freedom by striking

10 all bells of the Nation 50 times to signify the 50

11 years without a world war and the world’s hope to

12 achieve another 50 years of peace and freedom.

Æ