the fighting after President Barack Obama ordered Navy SEALs
to raid Osama bin Laden's compound.
(6) On December 28, 2014, the United States and the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) combat operations
in Afghanistan officially ended.
(7) Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom,
over 830,000 Americans, including 18,000 from this
Commonwealth, have served in Afghanistan.
(8) More than 2,000 members of the United States Armed
Forces, including 98 from this Commonwealth, were killed in
action in Afghanistan since combat began.
(9) More than 19,000 members of the United States Armed
Forces were wounded in service to their country in
Afghanistan.
(b) Designation.--October 7 of each year is designated as
"Afghanistan War Veterans Day."
(c) Proclamation.-- The Governor shall issue annually a
proclamation encouraging all public schools and educational
institutions to observe "Afghanistan War Veterans Day" and to
conduct exercises recognizing the contributions of all those
involved in the war in Afghanistan and remembering the
sacrifices they made for their country. The proclamation may not
mandate a public school or educational institution to
participate in the observance.
ยง 1304. Second Gulf War Veterans Day.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The second Gulf War was fought from 2003 to 2008.
(2) On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush
announced the beginning of combat operations in Iraq after
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