BY DENNIS HOWLAND, CHAIR

At the October meetings in Arlington, the Public Affairs Committee worked on a myriad of important topics. That included changing the criteria required for the Gold Star Family designation.

The current designation recognizes a family with a member who has been killed in combat. The proposed change would designate a Gold Star Family as one that loses a member for any reason on active duty. The Public Affairs Committee moved to have the Government Affairs Committee express VVA’s strong disagreement with the proposed change via a letter signed by VVA President Tom Burke.

The committee also discussed the efforts to designate a new Honor and Remember Flag to honor servicemembers who lost their lives that would be on the same level as the POW/MIA Flag, essentially making it an official flag to be flown on all federal government properties. We felt this would be an unacceptable change, as the current POW/MIA Flag represents Vietnam War POW/MIAs and by law is flown beneath the flag of the United States.

The PA Committee moved to have the Government Affairs Committee express the organization’s strong disagreement through a letter signed by Tom Burke.

We learned that the Oregon State Council has an American flag that flew over the U.S. embassy in Vietnam during Tet ‘68, as well as a letter from the ambassador at that time. As there are no official Vietnam War museums to receive these items for display, the PA Committee approve a motion, on behalf of the Oregon State Council, that “Vietnam Veterans of America consider adopting the creation of an officially designated National Vietnam War Museum as a legacy goal.” The motion was approved by the Board of Directors.

We discussed legislation introduced in the Massachusetts Legislature that would introduce a Massachusetts Orange Heart Medal for servicemembers or veterans who “suffered a service-connected disease, condition or injury related to the exposure to harmful toxins, herbicides, agents or materials including Agent Orange and burn pits….”

VVA member Chuck Odom has written a song and had it recorded in Nashville about Vietnam Veterans of America called “Oorah! Hoorah! And Semper Fi!” I would be happy to email it to anyone who sends me an email requesting the song. It covers our war, our organization and our brothers and sisters very well. My email is dennishowland1@outlook.com.

The committee discussed VVA Achievement and Commendation Medals and other awards and the importance of presenting them to members who work exceptionally hard to provide service to their communities.

VVA awards to youth organizations are also available. The Civil Air Patrol and Sea Cadet Medals have been added to the JROTC and Eagle Scout medals, and all qualify for entry into the annual Top Cadet essay contest. They also can be presented year-round. Medals are available from Mokie Porter at mproter@vva.org. The only deadline is that top State Council winners’ entries for the essay contest must be received no later than April 1 for judging by the Awards Committee.

Thanks to all of you for your service, and God bless.

BY SANDIE WILSON, CHAIR

The October VVA National Board of Directors meeting felt different. With newly elected officers and new Board members in attendance, as well as a discussion of VVA’s future as a recurring topic, the meeting felt like we were committed to navigating the direction our much-loved organization will take.

The D.C. area also felt different, as most of the members of Congress were not in town due to the government shutdown. That situation, of course, hampered the lobbying efforts of VVA’s Government Affairs staff. But having many senators and representatives in their home districts presents an opportunity for VVA members. All members can contact their representatives during the shutdown. If you do, make sure they know you are a constituent and you care about veterans issues, including toxic exposures.

If you would like evidence to provide to make your case, consider asking VVA’s Government Affairs Committee for a copy of our White Paper on the toxic exposure issue. You can find it online, as well, at https://vva.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Overlooked-Toxins-White-Paper.pdf.

During the meetings, the Agent Orange Committee presented three issues to the Board for approval, with an aim toward expanding the focus of Government Affairs into this area. The issues were: finding ways to encourage research into spouses of veterans impacted by toxic exposure; working for protective research and development to safeguard future servicemembers; and finding academic partnerships for toxic exposure research, particularly concerning descendants of toxic-exposed veterans. The Board of Directors approved all of the motions, and we look forward to working on them with the Government Affairs staff.

At the Convention in August, Dr. Rudy Johnson, the doctor who heads the VA’s Military Exposures Research Program and is working with us on the Ranch Hand data, said he would give us an update. But he was unable to do so because of the shutdown. Dr. Johnson has appointed Jack McManus and Linda Schwartz to an advisory committee to determine appropriate research and has a group of VA employees working on a research review. These are promising first steps.

For forty years, VVA members have advocated for veterans and families affected by exposure to Agent Orange and its chemical partners. We have made great strides and we intend to keep moving forward. Think about what you would like us to target, and reach out often.

BY KATE O'HARE-PALMER, CHAIR

The first Board of Directors meeting following the eventful August National Convention took place in October. Many of us took the opportunity to review what took place at the Convention and the resolutions that will guide VVA’s mission for the next two years.

