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BY GARY JONES, CHAIR
The Leadership Conference in Greenville was very successful
and enjoyable. Steve Thompson, external affairs representative
of JPAC, was the speaker at the POW/MIA session on Saturday
morning. Despite the early hour on the last day, we had
a packed house. Thompson did a fantastic job and people
wanted more. I wish to extend a very great thanks to him
and to Admiral Crisp and all those who serve in JPAC.
The
POW/MIA ceremony on Friday morning had some technical problems,
which only detracted a bit from the ceremony. The hotel
failed to show up with a sound system and a noisy garbage
truck did its best to destroy the solemn occasion. However,
Gunny and the South Carolina State Council did a nice job
presenting this ceremony. As usual, all POW/MIAs were recognized.
This year we took the time to recognize that events even
after the official end of the Vietnam War took the lives
of American servicemen in the U.S.S. Mayaguez incident. God
Bless those lost and their families.
The Veterans Initiative
team heads off to Vietnam in September. After many years,
we finally are going to be allowed into the Central Highlands.
We have additional information, too, about burials in the
Khe Sanh area from a report from a veteran. At this time
we have information potentially leading to the recovery of
over one hundred soldiers.
Remember that this humanitarian
effort on VVA’s part
is not only the right thing to do, but it contributes significantly
to the recovery of our own. And that is the ultimate goal.
Please stay in touch with us at our VVA web site.
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2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8605 Cameron
Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910