Governor John R. Kasich...
Kasich signs legislation honoring Vietnam Veterans
Bill Designates March 30th as Vietnam Veterans’ Day in Ohio  
March 31, 2012 

COLUMBUS—Governor John R. Kasich today signed Am. Senate Bill 134 to designate March 30th as Vietnam Veterans’ Day in Ohio and ensure veterans of the Vietnam War have a day to be formally thanked for their service.  The date represents the first day in 1973, after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, when all U.S. combat troops were out of the country. 

“Everybody who served is, in one way or another, a hero. And those that put their lives on the line are the ones who wear the biggest crowns in the world yet to come,” said Kasich during today’s ceremony.  “The sacrifice, the teamwork, the courage is just remarkable. We do it for love of country. We do it for fellow human beings. And I’m really, really pleased to be able to sign this today.” 

Joining Gov. Kasich for the bill ceremony was Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Tom Moe, an Air Force combat pilot in Vietnam who spent over five years in a POW camp, as well as bill sponsor Senator Mark Wagoner (R-Ottawa Hills) and several veterans of the Vietnam War.  Rep. Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky) sponsored companion legislation in the House of Representatives.  

“I can’t tell you how happy, but absolutely humbled, I am today to see this bill signed to forever recognize March 30th in Ohio as Vietnam Veterans’ Day—a welcome home day,” said Director Moe.  “From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all of my brothers and sisters who served in Vietnam.  We can now join together in honor, to recognize what we did for our nation and remember those who didn’t come back.  Today is our day when we can finally say we are welcome back home.” 

Am. S.B. 134 passed unanimously out of both the Ohio Senate and the House of Representatives, and received broad support from various veterans groups across the state. 

In addition to signing Am. S.B. 134 which designates March 30 as Vietnam Veterans’ Day, today Gov. John R. Kasich signed the following pieces of legislation into law: 

Sub. S.B. 312 (Widener) modifies the Adult and Juvenile Correctional Facilities Bond Retirement Fund and makes capital reappropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2014 

Am. H.B. 389 (Hall, Okey) establishes requirements and procedures governing propagating and hunting captive deer and revises the law governing wild animal hunting preserves; and 

Am. Sub. S.B. 165 (Obhof) requires that specified historical documents and content be included in the state academic standards and in high school American history and government curricula.