NORMANDY, France – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined 17 of her Senate colleagues in honoring the 80^th anniversary of the D-Day invasion by Allied forces during World War II at the Normandy American Cemetery. She met with WWII veterans, including Tennessean Cletis Bailey, visited the gravesites of fallen soldiers, and attended a memorial service.

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Blackburn Honors Tennessean Bob Cole Who Was Posthumously Presented Medal of Honor for Military Valor During WWII

“It is an absolutely perfect day for a memorial here in Normandy and standing here at Omaha Beach and looking at what everyone faced that day as they fought… We remember Tennessean Bob Cole, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.”

Blackburn Honors Tennessean Cletis Bailey Who Was Awarded Bronze Star for WWII Service

“I’ve had the opportunity to spend a moment with Cletis Bailey, another Tennessean who is here for this celebration, and to say thank you to so many of these men that fought – men and women who fought – on D-Day, who fought in World War II, and to express my thanks and my gratitude.”

• The Senate delegation is led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) and also includes Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).
• On Sunday, June 9, the delegation will watch as hundreds of U.S. servicemembers stationed in Europe and from U.S.-based units with historical links to D-Day join servicemembers and civilians from all over Europe participating in a commemorative parachute jump.