Letter: VVA Chapter 960 gearing up for annual Poker Run

Posted
When the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, the American public ended its collective interest in the problem. In seeking to forget the war, they forgot the veterans as well. We are the Vietnam Veterans of America. The VVA's founding principle is, "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another." VVA membership is open to the U.S. Armed Forces veterans who served on active duty in the Republic of Vietnam between Feb. 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, or in any duty location between Aug. 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975. Our family and friends may be members of the Associate Vietnam Veterans of America. Both the VVa and the AVVA are non-profit Veterans Service Organizations. There are 72,897 VVA and 8,523 AVVA members in the United States. There are 2,500 veterans - not just Vietnam veterans - in Clarendon County alone. There are 853 VVA and 71 AVVA members in South Carolina. Manning Chapter 960 has 46 VVA and 16 AVVA members. Our chapter meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the American Legion Hall on Sunset Drive in Manning. Come, bring your spouses and join us for potluck suppers and meetings afterward. We also have a casual meeting on the third Thursday of the month. This is just for veterans only. Every year, we have a couple of yard sales and a Poker Run for fundraisers. All of the monies that we make from these events are used for our Memorial College Scholarship Funds and to provide assistance to our local veterans. That is all veterans, not just Vietnam veterans. Our chapter's assistance program is very confidential, in order to protect those we assist. Our Poker Run this year is on Aug. 8. It will be held around Lake Marion in Clarendon County and includes boats, motorcycles and automobiles. If you would like to be a sponsor of our Poker Run, provide door prizes for the run or donate to Chapter 960, please call (803) 478-4300 or (803) 460-8551. We thank you for your support. DENNIS A. REYNOLDS Chairman, Fundraising Committee Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 960