Date: 2008-06-10
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. last week. on June 6. we celebrated the anniversary of one of our greatest military accomplishments and an historic event that changed the fade of our Nation and the world. On June 6. 1944. the largest seaboard invasion in history began the 2month Battle of Normandy. The Dday invasion began during the night. and continued with air and naval attacks and an amphibious attack in the early morning hours. The Dday operation of June 6. 1944 brought together the land. air and sea forces of the Allied armies in what become known as the largest invading force in human history. Operation Overlord landed five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy. codenamed Utah. Omaha. Gold. Juno and Sword. The invasion force included 7.000 ships and landing craft manned by 195.000 Navy personnel from eight Allied countries. Almost 133.000 troops from England. Canada and the United States landed on Dday. Casualties during the landing was over 10.000. New Orleans is the home of a wonderful museum. the National World War II Museum. This museum opened its doors on June 6. 2000. and paid tribute not only to the Dday but all of the efforts in World War II. One of the reasons it is located in New Orleans is it was the home of Andrew Jackson Higgins. The historian. Steven Ambrose. reported that General Eisenhower once told them that Higgins was the man who won the war for us. Eisenhower explained to him that if Higgins had not designated and built the LCVPs. we never could have landed over the open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different. According to the National World War II Museum. the Higgins work force was the first in New Orleans to be racially integrated. This work force shattered production records. turning out more than 200.000 boats. including 12.500 LCVPs. or Landing Craft. Vehicle. Personnel. by the end of the war. General Eisenhowers Dday message read: You are about to embark upon the greatest crusade. toward which we have strived these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. and hopes and praise of libertyloving people everywhere march with you. The world still recalls Dday. and the efforts of the United States and our Allies to end fascism in Europe and across the globe.- It is fitting that we recall these accomplishments. and this day. and the service and sacrifice that hastened the end of World War I. The world still looks to us for leadership for leadership and to be a beacon to illustrate the path ahead. Let us always strive to provide this light. this leadership and this wisdom to do what is right. Last August I had the honor and privilege to visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France. While there I laid a wreath of flowers in honor of the soldiers that fought and died at Normandy and visited the graves of Floridians who gave their life fighting the Nazis. Tori Robinson. an American gospel singer based in Paris. also a constituent of mine. sung at the ceremony. Her version of God bless America brought people from all over the memorial. There this honor was shared by all visitors in this holy place. I want to take a special note to honor Chairman OBEY and Chairman MURTHA for their hard work in getting funds for this new Normandy Visitors Center appropriated. My visit to this center followed theirs. which was just dedicated on June 6. 2007. the 63rd anniversary of Dday. This visitors center truly paid tribute to the soldiers who stormed those beachel and gave visitors a true sense of what these men and their loved ones was going through during the war that led up to the Dday invasion. I encourage all Americans to visit this halloved site. Most of the visitors are from Europe and come to honor the sacrifice of the young Americans made for their freedom. Many brave men and women died on this day. 64 years ago. to restore the freedom we enjoy today. Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms only God knows. reads just one of the 9.387 grave markers- at the American cemetery in Normandy. France. We honor them by remembering and this resolution calls us to remember. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.