SILVESTRI, Senior Judge.
Joseph J. Pontious (Pontious) appeals from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Elk County, dated May 1, 1990, which denied his motion for summary judgment and granted summary judgment in favor of the appellees, members of the Borough Council of the Borough of Johnson-burg (collectively, Borough Council). The trial court determined that Pontious’ military service from June 1974 through July 1977 does not bring him within the statutory definition of “soldier” in order to be entitled to preference for appointment to the police force of the Borough of Johnsonburg, pursuant to Chapter 71 of the Military Code (Code), 51 Pa.C.S. §§ 7101-7109, commonly known as the Veterans’ Preference Act.1
Pontious served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from June 1974 through July 1977 and was honorably discharged. On two occasions, in 1985 and in 1987, he applied for open positions in the Borough’s police department. After successfully completing the examination for appointment, his name was placed on the list of eligible candidates presented by the Johnsonburg Borough Civil [139]*139Service Commission to the Johnsonburg Borough Council. In both instances he was the only veteran on the list. The Borough Council passed over Pontious’ appointment on both occasions.
In March 1988 Pontious filed a complaint in mandamus against the Borough Council, seeking an order directing his appointment to the police force and for back pay and other damages. Pontious maintained that he was entitled to appointment as a police officer pursuant to Section 7104(b) of the Code and that he is a “soldier” as defined in Section 7101 of the Code, 51 Pa.C.S. § 7101. Section 7101 provides:
§ 7101. Soldier defined
As used in this chapter, “soldier” means a person who served in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, during any war or armed conflict in which the United States engaged, or who so served or hereafter serves in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, since July 27, 1953, including service in Vietnam, and who has an honorable discharge from such service.
Pontious and the Borough Council each filed motions for summary judgment. The trial court considered the question of whether Pontious is a soldier within the definition set forth in Section 7101 of the Code. In its consideration of this question, the trial court found that an essential question was whether Pontious’ military service occurred “during any war or armed conflict in which the United States engaged.” The trial court then reviewed the time period during which troops were removed from Vietnam and determined that the date upon which the Paris Peace Accords were signed, January 28, 1973, constitutes the official end of the armed conflict between the United States and Vietnam. Accordingly, since Pontious’ military service did not begin until June 1974, the trial court determined [140]*140that his service did not occur during a period of war or armed conflict and thus found that Pontious is not a soldier as defined by Section 7101 of the Code. The trial court denied Pontious’ motion for summary judgment and granted summary judgment in favor of the Borough Council.
Pontious maintains that the trial court committed error in dismissing his mandamus action and raises the following issues here: (1) whether any honorably discharged veteran who has served in the armed forces since July 27, 1953 is entitled to preference as set forth in the Veterans’ Preference Act; (2) whether the Veterans’ Preference Act mandates the appointment of a qualified veteran who is certified to the eligibility list for appointment to a municipal police force; and (3) if the Veterans’ Preference Act requires that a veteran serve during a period of war or armed conflict in order to qualify for benefits, whether the period of the Vietnam conflict extended to April or May of 1975.
Pontious argues that the determination of whether he is a soldier as defined in Section 7101 of the Code does not depend on whether or not he served during a period of war or armed conflict, as maintained by the Borough Council and the trial court. Pontious argues that any person who served since July 27, 1953, as he did, is entitled to veterans’ preference regardless of the question of whether the United States was engaged in a war or armed conflict at the time. We agree and reverse the trial court.
We are called upon to construe Section 7101 of the Code, mindful that the object of statutory interpretation and construction is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the legislature and to give effect to all of the statute’s provisions. Section 1921(a) of the Statutory Construction Act of 1972, 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(a). A statement of legislative intent appears in Section 7102(a) of the Code, 51 Pa.C.S. § 7102(a), which provides that the preference credits in civil service examinations are to be awarded to a soldier “for the discipline and experience represented by his military training and for the loyalty and public spirit demonstrated by his service for the preservation of his country.” Herskovitz v. [141]*141State Civil Service Commission, 111 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 427, 534 A.2d 160 (1987). Any person who serves in the armed forces, whether during a war or armed conflict or during peace-time, receives discipline and experience and demonstrates loyalty and public spirit. The history of Section 7101 reflects that the legislature intended, in the current statute, that veterans’ preference be given to anyone who served in the armed forces of the United States after July 27, 1953 and was honorably discharged, without regard to the dichotomy between war, armed conflict and peace.
