A publication of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
February 2001/March 2001
Chapel of Four Chaplains Report
August Honors
By Paul L. Sutton, National Liaison
For the fourth consecutive year, VVA will have a means of recognizing the community service contributions of VVA and AVVA members. This program continues an effective way of granting overdue recognition to members of VVA and AVVA at the chapter, state, and national level. This fourth annual VVA/AVVA ceremony will honor deserving members of both organizations at no cost to VVA or AVVA. In the past four years, VVA has honored 187 of its members, associates, national office staff, and worthy citizens at similar ceremonies.
Approximately one hundred VVA and AVVA members from some 21 states and the District of Columbia will be nominated by chapters and state councils. All will be honored at the VVA Chapel of Four Chaplains ceremony on Thursday, August 2, during VVA’s Tenth National Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina.
VVA's growing reputation and increasing maturity in the wider veterans community makes 2001 the right time to continue the process of honoring VVA and AVVA members whose works and deeds might not qualify them for recognition with the award of the VVA Commendation Medal or VVA Member of the Year Award. Nonetheless, there is a growing number of members throughout VVA whose words, acts, and deeds qualify them for a form of recognition beyond certificates of appreciation bestowed at the chapter, state council, or national levels.
The work for which the members of Vietnam Veterans of America and Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America will be cited at the 2001 awards ceremony will energize members by setting the example that will lead to increased commitment to community efforts by other VVA and AVVA members.
Nominations for this year’s Legion of Honor inductees should be submitted by chapters or state councils to the address at the end of this report no later than May 4. For information on the nominating process for the Humanitarian Award and the Bronze Medallion, contact your chapter or state council president for a copy of the guidelines.
The Chapel of Four Chaplains nomination and award process realizes four of the five Core Values--meaningful achievement, integrity, compassion and camaraderie--of the VVA Strategic Plan. This program will facilitate the intensity of meaningful achievement by allowing VVA's and AVVA's growing national reputation to attract new members because of increased grass roots recognition that will result in additional resources for the organization. It also will reinforce the organization's expanding integrity and will focus the attention of VVA, AVVA, the other veterans service organizations, and the community on our compassion. Plus, it will greatly enhance camaraderie throughout VVA and AVVA.
The Legion of Honor of the Chapel of Four Chaplains is bestowed in a public ceremony and recognized with certificates. It is awarded for outstanding, sacrificial volunteer service to one's community and fellow human beings without regard for faith or race in keeping with the spirit of sacrifice of the Four Chaplains.
Only a chapter or state council president may nominate two worthy individual members from each chapter or state council for induction into the Legion of Honor of the Chapel of Four Chaplains.
In no more than two paragraphs, describe the nominee's selfless service. The nomination may include, but is not limited to, service to the community, places of worship, and civil, fraternal, or veterans organizations. This certificate is not awarded for serving as a chapter or state council officer. In all cases, the selfless service must go above and beyond that which is required by the nominee's professional or organizational position. The Chapel Awards Committee approves all VVA nominations.
Please be as specific as possible and include the nominee's full name, chapter affiliation, address, and telephone number.
All nominations for the Legion of Honor of the Chapel of Four Chaplains by chapter or state council presidents (note there is a limit of two nominations from each chapter or state council) should be sent to: Paul L. Sutton, National Liaison/Trustee, Chapel of Four Chaplains, P.O. Box 159, Ocean View, NJ 08230-0159; 609-624-3504 (home); 609-567-3715 (office); plsutton@nwip.net or ssgtusmc6169@hotmail.com All nominations must be received by Friday, May 4.
E-mail us at TheVeteran@vva.org