The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
December 2004 POLICY FOR LETTERS Letters
We welcome letters to the editor for publication in The VVA Veteran. We are interested in your criticism as well as your praise. Letters may be edited for purposes of clarity or space. Regrettably, because of the volume of mail we receive, we are unable to acknowledge or return unpublished material.
ANOTHER BLOCK ON THE QUILT
I am writing to tell you that I took my ten-year-old to see the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial this summer. While we were there, we visited the Agent Orange Quilt of Tears tent, and she was very interested in what it was. I have never seen her so emotional over something she just learned about. She has been a Brownie Girl Scout for five years and has encouraged her troop to make a block for the Quilt of Tears. We are going to make it tomorrow at our meeting to honor all those vets who have been affected. I would like to thank you for opening my child's heart and eyes to those heroes who are often overlooked. God bless you and yours always.
The Mother of Lexus Love
via email
AGENT ORANGE AWARENESS
I wanted to drop you a line to thank you for helping the Silver Rose reach out to veterans. I am a director in central Ohio. It amazes me how so many Vietnam vets still do not know the true dangers of Agent Orange. Last July, while working the Fourth weekend for an outreach by the Silver Rose with the Moving Wall, I found vetsin-country Marines and Armywho were dying from cancers that the VA recognizes, but they did not have any idea it could be service connected. I, again, thank you for all your past help and any you can give in the future. My personal motto is, "One day, one vet, I can save lives."
Laura Zolman
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
ONE GOOD PLAY
I was fortunate to be able to take in a performance of One Red Flower at the Signature Theater (Arts of War, October). I wished your reviewer had given more space to this excellent musical drama about the Vietnam War. I have to tell you that I laughed and I cried and I was profoundly moved by this production. It deserves to be seen by more people. I hope that it gains a wider audience in New York and wherever else it is put on.
Benjamin F. Butler
Arlandria, Virginia
A BETTER LIFE
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your financial support of my education. I am deeply grateful for being selected as a scholarship recipient of the Mike Nash Scholarship. I am a senior in the College of Nursing at the University of Akron and will graduate in May. I hope to work in pediatric nursing so that I can make a difference in the lives of children.
Most importantly, I want to make a difference in my daughter's life. I returned to school so that I would have the financial means to be able to provide her with a better life. Obtaining scholarships is one way that I have been able to attain my goal without having to go into extreme debt to get my education. Thank you for helping me obtain my goal of becoming a registered nurse and providing my beautiful daughter with a better life.
Rebecca Lance
Medina, Ohio
FUTURE FOR SALE
I am proud that VVA was the host of the dedication ceremonies of the In Memory Plaque. On one hand, however, I hear that this will be the final addition to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. But I also hear that Jan Scruggs has received approval for a so-called education center, as well as a knick-knack emporium, to be built near or under The Wall. What gives?
Charlie Hinkin
Miami, Florida
IN HARM’S WAY
Richard Currey’s article, “Troubled Waters,” is a great piece of investigative reporting. He told the story well and he made it come alive with the stories of individuals, such as Lupe Alviar. As a mother, I was especially struck by the photograph of Mr. Alviar and his son, an image that at first sight is so normal. It’s unconscionable that our government should be putting this Marine and his child first in harm’s way and then refusing to acknowledge its role and its responsibility.
Joan Hopkinson
Bordentown, New Jersey
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