COMMEMORATION OF THE EFFORTS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

SEC. 1471. COMMEMORATION OF THE EFFORTS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION (a) Findings.— Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Battle of the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign of World War II, commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge, was fought in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg, from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, in the deepest snow and during the coldest temperatures in the memory of the inhabitants of the region. 104 STAT. 1703 (2) 600,000 members of the Armed Forces of the United States fought in the Battle of the Bulge, making the battle the largest land battle ever fought by United States military forces. (3) The battle claimed 81,000 United States casualties, including 19,000 killed. (4) In 1988, many of the veterans of the battle, including the 7,000 member organization known as the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, organized the Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation to commemorate the heroic sacrifices made by the United States servicemembers who saw action during the Battle of the Bulge, to pay homage to the servicemen killed in that battle, and to inform the present and future youth of this Nation regarding the costs of war and the price of liberty. (5) The efforts of the foundation are directed toward expanding the existing United States Army Museum, located at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, to include a gallery dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge, the participants in that battle, and World War II generally. (6) The Museum and the foundation have agreed to act jointly to achieve goals relating to the commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge. (7) Installation of a gallery at the museum devoted to the Battle of the Bulge will result in the museum having the only gallery in the United States devoted exclusively to commemorating that battle. (8) The Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation has set a goal of raising $1,500,000 by December 16, 1994, the 50th anniversary of the battle, to accomplish the objective of appropriately preserving the memory of the battle. (b) Recognition and Commendation.— In light of the findings in subsection (a), Congress recognizes and commends the efforts of the Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation to provide for the installation of a special gallery at the United States Army Museum at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, devoted to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of military artifacts relating to the Battle of the Bulge and to commemorate that historic battle.