H. J. Res. 110
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four
Joint Resolution
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge during World
War II.
Whereas the battle in the European theater of operations during
World War II known as the Battle of the Bulge was fought
from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945;
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive
in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg which
took Allied forces by surprise and was intended to split the
Allied forces in Europe by breaking through the Allied lines,
crippling the Allied fuel supply lines, and exacerbating tensions
within the alliance;
Whereas 600,000 American troops, joined by 55,000 British, Bel-
gian, Canadian, and other soldiers, participated in the Battle
of the Bulge, overcoming numerous disadvantages in the early
days of the battle that included fewer numbers, treacherous ter-
rain, and bitter weather conditions;
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge resulted in 81,000 American and
1,400 British casualties, of whom approximately 19,000 American
and 200 British soldiers were killed, with the remainder wounded,
captured, or listed as missing in action;
Whereas the worst atrocity involving Americans in the European
theater during World War II, known as the Malme´dy Massacre,
occurred on December 17, 1944, when 86 unarmed American
prisoners of war were gunned down by elements of the German
1st SS Panzer Division;
Whereas American, British, Belgian, Canadian, and other forces
overcame great odds throughout the battle, including most
famously the action of the 101st Airborne Division in holding
back German forces at the key Belgian crossroads town of Bas-
togne, thereby preventing German forces from achieving their
main objective of reaching Antwerp as well as the Meuse River
line;
Whereas the success of American, British, Belgian, Canadian, and
other forces in defeating the German attack made possible the
defeat of Nazi Germany four months later in April 1945;
Whereas thousands of United States veterans of the Battle of the
Bulge have traveled to Belgium and Luxembourg in the years
since the battle to honor their fallen comrades who died during
the battle;
Whereas the peoples of Belgium and Luxembourg, symbolizing their
friendship and gratitude toward the American soldiers who fought
H. J. Res. 110—2
to secure their freedom, have graciously hosted countless veterans
groups over the years;
Whereas Luxembourg has erected over 90 monuments and plaques
commemorating the liberation of Luxembourg by United States
Armed Forces during World War II;
Whereas the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in 2004
will be marked by many commemorative events by citizens of
the United States, Belgium, Luxembourg, and many other
nations;
Whereas the friendship between the United States and both Bel-
gium and Luxembourg is strong today in part because of the
Battle of the Bulge; and
Whereas section 204 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 (38
U.S.C. 2409 note) authorized the Secretary of the Army to place
in Arlington National Cemetery a memorial marker honoring
those who fought in the Battle of the Bulge: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress—
(1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the battle in the
European theater of operations during World War II known
as the Battle of the Bulge, which began with a German surprise
attack in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium and Luxem-
bourg and ended with an Allied victory that made possible
the defeat of Nazi Germany four months later;
(2) honors those who gave their lives during the Battle
of the Bulge;
(3) authorizes the President to issue a proclamation calling
upon the people of the United States to honor the veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge with appropriate programs, cere-
monies, and activities; and
(4) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between the United
States and both Belgium and Luxembourg.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.