T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION

Transcription

1 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION Conens: 1. Call o Acion / Tag Lines 2. Key Messages 3. Imporan Supporing Facs 4. Background 5. Quoable Quoes (POTUS, SD, former POW) 6. Clarificaion of Terminology 7. TABs 1. Call o Acion / Tag Line: Join he naion hank a Vienam veeran! (Addiional Commemoraive Parners only): Proud parner wih The U.S.A. Vienam War Commemoraion! 2. Key Messages: Across he naion, Americans are uniing o hank and honor Vienam veerans and heir families for heir service and sacrifice. (as of Mar 2017) Our Commemoraive Parners have helped America publicly hank and honor 1.4 million Vienam veerans and heir families during nearly 8,900 ceremonies. (as of Mar 2017) More han 10 housand local, sae and naional organizaions have become Commemoraive Parners, commied o assising he naion in hanking and honoring our 7 million living Vienam veerans and he 9 million families of hose who served. Visi vienamwar50h.com o discover how you can join he naion in his noble mission. 3. Imporan Supporing Facs: Commemoraion Objecives: The Commemoraion s primary objecive, as penned by Congress, is o hank and honor our Vienam veerans and heir families for heir service and sacrifice on behalf of he naion. Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

2 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION Congress also ariculaed four addiional objecives for he Commemoraion: o highligh he service of our Armed Forces and suppor organizaions during he war; pay ribue o warime conribuions a home by American ciizens; highligh echnology, science and medical advances made during he war; and recognize conribuions by our Allies. (TAB A) Presidenial Proclamaion: By presidenial proclamaion on May 25, 2012, he Commemoraion exends from Memorial Day 2012 hrough Veerans Day (TAB B) Vienam Veerans Day: On March 28, 2017, he presiden signed ino law The Vienam War Veerans Recogniion Ac of 2017 (S. 305), designaing every March 29 as Naional Vienam War Veerans Day. March 29, 1973 is he day he Miliary Assisance Command Vienam was deacivaed. Who We Honor: The Commemoraion recognizes all who served on acive duy in he U.S. Armed Forces a any ime during he period of November 1, 1955 o May 15, 1975, regardless of duy locaion; and heir families. We make no disincion beween veerans who served in-counry, in-heaer, or who were saioned elsewhere during he Vienam War period. All were called o serve and none could self-deermine where hey were saioned. Inclusive Daes: November 1, 1955 was seleced o coincide wih he official designaion of Miliary Assisance Advisory Group-Vienam (MAAG-V); May 15, 1975 marks he end of he bale precipiaed by he seizure of he SS Mayaguez. Addiional Background: U.S. involvemen in Vienam sared slowly wih an iniial deploymen of advisors in he early 1950s, grew incremenally hrough he Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

3 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION early 1960s and expanded wih he deploymen of full comba unis in July The las U.S. personnel were evacuaed from Vienam in April Commemoraive Parners: Commemoraive Parners are local, sae and naional organizaions, businesses, corporaions and governmenal agencies ha have commied o conducing wo commemoraive evens or aciviies annually over a 3-year period in ciies and owns all across America. Our parners publicly hank and honor Vienam veerans and heir families on behalf of he naion. (TAB C) Vienam Veeran Lapel Pin: As a lasing memeno of he naion's graiude, he Commemoraion designed a Vienam Veeran Lapel Pin for Commemoraive Parners o publicly presen o each veeran who served during he Vienam War period. Living Unied Saes veerans who served on acive duy in he U.S. Armed Forces a any ime during he period of November 1, 1955 o May 15, 1975, regardless of locaion, are eligible o receive one lapel pin. The symbolism aached o hese lapel pins is significan. The Vienam Veeran Lapel Pin Fac Shee explains each of he incorporaed elemens. (TAB D) Cerificae of Honor Program: The Commemoraion creaed a Cerificae of Honor Program o recognize four disinc subcaegories of Vienam veerans and heir families: (1) former, living American miliary POWs from he Vienam War as lised by he Deparmen of Defense; (2) immediae family members of American miliary personnel lised as missing and unaccouned for from he Vienam War by he Deparmen of Defense; (3) immediae family members of a veeran who is lised on he Vienam Veerans Memorial in Washingon,, D.C.; and (4) surviving spouses (a he ime of deah) of veerans who served in he U.S. Armed Forces a any ime during he period from November 1, 1955 o May 15, 1975, regardless of locaion. Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

