On the recordJune 6, 2016
Madam President, I am here today to talk about a very important event in American history. Seventy-two years ago today, six American and four British and Canadian divisions began the assault on Adolf Hitler's Fortress Europe, on what German Field Marshal Rommel famously referred to as ``the longest day.'' As the paratroopers moved to their planes and infantrymen embarked on their ships, Dwight Eisenhower reminded them of their cause when he said: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. North Carolina was at Normandy on that day. At 1:51 a.m., Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division, under the command of MG Matthew Ridgeway and BG James Gavin, began the fight. The paratroopers of the ``All-American Division'' were scattered by bad weather and German anti-aircraft fire, missing many of their designated drop zones.…