As for the Women Veterans Committee, all of our resolutions passed. We clearly and gratefully have much to accomplish. As of this writing, because of the government shutdown, the official Veterans Day commemoration at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will consist of an informal gathering at the East Knoll. It will be especially important this year, with no organized remembrance in Washington, for VVA members in other parts of the country to hold hometown ceremonies and parades to honor veterans.

The Center for Women Veterans hosted its Women Veteran Trailblazers award ceremonies in September. Award winners included VVA members Linda Schwartz, Joan Furey, Diane Carlson Evans, and the late Lynda VanDevanter. The VA’s Center for Women Veterans and its Minority Affairs office have been shut down since October 29. Some in Congress and in the administration have said there is a shortfall in the budget and these offices will not be maintained; currently the Center for Women Veterans is mandated by Congress as part of US Title 38, Veterans Benefits.

The Service Members and Veterans Empowerment (SAVES) Act of 2025 (S.1245/H.R.2576), sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), includes more medical care and benefits for servicemembers who experienced sexual trauma or harassment while on active duty. Contact your members of Congress to make them aware of this bill and to help get more sponsors.

Our committee is starting a project that will recognize women veterans in VVA who stand out for their work in their states and communities. If you know of someone who fits this criteria, please contact us.

Women veteran suicide is another issue that needs more focus. The rates of suicide for women veterans is more than 100 percent higher than the civilian rate. If you or someone you know is in need of crisis support, call 988, and then press 1. You can also text 838255.

It has been brought to my attention that the signage for the Vietnam Womens Memorial has been missing for about six months. We will write a letter to ask that the signage is returned, and we encourage you all to write the National Park Service, as well.

Please reach out and tell your stories of service. Your story is unique. You deserve to be seen and heard.

BY DOMINICK YEZZO, CHAIR

VVA President Tom Burke received an award in August from Chapter 559 at the Grafton Correctional Facility in Ohio. With chapter president Dominick Humenik acting as host, a celebration took place in the facility’s gym, where perhaps two hundred family, friends, veteran inmates, and unarmed guards ate a meal prepared in the kitchen. Humenik is a smart, strong leader who is enduring a life sentence without complaint. The committee believes he deserves special attention from the Parole Review Board.

The celebration was also a show of our incarcerated colleagues’ skills and heart: we listened to an inmate band, and the guests toured the prison’s vegetable and flower gardens to see the pride that has made these beautiful and nourishing areas.

Following this celebration, I was a guest at the Board of Directors meeting of Chapter 732 at the Allen Correctional Facility in Lima, Ohio, along with Buckeye State Council President Richard Arthur and VVA members Dick Nolte and Paul Henry. In a show of loyalty that echoes VVA’s founding principle, “Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another,” they presented an award to Thomas Wanasak, who has served as Chapter 732 president for the past 20 years.

These two impressive chapters do more for their communities than many outside charitable groups, and they reflect the reasons that the VINJUS Committee must continue with our important work.

We offer hope and dignity to veterans and their families. We move Congress to act. We reshape the VA’s application of laws. We go into prisons where those most forgotten live. Stand ready, the best is yet to come.

By GRANT COATES, CHAIR

The latest figures show that 1,566 Americans are listed by the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency, as missing and unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War: Vietnam—1,232; Laos—279; Cambodia—48; Peoples Republic of China territorial waters—7. These numbers are subject to change due to investigations resulting in changed locations of loss.

Of the missing personnel still unaccounted for in the war, more than 400 are in the “non-recoverable” category. DPAA uses this category to designate missing personnel who can be verifiably listed as killed in action, but whose remains are regarded as non-recoverable. On rare occasions, new leads can arise that change a non-recoverable case to an “active status” one.

On September 22, VVA New York State President Ned Foote, General Council Dominick Yezzo, former Chapter 333 President Howard Goldin, and I attended an artifact exchange of items between U.S. and Vietnamese representatives in New York City.

The event was hosted by Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and a delegation of Vietnamese war veterans. ID cards were presented to family members of two missing Americans, and three other items were turned over to DPAA. Representatives of Mission POW/MIA also took part in the ceremonies.

DPAA updated its appropriation guidance during the government shutdown. Per DPAA, most recent appropriations expired “at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025. Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.”

VVA’s Veterans Initiative Program continues the mission! Your help is needed. Objects taken from the battlefields of Vietnam are more than souvenirs or war trophies. The items may help name and decide the location of war dead in Vietnam.

Maps, stories, after-action reports, pictures, and military items may have a story of interest to both American and Vietnamese researchers trying to recover remains from the battlefields.

