HM 845

1	House Memorial
2	A memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging
3	Congress to initiate and support nationwide efforts to
4	commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of the United
5	States' involvement in the Vietnam War and demonstrate the
6	nation's appreciation for the honorable service and
7	sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans.
8
9	WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was a Cold War military conflict
10	that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1,
11	1955, until the United States Congress passed the Case-Church
12	amendment in 1973 which prohibited the further use of American
13	military forces in the conflict, and
14	WHEREAS, 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the
15	United States' involvement in the Vietnam War, and
16	WHEREAS, there are an estimated 650,000 Vietnam veterans in
17	the State of Florida, and
18	WHEREAS, because of the intense public opposition to the
19	war that existed at the time, members of the United States Armed
20	Services returned home to an unprecedented lack of formal
21	positive recognition of the honorable service they had provided
22	on behalf of their country and the tremendous sacrifices they
23	had made, and
24	WHEREAS, the lack of formal "Welcome Home" parades and
25	other traditional celebrations for returning soldiers that were
26	common in previous military conflicts in which the United States
27	was engaged, coupled with verbal and sometimes physical abuse,
28	resulted in great disillusionment, undeserved indignity, and
29	often great suffering and anguish among returning Vietnam
30	veterans, and
31	WHEREAS, many of these brave men and women are now reaching
32	an advanced age, and
33	WHEREAS, the importance of the commemoration of the 40th
34	anniversary of the end of the United States' involvement in the
35	Vietnam War and the opportunity that such an historical
36	anniversary presents to attempt to rectify past injustices and
37	ingratitude cannot be stressed strongly enough, and
38	WHEREAS, an attempt to express Florida's profound
39	appreciation for the honorable service of Vietnam veterans is
40	evidenced by House Bill 829, introduced during the 2011 Regular
41	Session of the Florida Legislature, and
42	WHEREAS, the expressed intent of House Bill 829 is to
43	provide legislative direction and support for recognition of the
44	importance of the 40th anniversary of the end of the United
45	States' involvement in the Vietnam War, and
46	WHEREAS, the legislation endeavors to ensure the
47	appropriate commemoration of this anniversary and the proper
48	demonstration of appreciation for the honorable service and
49	tremendous sacrifices of veterans who served in the United
50	States Armed Services during the Vietnam Era, and
51	WHEREAS, the legislation includes requirements for the
52	Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs to administratively
53	promote and support the efforts of counties, municipalities, and
54	bona fide veterans' organizations that voluntarily hold special
55	community events on March 25, 2013, commemorating the 40th
56	anniversary of the end of the United States' involvement in the
57	Vietnam War, and events commemorating Vietnam Veterans' Day in
58	years subsequent to 2013, and
59	WHEREAS, the legislation provides for the solicitation of
60	private donations to fund grants to counties, municipalities,
61	and bona fide veterans' organizations that voluntarily hold
62	commemorative activities, and
63	WHEREAS, the legislation also provides for the creation of
64	a Vietnam Veterans specialty license plate, fees from the sale
65	of which will be used to fund grants for activities related to
66	the initial observance of "Vietnam Veterans' Day," on March 25,
67	2013, and for expenditures related to the annual observance of
68	Vietnam Veterans' Day in years subsequent to 2013, and
69	WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate that the United
70	States Congress initiate and support similar efforts at the
71	national level to mark this historic anniversary and to attempt
72	to redress the lack of appropriate recognition and undeserved
73	ingratitude that so many of these brave servicemen and
74	servicewomen received upon returning home, and
75	WHEREAS, as part of a national effort, it is also requested
76	that the United States Congress authorize the minting of a 40th
77	anniversary commemorative medal expressing the nation's
78	appreciation for the honorable service of Vietnam veterans, NOW,
79	THEREFORE,
80
81	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
82
83	That the Congress of the United States is urged to initiate
84	and support nationwide efforts to commemorate the 40th
85	anniversary of the end of the United States' involvement in the
86	Vietnam War and demonstrate the nation's appreciation for the
87	honorable service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans.
88	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
89	dispatched to the President of the United States, to the
90	President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the
91	United States House of Representatives, to each member of the
92	Florida delegation to the United States Congress, and to the
93	legislative governing body of each of the other 49 states of the
94	United States.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.