Historically, the definition of soldier appeared first as Section 1 of the Act of May 22, 1945, P.L. 837, and read as follows:
The word “soldier” as used in this act, shall be construed to mean a person who served in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, during any war in which the United States engaged, and who has an honorable discharge from such service. (Emphasis added.)
Plain reading of this act reveals that a person must have served in the armed forces or in an affiliated women’s organization during a war in which the United States engaged and must have been honorably discharged in order to fit the definition of soldier. An amendment was enacted as Section 2 of the Act of December 7, 1955, P.L. 804, and resulted in the addition of the words “or armed conflict” after the phrase “during any war.” The act otherwise remained as written in 1945.
In 1966 this section was once again amended at Section 1 of the act of January 25, 1966, P.L. (1965) 1545, to read as follows:
The word “soldier” as used in this act, shall be construed to mean a person who served in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, during any war or armed conflict in which the United States engaged, or who so served or hereafter serves in the armed forces of the United [142]*142States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, since July 1, 1958, including service in Vietnam,
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SILVESTRI, Senior Judge.
Joseph J. Pontious (Pontious) appeals from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Elk County, dated May 1, 1990, which denied his motion for summary judgment and granted summary judgment in favor of the appellees, members of the Borough Council of the Borough of Johnson-burg (collectively, Borough Council). The trial court determined that Pontious’ military service from June 1974 through July 1977 does not bring him within the statutory definition of “soldier” in order to be entitled to preference for appointment to the police force of the Borough of Johnsonburg, pursuant to Chapter 71 of the Military Code (Code), 51 Pa.C.S. §§ 7101-7109, commonly known as the Veterans’ Preference Act.1
Pontious served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from June 1974 through July 1977 and was honorably discharged. On two occasions, in 1985 and in 1987, he applied for open positions in the Borough’s police department. After successfully completing the examination for appointment, his name was placed on the list of eligible candidates presented by the Johnsonburg Borough Civil [139]*139Service Commission to the Johnsonburg Borough Council. In both instances he was the only veteran on the list. The Borough Council passed over Pontious’ appointment on both occasions.
In March 1988 Pontious filed a complaint in mandamus against the Borough Council, seeking an order directing his appointment to the police force and for back pay and other damages. Pontious maintained that he was entitled to appointment as a police officer pursuant to Section 7104(b) of the Code and that he is a “soldier” as defined in Section 7101 of the Code, 51 Pa.C.S. § 7101. Section 7101 provides:
§ 7101. Soldier defined
As used in this chapter, “soldier” means a person who served in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, during any war or armed conflict in which the United States engaged, or who so served or hereafter serves in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, since July 27, 1953, including service in Vietnam, and who has an honorable discharge from such service.
Pontious and the Borough Council each filed motions for summary judgment. The trial court considered the question of whether Pontious is a soldier within the definition set forth in Section 7101 of the Code. In its consideration of this question, the trial court found that an essential question was whether Pontious’ military service occurred “during any war or armed conflict in which the United States engaged.” The trial court then reviewed the time period during which troops were removed from Vietnam and determined that the date upon which the Paris Peace Accords were signed, January 28, 1973, constitutes the official end of the armed conflict between the United States and Vietnam. Accordingly, since Pontious’ military service did not begin until June 1974, the trial court determined [140]*140that his service did not occur during a period of war or armed conflict and thus found that Pontious is not a soldier as defined by Section 7101 of the Code. The trial court denied Pontious’ motion for summary judgment and granted summary judgment in favor of the Borough Council.
Pontious maintains that the trial court committed error in dismissing his mandamus action and raises the following issues here: (1) whether any honorably discharged veteran who has served in the armed forces since July 27, 1953 is entitled to preference as set forth in the Veterans’ Preference Act; (2) whether the Veterans’ Preference Act mandates the appointment of a qualified veteran who is certified to the eligibility list for appointment to a municipal police force; and (3) if the Veterans’ Preference Act requires that a veteran serve during a period of war or armed conflict in order to qualify for benefits, whether the period of the Vietnam conflict extended to April or May of 1975.
Pontious argues that the determination of whether he is a soldier as defined in Section 7101 of the Code does not depend on whether or not he served during a period of war or armed conflict, as maintained by the Borough Council and the trial court. Pontious argues that any person who served since July 27, 1953, as he did, is entitled to veterans’ preference regardless of the question of whether the United States was engaged in a war or armed conflict at the time. We agree and reverse the trial court.
