SCR 98, as introduced, Wyland. Gerald Ford Day.
This measure would recognize April 5 of each year as Gerald Ford Day, to honor the 38th President of the United States during the anniversary of Operation Babylift, which he authorized to evacuate orphans from South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, President Gerald R. Ford served as the 38th
2President of the United States and was a United States Navy World
3War II Veteran and Veterans of Foreign Wars Life Member; and
4WHEREAS, President Gerald R. Ford, in a profound
5humanitarian act, authorized a $2,000,000 fund and announced
6that the United States government would begin evacuating
7otherwise slaughtered Asian American orphans from Saigon on a
8series of 30 planned flights, resulting in more than 2,700 children
9adopted in the United States; and
10WHEREAS, Operation Babylift was the name given to the mass
11evacuation on April 3 through April 26, 1975, of orphans from
12South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War; and
13WHEREAS, On April 5, 1975, President Ford went the extra
14mile by flying from the Palm Springs Airport to the San Francisco
15International Airport to welcome the babies. One of the babies he
16carried off the evacuation aircraft, Nikki Logan, grew up and joined
P2 1the United States Marines to give back and to serve her country;
2and
3WHEREAS, Operation Babylift was one of the greatest
4humanitarian acts of the 20th century with a positive impact on
5some 4,000 babies’ lives worldwide; now, therefore, be it
6Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
7thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes April 5 of each
8year as Gerald Ford Day, in honor of his heroic stand to bring our
9children home; and be it further
10Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
11this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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