Assembly Resolution No. 238

BY: M. of A. DenDekker

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, as Vietnam Veterans' Day
in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is custom of this Legislative Body that those who give
positive definition to the profile and disposition of the American Armed
Forces so profoundly strengthen our shared commitment to 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
commemorate the 51st Anniversary of the Vietnam War; and

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 Nation is indebted to
those brave individuals who served their country during the Vietnam War;
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, More than three million servicemen and women left their
families to bravely serve a world away in places such as la Drang to Khe
Sanh, from Hue to Saigon, and countless villages in between; they pushed
through jungles and rice paddies, heat and monsoons, fighting to protect
the ideals we hold dear as Americans; and

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

WHEREAS, An estimated 150,000 New Yorkers served in-country; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was fought in the Republic of Vietnam from
1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnamese regular forces and Viet Cong
guerrilla forces in armed conflict with the 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 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 Vietnam in 1961;
and

WHEREAS, As a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on August 2 and
4, 1964, Congress 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, the 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 29, 1973, the last 2,500 troops were withdrawn
from South Vietnam thus ending military involvement in the Vietnam War;
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 State in the Nation to dedicate a Vietnam Memorial; and

WHEREAS, Beginning on Memorial Day 2012, the federal government
began a partnership with local governments, private organizations and
communities across the country to participate in the commemoration of
the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, a 13-year program to honor and
give thanks to a generation of proud Americans who saw our country
through one of the most challenging times; and

WHEREAS, Chapter 90 of the Laws of 2008 designated March 29th of
each year as Vietnam Veterans' Day in the State of New York; the chapter
designates March 29 as a day of commemoration to honor those individuals
who sacrificed for their country; and

WHEREAS, May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025, is known as the
Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War as declared by
President Barack Obama, by Presidential Proclamation dated May 25, 2012;
and

WHEREAS, March 29, 2017 has been chosen by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs to honor our Nation's veterans to express
tremendous gratitude and support to this generation of Americans through
ceremonies across the Nation and State; and

WHEREAS, The observance of Vietnam Veterans' Day on March 29, 2017,
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 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
pay tribute to the bravery, patriotism and sacrifice made by the men and
women of the United States Armed Forces, both those still living and
those who died in service to our great country; and to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Wednesday, March 29, 2017, as
Vietnam Veterans' Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pauses 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; 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 all 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
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; John Rowan, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America; Ned
Foote, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America New York State
Council; and Joseph Pollicino, President of Tri-County Council Vietnam
Era Veterans.