Presidential Documents

75733 

Federal Register 

Vol. 79, No. 243 

Thursday, December 18, 2014 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 9221 of December 15, 2014 

70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

By the winter of 1944, the United States and Allied forces had stormed 

the beaches of Normandy, thundered into Europe, and liberated Paris, turning 

the tide in the struggle against the forces of oppression. With the fate 

of freedom in peril, millions of Americans went to fight for people they 

had never met to defend ideals they could not live without. But as Americans 

and our allies advanced through the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium 

and Luxembourg, German forces launched a desperate and massive assault, 

attacking the poorly-supplied and heavily-outnumbered Allied front during 

the early hours of December 16, 1944. Against improbable odds, patriots 

of exceptional valor and remarkable courage beat back Hitler’s armies and 

achieved a crucial victory at the Battle of the Bulge, marking the beginning 

of the end of a world war. 

The Battle of the Bulge was one of the United States largest and bloodiest 

encounters of the Second World War. Over the course of more than a 

month, some 500,000 American service members fought through snow and 

bitter winter conditions. In extraordinarily difficult circumstances, our Armed 

Forces faced down bullets and German tanks. From the grip of hatred 

and tyranny, they won a victory for liberty and freedom. But our triumph 

came at a tremendous cost; over 76,000 Americans were killed, wounded, 

or missing in action. 

On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, we are called to do 

more than commemorate a victory. We must honor the sacrifice of a generation who defied every danger to free a continent from fascism. As we 

salute the unfailing dedication of a free people, we tell their story so as 

to commit it to the memory of our Nation. The world will never forget 

the heroes who stepped forward to secure peace and prosperity far from 

home, and we will always remember those who gave their last full measure 

of devotion. 

The warriors who defended the promise of liberty during the Battle of 

the Bulge are an inspiring and heroic link in an unbroken chain that has 

made America the greatest force for freedom the world has ever known. 

Today, we lift up their memories and carry forward the proud legacy of 

the veterans who gave their all and in doing so, changed the course of 

human history. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, December 

16, 2014, as the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. I encourage 

all Americans to observe this solemn day of remembrance with appropriate 

ceremonies and activities. 

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75734 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 2014 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day 

of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtyninth. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29822 

Filed 12–17–14; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F5 


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