LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the observance of Welcome Home
Vietnam Veterans Day on March 30, 2012

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York, who
have so honorably served this State and Nation, deserve a special salute
from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, Every citizen of this great State and country is indebted to
those brave men and women whose courage, selflessness and great sacri-
fice symbolize the dedication of a Nation committed to the democratic
freedoms enjoyed by the people of our State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was fought in the Republic of South Vietnam
from 1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnamese regular forces and Viet
Cong guerrilla forces in armed conflict with United States Armed Forces
and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, The United States Armed Forces became involved in Vietnam
because the United States Government wanted to provide direct military
support to the Government of South Vietnam to defend itself against the
growing Communist threat from North Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in an
advisory role to the Government of the Republic of South Vietnam in
1961; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on August 2 and
4, 1964, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
(Public Law 88-408), on August 7, 1964, which provided the authority to
the President of the United States to prosecute the war against North
Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, United States Armed Forces ground combat units
arrived in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS; By the end of 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops in
Vietnam, and by 1969, a peak of approximately 543,000 troops was
reached; and
WHEREAS, On January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which
required the release of all United States prisoners-of-war held in North
Vietnam and the withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from South
Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, On March 30, 1973, the United States Aimed Forces completed
the withdrawal of combat units and combat support units from South Viet-
nam; and
WHEREAS, More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces
lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 members of the Armed
Forces were wounded; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, the New York State Vietnam Veterans Memorial was
dedicated in Albany to commemorate those members of the United States
Armed Forces who died or were declared missing-in-action in Vietnam, the
first such state effort in the Nation; and
WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue among the
people of the United States and a conflict that caused a generation of
veterans to wait too long for the United States public to acknowledge
and honor the efforts and services of such veterans; and
WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces who served bravely
and faithfully for the United States during the Vietnam War were often
wrongly criticized for the policy decisions made by four presidential
administrations in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The observance of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day on March
30, 2012, is an appropriate way to honor those members of the United
States Armed Forces who served in South Vietnam and throughout Southeast
Asia during the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of this great State and Nation, benefactors of
the sacrifices and courageous acts of the men and women who defended
their freedoms and privileges under a democratic government, remain
indebted and are justly proud of Vietnam Veterans of America and its
members; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the bravery, patriotism and sacrifice made by the men, women,
both those still living and those who died in service of our great coun-
try in the United States Armed Forces in Vietnam during war and during
peace; and to most proudly commemorate the 39th Anniversary of the with-
drawal of combat units and combat support units from South Vietnam by
observing Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day on March 30, 2012; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause further to encourage the
people of this great State to observe Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities that provide the appreciation
Vietnam War veterans deserve, but did not receive upon returning home
from the war; demonstrate the resolve that never again shall the Nation
disregard and denigrate a generation of veterans; to promote awareness
of the faithful service and contributions of such veterans during their
military service as well as to their communities since returning home;
to promote awareness of the importance of entire communities empowering
veterans and the families of veterans to readjust to civilian life after
military service; and to promote opportunities for such veterans to
assist younger veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
in rehabilitation from wounds, both seen and unseen, and to support the
reintegration of younger veterans into civilian life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of Ameri-
ca; Nancy Switzer, President of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of
America; Charles "Charlie" Montgomery, Chair of the Vietnam Veterans of
America Conference of State Council Presidents; Ned Foote, President of
the New York State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America; and
William Kraus, Acting Director of the New York State Division of Veter-
ans' Affairs.