SCR 107, as introduced, Hueso. D-Day Invasion: 70th anniversary.
This measure would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion by proclaiming June 6, 2014, as D-Day Remembrance Day and urging Governor Jerry Brown to instruct all state agencies to fly the flag of the United States and the flag of California at half-mast on that day, in recognition of the heroism and sacrifices of the participants in those landings.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, The Second World War, which lasted from 1939
2to 1945, was the most widespread war in human history, directly
3involving more than 100 million people from more than 30
4different countries, which were split between two opposing military
5alliances - the Allies, led by the United States of America and the
6United Kingdom, and the Axis, led by Nazi Germany and the
7Empire of Japan; and
8WHEREAS, The Axis powers initiated military aggression and
9maintained the strategic momentum until gradually slowed by
10Allied resistance in late 1942 and 1943, after which the Allies
11reversed the momentum and commenced operations to liberate
12Axis-conquered lands, such operations including Operation
P2 1Overlord, a massive military and naval effort toward the
2reclamation of German-occupied Western Europe; and
3WHEREAS, The combat operations of Operation Overlord, also
4known as the D-Day Landings, began on June 6, 1944, with an
5Allied invasion from England into German-occupied Normandy
6(France); and
7WHEREAS, The landings were conducted in two phases: a
8nighttime airborne assault by 24,000 United States, British, and
9Canadian paratroopers and glider-borne soldiers shortly after
10midnight, followed by an early-morning amphibious landing by
11Allied infantry and armored divisions onto five beach sites on the
12Normandy coast; and
13WHEREAS, The Allies executed a complex series of deceptions,
14helping them achieve strategic and tactical surprise over the
15Germans, who had been led to believe that the main thrust of the
16expected Allied invasion would involve different times, locations,
17and methods than actually employed; and
18WHEREAS, The Allied paratroopers landed to seize and then
19hold key bridges and road junctions behind enemy lines against
20the overwhelming German military force that surrounded them;
21and
22WHEREAS, Despite the effectiveness of Allied deceptions in
23achieving surprise and partially reducing the strength of German
24coastal fortifications, the amphibious landings were made into the
25teeth of a still-lethal, interlocking defense manned by skilled
26German soldiers wielding state-of-the-art weaponry; and
27WHEREAS, The resulting combat was among the bloodiest and
28most pivotal of the entire global conflict, and the names of its battle
29sites, such as Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and the cliffs of Pointe
30du Hoc, have been embedded into United States military history;
31and
32WHEREAS, Despite the terrible cost in human life, the
33ultimately successful execution of the D-Day invasion led directly
34to the liberation of Western Europe, the fall of Adolf Hitler, and
35the defeat of Nazi Germany during the subsequent 11 months; and
36WHEREAS, The heroism of the warriors who fought on D-Day
37has been depicted in numerous literary and cinematic classics,
38including “The Longest Day,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Band
39of Brothers”; and
P3 1WHEREAS, June 6, 2014, represents the 70th anniversary of
2the D-Day Landings, and serves as a direct reminder of the
3extraordinary sacrifices made by members of the United States
4Armed Forces on D-Day, and also, indirectly, to the sacrifices
5made during the rest of the Second World War and in all other
6armed conflicts past, present, and future; and
7WHEREAS, It is fitting and appropriate that the State of
8California and its residents recognize this anniversary to honor the
9courageous individuals who heeded our nation’s call and risked
10their lives, health, and dreams to defend our liberty and national
11interests; now, therefore; be it
12Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
13thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges Californians to
14observe the anniversary of the D-Day Landings and hereby
15proclaims June 6, 2014, as D-Day Remembrance Day, calling upon
16all Californians to observe this with appropriate ceremonies and
17activities that honor and give thanks to our distinguished veterans
18who survived that military operation; and be it further
19Resolved, That the Legislature urges Governor Jerry Brown to
20proclaim June 6, 2014, as D-Day Remembrance Day and instruct
21all state departments, agencies, interest groups, organizations, and
22individuals to fly the flag of the United States and the flag of
23California at half-mast on June 6, 2014, in memory of the
24Californians who perished on D-Day; and be it further
25Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
26this resolution to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to the
27Military Department, to the California State Military Museum,
28and to the author for appropriate distribution.
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