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Welcome to the Home Page for the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. Florida State Council. On this page you will find current information of what is happening with the Florida State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America and our Florida VVA Chapters. You will find information on this website about who we are and what we have dedicated ourselves to. Our goal is to serve our country, ALL veterans and the communities we live in.
A CALL TO SUPPORT LOUISIANA FLOOD VICTIMS
All of us are aware of the devastation that the recent floods in Louisiana have caused. Over 100,000 people are displaced from their homes. Many that had no flood insurance will be unable to renovate or rebuild. Those with Flood Insurance will be waiting weeks and months to get started. Even worse, over 13 have perished. The Louisiana Vietnam Veterans of America State Council has set up a flood relief fund to assist those affected by this tragic flooding. Florida has had its share of natural disasters over the years. Hurricanes Andrew, Charlie, Francis and Jeanne in years’ past were often supported by VVA Chapters and State Councils across the Nation. It is our turn to step up and support our brothers and sisters in Louisiana in their support of their community. Vietnam Veterans of America Florida State Council is encouraging all VVA Chapters, VVA and AVVA members and friends, to make a donation to the Vietnam Veterans of America Louisiana State Council to help the Louisiana flood victims. No donation is too small. Please send a check to help. Your Check should be made payable to: Vietnam Veterans of America· Louisiana State Council 217 Leeds Street Slidell, LA 70461 Mark the memo section of your check “Flood Relief”. Thank you in advance for your support. Michael J. Bousher, President VVA Florida State Council Email: president@vvafsc.org
Joyce Koprowski, President AVVA Florida
Email: avva@vvafsc.org Chapter 1097 Awarded Membership Growth Chapter of the Year On July 23rd. the VVA National Membership Committee recognized Chapters throughout the Nation who had the largest percentage growth. The recognition was done at the VVA Leadership and Education Conference in Tucson, AZ. The winner of the small chapter award was our own Chapter 1097, Highlands County. FL. Charles Martin, President of Chapter 1097, was present at the Leadership Conference and was able to accept the award. Charlie was accompanied by his wife Betty, the Assistant AVVA representative for Chapter 1097. Chapter 1097 was chartered in May 2014 and has increased its membership to 63 members. Charlie attributes their success to the hard work of Chapter Officers and Members. He found the VVA leadership Conference to be well organized and professionally presented. Charlie said he was overjoyed when Chapter 1097 was named for the award. Congratulations to Charlie and Chapter 1097.Well Done.
 Keeping Veterans out of Prison and Treating Them Like Soldiers in Prison The recent Leadership Conference in Tucson, Arizona brought a new and very informative session on the prison system, Veterans Treatment Court and the V V A inside the prison system. Guest speakers included V V A Incarcerated Veterans Committee Chair Administrative Judge Dominic Yezzo, retired Union County Correctional Institution (UCI) Warden Diane Andrews, V V A Chapter # 1046 President Tony D’Aleo and V V A Incarcerated Chapter # 1080 Adviser Gary Newman. The session drew a lot of attention with approximately forty members in attendance. Seminar Presenters (& Spouses) Gary Newman, Adviser Chapter 1080, Diane Andrews, Retired Warden at UCI, Judge Dominic Yezzo, VVA National Committee Chair, MaryAnne Newman, FL AVVA VP, Sharon D'Aleo, Tony D'Aleo, President, VVA 1046. CLICK HERE to read more.
| WELCOME HOME Click Here for more information on VVA Membership. EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM AROUND THE STATE  (Click on event title to read more) 2016 Agent Orange Town Hall Meetings Announced  The Florida State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, along with local VVA Chapters, are pleased to announce that 5 Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting will be presented at 5 different locations in Florida during the week of September 19 - 23, 2016 The Town Hall will educate, provide a platform for asking questions and an opportunity for veterans, their children, grandchildren or surviving spouse to speak with Veterans Service Officers about filing claims for VA benefits. All veterans from all conflicts are urged to attend. For further information, including locations and contacts, CLICK HERE. | QUICK LINKS
Donations  We’re helping the veterans who are coming home wounded or disabled get the medical care they need. We’re also assisting Gulf War, Afghan War, and Iraq War veterans with benefits counseling and other essential services to help them rebuild their lives after wartime service. And we’re making sure that VA healthcare and other benefits aren’t the victims of short-sighted budget cuts that forget the service of our new veterans, and neglect the sacrifices they continue to make even after they come home. We hope you will continue to support all veterans by sending a gift to VVA FSC today. Many thanks for all you do. For More information on how you can help, CLICK HERE We Were Soldiers Once, And Young. (This slideshow is a history in itself. It is a remembrance of the men and women that served during the Vietnam War. We would like to invite ALL Vietnam Veterans to send us their photo so it can be included in the slideshow.) CLICK HERE for instructions on submitting photos.) VIETNAM
VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL OF FACES  In an effort to further preserve the legacy of those who sacrificed all in Vietnam, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF – Founders of The Wall) is committed to finding a photo to go with each of the more than 58,000 names on The Wall. The Wall of Faces allows family and friends to share memories, post pictures and connect with each other. See more at http://www.vvmf.org/ Thanks to the work of volunteers, eight states have completed their part of the Wall of Faces: Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Wisconsin. Florida has 1,955 names on the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall and additional photos are needed to complete Florida’s section of the Wall of Faces. We are encouraging anyone who has photos to support this effort. Florida Photos Still Missing 641 If you have a picture of a loved one or fellow veteran whose name is on The Wall, please help the Memorial Fund honor these individuals by putting a face with a name. Regardless of whether or not the Memorial Fund has a photo of the individual already, you are encouraged to submit it anyway. VVMF is trying to collect as many photos of each individual as possible. IMPORTANT. CLICK HERE to read more on this important project. CLICK HERE for a PowerPoint presentation as of June 2016. |
