SPRINGFIELD — On the 50^th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and fall of Saigon that took place April 30, 1975, State Senator Mark Walker spoke on his experience serving in the Vietnam War during a press conference on Wednesday.

“After I served in the Vietnam War, my mother asked me why I did it,” said Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “I told her I fought for the Bill of Rights, for freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly. Those freedoms are what I fought for and what my friends fought for. We fought alongside the South Vietnamese who fought for the same freedoms we did, for their country.”

State Representatives Hoan Huynh, Stephanie Kifowit, Dan Swanson and Wayne Rosenthal joined Senator Walker at the press conference in the Illinois Capitol Building to express their appreciation to the over 2.7 million American service members and 800,000 South Vietnamese who sacrificed for their country.

“To the veterans who served, both American and South Vietnamese, we offer our deepest gratitude,” said Representative Huynh (D-Chicago). “You answered the call of duty, you fought with honor and you carried the heavy burden of war — often without the recognition or support you deserve.”

“I am moved by the fact that few were able to get out of their country and come to America,” said Walker. “I think the message we learn from that is that this is a land of opportunity. This is a land where we welcome refugees and people from war-torn areas. That has always been the statement of America and how we were founded.”

Senator Walker expresses his gratitude to all those who served alongside him.