IV 

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; 


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•HRES 821 IH 

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 


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•HRES 821 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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1 (1) recognizes the valor and courage of the 

2 servicemembers who served with distinction and 

3 honor during the Vietnam war; 

4 (2) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 

5 Vietnam war; 

6 (3) commends the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 

7 and ‘‘The Wall That Heals’’ exhibit, including all 

8 those who transport the exhibit from community to 

9 community, and all those who visit the memorial and 

10 the exhibit to pay their respects and honor United 

11 States Armed Forces servicemembers who served in 

12 Vietnam; and 

13 (4) encourages communities in the United 

14 States to hold appropriate ceremonies and activities 

15 to honor the sacrifices and contributions of Vietnam 

16 war servicemembers. 

Æ 


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