STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1272

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 175

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 175 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO PROCLAIM MARCH 30, 2011, AS "WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY","

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Governor to proclaim March 30, 2011, as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day".

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State of Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and seven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that in recognition of the sacrifice and hardship of our Vietnam veterans, the United States Senate on March 8, 2011, declared March 30 as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" to encourage Americans to give those veterans a long overdue, warm welcome home.  The courage and dedication of Hawaii's troops in the Vietnam War was no less than their fellow Hawaii military personnel in uniform in other conflicts, and is equally deserving of our honor, gratitude, and support.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language stating that by April 30, 1973, all Americans, including military and civilians, had departed from South Vietnam; and

     (2)  Amending the designated date and name of the observance to April 30, 2011, as "Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day" and changing the title of this measure accordingly.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 175, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 175, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair