Vets Who Died in Peacetime Honored
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President Clinton signed a bill Thursday that will allow a plaque to be placed near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor veterans of the war who died during peacetime from service-related injuries.
The bill written by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) received unanimous support last month in the House and Senate.
“Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of men and women served with great honor for America and had their lives cut short because of it. They deserved to be recognized for their sacrifice,” Gallegly said in a written statement.
The plaque, to be paid for through private donations, will be between 6 and 18 square feet and honor veterans who died since the Vietnam War from such illnesses as those related to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange or post-traumatic stress syndrome.
The design will be decided upon by the American Battle Monument Commission, officials said, and it will not contain the names of those who died in service, as the war memorial does.
The idea for the plaque was supported by several groups, including the Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County.
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