BY JUSTIN LATINI

We in New England are usually snow-bound during the first part of the year, so Region 1 chapters have continued to meet via Zoom when roads become too treacherous to meet in person. Our members are participating in fundraisers to ensure their chapters will continue to survive and help the charities they support.

Chapters are in the planning stages to hold their Vietnam Veterans Day ceremonies and to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in March and April. Please check with your local chapter for more information.

On June 14, Region 1 will hold its Regional Conference, which is open to all VVA chapters and at-large members in good standing. The conference will take place at the VFW in Rutland, Vermont. This meeting will also be available on Zoom, and a link will be sent out at a later date.

I encourage all members interested in coming to this conference to notify their chapter and state council presidents so we can have a sense of how many people will be attending. New Hampshire and Maine chapter presidents will notify me directly.

As part of the conference, we will discuss the resolutions that will be brought before the delegates at the VVA National Convention in August, as well as other issues facing our organization.

If you have a question about the conference or the March and April events, email me at JLatini@vva.org

Finally, in celebratory news, the Rhode Island State Council has received a VVA National certificate on their 35th anniversary and we wish them the best on more years to come.

BY TED WILKINSON

With winter in the rearview mirror, now is the time for chapters to start planning their 2025 events. Spring brings new opportunities to reconnect, reflect, and engage with our fellow Vietnam War veterans and our communities. One of the most meaningful ways to do so is by participating in events featuring the mobile Vietnam veteran memorial walls that will be traveling through Region 2 this spring and summer.

These powerful tributes bring the names of our fallen brothers and sisters to communities across the country, giving thousands of people the opportunity to pay their respects. This year, three traveling walls will make seven stops in Region 2.

I encourage every chapter to consider volunteering, attending, or spreading the word. Your participation—whether by providing an honor guard, helping visitors, or simply standing as a representative of VVA—can and will make a difference.

Here is the schedule of The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, The Wall That Heals, and The Moving Wall as they visit Region 2:

Let’s make 2025 a year of revitalization and reconnection by reaching out to fellow Vietnam War veterans, welcoming them home, and continuing our mission of service, remembrance, and brotherhood.

Looking forward to seeing many of you at these events.

BY ROSSIE M. NANCE, JR.

In the past few months, I have taken and accepted a less active role in my personal and VVA lives due to an injury I sustained that included major surgery and months of painful physical therapy. But my prognosis is good, and recovery has been forecast for late May. Still, what happened to me is an important reminder of what many VVA members face as we grow older.

Within Region 3, more than a few members have experienced back injuries, broken bones, sprains, torn muscles, and the like. It can be hard to slow down, especially when you feel young at heart, but take care of yourself and your fellow veterans as best you can.

Region 3 is thriving. While we have some small disagreements, all seven state presidents work together to come to working agreements on a consistent basis. The April VVA Silver Spring Board meeting is coming up, and being there will mean a lot to me. I may walk slower, lean to the left, and sit down a lot, but I truly miss my VVA brothers and sisters too much to miss it.

BY SPENCE DAVIS

Tax season is just around the corner. If you are getting money back this year, I suggest using it to attend the VVA National Convention in New Orleans. This is going to be an important Convention, not only for electing officers for the next two years, but also for determining the best direction for our organization as we continue to get older. We don’t want our legacy to be forgotten. So now is the time to start planning to attend and have your voice heard.

It is also time to get our fiscal year end reports completed. The deadline to submit them to VVA National is July 15. But don’t wait until the last minute. Do them now and be confident and ahead of the game.

Region 4 AVVA had the largest increase in membership growth in the nine Regions for the month of December, with 16 new members. The total membership in Florida AVVA is 899, leaping over California’s 890 and Michigan’s 850 to become AVVA’s top state. AVVA National now has 11,243 members, an increase of 61 since December.

VVA has 45 state councils and 543 chapters. Florida continues to grow and is gaining on New York for first place. The Villages, Florida, Chapter 1036, continues to lead with 1,008 members. Chapter 1067 in Alabama is 7th with 637 members. And Chapter 1048 in Daytona Beach is 14th with 457 members. Altogether, VVA has 92,429 VVA members, as we continue to increase membership numbers.

