[Filed with Secretary of State June 16, 2014.]
SCR 107, 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.
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 paratroopers and glider-borne soldiers shortly after midnight, followed by an early morning amphibious landing by Allied infantry and armored divisions 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 fortifications, 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 liberation 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” and “Saving Private Ryan;” and
WHEREAS, June 6, 2014, represents the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, and serves as a direct reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices 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, It is fitting and appropriate that the State of California and its residents recognize this anniversary to honor the courageous individuals 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 by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges Californians to observe the anniversary of the D-Day Landings and hereby proclaims June 6, 2014, as D-Day Remembrance Day, calling upon all Californians to observe this with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and give thanks to our distinguished veterans who survived that military operation; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges Governor Jerry Brown to proclaim June 6, 2014, as D-Day Remembrance Day and instruct all state departments, agencies, interest groups, organizations, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States and the flag of California at half-mast on June 6, 2014, in memory of the Californians who perished on D-Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to the Military Department, to the California State Military Museum, and to the author for appropriate distribution.
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