LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the begin-
ning of World War I, and commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the
commencement of World War II

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commemorate signif-
icant events which represent turning points in our unique history and
which are indelibly etched in the saga of our great Nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of World War I, and to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the commencement of World War II;
and
WHEREAS, In 1914, the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, sparked one of the largest conflicts in world
history; the breakdown of the system of alliances in Europe and imperial
power politics resulted in a four year war, that would transform the
entire globe; and
WHEREAS, Known at the time as the Great War, World War I was fought
between the Allied Powers of France, Great Britain, Russia, and the
Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire; and
WHEREAS, From 2014 through 2018, the United States and nations around
the world will mark the Centennial of World War I, including the entry
of the United States into the war on April 6, 1917; and
WHEREAS, More than 4,000,000 men and women from the United States
served in uniform during World War I, including two future presidents,
Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower; and
WHEREAS, World War I caused the fall of many European empires and set
the stage for such further world events as World War II and the Cold
War; and
WHEREAS, The Centennial of World War I offers an opportunity for
people in the United States to learn about and commemorate the sacri-
fices of those veterans who served during this period of time; and
WHEREAS, World War II was the largest, most destructive war in world
history; more than 50 nations took part in this massive conflict, which
changed the world forever; and
WHEREAS, In September 1939, the Nazi controlled government in Germany
invaded Poland, setting in motion their plans to conquer Europe; they
were joined by Italy, Japan, and other smaller nations to form the Axis
Powers, and opposed by the Allied Powers of Great Britain, France, and
later the Soviet Union; and
WHEREAS, After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States
entered the war and took on a central role; U.S. troops fought in North
Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, while Americans at home outproduced the
Axis Powers in the manufacture of warplanes, battleships, and guns; and
WHEREAS, In June 1944, British and American forces launched the D-Day
invasion, landing in German-occupied France via the coast of Normandy;
soon the German army was forced into retreat from both east and west as
Allied forces closed in on Berlin; and
WHEREAS, Germany surrendered in May 1945, ending the conflict in
Europe which had taken so many lives; they were followed in August of
that same year by Japan, after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiro-
shima and Nagasaki; and
WHEREAS, The ending of World War II set the stage for all of the
important events of the 20th Century, including the Cold War, and Space
Race; truly a global conflict, it greatly impacted the lives of everyone
alive at the time; and

WHEREAS, The 75th Anniversary of World War II also offers an opportu-
nity for people in the United States to learn about and commemorate the
sacrifices of those veterans who served during this period; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is very pleased to have this opportu-
nity to express its gratitude to the men and women of the United States
Armed Forces who served during both World War I and World War II for
their tremendous sacrifices made for our Nation and for the benefit of
all Americans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of World War I, and
to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the commencement of World War II.