1Designating October 20, 2014, as "Leyte Landing Day" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, October 20, 2014, marks the 70th anniversary of the
4return of General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines during
5the Second World War; and

6WHEREAS, The Liberation of the Philippines was an allied
7campaign to free the Philippine Islands from the occupation of
8the Japanese Army, which had been in place since 1942; and

9WHEREAS, An amphibious attack was launched on October 20,
101944, by the United States Army, Navy and Air Force, forcing its
11way onto the beach of Leyte, bombarded by Japanese gunfire,
12securing enough of the land to unload supplies and personnel;
13and

14WHEREAS, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the
15Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations when he was relocated to

1Australia, had declared in 1942 that he would return, and
2fulfilled his promise on this day when he waded ashore in Leyte
3declaring, "I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our
4forces stand again on Philippine soil — soil consecrated in the
5blood of our two peoples"; and

6WHEREAS, During this military campaign, 13,973 Americans gave
7their lives to the cause of freeing the Philippines and the
8campaign ended in the defeat of the Japanese and their surrender
9on August 15, 1945; therefore be it

10RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate October
1120, 2014, as "Leyte Landing Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
12further

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage local
14governments and communities throughout this Commonwealth to
15conduct appropriate Leyte Landing Day observances to ensure that
16the many sacrifices of that day are not forgotten.