[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR AND THE UNITED 
  STATES VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION PROGRAM HOSTED BY FIRST MOUNT ZION 
         BAPTIST CHURCH IN DUMFRIES ON SUNDAY, FEBRARY 28, 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 29, 2016

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 50th Anniversary 
of the Vietnam War and the United States Vietnam War Commemoration 
Program hosted by First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries on 
Sunday, February 28, 2016.
  In recognition of more than a decade of combat by land, air, and sea, 
Congress authorized the Secretary of Defense through the 2008 National 
Defense Authorization Act, to conduct a program to commemorate the 50th 
anniversary of the Vietnam War and to honor the more than 3 million 
service members and their families for their heroic service and 
sacrifice.
  Through the facilitation of programs and activities at the local, 
state, and federal levels of government in partnership with community-
based groups and organizations, more than 4,700 Vietnam War 
commemorative programs involving 9,514 partners have been scheduled 
throughout the nation. Each commemorative program is designed to meet 
or exceed the following objectives:
  To thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel 
who were held as prisoners of war (POW), or listed as missing in action 
(MIA), for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States 
and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.
  To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War 
and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and non-
govemmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed 
Forces.
  To pay tribute to the contributions made on the homefront by the 
people of the United States during the Vietnam War.
  To highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine 
related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War.
  To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of 
the United States during the Vietnam War.
  One of these programs is being hosted by First Mount Zion Baptist 
Church, located in the 11th District of Virginia. Approximately 130 
members of the church left their homes and their loved ones, risking 
their lives to serve our country during the 13-year span of the Vietnam 
War. I commend the leadership and the 4,300 current members of First 
Mount Zion Baptist Church for sponsoring a Vietnam War commemoration 
program to honor and thank these men and women and their families who 
sacrificed so much.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 50th 
Anniversary of the Vietnam War and the United States Commemoration 
Program at First Mount Zion Baptist Church. Today we reaffirm our 
commitment to always honor and celebrate the members of our Armed 
Services, especially those men and women who served with distinction 
and valiantly defended this nation in that long and arduous war.

                          ____________________