Florida Senate - 2013                             (NP)    SR 334
       
       
       
       By Senator Evers
       
       
       
       
       2-00001-13                                             2013334__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing March 30, 2013, and each
    3         March 30 thereafter as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
    4         Day.”
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to
    7  1975, and involved North Vietnam and the Vietcong in conflict
    8  with the United States and South Vietnam, and
    9         WHEREAS, the United States became involved in Vietnam,
   10  first in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese, because
   11  policymakers in the United States believed that if South Vietnam
   12  fell to a communist government, communism would spread
   13  throughout the rest of Southeast Asia, and
   14         WHEREAS, on August 7, 1964, the United States Congress
   15  overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which
   16  effectively handed over the war-making powers to President
   17  Lyndon Johnson until such time as peace and security had
   18  returned to Vietnam, and
   19         WHEREAS, in 1965, there were 184,000 United States troops
   20  in Vietnam and, by 1969, that number had grown to about 475,000
   21  troops, and
   22         WHEREAS, on January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was
   23  signed, which required the release of all United States
   24  prisoners of war held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all
   25  United States Armed Forces, and, on March 30, 1973, the United
   26  States completed the withdrawal of combat troops, and
   27         WHEREAS, during the course of the war, more than 58,000
   28  members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives in
   29  Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded, and
   30         WHEREAS, upon their return home, members of the United
   31  States Armed Forces who served bravely and faithfully for the
   32  United States during the Vietnam War were caught in the
   33  crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the United
   34  States in the war, and the issue remained a divisive one for
   35  many years, and
   36         WHEREAS, it was not until 1982 that the Vietnam Veterans
   37  Memorial was dedicated in the District of Columbia to
   38  commemorate those members of the United States Armed Forces who
   39  died or were declared missing in action in Vietnam, and
   40         WHEREAS, the establishment of “Welcome Home Vietnam
   41  Veterans Day” is an appropriate way to honor those members of
   42  the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the
   43  Vietnam War, NOW, THEREFORE,
   44  
   45  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   46  
   47         That March 30, 2013, and each March 30 thereafter be
   48  recognized as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.”