Please contact the Veterans Initiative at:
Veterans Initiative Program
Vietnam Veterans of America
8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100
Silver Spring, MD 20910
vi@vva.org

By KEN ROSE, NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

VVA volunteers have seen their hours decrease from a year ago. The COVID-19 pandemic, CDC closures, funding issues, and the health of volunteers have all had an impact on the amount of volunteer time VVA members are able or allowed to do.

VVA has 224 regularly scheduled volunteers and 339 occasional, or irregularly, scheduled volunteers; the regularly scheduled volunteers are very active with the VAVS Committee and are involved in how we plan general volunteering. The occasional volunteers are not as involved in planning but have been consistently coming to VA Medical Centers and Clinics to help manage many jobs, including overseeing parties and special events.

We also logged 530 associate hours in addition to our regular and occasional volunteers. Between these three types of volunteer hours, we provided more than 31,000 hours of service to VAMCs and Clinics.

However, it should be noted that most chapters have not been able to provide new volunteers due to some of the issues listed above. Furthermore, massive reductions to staff and hiring freezes have had an impact on patient care, and that situation will continue as the government continues to perform mass firings of federal employees. Gaps in areas of maintenance, police presence, and support staff already have been felt, as increasing workloads have led to senior staff and doctors retiring.

Surely, any large organization is prone to fraud, waste, and abuse.

But Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins has not sought out reform but instead has zealously followed the administration’s plan for VA—directives from people who seem disconnected and uncaring about American veterans in need. It is disappointing to see Secretary Collins diverge from comments he made about helping veterans and instead enter into partisan arguments about the government shutdown. The mission of VAVS and of VA is to serve all veterans and provide the best care, not to win political conflicts.

It is important to remember, however, that VA hospitals, clinics, and benefits are pre-funded, which means that there is no reason to panic about benefits disappearing right away. Risks still exist, and many programs have been cut, so keep a calm and careful eye on your benefits so we can help fight for them.

In other news, volunteers who want to help at VA locations will have to assent to a new and heightened security badging program. This security intensification would only affect regularly scheduled volunteers and staff, who will have to undergo intense background checks, including fingerprinting. This new policy will be carried out at the local level, directed by National Background Investigation Services.

This process will likely be quite involved, as you will need to provide your place of birth, addresses of previous residences, and scholastic and employment records. These new checks are required of all federal employees and errors or incompletion are disqualifying for employment or volunteer status. I have sent a copy of this new policy to James McCormick, VVA’s Director of Government Affairs for review, and if there is action to be taken, we will keep you informed.

Feel free to contact me with any comments, questions, or issues at 215-527-3494 or krose@vva.org.

By GUMERSINDO GOMEZ, CHAIR

Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States in 1898, when military forces arrived at the south shores of the city of Guánica, Puerto Rico, to overthrow the then long-time Spanish colony during the Spanish-American War.

In 1917, Puerto Ricans became official citizens of the United States. During World War I, some 100,000 Puerto Ricans were drafted into the U.S. military, 14,000 were shipped to Europe to fight in the war, and thousands were sent to guard the Panama Canal and the Puerto Rican coastlines. The all-Puerto-Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, which took part in the war, was designated an Infantry Regiment in the U.S. Army in 1920. Despite having Caucasian officers, this was a moment of significant progress for Puerto Ricans.

The 65th deployed in World War II and in the Korean War, and many Puerto Ricans were drafted to serve in both conflicts. Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans, including many living in the States, were drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. And many Americans of Puerto Rican descent volunteered to join the military during the war.

More than 600 Puerto Ricans lost their lives in Vietnam and some 3,000 were wounded. Six Puerto Rican servicemembers received the Medal of Honor and thousands of others were awarded other medals of valor. Today, Puerto Rico is being used as a platform and staging area as a show of force in the Caribbean for more than 7,000 members of the U.S. armed forces. It is believed that one reason they are there is to be ready to support a possible invasion of Venezuela.

With all this in mind, the VVA Board of Directors and the Conference of State Council Presidents, during their meetings in October, decided that VVA will officially support the movement to make Puerto Rico our 51st state. The committee is excited to join the VVA effort to ask members of Congress to pass legislation to give Puerto Rico the status and respect it deserves.

By CHUCK ODOM, CHAIR

This is my first opportunity to address VVA membership as chair of the Finance Committee, and I thank you for your attention. It is particularly challenging to assume a role like this when the previous chair defined the position in such an outstanding way. Thank you, again, Dottie Barickman.