Gary Newman, the President of the Florida State Council, and his wife Mary Ann Newman, the Region 4 AVVA director, attended the annual Tet celebration in Jacksonville, Florida, hosted by the Vietnamese Association of Jacksonville. Tet is by far the biggest Vietnamese holiday celebration of the year.

Thanks to everyone for all the things you do to promote VVA and AVVA.

Feel free to email me at vvagsc@aol.com if you have any questions.

BY JOHN MARGOWSKI

It is time to start thinking about the National Convention coming up in the first week of August in New Orleans.

I encourage all Region 6 presidents to fill all their delegate slots, which will ensure strong representation at the Convention.

This will be a very important Convention, which will include major proposed Constitutional Amendments and Resolutions that would have an impact on every VVA member. By filling all the delegate slots, we ensure that our region’s members’ voices will be heard.

In June, all proposed Constitutional Amendments and proposed Resolutions and recommended action on current Resolutions will be mailed to state council presidents and chapter presidents for review. I hope every delegate will attend the committee hearings at the Convention and learn more about the proposed Amendments and Resolutions before they vote on them.

I suggest that Region 6 have a meeting prior to the Convention, possibly in June. If the Region 6 presidents would like to do so, please let me know soon so I can determine a date, place, and time for the meeting.

BY FRANCISCO F. IVARRA

As usual, Region 8 continues to effectively serve veterans and their families. Region 8 VVA and AVVA membership has increased in the last few months, and we continue to provide our fellow veterans with help ranging from VSO claims to building ramps to help disabled veterans with secure and easier access to their houses.

On January 14, I had the honor of joining members of Chapter 423 during their annual Welcome Home Veterans Gala in Bothell, Washington. I want to thank Chapter President Richard Mathison, the Gala Committee, and the membership for their kind invitation.

It was quite an impressive evening, with chapter Secretary Jim Cornwell serving as Master of Ceremonies. The event was well attended, and the food was delicious.

At the end of the program, I presented Mathison with a Certificate of Recognition for his leadership and all the great work the chapter has done in service to the veterans community.

We also had the opportunity to introduce the “Hammers” program. It’s made up of chapter members who volunteer their time to help veterans who need updated construction work in their houses.

Washington VVA will continue to support the plan for the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs proposed Tri-Cities State Cemetery. Two locations have been identified in the area and $500,000 has been proposed in the Governor’s budget. We are optimistic that the cemetery will open in three to five years.

On January 21, I traveled to Anchorage to attend the Alaska State Council meeting, which was held at the Vet Center. After sharing information with the members, I presented all of the state chapters with a Certificate of Appreciation for the outstanding work they continue to do. Alaska state President Craig Wade received a Certificate of Recognition from the state VVA membership for his leadership and service.

According to Oregon VVA member Dick Tobiason, and Project Manager of the National Medal of Honor Highway, in January Congress voted to unanimously designate 3.365 miles of U.S. Route 20 in Pennsylvania as the Medal of Honor Highway. President Biden had signed the national law on December 17, 2024.

Oregon State President Bill Duncan and his committee continue to try to have the VA Hospital reopen in Roseburg. They are again meeting with political decision makers, and I have no doubt that they will be successful.

April and May will be busy months as I plan to attend all the state council meetings in Region 8. I hope to see some of you at the VVA National Board meeting in Silver Spring in April and many more of you at the National Convention in New Orleans in August. Peace, good luck, and stay healthy.

BY DICK SOUTHERN

With some 11,000 members, it is challenging to stay in touch with all the Region 9 state councils, chapters, and members, but I make every effort to do so.

The 2025 VVA National Convention, coming in August, will be held at the Marriott in New Orleans. I am looking forward to a good turnout of Region 9 members. The Convention is where the delegates will direct the future of VVA through Resolutions and Amendments to our Constitution. It is also where we elect Officers and Board members.

Please give increased attention to submitting Finance and Election reports on time. Your state council and chapter delegates will not be seated at the Convention if the reports are not submitted on time.

I will continue to advocate for Region 9 veterans and their families as I visit state council and chapter meetings and attend National Board of Directors meetings and VVA national events. One of my goals for 2025 is for each state in Region 9 to increase the its number of chapters. This can be accomplished by actively recruiting new members. You can do it.

I pray that you all stay safe, stay well, and check on your buddies. Get back in the habit of attending meetings and renew efforts to recruit new members.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, I am available by e-mail at dick.southern@gmail.com

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