CHAIRMAN BUYER HONORED TO LEAD CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO NORMANDY & SURESNES TO ATTEND MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES

Washington, DC – Chairman Steve Buyer of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Subcommittee on Health Chairman Henry Brown will attend Memorial Day ceremonies at overseas American military cemeteries such as Normandy, France.  The ceremonies will take place on May 28^th, 29^th and 30^th   Chairman Buyer, Subcommittee Chairman Henry Brown and Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez, V Corps Commanding General, US Army will speak at the event.   

“This year marks the 60^th anniversary of the end of WWII during which America lost 200,000 of her best, in the battle of Europe, defeating tyranny.  I am honored to pay tribute to our fallen heroes on this Memorial Day weekend at the American cemeteries of Normandy and Suresnes.    

Their silent and honored ranks are now joined by heroes from a new generation who answered the nation’s call in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure others the fundamental rights of liberty,” said Chairman Steve Buyer. 

NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL: The World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel in Colleville-sur Mer, France.  The cemetery covers one hundred and seventy-two acres.  It contains the graves of 9,387 American military Dead, most of whom gave their lives during the landings and ensuing operations of World War II.

SURESNES AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL: The World War I Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial is located in the suburb of Suresnes five miles west of the center of Paris. This cemetery, seven and a half acres in extent, contains the graves of 1,541 American military Dead from World War I and twenty-four graves of American Unknown Dead from World War II.  Bronze tablets on the walls of the chapel record the names of 974 American Missing or buried or lost at sea in 1917 and 1918.

All ceremonies this weekend are open to the public.