LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 70th Anniversary of Operation
Overlord, otherwise known as D-Day, June 6th

WHEREAS, Throughout our Nation's history, the men and women of America's
Armed Forces have preserved our freedom, protected our security and
upheld our democratic values; and
WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Forces, who served so valiantly and
honorably in wars in which our Nation's freedom was at stake, and during
which the United States proudly stood as a defender of liberty and human
dignity, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, The Second World War, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, was the
most widespread war in human history, directly involving more than 100
million people from more than 30 different countries, which were split
between two opposing military alliances--the Allies, led by the United
States of America and the United Kingdom, and the Axis, led by Nazi
Germany and the Empire of Japan; and
WHEREAS, The Axis powers initiated military aggression and maintained
the strategic momentum until gradually slowed by Allied resistance in
late 1942 and 1943, after which the Allies reversed the momentum and
commenced operations to liberate Axis-conquered lands, such operations
including Operation Overlord, a massive military and naval effort toward
the reclamation of German-occupied Western Europe; and
WHEREAS, The combat operations of Operation Overlord, also known as
the D-Day Landings, began on June 6, 1944, with an Allied invasion from
England into German-occupied Normandy (France); and
WHEREAS, The landings were conducted in two phases: a nighttime
airborne assault by 24,000 United States, British, and Canadian para-
troopers and glider-borne soldiers shortly after midnight, followed by
an early-morning amphibious landing by Allied infantry and armored divi-
sions onto five beach sites on the Normandy coast; and
WHEREAS, The Allies executed a complex series of deceptions, helping
them achieve strategic and tactical surprise over the Germans, who had
been led to believe that the main thrust of the expected Allied invasion
would involve different times, locations, and methods than actually
employed; and
WHEREAS, The Allied paratroopers landed to seize and then hold key
bridges and road junctions behind enemy lines against the overwhelming
German military force that surrounded them; and
WHEREAS, Despite the effectiveness of Allied deceptions in achieving
surprise and partially reducing the strength of German coastal fortifi-
cations, the amphibious landings were made into the teeth of a still-
lethal, interlocking defense manned by skilled German soldiers wielding
state-of-the-art weaponry; and
WHEREAS, The resulting combat was among the bloodiest and most pivotal
of the entire global conflict, and the names of its battle sites, such
as Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, have been
embedded into United States military history; and
WHEREAS, Despite the terrible cost in human life, the ultimately
successful execution of the D-Day invasion led directly to the liber-
ation of Western Europe, the fall of Adolf Hitler, and the defeat of
Nazi Germany during the subsequent 11 months; and
WHEREAS, The heroism of the warriors who fought on D-Day has been
depicted in numerous literary and cinematic classics, including "The
Longest Day," "Saving Private Ryan," and "Band of Brothers"; and
WHEREAS, June 6, 2014 represents the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day
Landings, and serves as a direct reminder of the extraordinary sacri-
fices made by members of the United States Armed Forces on D-Day, and

also, indirectly, to the sacrifices made during the rest of the Second
World War and in all other armed conflicts past, present, and future;
and
WHEREAS, During the 70th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, Amis
Des Veterans Americains (Friends of American Veterans) or AVA will reun-
veil a monument on the town square of Ste. Mere-Eglise, dedicated to
Allied troops who gave their lives fighting behind enemy lines in the
invasion; and
WHEREAS, The banner of freedom will always wave over this great
Nation, the land of the free and the home of the brave; and
WHEREAS, The freedoms and security we cherish as Americans come at a
very high price for those serving in the military in times of conflict;
it is fitting and proper that we who are the beneficiaries of those who
risk their lives, leaving their families behind, express our appreci-
ation and eternal gratitude for their sacrifices and courageous acts;
and
WHEREAS, It is fitting and appropriate that the State of New York and
its residents recognize this anniversary to honor the courageous indi-
viduals who heeded our nation's call and risked their lives, health, and
dreams to defend our liberty and national interests; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
urge New York residents to observe the anniversary of the D-Day Landings
and hereby proclaim June 6, 2014, as D-Day Remembrance Day, calling upon
all New Yorkers to observe this with appropriate ceremonies and activ-
ities which honor and give thanks to our distinguished veterans who
survived that military operation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause further to honor all those
who participated in the D-Day invasion; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Commander Kenneth F. Governor of the American Legion, Depart-
ment of New York, Commander Michael Pascal of Veterans of Foreign Wars
Department of New York, the National D-Day Memorial, and the National
WWII Museum.