We are called upon to construe Section 7101 of the Code, mindful that the object of statutory interpretation and construction is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the legislature and to give effect to all of the statute’s provisions. Section 1921(a) of the Statutory Construction Act of 1972, 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(a). A statement of legislative intent appears in Section 7102(a) of the Code, 51 Pa.C.S. § 7102(a), which provides that the preference credits in civil service examinations are to be awarded to a soldier “for the discipline and experience represented by his military training and for the loyalty and public spirit demonstrated by his service for the preservation of his country.” Herskovitz v. [141]*141State Civil Service Commission, 111 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 427, 534 A.2d 160 (1987). Any person who serves in the armed forces, whether during a war or armed conflict or during peace-time, receives discipline and experience and demonstrates loyalty and public spirit. The history of Section 7101 reflects that the legislature intended, in the current statute, that veterans’ preference be given to anyone who served in the armed forces of the United States after July 27, 1953 and was honorably discharged, without regard to the dichotomy between war, armed conflict and peace.
Historically, the definition of soldier appeared first as Section 1 of the Act of May 22, 1945, P.L. 837, and read as follows:
The word “soldier” as used in this act, shall be construed to mean a person who served in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, during any war in which the United States engaged, and who has an honorable discharge from such service. (Emphasis added.)
Plain reading of this act reveals that a person must have served in the armed forces or in an affiliated women’s organization during a war in which the United States engaged and must have been honorably discharged in order to fit the definition of soldier. An amendment was enacted as Section 2 of the Act of December 7, 1955, P.L. 804, and resulted in the addition of the words “or armed conflict” after the phrase “during any war.” The act otherwise remained as written in 1945.
In 1966 this section was once again amended at Section 1 of the act of January 25, 1966, P.L. (1965) 1545, to read as follows:
The word “soldier” as used in this act, shall be construed to mean a person who served in the armed forces of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, during any war or armed conflict in which the United States engaged, or who so served or hereafter serves in the armed forces of the United [142]*142States, or in any women’s organization officially connected therewith, since July 1, 1958, including service in Vietnam, and who has an honorable discharge from such service. (Emphasis in original.)
The phrase “including service in Vietnam” was inserted into the definition and it remains in the current statute. There is nothing in the legislative history to. indicate why that phrase was inserted. The legislature, in its wisdom, unequivocally specifically states that service in Vietnam is included, as well as any service from July 1, 1958, thus foregoing any determination of the existence of a war or armed conflict after July 1, 1958.
In 1972, the definition was amended at Section 1 of the act of January 5, 1972, P.L. (1971) 662. The amendment consisted of changing the date in the phrase “or hereafter serves ... since July 1, 1958” to “since July 27,1953.”2 In all other respects, the statute remained as it was written in 1966.3
These amendments reflect the legislature’s intent to include not only persons who “served during any war or armed conflict ... and [have] an honorable discharge” but also any person who served in the armed forces or an affiliated women’s organization after July 27, 1953 and received an honorable discharge. We reject the Borough Council’s argument that “soldier” as defined is restricted to those who served only during war or armed conflict. That interpretation properly fits the statute as it was first enacted in 1945 and thereafter amended in 1955. However, the amendment of 1966 added the phrase beginning with the disjunctive “or,” which, together with the 1972 amendment, served to extend the definition of “soldier” to include not only those who served during war or armed conflict but also [143]*143those who served during peace-time after July 27, 1953.4 Since Pontious served in the Marine Corps from June 1974 to July 1977 and was honorably discharged, we find that he is a soldier for purposes consistent with the Veterans’ Preference Act, mandating his appointment to the police force of the Borough of Johnsonburg.5 See, Rasmussen v. Borough of Aspinwall, 103 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 109, 519 A.2d 1074 (1987), allocatur granted, 516 Pa. 637, 533 A.2d 94 (1987), appeal withdrawn, 3/9/88.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 11th day of April, 1991, the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Elk County, dated May 1, 1990, which granted summary judgment in favor of the Borough Council of Johnsonburg is reversed and the complaint of Joseph J. Pontious is reinstated. The case is remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Elk County for entry of summary judgment in favor of Joseph J. Pontious with direction to the Borough Council of Johnsonburg to appoint Pontious to a position as a police officer. Further, the trial court shall conduct a hearing to determine the amount of compensatory damages to be awarded to Pontious. Jurisdiction relinquished.