Never Again Shall One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families.

By the late 1970s, it was clear the established veterans groups had failed to brand a priority of the issues of concern to Vietnam veterans. As a result, a vacuum existed within the nation's legislative and public agenda. In Jan 1978, a small group of Vietnam veteran activists came to Washington, D.C., searching for allies to back up the creation of an advocacy organisation devoted exclusively to the needs of Vietnam veterans. VVA, initially known equally the Council of Vietnam Veterans, began its work. At the stop of its first year of operation in 1979, the full assets were $46,506.

Council members believed that if the nation's attention was focused on the specific needs of Vietnam veterans, a grateful nation would rapidly take remedial steps. However, despite persuasive arguments before Congress, which were amplified by highly supportive editorials printed in many leading American newspapers, they failed to win fifty-fifty a single legislative victory to bring new and needed programs into creation to help Vietnam veterans and their families.

It soon became credible that arguments couched only in terms of morality, disinterestedness, and justice were not enough. The U.Southward. Congress would respond to the legitimate needs of Vietnam veterans simply if the system professing to correspond them had political strength. In this case, strength translated into numbers which meant membership. By the summer of 1979, the Council of Vietnam Veterans had transformed into Vietnam Veterans of America, a veterans service organization made upwardly of, and devoted to, Vietnam veterans.

Hindered past the lack of substantial funding for development, the growth of membership was at first slow. The big breakthrough came when the American hostages were returned from Iran in Jan 1981. It was as if America went through an emotional catharsis that put the issues of the Vietnam era on the table for public give-and-take. The question was asked why parades for the hostages but not for Vietnam veterans? Many veterans complained about the lack of recognition and appreciation for past national service. Vietnam-era veterans wanted action in the course of programs that would place the latest generation of veterans on the aforementioned footing as veterans from previous wars.

Membership grew steadily, and for the first fourth dimension, VVA secured significant contributions. The combination of the public'south willingness to talk about the Vietnam State of war and the basic problems that it raised, equally well as the veterans themselves coming frontwards, was augmented past the nation'due south dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in November 1982. The week-long activities rekindled a sense of brotherhood among the veterans and a feeling that they shared an experience that was too significant to ignore.

In 1983, VVA took a pregnant step by founding Vietnam Veterans of America Legal Services (VVALS) to provide assistance to veterans seeking benefits and services from the authorities. By working nether the theory that a veteran representative should exist an abet for the veteran rather than simply a facilitator, VVALS apace established itself as the almost competent and aggressive legal-assistance program available to veterans. VVALS published the most comprehensive manual always developed for veteran service representatives, and in 1985, VVALS wrote the widely acclaimed Viet Vet Survival Guide. In the nineties, VVALS evolved into the current VVA Service Representative programme.

The adjacent several years saw VVA grow in size, stature, and prestige. VVA'due south professional membership services, veterans service, and advancement work gained the respect of Congress and the veterans community. In 1986, VVA's exemplary work was formally acknowledged by the granting of a congressional lease.

Today, Vietnam Veterans of America has a national membership of over 85,000, with over 650 chapters throughout the United states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Philippines. VVA country councils coordinate the activities of local chapters. VVA places great emphasis on coordinating its national activities and programs with the piece of work of its local capacity and country councils and is organized to ensure that victories gained at the national level are implemented locally.

VVA strives for private and group empowerment and locally originated activity to assist veterans and other needy members of their communities. These volunteer programs offer unique and innovative services to an ever-widening population. They include: support for homeless shelters; substance-abuse education projects and crime-prevention campaigns; sponsorship of youth sports, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters; and relief to other communities affected by natural disasters and chronic poverty.

VVA is governed past a national board of directors and by national officers — 24 women and men democratically elected by VVA delegates, are sent by their corresponding chapters to biennial conventions. VVA'due south essential purpose is to promote the educational, economic, wellness, cultural, and emotional readjustment of the Vietnam-era veteran to civilian life. This is washed by promoting legislation and public-awareness programs to eliminate bigotry suffered by Vietnam veterans.

VVA's authorities-relations efforts combine the 3 ingredients essential to success in the legislative arena — lobbying, mobilizing constituents, and working with the media — to accomplish its ambitious calendar. Legislative victories have included the establishment and extension of the Vet Center system, passage of laws providing for increased job-training and job-placement assistance for unemployed and underemployed Vietnam-era veterans, the first laws profitable veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure, and landmark legislation (i.e., Judicial Review of veterans claims) permitting veterans to challenge adverse VA decisions in court. All were enacted largely every bit a outcome of VVA's legislative efforts.

VVA helps to provide greater public awareness of the outstanding issues surrounding Vietnam-era veterans by disseminating written information on a continual basis through a weekly electronic publication.The VVA Veteran ®,   VVA's award-winning newspaper, is mailed to all VVA members and friends of the organization. In improver, cocky-assist guides on bug such as Amanuensis Orange  and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder  are published and made bachelor to anyone interested.

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Source: https://vva.org/who-we-are/history/

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