Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Jim Frazier’s (D-Oakley) second piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 287, has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.
The bill requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs to annually compile a list of eligible Vietnam veterans to be added to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
AB 287 is sponsored by the California State Commanders Veterans Council and the Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council.
“I feel humbled at the opportunity to acknowledge and honor those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Assemblymember Frazier. “It is my hope that this bill will not only distinguish those who have not been recognized, but will also bring peace of mind to the families who have lost a loved one as a result of the Vietnam War.”
In 1983, Assemblymember Richard E. Floyd established the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in Sacramento to honor those who died during the Vietnam War. However, some veterans deserving of recognition on the memorial were not included at the time it was constructed; some were inadvertently left off the original list, but many others died after returning from service as a direct result of injuries and illness from their service in the Vietnam War.
AB 287 allows Vietnam veterans who were not included on the original memorial, but who have died as a direct result of injuries or illness suffered during the conflict, to be added to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The bill also allows the addition of veteran names that were inadvertently left off the list, and allows veterans service organizations and individuals to submit names for consideration of inclusion on the memorial, including those who have died as a result of exposure to the pesticide Agent Orange.
“California’s veterans thank Assemblymember Frazier for honoring our Vietnam veterans,” said Pete Conaty, Legislative Advocate for the California State Commanders Veterans Council and the Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council. “We know of many Vietnam veterans who have passed away as a result of illness or injuries received in Vietnam who deserve to be added to California’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial.”
To contact Assemblymember Jim Frazier please visit his website at http://www.asmdc.org/members/a11/ or call his District Offices at 707-399-3011 or 925-778-5790.
1 comment
We really need to do more in CA to honor our veterans. Both of my cars have the “Support Our Troops” stickers from the Veteran’s thrift store, I rarely if ever see any other cars in the Antioch area with similar stickers. These people gave a lot to fight for our freedom, we should not forget them.
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