Harrisburg Chapter 542:
Progress in Pennsylvania

BY RICHARD BURTON

HHarrisburg, Pennsylvania, VVA Chapter 542 has had a busy year. Its membership has grown to more than two hundred, with AVVA membership exceeding eighty. The chapter has marched in nine parades, including the New York City Veterans Day Parade. In April VVA 542 held an Agent Orange town hall meeting; about 150 attended. Members visited the Lebanon, Pennsylvania, VA Medical Center four times, hosting bingo and holding a luncheon on July 4.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, the chapter ran the Michael McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tourney, which raised more than $4,000. The same weekend, chapter members marched in the Annville Parade, during which they distributed more than three thousand American flags.

Chapter 542 worked on another golf tournament, this time with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, that raised $8,500 for Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors.

For the third year, chapter members have helped run the Central Pennsylvania Vietnam Round Table, the only Vietnam War oral history project in the country in which Vietnam veterans attend monthly sessions to discuss their experiences before, during, and after the war.

In 2014 Chapter 542 donated $24,500 to support veterans and their activities, including the Dauphin County Veterans Court. VVA 542 members have visited schools in three districts to talk about their war experiences. The chapter has supported the March for the Fallen held in October at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.

For the 25th year, VVA and AVVA members have helped run the 1st Air Cavalry Division Field Cross Detail. In 2015 chapter members helped place the Field Cross more than twenty times, posted and presented the Colors, and presented the POW/MIA Ceremony many times.

In 2015 Chapter 542 added a Facebook page, in addition to its website and monthly newsletter. In the short time that the Facebook page has been up, it has generated more than 300,000 hits. “I could not be prouder of our VVA and AVVA members in how they take the initiative in community service,” said Chapter 542 President Allen Welch. Next year the chapter plans to run a hepatitis C town hall meeting.