H*4909 Concurrent Resolution, By Erickson, Herbkersman and Patrick
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR AN EDUCATION CENTER AT THE VIETNAM VETERANS
 MEMORIAL AND TO CALL ON ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS TO SUPPORT THIS WORTHWHILE
 PROJECT TO HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION.

   02/28/12  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 8)
   02/28/12  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
                     (Senate Journal-page 6)

TO EXPRESS THE UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR AN EDUCATION CENTER AT THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL AND TO CALL ON ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS TO SUPPORT THIS WORTHWHILE PROJECT TO HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION.

Whereas, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as "The Wall," is the most visited memorial in our nation's capital; and

Whereas, engraved upon The Wall are the names of fifty-eight thousand two hundred seventy-two heroes, eight hundred ninety-six of whom are from the State of South Carolina, who valiantly gave their lives in service to our country during the Vietnam War; and

Whereas,    the dedication of The Wall thirty years ago began the process of remembrance, healing, and honoring those who served and died in the longest war in the history of the United States; and

Whereas,    both Houses of the United States Congress have unanimously authorized the building of a new underground Education Center across from The Wall; and

Whereas,    the Education Center at The Wall will tell the stories behind the names on The Wall and will draw attention to the sacrifices made by those who defend our freedom; and

Whereas,    the Education Center will display the images of the fifty-eight thousand two hundred seventy-two casualties memorialized on The Wall and of others who served in Vietnam and in other wars and will also display an artifact collection of more than one hundred fifty thousand items left at The Wall and related educational material onsite and online; and

Whereas, the Education Center will share and celebrate the core values of duty, loyalty, respect, service, honor, courage, and integrity that have marked the lives and sacrifice of the men and women in the Armed Forces of our nation; and

Whereas, the stories and values that will be showcased at the Education Center must be preserved and shared with future generations; and

Whereas, the Education Center will be a valuable adjunct to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to give life and meaning to the names on The Wall for visitors from across the nation and around the world; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly wholeheartedly endorse the goals of the Education Center at The Wall and support this worthy project to commemorate the sacrifices of those who serve, those who fall, and those who wait for them at home. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express their unqualified support for an Education Center at The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and call on all South Carolinians to support this worthwhile project to honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion.