Our Shared Bond and the Journey Ahead

BY JOHN H. RILING III

It’s an honor to serve as your new National Vice President. First, I want to congratulate all the newly elected Officers and members of the Board of Directors. I look forward to working with them as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

I see my role as Vice President as being ready to help President Tom Burke in any way he needs. My job is to support him and to help move VVA forward. We are at a pivotal moment in our history, and I’m ready to do my part.

The message I took from the election results at the Convention was loud and clear: VVA cannot go away. As a generation of veterans, we are unique in our experiences, and in how we’ve been received by the country and how we’ve responded to that. We still say “Welcome Home” when we greet a fellow Vietnam War veteran, and we still mean it. That greeting matters. It speaks to our shared bond and the journey we’ve all taken.

VVA helped change the public perception of what it means to be a veteran. The organization stood up for Vietnam War veterans, and also for generations of veterans to come. That legacy cannot be lost. It must be carried forward.

Many questions remain about the future of this organization—about how we continue, in what form, and for how long. But I believe that for every question, there is an answer. And when we have those answers, we’ll make sure members hear them directly and clearly. We will not allow a repeat of the confusion that marked the debates at the Convention in New Orleans.

I’ve only been on the job for two days, but already I’m in awe of the staff working behind the scenes at our national office in Silver Spring. Their dedication keeps this organization running. Thanks to them, VVA continues to flourish, even during times of transition.

Let me also take a moment to share something about myself. I was born on June 2, 1950, in Detroit, and graduated from Riverview High School in 1968. That same year, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. After Basic Training at Fort Knox and AIT at Fort Dix, I served at Fort Hood, then in Germany, and in Vietnam from 1970-71 with the 18th Military Police Brigade, 66th MP Company.

After returning home, I worked at Chrysler’s Trenton Engine plant from 1972-79, and then at Wayne County Community College as UAW support staff until my retirement in 2010. I joined VVA in 1986 as a member of Chapter 267 in Dearborn. Today, I belong to Chapter 259 in Southgate, Michigan.

I’ve served in various VVA roles: Product Sales Committee chair, Michigan State Council Vice President, and since 2012, President of the MSC, the longest-serving person in that position. I also direct our Veteran Service Officer Program.

I’ve had the honor of serving on the National Board of Directors since 2019, representing Region 5. I’ve also served on several national committees, including Veterans Benefits (as Chair), Membership, Government Affairs, and Convention Planning.

I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family. I’m married to my beautiful wife, Debby, and together we have three grown children and nine grandchildren.

I believe in VVA. I believe in what we’ve accomplished. And I believe that, together, we will find the path forward.

Welcome Home.

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