#Memorial Day is often seen as an excuse for a #cookout, but it is an occasion to #honor those who died in active military service. To honor the legacy of a loved one who died in service, intentionally remember that person by browsing old photographs, reading a letter they wrote or sharing their story, says Modern Heirloom Books. “If they are buried in a military cemetery, consider visiting their grave to leave flowers or a flag. You might also take a moment of silence or raise a toast in their honor during a family gathering. Small acts of #remembrance help keep their legacy alive.” #MemorialDay
Tag: Vietnam Veterans of America
Memorial Day Is a Testament to Service
Memorial Day — celebrated this year on Monday, May 25 — is a holiday dedicated to #honoring U.S. military personnel who died in service. Observe it with a moment of silence during the National Moment of #Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time, a visit to a local #memorial or cemetery, or by learning about the fallen at the National Archives. You may wish to #donate to a military or veteran service organization such as the Vietnam Veterans of America directly or through ClothingDonations.org. But don’t wish people a “Happy” Memorial Day since it is meant to be a solemn occasion. #MemorialDay
Observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day
National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on Sept. 19 this year, honoring service members who were prisoners of war (POWs) and those who are still missing in action (MIA). Its eternal message? That POWs and MIAs will not be forgotten.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day became an official observance under President Jimmy Carter in 1979, with the families of more than 2,500 Vietnam POW/MIAs pushing for full accountability. While associated with those who served in Vietnam, the day isn’t limited to their recognition.
More than 130,000 U.S. service members were held as POWs in World War II, and 14,072 of them died. Some 7,000 were imprisoned in the Korean War, and 2,701 of them died. And 725 service members were imprisoned in Vietnam; 64 died.
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 83,000 Americans remain missing in action, including more than 73,000 from World War II and more than 7,000 from the Korean War. The number of MIAs in Vietnam is now 1,571.
The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world that prioritizes recovery and identification of its service members. Efforts are ongoing to identify MIAs — and each year, more men and women are identified from their remains and interred with military honors.
The most recent to be identified is U.S. Army Master Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, who was killed when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam’s A Shau Valley. U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas E. Scheurich was identified in April, 57 years after his A-6A Intruder was shot down.
The Vietnam Veterans of America’s Veterans Initiative Program helps identify remains, using clues from maps, stories, after-action reports, pictures and personal items. It’s just one of the initiatives funded in part by generous donations to ClothingDonations.org.
You can honor POW/MIAs in multiple ways this week. Fly a POW/MIA flag below or adjacent to your U.S. flag. Take a moment of silence when you see it flown. Wear a POW/MIA bracelet. Attend a local ceremony featuring the POW/MIA Missing Man Table. And support veterans organizations dedicated to recovering the missing.
Your Donations Fuel Veteran Advocacy
This week, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is hosting its National Convention in New Orleans, La. Representatives from chapters across the country will join to listen, learn about the issues facing veterans and strategize the next steps for the organization.
Like conventions in other industries and nonprofits (you may have been to one yourself), VVA’s will feature committee meetings, guest speakers, opportunities to break bread and socialize, and more. The difference with VVA? Everything is done in #service to #veterans.
Formed to support #Vietnam veterans in 1979, VVA now serves as an #advocate for veterans of all eras. With members having returned to U.S. soil with something less than a hero’s welcome, its motto is, “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”
One of VVA’s most important missions is to ensure that all veterans and their dependents can access the #benefits guaranteed to them by the government. Its veteran service officers (VSOs) are deployed throughout the country to assist with claims.
The organization also educates service members and the public about the issues many veterans struggle with, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health, chemical dependency, homelessness, physical disability, and exposure to Agent Orange and other toxics.
It’s a precarious time for veterans’ benefits. The slash-and-burn tactics the administration is using in pursuit of government efficiency could leave many veterans and their families struggling to access critical health care, housing assistance and other resources — and soon.
That makes VVA’s advocacy — and this year’s convention — even more critical to the people who have bravely served the nation. VVA will need to defend and justify its work even more fiercely to cope with cuts to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staffing and funding. And we can’t do this alone.
Your #generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org help fund everything we do — from the most informal morning coffee at a rural chapter to the high-level testimony VVA officials bring to the VA and Congress, your generosity and concern fuel our action. On behalf of America’s veterans, we thank you.
Treat the Vets in Your Life on Vietnam Veterans Day
Tomorrow, remember the #Vietnam #veterans in your life and community with a special visit, message, card or meal on National Vietnam War Veterans Day. But remember, you don’t have to wait for March 29 to honor and support #Vietnam #veterans. Every #donation made to ClothingDonations.org is resold to fund valuable veterans programs. That means that even as you improve your life and space by #decluttering, you can ensure that those who served have access to health care, food, housing, camaraderie and more. Fill a few boxes or bags with your unwanted #stuff and #schedule a #pickup today!