THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MARSHALL, READSHAW, MATZIE, MUSTIO, MURT, ADOLPH, AUMENT, BAKER, BENNINGHOFF, BOBACK, BOYD, B. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, DEASY, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, EVANKOVICH, EVERETT, FARRY, FREEMAN, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HARHAI, HARHART, HARKINS, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, W. KELLER, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, MASSER, McGEEHAN, METCALFE, MICCARELLI, MILLARD, MILLER, MIRABITO, MOUL, MURPHY, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PEIFER, PERRY, PICKETT, PRESTON, QUINN, RAPP, RAVENSTAHL, REED, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTARSIERO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SCHRODER, SONNEY, STERN, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TOOHIL, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD AND MICOZZIE, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 22, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing March 30, 2012, 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

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; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

honor in the establishment of "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans

Day" and how it would be an appropriate way to honor those

members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam

during the Vietnam Conflict; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and

proclaim March 30, 2012, as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day"

in Pennsylvania.