New Jersey-2024-SJR150-Introduced

A Joint Resolution recognizing the Orange Heart Medal in New Jersey.

Whereas, The citizens of the United States have, throughout the years, chosen to serve this great nation, risking their lives and leaving their loved ones behind to honorably safeguard the freedoms and liberties guaranteed to all Americans and protect against those who threaten our way of life; and

Whereas, More than eight million citizens of this country honorably served during the Vietnam War, where Agent Orange was widely used by the United States Armed Forces as part of the herbicidal warfare program Operation Ranch Hand from 1961 until 1971; and

Whereas, Nearly 20 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed over the land from helicopters or low-flying aircraft, destroying vegetation and crops in order to deprive enemy guerrillas of food and cover for their activities and, in turn, exposing 2.6 million American soldiers to the herbicide and defoliant chemical; and

Whereas, Agent Orange is a dioxin and cancer-causing chemical that enters the body through physical contact or ingestion and moves into the human cell nucleus where it attacks the genes and causes a number of serious illnesses, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, ischemic heart disease, soft tissue sarcoma, amyloidosis, diabetes, and cancers of the throat, prostate, lung, and colon; and

Whereas, Agent Orange also causes genetic damage, and in some cases, children and grandchildren of veterans exposed to Agent Orange have been born with spina bifida and other birth defects; and

Whereas, Today, only about 800,000 Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange are alive, and approximately 390 deaths occur among them every day; and

Whereas, While fallen comrades are memorialized on The Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., veterans who are victims of Agent Orange are not recognized as fatalities of the Vietnam War; and

Whereas, In 2018, the Orange Heart Medal Project was founded as a privately funded 501(c)(3) organization to bring recognition for veterans who served in the Vietnam War and who were affected by exposure to Agent Orange; and

Whereas, Applications for Orange Heart Medals have been received by this organization from across the United States, Australia, Thailand, and Puerto Rico; and

Whereas, The Orange Heart Medal Project has provided approximately 4,000 Orange Heart Medals to veterans or their surviving spouses as of 2024; and

Whereas, On February 22, 2019, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed HJR0108 to recognize and honor victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War; and

Whereas, There are federal efforts to recognize the Orange Heart Medal and honor its recipients; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this State to recognize and honor the Orange Heart Medal and its recipients, as these veterans have made untold and innumerable sacrifices to preserve the liberties our nation enjoy today and that future generations will continue to cherish; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The State of New Jersey recognizes the Orange Heart Medal to honor and recognize veterans who served in the Vietnam War and who were affected by exposure to Agent Orange. The State of New Jersey also honors veterans who have received the medal for their courageous service and untold and innumerable sacrifices, which have helped to preserve the liberties our nation enjoys today and will continue to cherish for future generations.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Orange Heart Medal Foundation.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This resolution recognizes the Orange Heart Medal in the State of New Jersey.

Throughout the years, many citizens of the United States have risked their lives and left their loved ones behind to honorably safeguard the freedoms and liberties guaranteed to all Americans and to protect against those who threaten our way of life. More than eight million citizens of this country honorably served during the Vietnam War, during which time Agent Orange was widely used. Nearly 20 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed over the land from helicopters or low-flying aircraft, destroying vegetation and crops in order to deprive enemy guerrillas of food and cover for their activities and, in turn, exposing 2.6 million American soldiers to the herbicide and defoliant chemical. Agent Orange is a dioxin and cancer-causing chemical that enters the body through physical contact or ingestion and causes a number of serious illnesses to those exposed and has the potential to be passed down to children and grandchildren.

Today, only about 800,000 Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange are alive, and approximately 390 deaths occur among them every day. While fallen soldiers are memorialized on The Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., veterans who are victims of Agent Orange are not recognized as fatalities of the Vietnam War.

In 2018, the Orange Heart Medal Project was founded as a privately funded 501(c)(3) organization to bring recognition for veterans who served in the Vietnam War and who were affected by exposure to Agent Orange. Applications for Orange Heart Medals have been received by this organization from across the United States, Australia, Thailand, and Puerto Rico, and approximately 4,000 Orange Heart Medals have been provided to veterans or their surviving spouses to date.

Tennessee has passed legislation recognizing and honoring victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, and there have been federal efforts to do the same. It is necessary for this State to recognize and honor the Orange Heart Medal and veterans who earn the medal, as they have made untold and innumerable sacrifices to preserve the liberties our nation enjoy today and that future generations will continue to cherish.