WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975, and involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in conflict with United States Armed Forces and South Vietnam and on March 30, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of
combat troops from Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue among the people of the United States and members of the United States Armed Forces who served bravely and faithfully were, upon their return home, caught in the middle of public debate about the involvement of the
United States in the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, 1,123 members of the United States Armed Forces from Washington State were killed or declared missing in action in Vietnam, and hundreds were wounded; and
WHEREAS, more than 190,033 Vietnam-era veterans live in Washington State and our Nation stands stronger for their service, and
WHEREAS, the people of Washington realize that one of our most fundamental obligations is to show respect and dignity to all who have worn the uniform of the United States, and to honor their sacrifice by serving them as well as they served us; and
WHEREAS, Washington State passed legislation in 2013 proclaiming March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in our state;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jay Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim March 30, 2019, as
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
in Washington, and I encourage all people in our state to join me in this special observance.
Governor Jay Inslee