Title: Florida's Vietnam Veterans

Summary: Honors the service & sacrifice of Florida's Vietnam veterans.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, the Vietnam War took place in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1, 1955, until the United States Congress passed the Case-Church amendment in 1973, which prohibited the further use of American military forces in the area, and WHEREAS, the United States' involvement in Vietnam was to be of an advisory nature to the South Vietnamese 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, and WHEREAS, as conflict intensified and North Vietnamese communists prevailed, in 1961, newly elected President John F. Kennedy vowed to assume a direct role in the Vietnam War against South Vietnam's potential fall to communism, and WHEREAS, on August 7, 1964, the United States Congress overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which effectively handed over the war-making powers to President WHEREAS, in 1965, there were 184,000 United St ates troops in Vietnam, and by 1969, that number had grown to more than 500,000 troops, and WHEREAS, on January 27, 1973, the Paris Peace Accords was signed, which required the release of all United States prisoners of war held in North Vietnam and the wi thdrawal of all United States Armed Forces, and on March 30, 1973, the United States completed the withdrawal of combat troops, and WHEREAS, during the course of the war, more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded, and WHEREAS, because of the intense public opposition to the war that existed at the time, members of the United States Armed Forces returned home to an unprecedented lack of formal positive recognition of their hono rable service and the tremendous sacrifices they had made on behalf of their country, and WHEREAS, the lack of formal "Welcome Home" parades and other traditional celebrations that were common for United States soldiers returning from previous military en gagements, coupled with verbal and sometimes physical abuse, resulted in great disillusionment, undeserved indignity, and often great suffering and anguish among returning Vietnam veterans, and WHEREAS, it was not until 1982 that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in the District of Columbia to WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate that the House of Representatives encourage an dsupport efforts within the state to redress the lack of appropriate recognition and undeserved ingratitude that so many of these brave servicemen and servicewomen received upon returning home, and WHEREAS, Florida thanks and welcomes home those members of the United States Armed Forces who served during the Vietnam War, including more than 500,000 who are residents of this state, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida: That in recognition of the 42nd anniversary of the end of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War, state agencies and officials, counties, municipalities, community organizations, and residents are called upon and encouraged to publicly acknowledge and demonstrate the state's appreciation for the honorable service and sacrifice of its Vietnam veterans.