[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 75733-75734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29822]
[[Page 75731]]
Vol. 79
Thursday,
No. 243
December 18, 2014
Part IV
The President
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Proclamation 9221--70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 2014 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 75733]]
Proclamation 9221 of December 15, 2014
70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
By the winter of 1944, the United States and Allied
forces had stormed the beaches of Normandy, thundered
into Europe, and liberated Paris, turning the tide in
the struggle against the forces of oppression. With the
fate of freedom in peril, millions of Americans went to
fight for people they had never met to defend ideals
they could not live without. But as Americans and our
allies advanced through the Ardennes Forest region of
Belgium and Luxembourg, German forces launched a
desperate and massive assault, attacking the poorly-
supplied and heavily-outnumbered Allied front during
the early hours of December 16, 1944. Against
improbable odds, patriots of exceptional valor and
remarkable courage beat back Hitler's armies and
achieved a crucial victory at the Battle of the Bulge,
marking the beginning of the end of a world war.
The Battle of the Bulge was one of the United States
largest and bloodiest encounters of the Second World
War. Over the course of more than a month, some 500,000
American service members fought through snow and bitter
winter conditions. In extraordinarily difficult
circumstances, our Armed Forces faced down bullets and
German tanks. From the grip of hatred and tyranny, they
won a victory for liberty and freedom. But our triumph
came at a tremendous cost; over 76,000 Americans were
killed, wounded, or missing in action.
On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, we
are called to do more than commemorate a victory. We
must honor the sacrifice of a generation who defied
every danger to free a continent from fascism. As we
salute the unfailing dedication of a free people, we
tell their story so as to commit it to the memory of
our Nation. The world will never forget the heroes who
stepped forward to secure peace and prosperity far from
home, and we will always remember those who gave their
last full measure of devotion.
The warriors who defended the promise of liberty during
the Battle of the Bulge are an inspiring and heroic
link in an unbroken chain that has made America the
greatest force for freedom the world has ever known.
Today, we lift up their memories and carry forward the
proud legacy of the veterans who gave their all and in
doing so, changed the course of human history.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, December 16,
2014, as the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the
Bulge. I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn
day of remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
[[Page 75734]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
ninth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2014-29822
Filed 12-17-14; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5