4 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION The Cerificae of Honor Fac Shee provides program deails and explains how Commemoraive Parners can secure cerificaes and accompanying lapel pins for presenaion o eligible recipiens. (TAB E) Vienam Veeran Oral Hisories: The Commemoraion is collecing oral hisory inerviews on video of Vienam veerans and heir families. As we inerview Vienam veerans, we are able o leverage heir vas nework of fellow veerans o inerview and capure a wide breadh of experiences all Services, ranks, specialies and viewpoins ha reflec personal houghs and opinions abou all aspecs of he war. Evenually, his collecion of inerviews will be shared, unedied, wih he Library of Congress Veerans Hisory Projec. In he fuure, we plan o make hese inerviews available on he Commemoraion websie. Penagon Vienam War Exhibi (3rd Floor, A-Ring, corridors 3-2): In collaboraion wih he OSD Hisorical Office, OSD Graphics and he Services Hisory Offices, he Commemoraion developed and esablished a museum-qualiy exhibi in he Penagon. The Sociey for Hisory in he Federal Governmen recognized his exhibi wih is 2017 John Wesley Powell Prize for ousanding achievemen in he field of hisoric exhibis and inerpreive producs. The Vienam War Exhibi showcases he following: a. Timeline of significan evens (Sepember 1945-April 1975). b. Themaic represenaion of servicemember duies and miliary operaions. c. Tes panel from he Vienam Veerans Memorial in Washingon, DC, along wih samples of he 400 housand iems lef a The Wall hroughou he pas 3 decades by 4 million annual visiors. d. Crew cabs of wo Huey Helicopers represening a MEDEVAC and Slick. e. Ineracive map of he Republic of Vienam. f. Searchable video index of Medal of Honor recipiens of he Vienam War. g. Large four-panel video screen depicing he daily life of servicemembers. h. TV 68 monior depicing videos, news broadcass, commercials ha were seen by he home fron in Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

5 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION This exhibi can be oured by he public as par of he larger Penagon Tours program. For reservaions, please visi hps://penagonours.osd.mil/tours/. Commemoraion Leadership: Mr. Michael L. Rhodes, Direcor of Adminisraion in he Office of he Depuy Chief Managemen Officer is he Execuive Agen for The Unied Saes of America Vienam War Commemoraion. Reired Army Major General James (Jim) T. Jackson is he direcor of The Unied Saes of America Vienam War Commemoraion, and as such leads day-o-day operaions. (TAB F) 4. Commemoraion Background In 2007, he 110h Congress incorporaed language in H.R auhorizing he secreary of defense o conduc a program commemoraing he 50h anniversary of he Vienam War. H.R was signed ino law as he Naional Defense Auhorizaion Ac for Fiscal Year 2008 by Presiden George W. Bush on January 28, Secion 598 (Public Law ) of he 2008 NDAA specifically addresses Commemoraion aciviies. (TAB G) According o he Deparmen of Veerans Affairs, 9 million Americans served during he Vienam War period and approximaely 6.9 million are living as of March An inaugural ceremony was held a The Vienam Veerans Memorial ( The Wall ) in Washingon, D.C. on Memorial Day, May 28, Quoable Quoes From former Presiden Barack Obama s remarks a he 2012 Inaugural Ceremony: And one of he mos painful chapers in our hisory was Vienam -- mos paricularly, how we reaed our roops who served here. You were ofen blamed for a war you didn sar, when you should have been commended for serving your Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

