June 3, 2004
Petri Joins Congressional Delegation to Normandy
WASHINGTON - Congressman Tom Petri will be in Britain and France this weekend with a congressional delegation led by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to participate in events marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6.
The delegation will stop first in England on June 4 for a wreath laying ceremony at the American Cemetery in Cambridge. Many of the paratroopers who participated in the invasion of Nazi- occupied France left from Cambridge.
On June 5, the delegation will visit Omaha Beach and attend a Mass celebrated by Francis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago. After the Mass, the delegation will go to St. Mere Eglise to witness the members of the 82nd Airborne reenact the historic airdrop that started the D-Day offensive.
On June 6, the delegation will take part in the Bi-National Ceremony at Omaha Beach with President Bush, and later will tour Utah Beach.
Petri said, "Leaders will be gathering to express their
appreciation for the sacrifice that was made. And the fact is
that there is not, I don't believe, a single family in the 6th
Congressional District that has not, one way or another, been
touched by the sacrifice that many made to win World War II. So
I'm looking forward to paying my respects and participating in
this historic occasion."