Charles Skelton: “this is June 6. Fifty-seven years ago today, June 6, 1944, a day that we now refer to as D-Day, was the day that the…”

“this is June 6. Fifty-seven years ago today, June 6, 1944, a day that we now refer to as D-Day, was the day that the American and Allied Forces invaded Normandy, France and began the arduous task of winning Europe back against the Nazi tyranny. And they did this, and they did it well. World War II in Europe came to a close, beginning with the Normandy invasion on June 6. I wonder how many people across our country remember today? There are those that were there, those that parachuted in, those that landed at the beach and fought their way through France and Belgium into Germany. But many hardly know the word ``Normandy'' or what it stands for. Mr. Speaker, we think of our veterans and those that were lost in the conflicts of yesteryear on Memorial Day; we honor the veterans on November 11, Veterans' Day; but, in between, we do not seem to remember them. There seems to be a gap between civilian America and military America, whether they be veterans or whether they be the active duty and National Guard and reservists who wear the uniform at the present time. I hope that we can pause for a moment and pay tribute to the valor of those who stormed the Normandy beaches, who parachuted into France that day and began to end the tyranny of Hitler's rein.”