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Press Releases

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senate French Caucus co-chairs Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced a resolution to mark the upcoming 75thAnniversary of the D-Day invasion and honor the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who helped bring an end to World War II.

“Seventy-five years ago, the brave men and women of the Allied Forces embarked on the opening phase of Operation Overlord in an effort to break the Nazi stranglehold on Western Europe. The courageous effort to storm the beaches of Normandy changed the trajectory of history,” Boozman said. “As co-chairs of the Senate French Caucus, Senator Coons and I have introduced this resolution to recognize the upcoming 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings and to express our gratitude and appreciation to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces—including those from Arkansas—who participated in these operations. The courage and sacrifice of the Allied troops who came to the aid of those oppressed by the Nazi and Fascist regimes will always serve to inspire future generations.”

“As co-chair of the Senate French Caucus, I am proud to introduce this resolution with Senator Boozman to recognize the brave members of the U.S. and Allied Forces who fought and died on the beaches of Normandy 75 years ago in the name of freedom,” Coons said. “Operation Overlord, commonly known as D-Day, lifted millions from the grasp of tyranny and helped forge lasting partnerships among nations that value freedom around the world. We owe a debt of gratitude to these heroes whose service and sacrifice changed the course of history.”

In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, 57,000 members of the United States Armed Forces, and 153,000 of their counterparts in the Allied Expeditionary Force, launched Operation Overlord by storming ashore five landing areas on the beaches of Normandy, France. The first day of the operation, which became known as D-Day, approximately 10,000 Allied soldiers were wounded or killed, including 6,000 Americans. Operation Overlord led to Allied liberation of Western Europe from the control of Nazi Germany and an end to World War II.