This time of year is very hectic as we begin to prepare the budget for FY2027. The VVA Cost Center Managers are examining the funds they will need to operate and are closely monitoring their 2026 budgets to see where they can cut a dollar here or there. Whether it is accounting for monetary requests or finding places to spend less, this is a difficult process, especially since VVA will have fewer funds than we had the previous fiscal year.

In addition to budgeting, the committee has oversight responsibility for VVA’s investment functions, working with the National Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. Together we recommend and authorize investment policy strategies. We also take responsibility for VVA’s audit function, which we tackle with our audit subcommittee and the firm currently auditing VVA’s accounts.

This may seem overwhelming, but we should have the budget wrapped up and presented to the Treasurer for review before it goes to the Board of Directors for final action in December.

The new Finance Committee is composed of myself, Dan Stenvold, John Margowski, Mark Goodell, Terry Courville, Liz Cannon, Charlie Hobbs, and Dennis Howland.

Until next time, have a happy holiday season.

By JACK G. DEVINE, CHAIR

When the VVA Legacy Task Force was created in October 2023, it represented the start of a major undertaking for Vietnam Veterans of America: the start of a process of archiving VVA’s history and working on ways to tell that story for future generations.

As the task force’s chair, I decided that a good first step would be to find out where and how to archive VVA national, state, and local chapter documents. This led to a meeting with the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington for guidance. That’s when I learned that finding a single repository would be more complicated than we had thought. NARA, it turns out, cannot archive VVA’s records because we are not a part of the federal government. So, other options would need to be pursued.

In addition to finding a proper place to store our records, we also have been pursuing another way to tell VVA’s story – by having a documentary film produced that would share VVA’s history and highlight our many accomplishments. Some filmmakers are interested in doing that, and the task force has begun gathering information to put out a Request for Proposals to make the documentary from filmmakers. VVA Veteran Arts Editor Marc Leepson, a task force member who also is the organization’s Historian, has worked with me to create a detailed VVA timeline that will be part of the RFP.

The RFP will—by necessity—include a requirement to help raise money for the project. While VVA has some funding to begin the process, we do not have enough to fund full production. Of course, VVA’s chapters and state councils—and other supporters—can also help such an effort.

The Legacy Force is also in the process of hiring an archivist who would come up with a detailed record-retention plan, which would be used at the national, state, and chapter levels.

At our October meeting, we took a look at our structure, which changed somewhat after the national Convention. We decided that an adviser from all nine VVA regions will be added to the task force to help with communications. Ultimately, then, the Legacy Task Force will consist of 14 members, two special advisers, and nine regional advisers. In a way, though, we consider every VVA member as an important part of the task force. Members’ engagement will help find the best ways to represent our shared history.

The task force is also involved in helping to decide VVA’s organizational future, once our membership numbers do not support all of our efforts on a national level. And we are in the process of developing goals for all of our efforts.

The scope of the task force’s work can be overwhelming. But the knowledge and experience of our members will enable us to achieve outcomes that will reflect VVA’s unprecedented accomplishments during the last 47 years.

By MOLLY McGAUGHEY, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

VVA’s Town Hall gatherings are yet another way that we honor our Founding Principle: “Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another.”

Town Halls enable veterans and their families and friends to address complicated subjects such as the health impacts of exposure to Agent Orange and other toxic substances, the treatment options for PTSD, and the ways to work on aging issues in a supportive setting. Often, representatives of VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration are on hand to help veterans apply for benefits, learn about specialized medical care, and stay state up-to-date with new regulations.

These events also cultivate a culture of community and peer support. By participating, families and friends often gain a clearer understanding of veteran-specific concerns and become more equipped to serve as advocates and caregivers at home.

Town Halls also celebrate resilience and achievement as success stories are told, new volunteer initiatives highlighted, and strategies for managing veterans’ healthcare issues are exchanged. As a geriatrician, I spend my professional life taking care of people over 65. Taking part in Town Halls has profoundly influenced my professional work. In 2019, I spoke at a Town Hall about geriatric services available to veterans in Western North Carolina. The experience underscored how effective collaboration between VVA and VA can be in addressing the needs of veterans and their families.

As we age, the focus of Town Halls shifts toward addressing long-term health needs such as mobility concern and planning for the future. These sessions provide information about advances in healthcare, resources related to aging in place, and options for end-of-life care and support.

The true impact of Town Halls lies in nurturing community and producing lasting solidarity. By engaging in these forums, attendees keep alive the spirit of service and compassion synonymous with VVA’s mission since the organization was formed in 1978. We have created a short video on how to organize an in-person Town Hall with resources listed as hyperlinks at the end of the video. Check it out at https://vvatownhalls.com.

