PRINTER'S NO. 255
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
57
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY EVANKOVICH, READSHAW, BARRAR, ELLIS, V. BROWN,
HENNESSEY, BAKER, COHEN, BIZZARRO, FLYNN, SACCONE, VEREB,
DiGIROLAMO, KNOWLES, KILLION, SCHLOSSBERG, THOMAS, KINSEY,
CORBIN, SANTARSIERO, REESE, FREEMAN, COX, DAVIS, KAUFFMAN,
MENTZER, TALLMAN, SAINATO, BENNINGHOFF, MARSHALL, WATSON,
PAYNE, HARHART, LONGIETTI, CALTAGIRONE, O'BRIEN, A. HARRIS,
DEASY, OBERLANDER, D. COSTA, MATZIE, MILLARD, GRELL, SAYLOR,
MARSICO, C. PARKER, GILLEN, O'NEILL, GROVE, GOODMAN, CUTLER,
MURT, FARINA, HAHN, DeLUCA, CONKLIN, GABLER, ROSS, WHEELAND,
R. BROWN, PICKETT, SABATINA, MAJOR, DONATUCCI, McCARTER,
GIBBONS AND PEIFER, FEBRUARY 2, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 2, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing March 30, 2015, as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Vietnam Conflict was fought in Vietnam from 1961
to 1975, and it involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in
conflict with the United States and South Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, The United States became involved in the Vietnam
Conflict because policymakers in the United States believed that
if South Vietnam fell to a communist government then communism
would spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia; and
WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces began
serving in an advisory role to South Vietnam in 1961; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on
August 2 and 4, 1964, the Congress of the United States
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Public Law
88-408) on August 7, 1964, which effectively handed over war-
making powers to President Lyndon B. Johnson until such time as
peace and security had returned to 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 Paris Peace Accords were
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 Armed Forces
completed the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed
Forces lost their lives in Vietnam, and more than 300,000
members were wounded; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated
in the District of Columbia to commemorate those members of the
United States Armed Forces who died or were declared missing in
action in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, The Vietnam Conflict was an extremely divisive issue
among the people of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces who served
bravely and faithfully for the United States during the Vietnam
Conflict were caught upon their return home in the crossfire of
public debate about the involvement of the United States in the
Vietnam Conflict; and
WHEREAS, The establishment of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
20150HR0057PN0255 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Day would be an appropriate way to honor those members of the
United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the
Vietnam Conflict; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and
proclaim March 30, 2015, as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day"
in Pennsylvania.
20150HR0057PN0255 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6