Philadelphia Liberty Bell Chapter 266 held its annual reading of the 648 names inscribed on the black marble Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial on October 26. After each name was read, a bell rang in honor of those honored on the Memorial. Later in the fall, chapter members distributed hand-knitted lap blankets to residents of the Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home in the city and to other veterans in the area. The chapter also contributed funds to the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center’s Food Pantry for veterans in need.

Chapter 1080 at the Union Correctional Institution in Florida held its annual walk-a-thon for charity in September, working with the facility’s Veterans Dorm Program. The funds raised went to the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch in Palatka, Florida, and the Body of Christ Assembly Church of God, which supports underprivileged children in Union County, Florida. A total of 89 men—both veterans and nonveterans—walked 3,006 laps around a field for 1,503 miles during the three-day event and raised just over $4,000. “The chapter wants to thank all who participated,” said Chapter President Larry Woodward. “This event would not have been done without everyone’s participation and support.”

Photo Courtesy Leonard Ignatowski/Chapter 227

The Dean K. Phillips Memorial Chapter 227 in Northern Virginia’s financial grants for 2024 totaled $39,700. That included more than $16,000 that went to veterans and their families for rent assistance, car repairs, and utility bills; some $13,500 for 105 veteran families in the VA Supportive Housing Program; and $3,000 to three needy wounded warrior families during the holiday season.

Members of New Bern, North Carolina, Chapter 886, working with Craven Community College and its Student Veterans Association, placed some 1,200 American flags—each of which had the name of a servicemember attached—at the annual Union Point Park Field of Flags event. “The first eight rows are veterans of the Vietnam War who were killed in action [from] Craven County and the surrounding counties,” said chapter member Rick Miller. Working “with the veterans of Craven Community College was a wonderful thing. We got it done efficiently, and it was just a beautiful thing to see.”

Photo Courtesy Lonnie Pizza/Chapter 980

Scott County, Iowa, Chapter 776 recently learned that it was in the top 15 percent of the more than 13,000 organizations that have participated in the official 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration, which began in 2012, and will end on March 29, National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The many events the chapter has held include an Agent Orange Town Hall meeting; a luncheon celebrating local South Vietnamese Army veterans and their families; a Gold Star Family luncheon; a Welcome Home parade, museum presentations, car shows, and several pinning ceremonies for veterans and surviving spouses.

Franklin, Tennessee, Chapter 1140’s busy 2024 In Service to America included hosting a luncheon at the Goldton Assisted Living Home in Columbia for 15 World War II and Korean War veterans and presenting Quilts of Valor to them; building a wheelchair ramp for a disabled veteran; making weekly visits to veterans at Goldton and The Reserve assisted living home in Spring Hill; a monthly visit to the Tennessee Veterans Home in Murfreesboro; and donating more than $60,000 to 20 organizations that help veterans, such as food pantries, home repair services, a Veterans Treatment Court, and other local veterans organizations.

Photo Courtesy Chapter 242

Members of Rochester, New York, Chapter 20 assembled on a float that was the centerpiece of the third annual Monroe County Veterans Day Parade on November 9. The parade ended at the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Gary Beikirch Park. Chapter Director Ken Allocco was among the honorary grand marshals. “When we first came home, we didn’t get the respect that we get now, and it means a lot to us that they are putting this on for us,” he said. “Whatever rank [we were] in the service, we all came out with the title of veteran,” added Chapter President Charles Klauck. The parade “was a chance to honor everybody who served. The average age of this group is 77, so it’s great to [have a] float here that they’ve built for us.”

Two VVA life members—Van T. Hutchins and Clarence E. Benefield of Pelham, Alabama, Chapter 416—were inducted into the Cullman County Veterans Hall of Fame in an October 22 ceremony.

Niagara County, New York, Chapter 268 took part in the annual yearly placement of a holiday wreath beside the veterans memorial on the Niagara Hospice campus in Lockport in December. Chapter member Gordie Bellinger led the ceremony. “We are not only here to honor those who took the time out of their lives to protect our freedoms, but also to remember the families and the friends who prayed for their safe return,” he said. “They may not have served in the military, but they all shared the light of freedom.”

Photo Courtesy Linda Booher/Chapter 954

During the 2024 holiday season Louisville, Kentucky, Chapter 454, through its Veterans Operation Christmas Program, donated new clothing and gift cards to 41 people in nine deserving local families, as well as 25 gifts for families of veterans at Louisville’s Robley Rex VA Medical Center. “Social workers at Robley Rex gave us the families’ first names and clothing sizes for the presents, so we could wrap the presents for the Christmas tree, and we also included a gift card for the family,” said chapter President Greg Bethards. “We have been doing this for well over ten years, raising money through the chapter’s very generous members and friends. This year we raised over $10,000.” The chapter also hosted a Christmas luncheon and party for the veterans at the Louisville Vet Center that included candy canes and gift card door prizes.

Photo Courtesy Ron Wroblewski/Chapter 939

On December 21, Boca Raton, Florida, Southern Nomad 25 Chapter 1125 and Ponce, Puerto Rico, Chapter 566 co-sponsored a Holiday party at the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Fort St. Lucie, Fla., in cooperation with Michelle Le Chen, the author of Children of Hope, a biography of her father, former ARVN Gen. Le Minh Dao. “I would like to thank both VVA chapters, along with Michelle Le Chen, for their generosity in providing gifts of sweatshirts, sweatpants, and socks to the patients at the Veterans’ Nursing Home,” said Chapter 1125 member Frank Caruso, “with a special thanks to the staff for their support. This is a true example of cooperation between VVA chapters and community.”

Photo Courtesy Chapter 1036

Many VVA chapters across the country offer merit-based higher educational scholarships that involve an application. The process typically begins early in the year with application deadlines in the early spring. Here are a few examples:

South Bay (California) Chapter 53 has been awarding scholarships to graduating seniors at local high schools since 1995. The program’s goal is twofold: to encourage and support continued education and to heighten awareness of Vietnam War veterans and the war’s legacy through the application process, which includes interviewing a Vietnam War veteran and submitting an essay about the veteran’s experiences and explaining what they learned about the war from the interview. The $1,200 scholarships go to college- and technical school-bound seniors. Entries must be reviewed before April 6. More info at https://vva53.org/scholarship-1

Cincinnati Chapter 10’s long-running program offers scholarships to local veterans and their family members and dependents. The scholarships go to high school seniors and students enrolled in colleges and technical or vocational schools. Applications will be available starting in February on the chapter’s website www.vva10.org Completed applications must be received by April 17. The application’s essay includes a requirement that the applicant include at least one paragraph discussing the importance of service to the nation.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, Chapter 1075’s scholarship program is designed for the children and grandchildren of veterans of the Vietnam War and other conflicts who live in El Paso and Teller Counties. $2,000 scholarships will go to two recipients who have been accepted into an accredited college or trade or technical school. The deadline to apply is March 31. More information at https://www.vva1075.org/copy-of-vet-services-downloads

2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010