ACR 163 Assembly Concurrent Resolution

BILL NUMBER: ACR 163	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 9, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Cook, Pan, Butler, and John A. Pщrez

   (  Coauthor:   Assembly Member 
 Bonilla   Coauthors:   Assembly
Members   Atkins,   Bill Berryhill,  
Block,   Bonilla,   Donnelly,   Gordon,
  Halderman,   Hall,   Harkey,  
Logue,   Miller,   Nestande,   Perea,
  Solorio,   and Williams  )
    (   Coauthors:   Senators  
Berryhill,   Blakeslee,   Cannella,  
DeSaulnier,   Dutton,  Evans,   Fuller,
  Gaines,   Harman,   Lieu,  
Pavley,   Rubio,   Runner,   and Wolk
  ) 

                        JUNE 25, 2012

   Relative to the 25th anniversary of the California Vietnam
Veterans Memorial.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 163, as amended, Cook. California Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
   This measure would recognize the 25th anniversary of the
California Vietnam Veterans Memorial on November 23, 2013, and
encourage all Californians to take part in ceremonies, organized by
the California State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America along
with assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other
veterans service organizations. This measure would call upon the
state archives to display memorabilia in a special display 
created by the California State Military Museum and would also call
upon   on the Vietnam War, as provided, the California
State Military Museum to prepare and display exhibits on the Vietnam
war, as provided, and  the Department of Veterans Affairs to add
names to the memorial, as provided.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, California has the largest United States veterans'
population in the nation, comprising approximately 2 million armed
services veterans, which is 12.3 percent of the nationwide veteran
population of nearly 25 million veterans, who represent approximately
one-fifth of California's total population; and
   WHEREAS, More than 350,000 California veterans served in Vietnam,
resulting in 5,822 of them being killed or missing in action, which
comprised more than 10 percent of the nation's total, and 40,000 of
them being wounded; and
   WHEREAS, More California residents died in Vietnam than residents
of any other state and California veterans received more Medals of
Honor, Bronze Stars, and Purple Hearts than veterans of any other
state; and
   WHEREAS, The history of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial
began when Herman Woods, a double amputee who served in the 1st Air
Cavalry Division, United States Army (1970), returned to California
from the dedication of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in our
nation's capitol, Washington, D.C. in 1982; and
   WHEREAS, Assembly Member Richard Floyd subsequently held a rally
on the steps of the State Capitol, and over 800 people attended; he
was convinced that construction of the California Vietnam Veterans
Memorial was the will of California Vietnam veterans; and
   WHEREAS, Assembly Member Richard Floyd introduced Assembly Bill
650, which created the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Capitol Park, that was signed into law by Governor Deukmejian in
September 1983; and
   WHEREAS, The newly formed Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission was
comprised of nine veterans, eight of whom served in Vietnam,
including Linda J. McClenahan, Chairperson, Leo K. Thorsness, Medal
of Honor recipient and Vice Chairperson, and members Gregory C.
Green, Treasurer, Abel A. Cota, Secretary, B.T. Collins, Don A.
Drumheller, Jesse G. Ugalde, Senator Jim Ellis, Assembly Member
Richard E. Floyd, member and author of Assembly Bill 650, and Jerri
L. Dale, Executive Officer, which led to the creation of the
California Vietnam Veterans Memorial; and
   WHEREAS, The California Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located in
the north-east section of the Capitol Park grounds of the State
Capitol and is a standing tribute to the 5,822 servicemen and
servicewomen killed and missing in action; and
   WHEREAS, The California Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on
December 10, 1988, in Capitol Park; and there were thousands in
attendance at the dedication ceremonies where Brigadier General
George B. Price was the keynote speaker at the dedication; and the
dedication events were spread out over a two-day period, commencing
with "Buddy Search" registrations, unit reunions, open houses, and
concluding with the dedication ceremony in Capitol Park; and
   WHEREAS, The theme of the memorial reflects the overwhelming
majority of those who were killed in Vietnam, including 19-year old
infantry soldiers, their youth, camaraderie, the fatigue of the war,
and the American women who served, with the winning entry in the
opening design competition awarded to Michael Larson, a Marine Corps
Vietnam veteran, and Thomas Chytrowski; and
   WHEREAS, B.T. Collins and Stan Atkinson, who had traveled to
Vietnam together after the war, undertook the mission of raising the
necessary funds to complete the memorial; and
   WHEREAS, The California State Council of Vietnam Veterans of
America will be the organizer of this event as they were for the 2008
20th anniversary event; and
   WHEREAS, all California components of veterans service
organizations will be participating in this historic event; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby commemorates 2013 as
the 25-year anniversary of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
encourages all Californians to take part in the ceremonies
commemorating the 25-year anniversary, to be held on November 23,
2013, including opening ceremonies; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature urges that all steps necessary to
inform all Californians of the date of these ceremonies and locations
of these events be taken so that all Californians may have the
opportunity to remember and honor the service, efforts, and
sacrifices of Vietnam veterans, and to pay homage to those veterans
who are still alive; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Department of Veterans Affairs  and all
state agencies should assist in informing Californians and 
 shall  provide assistance to the organizers of the 25th
anniversary commemoration event  :   in
promoting and conducting this historic event;  and be it further

   Resolved, That the state archives display memorabilia  that
have been  left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial  when
  , since  the memorial was dedicated, 
which was   and that are currently  deposited in
the state archives, in a special display for 2013 on the Vietnam War
 created by the California State Military Museum  ;
and be it further 
   Resolved, That the California State Military Museum shall prepare
and display exhibits on the Vietnam War at the Department of Veterans
Affairs and at the State Capitol; and be it further 
    
   Resolved, That all state agencies shall promote the memorial event
and honor men and women who are Vietnam War veterans; and be it
further 

   Resolved, That the Department of Veterans Affairs should establish
a task force to compile a list of California servicemen and
servicewomen whose names may not be currently listed on the memorial
so that they can be added to the memorial; and be it further
   Resolved, That names should be added to the memorial of California
Vietnam veterans whose passing since their service in Vietnam can
reasonably be attributed to their wartime service, based upon
recommendations from interested parties; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the Governor to issue a
proclamation on November 23, 2013, commemorating the 25th anniversary
of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.