SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 592
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  join Texans across the state in commemorating the anniversary of
  the fall of Saigon; and
         WHEREAS, In December of 1974, elements of the People's
  Army of North Vietnam began to gain significant military
  victories against South Vietnamese forces in the Central
  Highlands of South Vietnam; by the end of March, 1975, advancing
  North Vietnamese troops had captured the strategically crucial
  cities of Hue and Da Nang;
         WHEREAS, American officials, concerned about the loss of
  those key cities and the vulnerability of the capital city of
  Saigon, began making plans for the evacuation of American
  personnel and friendly South Vietnamese refugees; the rapid
  advance of the North Vietnamese military and the significant
  damage they inflicted on runways at the Tan Son Nhat airport
  forced a change in American evacuation plans from the use of
  fixed-wing aircraft to the use of helicopters; and
         WHEREAS, In early April, more than 110,000 South
  Vietnamese refugees and 2,000 orphans had been evacuated from Tan
  Son Nhat; on the evening of April 29, the United States Defense
  Attaché's Office became a major departure point, with an
  additional 4,300 American personnel and Vietnamese allies
  evacuated; flights from Vietnam continued until 3:45 a.m. the
  following morning, but were halted when Ambassador Graham Martin
  received direct orders from President Gerald Ford to leave
  Saigon; and
         WHEREAS, The fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, marked the end
  of one of the longest wars in American history; the courage and
  sacrifice of embassy personnel who served until the end and of the
  United States Marines who protected them will continue to serve as
  an inspiration to future generations; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
  Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the men and women who were
  present at the fall of Saigon; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
  honor of this historic event.
  Lucio
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on April 10, 2017.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate