65th Anniversary of The Battle of the Bulge: A Proclamation by the President

In December 1944, in a dense forest in Belgium, a brave

band of American soldiers, who were surrounded, poorly supplied

and surviving in brutally cold conditions, took the brunt of

a furious German assault. Their valor defined not just the

beginning of the end of a World War, but also one of the

greatest generations of Americans. Like patriots before them,

they stood resolute, confident in their training, and determined

to preserve those enduring American ideals of freedom and

justice. On the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, a

grateful Nation remembers the fallen who gave their lives in

that critical battle, and we pay tribute to the heroes whose

indomitable strength led to victory in World War II.

When asked about the Battle of the Bulge, British Prime

Minister Sir Winston Churchill remarked, "This is undoubtedly

the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be

regarded as an ever-famous American victory." Confronting not

just the advancing German Army, but the elements, American

service members withstood the assault and eventually repelled

the Nazi forces, but at tremendous cost in lives and wounded

soldiers.

On this anniversary, we reflect on the enduring commitment

of our Armed Forces in defending our liberty, as inspiring today

as it was in 1944. The discipline and courage displayed in the

Battle of the Bulge continues in Iraq, Afghanistan, and wherever

our men and women in uniform are serving. They represent the

best of our Nation and we are eternally grateful for their

service and sacrifice.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the

United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested

in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States,

do hereby proclaim Wednesday, December 16, 2009, as the

65th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of remembrance with

appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord

two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States

of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA