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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 821 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 821

   Recognizing the importance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, its 
   replica which travels in ``The Wall That Heals'' exhibit, and the 
   distinguished servicemembers the memorials honor and commemorate.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 11, 2018

  Ms. Maxine Waters of California submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition 
to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Recognizing the importance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, its 
   replica which travels in ``The Wall That Heals'' exhibit, and the 
   distinguished servicemembers the memorials honor and commemorate.

Whereas military involvement in Vietnam began in November 1955 when the Military 
        Assistance and Advisory Group was established in the region;
Whereas the first United States casualty of the war, Technical Sergeant Richard 
        B. Fitzgibbon, Jr., lost his life in 1956;
Whereas United States Armed Forces ground combat units first arrived in Vietnam 
        in 1965, and by 1969, had reached a peak of approximately 543,000 
        troops;
Whereas on March 29, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed the 
        withdrawal of combat and support combat units from Vietnam;
Whereas the Vietnam war was divisive and controversial, and too often members of 
        the United States Armed Forces came home, after serving bravely and 
        honorably, to communities and a country conflicted about the war;
Whereas, in 1980, the Congress authorized the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to 
        build a national memorial to commemorate and honor the Vietnam war 
        servicemembers for their courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty and 
        country;
Whereas the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, was dedicated on 
        November 13, 1982, and is visited by more than 5.6 million people every 
        year, who have left more than 400,000 items of remembrance at the wall;
Whereas, on Veterans Day in 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund unveiled a 
        three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which was 
        designed to travel to communities across the country in order to allow 
        people nationwide to pay their respects to Vietnam war veterans;
Whereas the replica is 375 feet in length, 7.5 feet high at its tallest point, 
        and includes 140 panels, each engraved with the names of fallen United 
        States Armed Forces servicemembers who served during the Vietnam war;
Whereas the replica is one portion of ``The Wall That Heals'' exhibit, which 
        includes a mobile Education Center that displays information on the 
        history and legacy of the Vietnam war, Vietnam veterans, and the Vietnam 
        Veterans Memorial;
Whereas ``The Wall That Heals'' travels to approximately 39 locations each year, 
        and has visited over 600 communities across the country, allowing 
        millions of visitors to pay their respects to the men and women who 
        served during the Vietnam war;
Whereas over the course of the Vietnam war, approximately 3,403,000 troops were 
        deployed to Southeast Asia, and the total number of veterans who served 
        during the era was at least 8,744,000;
Whereas more than 58,000 United States Armed Forces members sacrificed their 
        lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded;
Whereas there are approximately 7,300,000 Vietnam era veterans today, and 
        approximately 9,000,000 families of those who served during the Vietnam 
        war;
Whereas the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam war began on 
        Memorial Day, 2012, and extends through Veterans Day, 2025;
Whereas the emotional and cultural impact of the Vietnam war still remains, but 
        is remedied by appreciating and recognizing those who answered the 
        country's call to serve; and
Whereas the Vietnam War Memorial and ``The Wall That Heals'' allow millions of 
        people to honor, acknowledge, and express appreciation for the 
        sacrifices of United States Armed Forces servicemembers and their 
        families: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the valor and courage of the servicemembers 
        who served with distinction and honor during the Vietnam war;
            (2) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam war;
            (3) commends the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and ``The Wall 
        That Heals'' exhibit, including all those who transport the 
        exhibit from community to community, and all those who visit 
        the memorial and the exhibit to pay their respects and honor 
        United States Armed Forces servicemembers who served in 
        Vietnam; and
            (4) encourages communities in the United States to hold 
        appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor the sacrifices 
        and contributions of Vietnam war servicemembers.
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