McConnell Honors Kentucky Veterans
June 6, 2013
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today commemorating the 69th anniversary of D-Day and welcoming the Kentucky veterans traveling to the Nation’s capital as part of the Honor Flight:
“I wish to commemorate the 69th anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline in a surprise attack against the forces of Nazi Germany. The cost was high—more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded that day—but the Normandy invasion was the beginning to the successful conclusion of the war.
“I’m also honored to recognize a distinguished group of World War II veterans from my home State of Kentucky who have made the trip to our Nation’s capital today to visit the National World War II Memorial on the Mall. This memorial celebrates their service, as well as the service of the brave warriors who landed on that Normandy beach, and every man and woman in uniform who fought to defend freedom in World War II.
“This group of 26 veterans is able to make the trip to see their memorial thanks to the Honor Flight program. The Bluegrass Chapter of Honor Flight has brought over 1,000 veterans, most of them from Kentucky, to Washington, DC, for this purpose. The program provides transportation, lodging, and food for the veterans. Without Honor Flight, many of these veterans would never be able to visit the Capital or see the World War II Memorial.
“I’ve been privileged to visit with groups of Honor Flight veterans on several occasions before, and I’m pleased to report that I’ll be meeting with today’s group at their memorial as well. My father served in World War II, and it is an honor to shake hands with his contemporaries, hear their stories, and thank them for their service.
“As World War II recedes further into the past, sadly, we are losing more of these living legends. We’ve just had to say goodbye to our good friend Senator Frank Lautenberg, the last World War II veteran to serve in this body. The passage of time makes it all the more important that we thank these heroes for their service before it’s too late.
“Today is a perfect occasion to do just that, and I look forward to meeting this group of courageous Kentucky veterans from towns such as Owensboro, Hartford, Louisville, Covington, Berksville, Lexington, Springfield, Mount Washington, and Taylorsville.”