6 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION counry wih valor. You were someimes blamed for misdeeds of a few, when he honorable service of he many should have been praised. You came home and someimes were denigraed, when you should have been celebraed. I was a naional shame, a disgrace ha should have never happened. And ha's why here oday we resolve ha i will no happen again. Reired U.S. Air Force Colonel Michael Brazelon s (four-ime Silver Sar recipien and former Vienam War POW) reflecions a he July 8, 2015 Congressional Ceremony on he Vienam Veeran Lapel Pin: I have had a number of medals pinned on me in my day and his is cerainly he highes ranking and he mos honors I have received for any pinning ceremony. Even hough i migh jus be a lapel pin o a lo of people, his is like a medal o he Vienam veerans. From former Secreary of Defense Ashon Carer s commens a he December 20, 2017 Penagon Vienam War Exhibiion Ribbon Cuing: hese exhibis have also sough o ensure we coninue o remember he lessons our miliary has learned along he way - many hard-won, some difficul o swallow And of course, our fine and faihful our guides will help walk - lierally and figuraively - some 100,000 visiors hrough i each year And hey'll be reminded of he lessons we learned along he way lessons on how our counry mus rea our warriors and our veerans, and he shame of how reurning Vienam veerans were reaed - lessons ha should coninue, mus coninue o guide us in our work. Reired U.S. Air Force Colonel Clarence R. Dick Anderegg s (Vienam veeran; reired Direcor of Air Force Hisory and Museums Policies and Programs, Headquarers Air Force; and Vienam War Commemoraion Federal Advisory Commiee member) observaions during a March 2017 our of he exhibi: "As Air Force Hisorian, I spen many years seeing hisorical displays around he world. This is simply he bes I've ever seen". Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

7 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION 6. Clarificaion of Terminology: A) "Vienam War period" or "period of he Vienam War" vs "Vienam era" The phrase "Vienam War period" is used o define he Commemoraion s inclusive daes as our naion recognizes all who served on acive duy in he U.S. Armed Forces a any ime during he period of November 1, 1955 o May 15, 1975, regardless of duy locaion; and heir families. No disincion is made beween veerans who served in-counry, in-heaer, or who were saioned elsewhere during he Vienam War period. November 1, 1955 was seleced o coincide wih he official designaion of Miliary Assisance Advisory Group-Vienam (MAAG-V); May 15, 1975 marks he end of he las official bale of he Vienam War, which was precipiaed by he seizure of he SS Mayaguez. We do NOT use "Vienam era" in recogniion of U.S. law (38 USC 101, Definiions, line 29), which for purposes of benefis defines he Vienam era as being (a) February 28, 1961 o May 7, 1975 (for veerans who served in he Republic of Vienam during ha period) or (b) Augus 5, 1964 o May 7, 1975 (for veerans who served ouside he Republic of Vienam during ha period). B) "Vienam veeran" vs "Vienam-era veeran" In associaion wih (A) above, he Commemoraion uses he erm "Vienam veeran" o describe hose who served on acive duy in he U.S. Armed Forces a any ime during he period of November 1, 1955 o May 15, 1975, regardless of duy locaion. We do NOT use he phrase "Vienam-era veeran." C) "Congressionally auhorized" vs "congressionally mandaed" The Commemoraion appropriaely uses "congressionally auhorized" as 598 (Public Law ) of he 2008 NDAA specifically addresses Commemoraion aciviies and saes "(a) COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

