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WHEREAS, the Vietnam War
was the longest conflict in American history, beginning in the 1950s and
ending with American troop evacuations in 1975; and
WHEREAS, among the
approximately 2.7 million American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines
who served in combat in Vietnam, over 58,000 were killed, 300,000 were
wounded, 75,000 were permanently disabled, and 1,300 are still unaccounted
for; and
WHEREAS, Virginia is proud
to be home to more than 600,000 veterans who have bravely contributed to
many American military efforts, including the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, in 1982, the
national monument to those who died in Vietnam known as "The
Wall," was inscribed with the names of all military personnel killed
during the Vietnam War and is regularly visited by more than 2.5 million
people each year; and
WHEREAS, the people of our
Commonwealth acknowledge the courage, sacrifice, honor and positive
contributions the many servicemen and women from our nation displayed
during the Vietnam War;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, James S.
Gilmore, III, do hereby recognize VIETNAM VETERANS in the COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our
citizens.
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