HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 90

RECOGNIZING THE 74TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALLIED LANDING AT NORMANDY DURING WORLD WAR II.

WHEREAS June 6, 2018, marks the 74th anniversary of D-Day, the first day of the Allied landing at Normandy during World War II by American, British, and Canadian troops; and

WHEREAS the D-Day landing, known as Operation Overlord, was the most extensive amphibious operation ever to occur, involving on the first day of the operation 5,000 naval vessels, more than 11,000 sorties by Allied aircraft, and 153,000 members of the Allied Expeditionary Force; and

WHEREAS the Allied invasion that took place on D-Day involved significant contributions from Delaware veterans including Maurice Kaye of Wilmington who fought with the Provisional Engineer Special Brigade Group, which was part of an early wave of Allied troops that fought on Normandy Beach; and

WHEREAS the bravery and sacrifices of the Allied troops at 5 separate Normandy beaches and numerous paratrooper and glider landing zones began what Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower called a ‘‘Crusade in Europe’’ to end Nazi tyranny and restore freedom and human dignity to millions of people; and

WHEREAS Delaware veterans such as James Davis, Jr., who died at age 26 in the D-Day invasion at Normandy in 1944, have been posthumously recognized with military honors including the Bronze Service Medal and Purple Heart Medal; and

WHEREAS that great assault by sea and air marked the beginning of the end of Hitler’s ambition for world domination; and

WHEREAS American troops suffered over 6,500 casualties on D-Day; and

WHEREAS the people of the United States should honor the valor and sacrifices of their fellow countrymen, both living and dead, who fought that day for liberty and the cause of freedom in Europe:

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 149 ^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that June 6, 2018 is recognized as the 74th anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy during World War II.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution recognizes June 6, 2018 as the 74th anniversary of D-Day, when the Allied Troops landed at Normandy during World War II.