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L-Z Bluegrass, also known as Northern Kentucky Chapter 88,
one of VVA’s most active community-minded chapters,
celebrated its 25th anniversary in November. L-Z Bluegrass
was the first Kentucky chapter to receive a national VVA
charter, and for the last quarter of a century the chapter
has been extremely active in a wide variety of veteran-related
programs.
“We’re not the biggest VVA chapter, with about
fifty members and about a dozen AVVA members,” said
Chapter President Drew Vargo, a charter member of L-Z Bluegrass, “but
we’re active in the community and we’re alive
and kicking.”
In 1988, Chapter 88 was the driving force
behind the Kenton County Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Errlanger,
Kentucky, which was patterned after The Wall in Washington,
D.C. The chapter has maintained the memorial for the last
twenty years with dedication and perseverance. A celebration
to commemorate the charter’s 25th anniversary and the
20th anniversary of its memorial took place November 9.
The
chapter’s longstanding community service endeavors
include supporting the VA Nursing Home and Domiciliary in
Fort Thomas, Kentucky; the Joseph House for Homeless Veterans
in nearby Cincinnati; the Brighton Center in Newport, Kentucky;
and the Pike Street Clinic in Covington. The chapter also
has awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships to the children
and grandchildren of local Vietnam veterans who have been
accepted at local colleges and universities.
Chapter 88’s
latest endeavor is sending comfort packages to our troops
in field hospitals in Afghanistan and Iraq. The chapter has
a new website, www.nkyvva88.com
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©2006-
2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910