Transcripts For CSPAN Joint 20240705

American and allied troops fought 79 years ago. They fought for our freedom. Thank you very much. [applause] thank you for that introduction. Thank you every day for the freedoms we enjoy. General austin, thank you for your leadership in troubled times today. Am bass do, thank you as well, for the great representative of the United States here in france. Senator, thank you for your leadership on the committee and your continued support. Thank you, senator nelson, for leading our administration and also being a great veteran of yourself. Senator nelson, thank you. Thank you to all the generals, admirals here, thank you all. I thank everyone here for gathering today to commemorate one of the most important military campaigns in history on the 79th anniversary of dday. And most of all we thank for those who served in world war ii, thank you for your service. [applause] today we honor 150,000 allied soldiers who stormed the beaches of normandy 79 years ago. Its a day of profound significance in the history of the world, a day that began the delivering of france from nazi tyranny. The allies prepared for the invasion for two full years. Last night, 24,000 allied paratroopers drifting into the darkness just after midnight on the morning of 5th june, 1944. The dawn broke. 6,000 ships carried soldiers to the landing on a 15milewide beachhead. Their names forever etched in our memories. These brave men fought inch by bloody inch, across minefield beaches, under a hail of bullets. They were exceptional in every way. We honor soldiers like danny who fought that day, he is with us today. Thank you, danny. [applause] other soldiers, like serge golgares of the 2nd battalion who had been recently assigned to the 101st airborne division. He too is with us today on these hallowed grounds. Ordinary soldiers but exceptional every way. Another soldier jumped in to fight the battle of the bull j. Soldier nervous single way. Men like Sergeant Charles kay, a medic, second battalion. He saw his comrades were under fire and acted with bravery. He continued fighting. He too is with us today. The bombing, the prep tear fire, to the morning landings, they were exceptional human beings. And the sergeant with the fourth marine division, now landing at normandy, a marine, ready to defend. All of these soldiers were ordinary men and women but every one was exceptional in the courage they displayed. We bear witness to the daunting threats to freedom. These americans and so many others sacrificed and gave their lives in combat thousands of miles, they gave their lives so that others they didnt even know would remain free. They gave their lives for us. Freedom are never guaranteed, they must be guarded. There are so precious few remaining members of the greatest generation who fought to keep the world if free from tyranny, they fought the great war, saving millions of lives and they fought for a better peace. So that all could remain free. We are now approaching the 80th year of peace. Two years ago, i talked to a veteran, he like many of these veterans was in a wheelchair. Hed been to the beaches here at normandy. I asked what his biggest lesson was from world war ii. I expected him to give me some sort of glance, he did not. His eyes teared up and he looked at me from his wheelchair and said general, never let it happen again. Never let it happen again. So here we are. Omaha beach. We can never bring back the fallen. But we must remember their sacrifice. We can uphold the cause for which they died. We have a duty. We have a duty to Carry Forward with democracy so each generation can enjoy the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that these veterans have given to us as their greatest gift. Millions of american soldiers, say horse, airmen, marines and guard yarntion i salute you. [applause] since 1979 and in partnership with the cable industry, cspan has provided complete coverage of the halls of congress from house and Senate Floors to congressional hearings, party briefings and committee meetings. Cspan gives you a front row seat to how issues are debated and decided with no commentary, no interruptions and completely unfiltered. Cspan, your unfiltered view of government. Order your copy of the 118th congressional directory now available at these bank shot. Org. Your access cspan shop. Org. The president s cabinet, federal agencies and