8 T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION AUTHORIZED. The Secreary of Defense may conduc a program o commemorae he 50h anniversary of he Vienam War." We do NOT use "congressionally mandaed" when referring o he esablishmen of he Commemoraion. D) "Vienam Veeran Lapel Pin" or "lapel pin" vs "pin" The Commemoraion uses he full erm "Vienam Veeran Lapel Pin" or is shorened moniker "lapel pin" o help liseners and/or readers undersand he weigh of imporance and symbolism represened in each elemen of his "lasing memeno of he naion's hanks" presened o all Vienam veerans. We AVOID he use of he simpler erm "pin" when referring o he Vienam Veeran Lapel Pin. E) "Official Seal vs Commemoraive Parner Seal vs Logo The Commemoraion has wo seals ha are proeced by law: one is our official seal, which is auhorized for use only by he Commemoraion on official maerial (e.g., websie, prined maerial). The Commemoraive Parner (CP) Seal is similar o, ye disincively differen from, he official seal and conains a banner under he seal ha reads "COMMEMORATIVE PARTNER." Our parners are auhorized o use he CP Seal; hey are NOT auhorized o use our official seal. We do NOT use he erm logo. Updaed: Mar 30, 2017 Page of 8

9 TAB A

10 euniedsaesofamerica Vienam WarCommemoraion JoinheNaion ThankaVienamVeeran! The2008NaionalDefenseAuhorizaionAc(PublicLaw )empowershe SecrearyofDefenseoconducaprogram onbehalfofhenaionhacommemoraeshe 50hanniversaryofheVienam War.Thislaw alsoauhorizeshesecrearyocoordinae, supporandfaciliaefederal,saeandlocalgovernmencommemoraiveprogramsand aciviies.tohaend, TheUniedSaesofAmericaVienam WarCommemoraion was formed. BypresidenialproclamaiononMay25,2012,heCommemoraionexendsfrom MemorialDay2012hroughVeeransDay2025.Congressariculaedfiveobjecivesfor hiscommemoraion: 1.TohankandhonorveeransofheVienam War,includingpersonnelwhowereheld asprisonersofwar,orlisedasmissinginacion,forheirserviceandsacrificeon behalfofheuniedsaesandohankandhonorhefamiliesofheseveerans. 2.TohighlighheserviceofheArmedForcesduringheVienam Warandhe conribuionsoffederalagenciesandgovernmenalandnon-governmenal organizaionshaservedwih,orinsupporof,hearmedforces. 3.Topayribueoheconribuionsmadeonhehomefronbyhepeopleofhe UniedSaesduringheVienam War. 4.Tohighlighheadvancesinechnology,science,andmedicinerelaedomiliary researchconducedduringhevienam War. 5.TorecognizeheconribuionsandsacrificesmadebyhealiesofheUniedSaes duringhevienam War. AccordingoheDeparmenofVeeransAfairs,9milionAmericansservedon aciveduyinheu.s.armedforcesduringheperiodofhevienam War;approximaely 7milionarelivingoday.Toreachheselargenumbers,heCommemoraionhasenlised heassisanceofmanyhousandsofcommemoraiveparnerorganizaionsahelocal, saeandnaionallevelsoconduchomeown-cenricevensandaciviieshahank andhonorvienam veeransandheirfamiliesinheirlocalcommuniies. Joinhenaion,becomeaCommemoraiveParnerandhankaVienam veeranoday! Applyonlineawww.vienamwar50h.com,wherevisiorscanfindmoreinformaionand enjoyphoos,videosandcompelingcommemoraionsories. Published:Augus2016

11 TAB B - 2 -

12

13 TAB C - 3 -

14 euni e ds a e sofame r i c avi e na mwa rcomme mor a i on Comme mor a i v epa r ne rpr og r a m

15 TAB D - 4 -

16 euni e ds a e so f Ame r i c avi e na mwa rco mme mo r a i o n Vi e na mve e r a nla pe lpi n ALas i ngme me n oo f hena i o n s ank s!

