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Joyce To Visit Normandy This Week

October 6, 2020

13th District Lawmaker Will Join Bipartisan Congressional Delegation To Commemorate 75th Anniversary of D-Day

Congressman John Joyce (PA-13) will travel to Normandy, France this week as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The 13th District lawmaker will depart on Wednesday evening and will return on Sunday.

Joyce made the announcement this morning on Newstalk 103.7 and described how the trip will be of personal significance to him, given his father's service in World War II. A transcript of the congressman's comments is below.

TRANSCRIPT

CONGRESSMAN JOYCE: I've been invited to participate with a congressional delegation to go to Normandy, France for the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. Pat, Michele, I couldn't be more honored to represent the people of Pennsylvania's 13th District, to represent other members of the United States Congress in the 116th. This has a lot of personal meaning to me. I think it has a lot of meaning to the people in Pennsylvania-13. My father fought in World War II. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, gravely injured and was saved by Army field doctors. I'm forever grateful to the military doctors who saved his life and allowed him to return to central Pennsylvania, get married, raise five children, and I somehow feel that I am taking my father with me as I return to France. And I realize that the brave men and women who were part of this invasion sacrificed their lives so that we could beat back fascism and allow democracy to prevail, and these individuals will not and should not ever be forgotten.

Congressman Joyce's father, Sergeant Bernard Joyce, served as a rifleman in the European theatre from August of 1944 to June of 1945. He earned a Combat Infantry Badge, Two Bronze Battle Stars and a Purple Heart during his deployment.

Any members of the media interesting in setting up an interview with Congressman Joyce from Normandy can contact andrew.romeo@mail.house.gov.

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Issues:Veterans