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 ac-
cess to the raw materials and industrial capacity of West-
ern Europe; 
Whereas Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Ei-
senhower called Operation Overlord a ‘‘Crusade in Eu-
rope’’, 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 con-
fidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in 
battle.’’; 
Whereas the naval assault phase on Normandy was code- 
named ‘‘Neptune’’, and the June 6th assault date is re-
ferred to a D-Day to denote the day on which the combat 
attack was initiated; 
Whereas significant aerial bombardments and operations (in-
cluding Operation Fortitude) by Allied forces during the 
weeks and months leading up to, and in support of Oper-
•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 Mis-
sion 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 amphib-
ious 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 lib-
eration 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—
•HRES 259 EH 
(1) recognizes the 65th anniversary of the Allied 
amphibious landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944, at Nor-
mandy, France, during World War II; 
(2) expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the 
members of the United States Armed Forces who par-
ticipated 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 lib-
erate Europe. 
Attest: 
Clerk.