PRINTER'S NO. 2669
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 336
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MUNROE, KHAN, CABELL, TAKAC, MAJOR, WEBSTER,
T. JONES, PIELLI, WATRO, GUENST, DELLOSO, SOLOMON, KINSEY,
JAMES, DONAHUE, GIRAL, McNEILL, PROBST, STEHR, SCHEUREN,
NEILSON, MERSKI, SANCHEZ, OBERLANDER, COOK, R. MACKENZIE,
HILL-EVANS, BOROWSKI, GILLEN, HADDOCK, JOZWIAK, MENTZER,
CONKLIN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, MALAGARI, HEFFLEY, DALEY, BOYD,
BELLMON, SCHLOSSBERG, SHUSTERMAN, CERRATO, PICKETT, KENYATTA,
MARCELL, M. JONES, SCHEMEL, MERCURI, T. DAVIS, TWARDZIK,
HANBIDGE, RAPP, O'MARA AND E. NELSON, MARCH 6, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 6, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating March 29, 2024, as "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The Vietnam War occurred during the period between
4 1954 and 1975; and
5 WHEREAS, The last of United States combat troops departed
6 Vietnam on March 29, 1973; and
7 WHEREAS, Around the same time, Hanoi released the last of its
8 recorded prisoners of war, totaling 591 United States service
9 members; and
10 WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of
11 Veterans Affairs, 8,744,000 United States service members were
12 deployed worldwide during the duration of the war; and
13 WHEREAS, Records from the National Archives show that 58,220
14 United States military personnel were fatal casualties during
1 the duration of the war, including 3,147 individuals from
2 Pennsylvania; and
3 WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund notes that about
4 1,500 United States service members are still listed as missing
5 in action; and
6 WHEREAS, According to a Pew Research Center study, there are
7 more than 5 million veterans of the Vietnam War living today;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, Veterans of the Vietnam War are at risk of certain
10 health conditions related to their service, including diseases
11 stemming from exposure to Agent Orange, hearing problems, post-
12 traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other illnesses and
13 injuries caused by occupational hazards; and
14 WHEREAS, Agent Orange is a toxic chemical that was used
15 during the war to clear trees and plants and was found
16 responsible for the development of long-term health effects,
17 including cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism
18 and Parkinson's disease; and
19 WHEREAS, A proximity to explosives, gunfire, aircraft and
20 heavy machinery exposed service members to both noise and
21 vibration exposure, leaving them with permanent ear damage,
22 numbness and pains; and
23 WHEREAS, The National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study
24 reported that, as of 2013, a significant number of Vietnam
25 veterans are still suffering from PTSD derived from their
26 service in the war; and
27 WHEREAS, Additionally, Vietnam veterans with PTSD are more
28 likely to be diagnosed with co-occurring disorders like
29 depression or substance use disorders; and
30 WHEREAS, Since 2017, the United States of America Vietnam War
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1 Commemoration recognizes every March 29 to thank and honor
2 Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and
3 sacrifice; and
4 WHEREAS, The United States of America Vietnam War
5 Commemoration will continue through Veterans Day, November 11,
6 2025; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
8 29, 2024, as "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day" in Pennsylvania;
9 and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the
11 memories of all those who served, those who died, those missing
12 in action and those suffering the effects of their service,
13 including behavioral health issues, physical trauma and Agent
14 Orange exposure.
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