JUNEAU – The Alaska House Majority stands united in honoring the selfless service and sacrifices of United States military veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War with the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 8 (HCR 8). This resolution holds profound significance as it expresses gratitude for the courageous service of those veterans to the United States of America.
HCR 8 acknowledges the indomitable spirit of the United States, founded by individuals who were willing to sacrifice personal safety for the collective freedom we hold dear. Alaska, having the highest ratio of retired military veterans in the nation, recognizes all too well the sacrifices necessary to secure the freedoms and liberties that all Americans enjoy.
More than 2,700,000 United States citizens served honorably in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, with over 11,000,000 gallons of Agent Orange sprayed over land from 1961 to 1971 as part of Operation Ranch Hand. The resolution highlights the grave consequences of Agent Orange exposure, emphasizing the significant health risks and the toll it has taken on veterans and their families.
Representative Laddie Shaw (R-Anchorage), a Vietnam Veteran and former Navy Seal himself, states, “This resolution is a sincere acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by our fellow veterans who served in Vietnam, particularly those exposed to Agent Orange. We recognize their untold sacrifices and express our gratitude for their courage, heroism, and commitment to preserving the liberties we enjoy today and for future generations.”
The resolution goes further to recognize that while fallen comrades are memorialized on the wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are not officially recognized as fatalities of the conflict.
In passing HCR 8, the Alaska State House of Representatives honors and expresses gratitude for the Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange, underscoring their crucial role in preserving the liberties enjoyed by United States citizens today and for generations to come.