Senator Hassan Participates in Bipartisan Delegation to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a bipartisan Senate delegation to Belgium and Luxembourg to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, which Senator Hassan’s father, Robert Wood, fought in as a member of the 76th Infantry Division. Wood served as an infantry sergeant in the 385th Regiment, Company C. In addition, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution that Senator Hassan cosponsored commemorating the 75th anniversary.
During the bipartisan congressional delegation, Senator Hassan and her colleagues met with U.S. veterans who fought at the Battle of the Bulge and participated in a number of events including an official ceremony at the Mardasson Memorial near Bastogne, Belgium marking the occasion.
The congressional delegation was led by Senator John Boozman (R-AK). In addition to Senator Hassan, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) joined the delegation.
“As the daughter of a veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, I was moved and humbled to stand on the very battlefields where so many American soldiers fought to defeat the Nazis and keep our country safe, secure, and free,” Senator Hassan said. “It is that mission that we have the responsibility of carrying forth to this day. I was honored to stand united with Democrats and Republicans alike in representing our nation in commemorating this historic battle and in meeting some of the veterans who served in those pivotal days.”
“In the Battle of the Bulge, American soldiers demonstrated the commitment, courage and resilience that helped define a generation. To this day, we take immense pride in the unwavering bravery and valor of the Allied Forces in their decisive defeat of the German attack, ultimately leading to the end of the Nazi regime,” Senator Boozman said. “It is fitting that we recognize the 75th Anniversary of a battle that both shaped the future of combat and ushered in a new era of comity between Europe and the United States.”
The Battle of the Bulge, which began on December 16, 1944, marked the Germans’ last major offensive campaign during World War II. The attack surprised Allied Forces in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg. Outnumbered, facing record-low temperatures and dwindling supplies, the Allied Forces on the frontlines dug in to defend against the German army. The battle lasted for six long weeks. More than 89,000 American soldiers were casualties including 19,000 soldiers killed, 47,500 wounded and 23,000 captured or missing in action. The valiant efforts of Allied Forces made possible the surrender of Nazi Germany in May 1945.
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