Delaware General Assembly

CHAPTER 475

FORMERLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 472

AS AMENDED BY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975; and

WHEREAS, members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961 because it was believed that if South Vietnam fell to a Communist government then Communism would spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia; and

WHEREAS, in 1965, United States Armed Forces ground combat units arrived in Vietnam, and by the end of 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam, peaking with approximately 543,000 troops in 1969; and

WHEREAS, on January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was signed, requiring 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; and

WHEREAS, on March 30, 1973, the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Vietnam was completed; and

WHEREAS, America’s military involvement in Vietnam would become unpopular, so that the men and women who survived, along with the 58,195 brave men and women who fought and died, were caught in a crossfire of public debate and denied the proper respect and gratitude they deserved for serving our country; and

WHEREAS, these noble veterans endured harsh conditions and inhumane treatment and should be remembered for their selfless service, having fulfilled their duty with the highest degree of valor and giving of themselves in the name of freedom and for the rights of all Americans; and

WHEREAS, their sacrifice has been integral to preserving our cherished way of life; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting that we extend our admiration and heartfelt gratitude to those servicemen and women who served on the battlefields of Vietnam and returned safely, to those who returned home scarred of body and mind, and to those who were killed or are still missing;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 6, Title 1 of the Delaware Code by adding a new section to read:

"Section 608. Vietnam Veterans Day.

March 30 shall be known as Vietnam Veterans Day and shall be commemorated in this State by appropriate ceremonies to honor those members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam or in the Vietnam area of operation.".