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WHEREAS, the VFW has been serving Veterans since 1899 making sure that veterans are never taken for granted and providing the assistance needed when he or she does not know where to turn; and,
WHEREAS, since 1936, the VFW has been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome; and,
WHEREAS, in 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and has fought for improving VA medical centers for services for women veterans; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, in 2005, the VFW became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November, 2010; and,
WHEREAS, every year, more than 11 million hours of volunteerism in the community has been given by the VFW and its auxiliary and $2.5 million has been given in college scholarships and savings bonds to students; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend and honor Veterans who have served in any capacity to protect the rights of the citizens of the United States of America; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Sunday, May 29, 2011, to be "VFW Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.