House Honors WWII Veterans
On Monday, April 18th at 1:00PM the Iowa House of Representatives passed House Resolution 39 to honor Iowa World War II veterans. The Resolution commemerated the 70th anniversary year of the beginning of the World War II.
After the Resolution passed, the House of Representatives said thank you to the many veterans present by hosting a ceremony in the capitol.
House Resolution 39 reads:
A Resolution commemorating the seventieth anniversary of the beginning of World War II and honoring all World War II veterans.
WHEREAS, nearly 70 years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced to Americans that December 7, 1941, was “a date which will live in infamy”; and
WHEREAS, on that morning, America was maliciously attacked without warning and without provocation and more than 2,400 Americans died and 1,100 were wounded; and
WHEREAS, the attack on Pearl Harbor changed America forever, thrusting the United States into the Second World War with Japan, Italy, and Germany; and
WHEREAS, following the attack, Iowans answered the call of service and joined the armed forces in defense of freedom, with 262,638 Iowans serving valiantly during World War II, with 8,398 laying down their lives, and 10 being awarded the Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, during World War II, in some of the darkest days of the twentieth century, Iowans proudly served the United States, which stood with more than 40 allied nations to fight and defeat the enemies of freedom across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; and
WHEREAS, more than 16 million Americans served in the military during World War II and more than 400,000 Americans made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in the service of their country and their fellow Americans and in the name of freedom everywhere; and
WHEREAS, all Americans sacrificed on the home front by giving up their loved ones and working for the war effort, offering valuable support to family members, neighbors, and unknown fellow Americans; and
WHEREAS, we honor the lives lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor and salute the veterans of World War II by remembering their sacrifices, also paying tribute to those now serving America to advance freedom around the world; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives recognizes December 7, 2011, as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and commemorates the seventieth anniversary of the United States of America entering into World War II; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That all World War II survivors be accorded special thanks and recognition for their actions in their fight against Nazism, fascism, and totalitarianism; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That those killed during the war be memorialized so the memories of them do not fade; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That all state agencies, interested organizations, groups, and individuals be encouraged to observe this solemn occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
