NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, DC – With the passing of the 25^th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, Congressman Lane Evans of Illinois, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, today hailed House passage of H.R. 3293, legislation he co-sponsored. The bill would place a plaque near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor those who died after the war as a result of their war-time service..

"The bill would authorize placing a 6 square foot to 18 square foot plaque on the 13-acre Vietnam Veterans Memorial site," Evans said. "No public funds would be used. The inscription, the design and the specific location are to be approved by the American Battle Monuments Commission, in consultation with the National Park Service, the Commission on Fine Arts, the National Planning Commission and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. This will give us significant participation by Vietnam veterans."

The Department of Defense adds a few names to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial each year, names of men and women determined to have been killed or missing in the Vietnam War. These names are engraved onto the polished black marble surface of the Wall, as most veterans call the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington’s most-visited public site.

"However," Evans explained, "we all know of veterans who died because of the war, but not in Vietnam. Their names have not, of course, been engraved on the Wall. This legislation would not change that. Sadly, there are too many who have died of service-related illness and injuries, be they Agent Orange exposure, post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) or other combat wounds. Finding their names would be an endless, unsuccessful task. Rather, this plaque, placed on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, would recognize all deceased Vietnam veterans."

The bill, introduced by Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA), would honor those whose deaths are not otherwise recognized by the monument. "Marking the passage of a quarter century since that tragic conflict ended," Evans said, "we are stopping to pay respect for the service and sacrifices made by so many. Some of our best young men and women went through unimaginable conditions, and gave examples of courage and heroism of the finest kind. Many families went through indescribable anguish with them after they came home."

Congressman Evans, who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, has led the struggle for health care and compensation of Vietnam veterans since arriving in Congress in 1983. He is known as a principal advocate for recognition of veterans’ needs stemming from Agent Orange exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and has championed the Vet Centers, benefits processing reform, and funding for veterans health care. Over 3,400,000 American military personnel served in Vietnam and Southeast Asia in support of military operations in Vietnam.

"In adopting this legislation, we are also honoring the sacrifices seriously-injured veterans and their families have made -- and continue to make -- because of the Vietnam War," Evans said. "Many, many Vietnam veterans fall ill and die before their time because of what they went through in that long, terrible war. Vietnam veterans disproportionately suffer from diseases associated with more advanced age such as arthritis, immunological and neurological disorders, muscular conditions and vascular disease. Be it cancer, hepatitis, diabetes, mental illness or suicide, these are tangible losses that the U.S. House of Representatives wishes to acknowledge."

Numerous veterans groups have endorsed the concept of this plaque, Evans said. They include Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Vietnam Women's Memorial, Inc., Rolling Thunder, the Society of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Korean War Veterans Association, the National Congress of American Indians, American Gold Star Mothers, the National Conference of Viet Nam Veteran Ministers, the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc., the Agent Orange Widows Awareness Coalition, Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County, Inc., and Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc.