Thank you all for coming here today to honor these American heroes. I would like to recognize William Parham, Milton Bunch, and Oscella Taylor, who each sacrificed so much for our freedom. They, like all brave World War II veterans, came from every racial and national background, from every walk of life. They were our friends and neighbors, our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, our sisters and brothers.

They were ordinary and extraordinary all at once, and all Americans should take a moment to honor their sacrifices. As we approach Memorial Day, we must also take pause to honor those who lost their lives fighting for our nation in this Great War. Let us all take a moment to remember them. I would also like to thank you for your great sacrifice to our nation's freedom. Because of your bravery, our nation has never been more secure.

Thanks to you, the Cold War is now another chapter in the history books. Thanks to you, nations that fought two World Wars in Europe and Asia, some of which had battled each other for centuries, now cooperate with each other as never before. Each of you has demonstrated the highest form of faith in the triumph of good over evil. History teaches us that our faith in freedom has made America-and the world-a better place.

Today, 179 of the world's 193 sovereign states elect their lawmakers. That means the earth is covered by democracy in greater proportion than water; it's covered by 93 percent democracy.
Clearly, each of you who sacrificed some of your freedom so that others could reap its benefits did so for a victorious cause. Those we have come to honor today, William Parham, Milton Bunch, and Oscella Taylor, participated in one of the great battles of World War II. They took part in Operation Overlord, which culminated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The bravery and sacrifice of these veterans led to the breakout of Allied forces on the European Continent and defeat of Nazi Germany.

Today, they will receive Normandy Medal of the Jubilee of Liberty. This medal honors those who risked their lives for our freedom between June 6, 1944 and August 14, 1944 in the Normandy Invasion. The medal was minted at the direction of the Regional Council of Normandy to be presented to those Normandy veterans who returned to France for the 50th anniversary of the landing. The Governor of Normandy has authorized that the medal be presented to Normandy veterans who were not able to attend the 50th Anniversary ceremonies held in France in 1994.

All Americans and I remain forever grateful to the brave veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy during Operation Overlord. As I once heard a Normandy veteran say, "We were too young to be scared then. We just did what we had to do." It is now my pleasure to present the Medal of the Jubilee of Liberty to three American heroes, William Parham, Milton Bunch, and Oscella Taylor.

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