By DICK SOUTHERN, CHAIR

Let’s take a moment to appreciate our progress in membership. With more than 93,000 members, VVA is gaining some 200 new members a month and losing about 100. The average number of chapter members is now 128, and we are in the process of starting two new chapters.

Our ambitious goal of 92,000 members in 2024 was met, thanks to the concerted efforts of our membership. We reached 93,000-plus members in 2025. Can VVA get to 94,000 members by February 28, 2026? Absolutely we can, and why not? As of the September closeout, we had 93,378 members. By the time you read this, we will be even closer to 94,000.

VVA’s founding principle is “Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another,” and this applies to us, as well as other generations.

So, in recruiting, remember that about a third of all American men aged 65 and above are Vietnam War veterans. That statistic underscores the importance of continuing outreach and recruitment efforts. Many prospective members are waiting for you to invite them to join Vietnam Veterans of America. Life membership is a bargain and the lowest price to join any veterans service organization anywhere in the world. Keep up your recruiting efforts.

As a membership organization, we have a profound impact on the lives of veterans and their families, helping them lead better lives by advocating for legislation that ensures benefits for veterans’ military service and making a difference in our communities through charitable work and volunteerism.

May you have a merry holiday season.

If you have any questions or need help with membership matters, please get in touch with me at dick.southern@gmail.com.

By BILL PATTON, CHAIR

Vietnam Veterans of America’s Homeless Veterans Committee convened recently to review national efforts and explore strategies in the long fight to end veteran homelessness. Our discussion reflected the progress we have made, and addressed the ongoing challenges faced by thousands of former servicemembers who still are left without stable housing.

Committee members shared updates on veterans’ homeless programs across the country, including outreach operations, food pantries, and meal-delivery. These efforts continue to provide immediate relief and connection to homeless veterans in larger cities and more rural communities. What was also evident is that local partnerships, including those with VSOs, churches, and civic groups, remain the most important element in ensuring these programs reach those who need them.

The committee also addressed regional disparities and their impact on our understanding of homelessness, as well as ways to get at root causes beneath those disparities.

This led to a discussion of wraparound support, which considers homelessness as an issue that has more to it than just housing, and one that might be solved with the inclusion of vocational training, trade-school partnerships, addiction recovery programs, and mental health services. “We have to treat the whole person,” one participant noted, emphasizing that long-term stability depends on comprehensive care and the restoration and encouragement of purpose, structure, and community.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Point-in-Time count, nearly 33,000 veterans experienced homelessness on a single night last year, a 10 percent decrease from 2023 and the lowest figure ever recorded. The VA reports that nearly 48,000 veterans were permanently housed during FY2024, with 96 percent maintaining stable housing. Yet veterans still represent roughly 5 percent of the adult homeless population and nearly half live with a disability or mental health challenge.

The committee discussed VVA’s proposal for the West LA VA Campus, which centers on a new initiative, the West LA Warrior Independence Center. Envisioned as a model for rehabilitation, the center would combine transitional and permanent housing with trade-school programs, mental health and addiction services, and job placement support. The goal is to move beyond crisis management and create a pathway to independence.

The committee reaffirmed VVA’s commitment to holistic, veteran-led solutions. With homelessness among veterans trending downward nationwide, members expressed optimism that sustained coordination and cooperation can help ensure no veteran is left homeless.

By GARY ESTERMYER, CHAIR

The Veterans Benefits Committee met on October 23, during the Board of Directors week in Arlington. Ten members and ten guests attended, including Eric Rivera from Veterans’ Voice of America and Colleen Shine from Sons and Daughters in Touch. As the new chair, I opened this meeting by discussing ground rules that included each member receiving a copy of the 2022 VVA Veterans Benefits Program Policy, the 2025 Veterans Benefits resolutions, and the VVA Representation Agreement.

We were introduced to Courtney Smith and Eliot Wilson, who serve as co-managers of VVA’s Veterans Benefits Department. I requested that the committee be kept in the loop as much as possible on the VVA National VB Department’s activities.

We also discussed the Memorandum of Understanding that VVA has with VetsVOA, including the ways in which the MOU helps with VA claims and with ClearTrust Claims, the law firm that works with veterans on asbestos exposure cases. Finally, we discussed our budget request for the grants VVA provides to state councils and chapters that have VVA VSO programs.

The following day we had another very productive meeting. During our roundtable, we discussed many issues, including claim sharks, quick submit problems, continuing C&P contract exam issues (VB 32 resolution), priority processing (age 85-plus), and the need to prioritize publishing our success stories.

Our dedicated committee members and all VVA service officers will continue to advocate for all veterans and their eligible family members for the benefits they have earned and are qualified to receive.

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