On Fiftieth Anniversary Of The Vietnam War, Durbin Honors The Men And Women Who Served

In recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of U.S. ground forces entering Vietnam, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement honoring the service men and women who fought in the Vietnam War, and calling for renewed efforts to provide Vietnam veterans the medical care and support that they and their families need today.

"It is fitting, and it is overdue, for America to thank all of those who served and sacrificed so much in the Vietnam War. But we owe them more than speeches and ceremonies. As President Lincoln told us in his Second Inaugural Address, we have a solemn duty "to care for him who has borne the battle.'

"Last March -- nearly 50 years to the day after those first, young Marines landed in Da Nang -- Senator Baldwin and I introduced a bill to expand the program to U.S. veterans of all wars. Our bill is called the VA Family Caregivers Expansion and Improvement Act. They were young once, but today the average Vietnam veteran is retired. Many still struggle with old wounds gained in service to our nation. As our nation and this Congress thank them for their service 50 years ago, I hope that we can also work together in this Senate to provide Vietnam veterans the medical care and support that they and their families need today."

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