17 TAB E - 5 -

18 euni e ds a e so f Ame r i c avi e na mwa rco mme mo r a i o n Ce r ic a eofhonorpr ogr a m

19 TAB F - 6 -

20 Major General James T. Jackson U.S. Army (Reired) Direcor, The Unied Saes of America Vienam War Commemoraion Major General James T. Jackson, U.S. Army (Reired), serves as he Direcor of The Unied Saes of America Vienam War Commemoraion. This naional iniiaive was insiued by he U.S. Governmen under he auspices of he Deparmen of Defense o hank and honor Vienam veerans and heir families for heir service and sacrifice. MG Jackson and his saff have developed parnerships wih more han 10,000 local, sae and naional organizaions, businesses, corporaions and governmenal agencies, all commied o conducing wo commemoraive evens or aciviies annually over a 3-year period in ciies and owns all across America. These Commemoraive Parners are assising he naion in recognizing our 7 million living Vienam veerans and he 9 million families of hose who served from November 1, 1955 o May 15, MG Jackson s miliary career began in 1971, as an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduae from Ken Sae Universiy. Serving in he Army for 32 years, his assignmens ook him around he world, including posings wih he 82nd Airborne Division a For Bragg, Norh Carolina; he 2nd Ranger Baalion a For Lewis, Washingon; he Republic of Korea; and as an Army ROTC insrucor a he Universiy of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. MG Jackson also commanded a wide variey of U.S. Army unis, including he 1s Baalion 505h Parachue Infanry a For Bragg, Norh Carolina; he 3rd Ranger Baalion and 75h Ranger Regimen a For Benning, Georgia; and he U.S. Army s premier organizaion The Miliary Disric of Washingon. Upon reiremen from he U.S. Army, MG Jackson worked as a senior execuive in he public secor for wo differen companies and paricipaed in a hree-monh deploymen in Iraq o suppor he Coaliion Provisional Auhoriy. Afer serving for eigh years, he reired from he public secor.

21 TAB G - 7 -

22 PUBLIC LAW JAN. 28, STAT. 141 dkrause on GSDDPC29 wih PUBLIC LAWS Defense Auhorizaion Ac of 2005 (Public Law ; 118 Sa. 1989). (c) COVERED MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES DEFINED. In his secion, he erm covered member of he Armed Forces includes he following: (1) Any member of a regular componen of he Armed Forces who has served in Iraq or Afghanisan since Ocober (2) Any member of he Seleced Reserve of he Ready Reserve of he Armed Forces who served on acive duy in Iraq or Afghanisan since Ocober SEC PROGRAM TO COMMEMORATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR. (a) COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. The Secreary of Defense may conduc a program o commemorae he 50h anniversary of he Vienam War. In conducing he commemoraive program, he Secreary shall coordinae, suppor, and faciliae oher programs and aciviies of he Federal Governmen, Sae and local governmens, and oher persons and organizaions in commemoraion of he Vienam War. (b) SCHEDULE. The Secreary of Defense shall deermine he schedule of major evens and prioriy of effors for he commemoraive program in order o ensure achievemen of he objecives specified in subsecion (c). (c) COMMEMORATIVE ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES. The commemoraive program may include aciviies and ceremonies o achieve he following objecives: (1) To hank and honor veerans of he Vienam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or lised as missing in acion, for heir service and sacrifice on behalf of he Unied Saes and o hank and honor he families of hese veerans. (2) To highligh he service of he Armed Forces during he Vienam War and he conribuions of Federal agencies and governmenal and non-governmenal organizaions ha served wih, or in suppor of, he Armed Forces. (3) To pay ribue o he conribuions made on he home fron by he people of he Unied Saes during he Vienam War. (4) To highligh he advances in echnology, science, and medicine relaed o miliary research conduced during he Vienam War. (5) To recognize he conribuions and sacrifices made by he allies of he Unied Saes during he Vienam War. (d) NAMES AND SYMBOLS. The Secreary of Defense shall have he sole and exclusive righ o use he name The Unied Saes of America Vienam War Commemoraion, and such seal, emblems, and badges incorporaing such name as he Secreary may lawfully adop. Nohing in his secion may be consrued o supersede righs ha are esablished or vesed before he dae of he enacmen of his Ac. (e) COMMEMORATIVE FUND. (1) ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. If he Secreary esablishes he commemoraive program under subsecion (a), he Secreary he Treasury shall esablish in he Treasury of he Unied Saes an accoun o be known as he Deparmen 10 USC 113 noe. VerDae Aug :42 Mar 06, 2008 Jk PO Frm Fm 6580 Sfm 6581 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL APPS06 PsN: PUBL181

