Chapter 13 Oregon Laws 2011

AN ACT

SB 74

Relating to Vietnam veterans.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. The Legislative Assembly finds:

(1) In 2009, the United States Congress, by separate Senate and House Resolutions, declared that a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day should be established.

(2) The Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnam and the Vietcong in conflict with the United States and South Vietnam.

(3) 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.

(4) Members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961.

(5) 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 (P.L. 88-408), on August 7, 1964, which effectively handed over the war-making powers to President Lyndon Johnson until such time as “peace and security” had returned to Vietnam.

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

(7) 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.

(8) On March 30, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of combat troops.

(9) More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded.

(10) 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.

(11) The Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue among the people of the United States.

(12) 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.

(13) The establishment of a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day is an appropriate way to honor those members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

SECTION 2. March 30 of every year is designated as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to honor veterans of the Vietnam War.

Approved by the Governor March 30, 2011

Filed in the office of Secretary of State March 30, 2011

Effective date January 1, 2012

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