H. Res. 259 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

June 2, 2009. 

Whereas June 6, 2009, marks the 65th anniversary of the 

Allied assault at Normandy, France, 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 codenamed ‘‘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 significant aerial bombardments and operations (including Operation Fortitude) by Allied forces during the 

weeks and months leading up to, and in support of Oper-
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•HRES 259 EH 

ation Overlord, played a significant role in the success of 

the Normandy landings; 

Whereas more than 13,000 soldiers parachuted, and several 

hundred soldiers of the glider units participating in Mission Detroit and Mission Chicago landed, 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 estimated 9,400 casualties incurred by Allied 

troops on the first day of the landing, an estimated 5,400 

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 contributed to 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— 
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•HRES 259 EH 

(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 Operation Overlord; 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. 

Attest: 

Clerk.