Senate Resolution No. 225

BY: Senator HARCKHAM

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 29, 2025, as Vietnam Veterans Day in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that
those individuals who give positive definition to the profile and
disposition of the American Armed Forces so profoundly strengthen our
shared commitment in conjunction with the exercise of freedom; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 29, 2025, as Vietnam
Veterans Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Vietnam Veterans Day; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Forces 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, In recognition of the men and women who served with dignity
and honor during this historic time period, let us remember them and
thank them for their service; and

WHEREAS, The United States carried out its first combat mission
against the Viet Cong on January 12, 1962; in Operation Choppers, the
United States Army pilots lifted more than 1,000 South Vietnam service
members over jungle and underbrush to capture a National Liberation
Front (NLF) stronghold near Saigon; and

WHEREAS, Through more than a decade of combat, over air, land, and
sea, these proud Americans upheld the highest traditions of the United
States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, More than three million Americans served their country, and
more than 58,000 sacrificed their lives; the names of those lost are
forever engraved in the black granite Vietnam Memorial in Washington,
D.C.; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnam War era was a tumultuous time in America; when
our brave service members returned home, many returned with physical and
emotional scars; 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,
requiring the release of all United States prisoners of war held in
North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all United States forces from South
Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, On May 7, 1975, the last 2,500 troops were withdrawn from
South Vietnam, thus ending American military involvement in 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 served and
continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces, remain indebted and
are justly proud of the Vietnam veterans from the State of New York;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 29, 2025, as Vietnam
Veterans Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Vietnam Veterans Day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause further to encourage the
people of the State of New York to observe 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; to 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 within their communities,
since returning home; to promote awareness of the importance of entire
communities empowering veterans and their families to readjust to
civilian life after military service; 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
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York, and Vietnam veteran organizations.