HR0104 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0104 LRB103 31129 ECR 57834 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975 and involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in conflict with the United States Armed Forces and South Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, The United States became involved by serving in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, United States Armed Forces ground combat units arrived in Vietnam, and by the end of that year, there were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam with a peak of approximately 500,000 troops in 1969; and

WHEREAS, On January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which required the release of all United States prisoners-of-war held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from South Vietnam; by March 30, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives in Vietnam, and more than 300,000 members of the Armed Forces were wounded; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. to commemorate those members of the United States Armed Forces who died or were declared missing-in-action in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces who served bravely and faithfully for the United States during the Vietnam War were caught upon their return home in the crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, March 29th marks the 50th anniversary of the day that combat and combat support units withdrew completely from South Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Veterans of the Vietnam War faithfully served and contributed to the military and, in the 50 years since, have faithfully served and contributed to their communities since returning home; and

WHEREAS, Vietnam War veterans have worked for the last 50 years to promote awareness of the importance of communities empowering veterans and the necessity of helping veterans readjust to civilian life after military service; and

WHEREAS, Vietnam War veterans have worked to assist veterans returning from other conflicts, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and to support the reintegration of younger veterans into civilian life; and

WHEREAS, The establishment of a day to welcome home Vietnam veterans is an appropriate way to honor those members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 29, 2023 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all citizens of the State of Illinois are encouraged to honor our Vietnam veterans.