SB398 (2012) Detail

(New Title) proclaiming March 30, 2013 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.


CHAPTER 222

SB 398 – FINAL VERSION

03/21/12 1151s

06/06/12 2398CofC

2012 SESSION

12-3058

01/04

SENATE BILL 398

AN ACT proclaiming March 30, 2013 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

SPONSORS: Sen. Lambert, Dist 13; Sen. Rausch, Dist 19; Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Rep. Winter, Merr 3

COMMITTEE: Public and Municipal Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill proclaims March 30, 2013 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to acknowledge and commemorate the military service of American men and women in Vietnam.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/21/12 1151s

06/06/12 2398CofC

12-3058

01/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT proclaiming March 30, 2013 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

222:1 Findings. The general court hereby finds and declares the following:

I. In 2007, the United States Congress, by separate Senate and House Resolutions, declared that a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day should be established.

II. The Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnam and Viet Cong in conflict with the United States and South Vietnam.

III. The United States became involved in Vietnam because policymakers in the United States believed that if South Vietnam fell to a communist government, communism would spread throughout the rest of southeast Asia.

IV. Members of the United States armed forces began serving in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961.

V. As a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on August 2 and August 4, 1964, the United States overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Public Law 99-408), on August 7, 1964, which effectively handed over the war-making powers to President Johnson until such time as “peace and security” had returned to Vietnam.

VI. In 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam, and by 1969 a peak of approximately 543,000 troops was reached.

VII. 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.

VIII. On March 30, 1973, the United States armed forces completed the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam.

IX. More than 58,000 members of the United States armed forces lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded.

X. In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in the District of Columbia to commemorate those members of the United States armed forces who died or were declared missing in action in Vietnam.

XI. The Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue among the people of the United States.

XII. Upon their return home, members of the United States armed forces who served bravely and faithfully for the United States during the Vietnam War were caught in the crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the United States in the war.

XIII. The establishment of a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day would be an appropriate way to honor those members of the United States armed forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

222:2 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. The governor shall proclaim March 30, 2013 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to acknowledge and commemorate the military service of American men and women in Vietnam. The day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.

222:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 13, 2012

Effective Date: August 12, 2012