To honor and commemorate veterans of the Vietnam War on the fifty-fifth anniversary of the first casualty of the war.
WHEREAS, United States Armed Forces served in Vietnam for a period of twenty years; and
WHEREAS, Over 8,744,000 served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War era; and
WHEREAS, Over 58,000 United States service members, and over 3,000 Ohioans, perished in the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, Over 300,000 United States service members were wounded in the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 600 United States service members were held as prisoners of war during the conflict; and
WHEREAS, Efforts to recover those missing in action continue; and
WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States, in the Defense Authorization Act of 2008, established a program to coordinate, support, and facilitate other programs and activities of the federal government, state, and local governments, and other persons and organizations in commemoration of the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, Veterans of the Vietnam War deserve continued recognition for their service and sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, the first Vietnam War casualty recognized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., occurred in 1956; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 129th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, mindful of the fifty-fifth anniversary of the first casualty in the Vietnam War, honor and commemorate all who served this country during the Vietnam War era, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Defense, the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, the Governor of Ohio, and the news media of Ohio.