Assembly Resolution No. 1408

BY: M. of A. Palmesano

COMMENDING the Corning East-West High School Class
of 1968 Vietnam Veterans for their many good deeds
and great accomplishments on July 7, 2018

WHEREAS, It is custom of this Legislative Body that those who give
positive definition to the profile and disposition of the American Armed
Forces so profoundly strengthen our shared commitment to the exercise of
freedom; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
commend the Corning East-West High School Class of 1968 Vietnam Veterans
for their many good deeds and great accomplishments, to be celebrated at
its 50th Class Reunion on Saturday, July 7, 2018, at the Corning
Radisson Hotel; and

WHEREAS, During the 1960s and early 1970s, many young American men
enlisted or were drafted to fight in the Vietnam War; some chose to join
the reserves or the guard; in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was
dedicated in Washington, D.C., inscribed with the names of 57,939
members of the United States Armed Forces who had died or were missing
as a result of the war; over the following years, additions to the list
have brought the total past 58,200; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnam War era was a tumultuous period in United
States history; many returning soldiers suffered from Agent Orange
poisoning and PTSD, and their VA benefits were cut; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans from the Class of 1968 is a citizen
soldier group with conscripted citizens who honor today's troops by
enthusiastically welcoming them home from deployment and acknowledging
their meritorious service with special recognitions and praise; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York,
who have so honorably served this State and Nation, deserve a special
salute from this Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the men and women who served with dignity
and honor during this historic time period, let us remember them and
thank them for their service; and

WHEREAS, More than three million servicemen and women left their
families to bravely serve a world away in places such as la Drang to Khe
Sanh, from Hue to Saigon, and countless villages in between; they pushed
through jungles and rice paddies, heat and monsoons, fighting to protect
the ideals we hold dear as Americans; and

WHEREAS, Through more than a decade of combat, over air, land, and
sea, these proud Americans upheld the highest traditions of the United
States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was fought in the Republic of South Vietnam
from 1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnamese regular forces and Viet

Cong guerrilla forces in armed conflict with the United States Armed
Forces and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, The United States Armed Forces became involved in Vietnam
because the United States Government wanted to provide direct military
support to the Government of Vietnam to defend itself against the
growing Communist threat from North Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in
an advisory role to the Government of the Republic of South Vietnam in
1961; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, the United States Armed Forces ground combat units
arrived in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops
in Vietnam, and by 1969, a peak of approximately 543,000 troops were
reached; and

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, On March 29, 1973, the last 2,500 troops were withdrawn
from South Vietnam thus ending military involvement in the Vietnam War;
and

WHEREAS, In 1984, the New York State Vietnam Veterans Memorial was
dedicated in Albany to commemorate those members of the United States
Armed Forces who died or were declared missing-in-action in Vietnam, the
first state in the Nation to dedicate a Vietnam Memorial; and

WHEREAS, Beginning on Memorial Day 2012, the federal government
began a partnership with local governments, private organizations and
communities across the country to participate in the commemoration of
the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, a 13-year program to honor and
give thanks to a generation of proud Americans who saw our country
through one of the most challenging times; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature recognizes March 29th of
each year as Vietnam Veteran's Day in the State of New York; the chapter
designates March 29 as a day of commemoration to honor those individuals
who sacrificed for their country; and

WHEREAS, May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025, is known as the
Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, United States citizens are encouraged to fly the American
Flag on National Vietnam War Veterans Day every year on March 29th; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of this great State and Nation, benefactors of
the sacrifices and courageous acts of the men and women who served and
continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces, remain indebted and
are justly proud of the Vietnam veterans from the State of New York;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Corning East-West High School Class of 1968 Vietnam Veterans
for their many good deeds and great accomplishments; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pauses further to encourage the
people of the State of New York to observe Vietnam Veterans' Day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities that provide the appreciation
Vietnam War veterans deserve, but did not receive upon returning home
from the war; demonstrate the resolve that never again shall the Nation
disregard and denigrate a generation of veterans; to promote awareness
of the faithful service and contributions of such veterans during their
military service as well as to their communities since returning home;
to promote awareness of all the importance of entire communities
empowering veterans and the families of veterans to readjust to civilian
life after military service; and to promote opportunities for such
veterans to assist younger veterans returning for the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan in rehabilitation from wounds, both seen and unseen, and to
support the reintegration of younger veterans into civilian life; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Class of 1968 Veterans.