involved in the Persian Gulf War 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 1303. Global War on Terrorism Veterans Day.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The campaign in Afghanistan, which is America's
longest conflict, began in 2001 and continues to this day.
(2) Following the terrorist attacks on September 11,
2001, the United States demanded that the Taliban regime stop
harboring Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible
for the 9/11 attacks, and hand over the Al Qaeda leader Osama
bin Laden.
(3) President George W. Bush ordered United States Armed
Forces to begin "Operation Enduring Freedom" (OEF) to combat
terrorism in Afghanistan and confront Al Qaeda.
(4) United States Armed Forces first entered Afghanistan
and began combat operations on October 7, 2001.
(5) On May 2, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed during
the fighting after President Barack Obama ordered Navy SEALs
to raid Osama bin Laden's compound.
(6) On December 31, 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 during
Operation Enduring Freedom.
(10) When Operation Enduring Freedom ended, the United
States began a new phase of the campaign, named Operation
Freedom's Sentinel (OFS).
(11) United States Armed Forces remain in the country to
participate in a coalition mission to train, advise and
assist Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and to
conduct counterterrorism operations against the remnants of
Al Qaeda.
(12) During Operation Freedom's Sentinel more than 70
Americans have lost their lives and another 453 have been
wounded in action.
(13) On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush
announced the beginning of combat operations in Iraq after
Saddam Hussein failed to meet the demands of the United
States.
(14) "Operation Iraqi Freedom" lasted for more than
seven years, reducing the influence of insurgents, stopping
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