2025 -- S 0960
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
THANKING AND HONORING AMERICA'S AND RHODE ISLAND'S VIETNAM WAR
VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE ON "VIETNAM VETERAN S DAY"
Introduced By: Senators Felag, Raptakis, Ciccone, Tikoian, Britto, and Lauria
Date Introduced: April 08, 2025
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
WHEREAS, Our Nation owes an unmeasurable debt to all those individuals who have 1
served in the United States Armed Forces. Whether volunteering so another would not have to go 2
or answering the call when drafted, our country's Vietnam vets, out of a profound and selfless 3
sense of duty, shouldered the burden of long periods away from home, difficult and frequently 4
dangerous training and deployments, and inherent physical, mental, and emotional risks. Such is 5
the debt we owe to Vietnam War Veterans; and 6
WHEREAS, More than 2.7 million United States Armed Forces personnel served in 7
Vietnam from 1965 to 1975, with approximately 21,000 members from Rhode Island; and 8
WHEREAS, Over 58,000 members of the Armed Forces lost their lives in that conflict, 9
and more than 304,000 were wounded. The casualties included more than 200 service members 10
who called Rhode Island their home; and 11
WHEREAS, Vietnam Veterans were not accorded the same welcome home as those who 12
served in other wars. Rather, those who had answered the call to serve the United States in 13
Vietnam were often treated with animosity by their fellow countrymen upon arriving home; and 14
WHEREAS, Though the Vietnam War was unpopular at the time and continues to have a 15
complex and divisive history today, the brave American citizens who left their homes to serve in 16
Vietnam should be fully supported and honored by a grateful nation; and 17
WHEREAS, Remembering the service of Vietnam Veterans honors their bravery and 18
ensures that they are not forgotten. We remain deeply appreciative of their sacrifice and 19
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steadfastly supportive of them and their families who still often grapple with the visible and 1
unseen scars of war; and 2
WHEREAS, In 2017, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed Rhode Island General 3
Law ยง 25-2-20, which sets aside the twenty-ninth day of March annually to be known as 4
"Vietnam Veterans Day"; now, therefore, be it 5
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby thanks and honors all 6
of America's and Rhode Island's Vietnam War veterans, and asks that all Rhode Island residents 7
remember their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation on "Vietnam Veterans Day" on 8
March 29, 2025; and be it further 9
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 10
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the 11
State of Rhode Island, and Major General Christopher Callahan, Adjutant General of the State of 12
Rhode Island. 13
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