III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 625 

Recognizing the January 12, 2013, opening of the United States Freedom 

Pavilion: The Boeing Center at the National World War II Museum 

in New Orleans, Louisiana, and supporting plans for other educational 

pavilions and initiatives. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 19, 2012 

Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself and Mr. VITTER) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the January 12, 2013, opening of the United 

States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, 

and supporting plans for other educational pavilions and 

initiatives. 

Whereas historians Stephen E. Ambrose and Gordon H. 

‘‘Nick’’ Mueller, among others, founded the National DDay Museum on June 6, 2000; 

Whereas section 8134(c) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-87; 117 Stat. 

1105) designated the National D-Day Museum as 

‘‘America’s National World War II Museum’’; 


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Whereas the National World War II Museum advances the 

mission of educating the public about the experience of 

the United States in World War II, covering all branches 

of the Armed Forces and the Merchant Marine, and documenting and highlighting activities on both the battlefront and home front; 

Whereas the exhibits and programs of the National World 

War II Museum portray why the War occurred, how the 

War was won, and what the War means today, and celebrate the spirit of the United States and enduring values 

displayed during the War; 

Whereas the National World War II Museum emphasizes the 

diverse nature of the war effort of the United States, reflecting the contributions of women, African-Americans, 

Japanese-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and other groups that have been neglected in many 

accounts of World War II; 

Whereas the 12,000 landing craft designed and built by Higgins Industries in New Orleans made amphibious invasions possible and carried United States soldiers ashore 

in every theatre and campaign during the War; 

Whereas President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the former Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in 

Europe, credited Andrew Jackson Higgins, the chief executive officer of Higgins Industries, as the ‘‘man who 

won the war for us,’’ in a 1960s conversation with the 

preeminent historian Stephen E. Ambrose, leading Ambrose to initiate plans for the National World War II Museum; 

Whereas the National D-Day Museum, now known as the 

‘‘National World War II Museum’’, has made great 


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strides in the development of the facilities, exhibits, and 

programs at the Museum; 

Whereas the National World War II Museum, since the 

grand opening on June 6, 2000, which was the 56th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, 

has attracted more than 3,000,000 visitors from across 

the United States and around the world, and has reached 

millions more through Internet-based and other distance 

learning programs; 

Whereas World War II veterans and home front supporters, 

recognized as the ‘‘greatest generation’’ because of the 

sacrifices of the veterans and home front supporters at 

a pivotal time in United States history, are passing away 

at a rapid rate, creating an urgent need to preserve the 

stories, and to pay tribute to the service of the veterans 

and home front supporters; 

Whereas Congress recognizes the need to preserve forever the 

knowledge and history of the most decisive achievement 

of the United States during the 20th century and to portray that history to citizens, scholars, visitors, and school 

children for generations to come; 

Whereas Congress appropriated funds in 1992 to authorize 

the design and construction of the National D-Day Museum to commemorate the epic 1944 Normandy invasion, 

and appropriated additional funds in 1998, 2000, 2001, 

2002, 2003, and 2009 to help expand the Museum to 

cover the entire experience of the United States in World 

War II, and the transformational impact on the United 

States and the world; 

Whereas the World War II Memorial on the National Mall 

in Washington, DC, will always be the symbolic memorial 


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where people come to remember the sacrifices made during World War II; 

Whereas the National World War II Museum in New Orleans 

will always be the educational institution where people 

come to learn about the monumental struggle by the 

United States against would-be oppressors, so that future 

generations can understand the role the United States 

played in the preservation and advancement of freedom 

in the middle of the 20th century; 

Whereas the State of Louisiana and thousands of donors, including foundations, companies, and Museum members in 

every State, have contributed millions of dollars and 

other support to help build and advance the National 

World War II Museum, and hundreds of volunteers, 

many from the World War II era, have provided invaluable assistance to the Museum; 

Whereas the Board of Trustees of the National World War 

II Museum, national in scope, and the Presidential Counselors advisory group, featuring leading historians and 

museum professionals, provide effective guidance and 

oversight for the National World War II Museum; 

Whereas the National World War II Museum continues to 

add to and maintain 1 of the largest personal history collections in the United States, representing the experiences of the men and women who fought in World War 

II and served on the home front, with more than 7,000 

videotaped, oral, and written accounts in the collection, 

and plans to digitize the collection to vastly improve public access; 


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Whereas the National World War II Museum is an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, with a formal 

agreement to borrow Smithsonian artifacts for exhibits; 

Whereas the National World War II Museum collaborates 

with other museums and memorials in the United States 

and around the world; 

Whereas the National World War II Museum has added 

major facilities in recent years through donor support, including the Solomon Victory Theater complex, which features a 4-D theater, the Stage Door Canteen, a United 

Service Organization-styled entertainment venue, and the 

Kushner Restoration Pavilion, home to a major patrol 

torpedo boat restoration project; 

Whereas the National World War II Museum will open the 

United States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center in 

January 2013; 

Whereas the Pavilion will feature aircraft such as the B-17 

bomber and the P-51 fighter, the latter flown by the 

Tuskegee Airmen, and a submarine experience and exhibits honoring Medal of Honor recipients, government leaders who served in World War II, and industries that became known as the ‘‘Arsenal of Democracy’’; and 

Whereas other major pavilions and interactive exhibits are 

planned or under development as the Museum anticipates 

the completion of the campus by 2016, including the 

Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters 

Pavilion, the Liberation Pavilion, and a Union Station 

train experience in the original Louisiana Memorial Pavilion: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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1 (1) recognizes and applauds the planned Janu2 ary 12, 2013, opening of the United States Freedom 

3 Pavilion: The Boeing Center, an iconic pavilion 

4 funded in part by the Federal Government and a 

5 major feature of the institution designated by sec6 tion 8134(c) of the Department of Defense Appro7 priations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-87; 117 Stat. 

8 1105) as ‘‘America’s National World War II Mu9 seum’’; 

10 (2) recognizes the generous assistance from pri11 vate individuals, corporations, foundations, the Fed12 eral Government, the State of Louisiana, and other 

13 public entities committed to offering a lasting trib14 ute to the achievements of the United States in 

15 World War II; and 

16 (3) expresses support for the mission of the Na17 tional World War II Museum as vital to the preser18 vation of democratic values, to the understanding of 

19 United States history and founding principles, and 

20 to the education of future generations about the rel21 evance of the War experience to the past and future 

22 greatness of the United States. 

Æ 


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