Leading the Way for Future VSOs

BY JOHN H. RILING III

On Veterans Day, I represented VVA by placing a wreath at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. I was proud to have my wife, daughter, and my grandchildren there to watch the ceremony. It was a life experience that I never could have imagined.

In December, I traveled to Silver Spring for the VVA staff Christmas party and met the other officers there. I left early to return to Michigan in time for the Michigan State Council meeting. Tom Burke, myself, and our spouses attended the Chapter 154 Christmas party, which funds their annual Christmas meals and toys for children program.

December 11, I traveled to Chapter 649 in Ohio with Region 5 Director Gary Estermyer and met Tom Burke there for their chapter meeting. We answered questions about the future of VVA. The next day we went to Dublin, Ohio, for the Buckeye State Council executive board meeting. December 15th was the Michigan State Council VSO Christmas party attended by all of their Service Officers and administrative staff.

Keith King’s passing on January 1 was a sad loss for VVA and for all veterans of all ages. He was the second VVA Michigan State Council president and was active in all levels of the organization, including with Chapter 9 in Detroit. His obituary can be found in this online issue.

I have met many veterans who served on active duty after May 1975 and they feel abandoned because they didn’t serve in a war. There are 6 million Vietnam War veterans and 12 million veterans who served between 1975 and 9/11. This large population of veterans is not being served.

VVA should continue to lead the way for all veterans to be a strong voice together. We have to lead the way in taking care of our generation and we will lead the way in taking care of those who came after us. There is much still to be accomplished, but the groundwork is already here to create a new generation of veterans organizations, a merger of organizations that leads the way to fight for all veterans.

These organizations are under a tent. We have all been under that tent some time in our lives. That tent will be the foundation for all of us. VVA Forever.

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