PRINTER'S NO. 2669
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
590
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY KINSEY, READSHAW, DEAN, HENNESSEY, J. HARRIS,
DiGIROLAMO, YOUNGBLOOD, ROTHMAN, DONATUCCI, DRISCOLL,
SCHLOSSBERG, MACKENZIE, REESE, THOMAS, SOLOMON, RYAN,
SAINATO, KIM, MURT, MENTZER, DUSH, SONNEY, HEFFLEY, WATSON,
LONGIETTI, KAVULICH, COX, CALTAGIRONE, SCHWEYER, MILLARD,
ROEBUCK, EVERETT, BRADFORD, WARREN, B. MILLER AND GOODMAN,
NOVEMBER 1, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 1, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of November 5 through 11, 2017, as
"Veterans Week of Service" in Pennsylvania to coincide with
the annual Veterans Day observance on November 11, 2017.
WHEREAS, Tens of millions of Americans have served in the
United States Armed Forces since the battles of Lexington and
Concord, which kicked off the American Revolutionary War or the
War of Independence, in 1775; and
WHEREAS, The past and present sacrifices of each generation
of American men and women who served in the armed forces and the
hundreds of thousands who gave their lives to preserve our
democracy must and should be recognized and honored by all
citizens; and
WHEREAS, In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed
November 11 as Armistice Day to honor veterans who fought in
World War I and to commemorate the implementation of an
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armistice between the Allies and Germany at the 11th hour on the
11th day of November; and
WHEREAS, In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed
legislation which changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans
Day; and
WHEREAS, In 1968, Congress passed legislation that
established the fourth Monday in October as the day to
commemorate and honor the military service of generations of
American veterans; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, Congress again passed legislation that
reverted the national observance of Veterans Day back to
November 11; and
WHEREAS, Not unlike past generations of American veterans,
some contemporary members of our armed forces encounter unique
and difficult circumstances when transitioning from military to
civilian life; and
WHEREAS, To meet the unique needs of Vietnam-era veterans and
service members returning from deployment in the Middle East,
especially Iraq and Afghanistan, some veterans continue to lead
and serve through the establishment of charitable organizations;
and
WHEREAS, In 1982, a group of Vietnam-era veterans in
southwestern Pennsylvania established the Vietnam Veterans
Leadership Program; and
WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program was a job
placement and training program for veterans who faced difficulty
finding employment during the economic downturn of the 1980s;
and
WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program is now the
Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania; and
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WHEREAS, The primary mission of the Veterans Leadership
Program of Western Pennsylvania is to provide essential housing,
employment, education and training assistance, supportive
services, qualified referrals and case management services to
all eligible veterans of western Pennsylvania, service members
and their families with the goal of improving their self-
sufficiency, sustainability and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The Veterans Leadership Program also provides a
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, a Federal program that
serves homeless veterans with employment and training
assistance; and
WHEREAS, The board of directors of the Veterans Leadership
Program of Western Pennsylvania include veterans of the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and the Air National Guard; and
WHEREAS, Western Pennsylvania is the home of more than
260,000 veterans, one of the largest concentration of veterans
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, According to the latest data, the veterans
population in this Commonwealth totals more than 870,770
veterans; and
WHEREAS, In southeastern Pennsylvania, the Greater
Philadelphia Veterans Network (GPVN) was established in 2010 by
a network of veterans working in different industries to mentor
and empower veterans living in southeastern Pennsylvania,
southern New Jersey and Delaware; and
WHEREAS, The primary mission of the GPVN is:
(1) to assist veterans, National Guard and reservists to
find work through career service, programs and initiatives,
mentorships, networking and job leads;
(2) to educate employers in the greater Philadelphia
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area on how to hire local veterans; and
(3) to offer veteran professional leadership and veteran
entrepreneurship programs;
and
WHEREAS, As a nonprofit veterans service organization, the
GPVN is known as an organization that inspires, empowers, and
demands accountability from all veterans it works with; and
WHEREAS, The work of GPVN is reflected in its tagline "Our
Tools, Your Mission"; and
WHEREAS, The Veterans Leadership Program of Western
Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network are
just two examples of organizations in this Commonwealth and
nationwide that were established by veterans to help veterans
and as an extension of their legacy of service; and
WHEREAS, The recognition of Veterans Day gives Americans the
opportunity to thank veterans for their service and recognize
their dedication to preserving our freedoms and democracy; and
WHEREAS, Our annual commemoration of Veterans Day still
embodies the original purpose of President Woodrow Wilson's
official Armistice Day proclamation in November 1919, as a day
of reflection "to be filled with the solemn pride in the heroism
of those who died in the country's service"; and
WHEREAS, Veterans serving veterans, inherent in the work of
organizations like the Veterans Leadership Program of Western
Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network,
evidences the willingness of some veterans to continue to lead
and answer the call of service to our country, communities and
their peers; and
WHEREAS, These organizations should be honored and recognized
for their efforts to improve the quality of life of veterans in
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this Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of November 5 through 11, 2017, as "Veterans Week of
Service" in Pennsylvania to coincide with the annual Veterans
Day observance on November 11, 2017; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all
residents of this Commonwealth to commemorate Veterans Day with
solemn but thankful reflection on the sacrifices and
contributions of all veterans and the legacy of service many
veterans continue to make to country, community and peers in
this Commonwealth and nationwide; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
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