President Obama signs an executive order on the Employment of Veterans

President Barack Obama signs an executive order on the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, in the Oval Office, Nov. 9, 2009.

Last night the President signed an Executive Order creating an interagency Council on Veterans Employment to advise the President and Administration on how to set the bar for hiring and employing veterans. The Council will be chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, with Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry serving as the Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the Council.

[ Read article on The White House Blog ]

VVA Supports Take A Veteran To School

Vietnam Veterans of America is proud to support HISTORY on a campaign to pay tribute to the servicemen and women of America.  On November 15, HISTORY will debut a groundbreaking miniseries, WWII in HD, the first WWII documentary in full, immersive HD color.  Culled from 3,000 hours of lost color footage, WWII in HD features the epic accounts of twelve real soldiers who experienced this defining conflict. The premiere of WWII in HD will shine a light on Take a Veteran to School, the HISTORY pro-social initiative to honor veterans of all wars by connecting them with schools and communities across the country.

To learn how you can participate in Take a Veteran to School, please visit: www.Veterans.com. And please be sure to check out WWII in HD at www.history.com/wwii-in-hd and tune-in November 15, only on HISTORY.

Secretary Shinseki Details Plan to End Homelessness for Veterans

Five-year plan unveiled at homelessness summit
U.S. Dept. of VA Press release
Nov. 3, 2009

WASHINGTON – Today, at the “VA National Summit Ending Homelessness among Veterans,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki unveiled the department’s comprehensive plan to end homelessness among Veterans by marshalling the resources of government, business and the private sector.

“President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years,” said Shinseki.  “Those who have served this nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope.”

The Worthington’s story is brought to you
by The Missouri Vietnam Veterans Foundation.

Herb Worthington’s e-mail, meant to provide background on his own Agent Orange-connected diseases and the diseases now afflicting his children, is not yet two sentences long before the words leap off the page.

“It rips me apart with self-hatred every time I tell it,” he writes. “I get so sad, the tears flow like a stream, and it makes it that much more difficult, because the keyboard is totally blurred.” Asked about it later, he says, “I hate myself. Why? For bringing all this pain and suffering to my children. They don’t deserve it.” He has not spoken to his children about it. “I don’t have the courage,” he said.

[ Read The Worthington's Story Here ]

VVA Self-Help Guide

Click on the cover image to read the VVA Self-Help Guide to Service-Connected Disability Compensation for Exposure to Agent Orange

VVA Victim of Email Hoaxes

An email hoax, “States From One State,” has been circulating the Internet for more than a year. Unfortunately, someone has taken his/her personal initiative to attach the Vietnam Veterans of America logo to this flyer after it had been in circulation. The content of this email has nothing to do with Vietnam Veterans of America. We regret this egregious misuse of our logo and appreciate your efforts in setting the record straight.
 
For information on the LA Times response to this email hoax, please see the linked article.

An email hoax concerning Target stores and VVA has been circulating for a number of years. Please click here for more information.

Thanks so much for your assistance in dispelling these email hoaxes.