23 dkrause on GSDDPC29 wih PUBLIC LAWS 122 STAT. 142 PUBLIC LAW JAN. 28, 2008 Regulaions. of Defense Vienam War Commemoraion Fund (in his secion referred o as he Fund ). The Fund shall be adminisered by he Secreary of Defense. (2) USE OF FUND. The Secreary shall use he asses of he Fund only for he purpose of conducing he commemoraive program and shall prescribe such regulaions regarding he use of he Fund as he Secreary considers o be necessary. (3) DEPOSITS. There shall be deposied ino he Fund (A) amouns appropriaed o he Fund; (B) proceeds derived from he Secreary s use of he exclusive righs described in subsecion (d); (C) donaions made in suppor of he commemoraive program by privae and corporae donors; and (D) funds ransferred o he Fund by he Secreary from funds appropriaed for fiscal year 2008 and subsequen years for he Deparmen of Defense. (4) AVAILABILITY. Subjec o subsecion (g)(2), amouns deposied under paragraph (3) shall consiue he asses of he Fund and remain available unil expended. (5) BUDGET REQUEST. The Secreary of Defense may esablish a separae budge line for he commemoraive program. In he budge jusificaion maerials submied by he Secreary in suppor of he budge of he Presiden for any fiscal year for which he Secreary esablishes he separae budge line, he Secreary shall (A) idenify and explain any amouns expended for he commemoraive program in he fiscal year preceding he budge reques; (B) idenify and explain he amouns being requesed o suppor he commemoraive program for he fiscal year of he budge reques; and (C) presen a summary of he fiscal saus of he Fund. (f) ACCEPTANCE OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES. (1) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT SERVICES. Nowihsanding secion 1342 of ile 31, Unied Saes Code, he Secreary of Defense may accep from any person volunary services o be provided in furherance of he commemoraive program. The Secreary of Defense shall prohibi he soliciaion of any volunary services if he naure or circumsances of such soliciaion would compromise he inegriy or he appearance of inegriy of any program of he Deparmen of Defense or of any individual involved in he program. (2) REIMBURSEMENT OF INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. The Secreary may provide for reimbursemen of incidenal expenses incurred by a person providing volunary services under his subsecion. The Secreary shall deermine which expenses are eligible for reimbursemen under his paragraph. (g) FINAL REPORT. (1) REPORT REQUIRED. No laer han 60 days afer he end of he commemoraive program, if esablished by he Secreary of Defense under subsecion (a), he Secreary shall submi o Congress a repor conaining an accouning of (A) all of he funds deposied ino and expended from he Fund; (B) any oher funds expended under his secion; and (C) any unobligaed funds remaining in he Fund. VerDae Aug :42 Mar 06, 2008 Jk PO Frm Fm 6580 Sfm 6581 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL APPS06 PsN: PUBL181

24 PUBLIC LAW JAN. 28, STAT. 143 (2) TREATMENT OF UNOBLIGATED FUNDS. Unobligaed amouns remaining in he Fund as of he end of he commemoraive period specified in subsecion (b) shall be held in he Fund unil ransferred by law. (h) LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES. Toal expendiures from he Fund, using amouns appropriaed o he Deparmen of Defense, may no exceed $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 or for any subsequen fiscal year o carry ou he commemoraive program. (i) FUNDING. Of he amoun auhorized o be appropriaed pursuan o secion 301(5) for Defense-wide aciviies, $1,000,000 shall be available for deposi in he Fund for fiscal year 2008 if he Fund is esablished under subsecion (e). dkrause on GSDDPC29 wih PUBLIC LAWS VerDae Aug :42 Mar 06, 2008 Jk PO Frm Fm 6580 Sfm 6582 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL APPS06 PsN: PUBL181