PRINTER'S NO.  695

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

710

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY SOLOBAY, BAKER, COSTA, FONTANA, HUGHES, KASUNIC, SCARNATI, BROWNE, WAUGH, ALLOWAY, BREWSTER, DINNIMAN, EARLL, ERICKSON, FOLMER, GREENLEAF, LEACH, ORIE, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, STACK, VOGEL AND D. WHITE, FEBRUARY 28, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 28, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Designating March 30 of each year as "Welcome Home Vietnam

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Veterans Day."

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WHEREAS, The Vietnam Conflict was fought from 1961 to 1975;

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and

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WHEREAS, The United States became involved in the Vietnam

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Conflict because policymakers in the United States believed that

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if South Vietnam fell to a Communist government, Communism would

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spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia; and

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WHEREAS, In 1965, there were approximately 80,000 United

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States troops in Vietnam, and by 1969, a peak of about 543,000

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troops was reached; and

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WHEREAS, More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed

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Forces lost their lives in the Vietnam Conflict, and more than

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300,000 were wounded; and

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WHEREAS, According to the Commonwealth's military records,

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more than 3,400 Pennsylvanians were killed in the Vietnam

 


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Conflict and many more were listed as "missing in action"; and

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WHEREAS, The uniquely divisive nature of the Vietnam Conflict

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in the context of American history and the crossfire of debate

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about the country's involvement in the conflict deprived many

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members of the United States Armed Forces of public support and

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appreciation for their patriotic service; and

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WHEREAS, The bravery and service of our country's Vietnam

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Conflict veterans should be recognized and honored.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

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March 30 of each year is designated as "Welcome Home Vietnam

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Veterans Day." The Governor shall issue annually a proclamation

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calling upon all public schools and educational institutions to

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observe "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" and to conduct

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exercises recognizing the contributions of all those involved in

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the Vietnam Conflict and remembering the sacrifices they made

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for their country.

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Section 2.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect immediately.

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