HR0104LRB103 31129 ECR 57834 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961
3to 1975 and involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in
4conflict with the United States Armed Forces and South
5Vietnam; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The United States became involved by serving in
7an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In 1965, United States Armed Forces ground combat
9units arrived in Vietnam, and by the end of that year, there
10were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam with a peak of
11approximately 500,000 troops in 1969; and
 
12    WHEREAS, On January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was
13signed, which required the release of all United States
14prisoners-of-war held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of
15all United States Armed Forces from South Vietnam; by March
1630, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed the
17withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam; and
 
18    WHEREAS, More than 58,000 members of the United States
19Armed Forces lost their lives in Vietnam, and more than
20300,000 members of the Armed Forces were wounded; and
 

 

 

HR0104- 2 -LRB103 31129 ECR 57834 r

1    WHEREAS, In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was
2dedicated in Washington, D.C. to commemorate those members of
3the United States Armed Forces who died or were declared
4missing-in-action in Vietnam; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces who
6served bravely and faithfully for the United States during the
7Vietnam War were caught upon their return home in the
8crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the United
9States in the Vietnam War; and
 
10    WHEREAS, March 29th marks the 50th anniversary of the day
11that combat and combat support units withdrew completely from
12South Vietnam; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Veterans of the Vietnam War faithfully served and
14contributed to the military and, in the 50 years since, have
15faithfully served and contributed to their communities since
16returning home; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Vietnam War veterans have worked for the last 50
18years to promote awareness of the importance of communities
19empowering veterans and the necessity of helping veterans
20readjust to civilian life after military service; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Vietnam War veterans have worked to assist

 

 

HR0104- 3 -LRB103 31129 ECR 57834 r

1veterans returning from other conflicts, including wars in
2Afghanistan and Iraq, and to support the reintegration of
3younger veterans into civilian life; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The establishment of a day to welcome home
5Vietnam veterans is an appropriate way to honor those members
6of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during
7the Vietnam War; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
9HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
10we declare March 29, 2023 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
11in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That all citizens of the State of Illinois are
13encouraged to honor our Vietnam veterans.