Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future  

BY JACK McMANUS

On June 6, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, I had the distinct honor of participating in the dedication of the monumental Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It took a generation of Vietnam War veterans to recognize the sacrifices of their comrades when the country would not. In the process, they began to heal the nation from its most divisive modern war.

More than 1,000 Vietnam veterans memorials now stand in all 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico. Their significance should not be understated. It’s a far cry from the reception we received when we returned home. Especially today, when we are losing fellow veterans at a rate of 500 deaths a day, an important part of our work is to ensure that those brothers- and sisters-in-arms are remembered.

The shift in attitude of our fellow Americans, demonstrated so impressively in this $7 million project completed in a short five years, signals a hard-won acknowledgment that all servicemembers earned the recognition and gratitude that this memorial represents. Vietnam veterans memorials tend to create places of recognition, reflection, and “welcome home,” even as they reflect the anguish of war and its aftermath. They also signal our continuing relevance in American culture.

Our continuing relevance and legacy will be under discussion at the upcoming National Leadership Conference in Reno, and I am excited about seeing many of you there. One legacy goal that has come under discussion in the past several months in The Veteran is the question of mandatory National Service.

In order to explore that question thoroughly, VVA is working with an independent third-party market research company, Limelight Insights by Shugoll, to conduct a voluntary member survey. The survey will provide participants a balanced opportunity to address the issue, including opposition to National Service due to distrust of the government administering it fairly.

We will be conducting the survey in September. You will receive an email inviting you to participate, or you can scan a QR code that will be featured in the September/October issue that will direct you to the survey. Once available, the survey will take about five minutes to complete. All responses will be anonymous and kept completely confidential.

The primary focus of the survey will be the legacy question: “Does the VVA membership support the organization taking a public stance that advocates for federally legislated mandatory National Service?”

We strongly encourage all members to participate. Let your voice be heard. Your opinion matters. The outcome of this survey will determine VVA’s official position on this issue, and will influence our legacy.

I look forward to seeing you in Reno.

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