20th Anniversary
South Jersey Chapter #228
Post Offfice Box 239
Somers Point, NJ 08244
E-mail our secretary!
20th Anniversary |
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. South Jersey Chapter #228 Post Offfice Box 239 Somers Point, NJ 08244 E-mail our secretary! |
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Joseph Quinn, President
Wilton Bennet, Vice President
Tommy Lowndes, Treasurer
Frank D'Alonzo, Secretary
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 228 South Jersey
meets on the first Monday of every month, 7:30 p.m., at Somers Point VFW Hall,
Bethel Road, Somers Point, NJ (across from the fire house).
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. is the only national
Vietnam Veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated
to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. Since the granting of that Charter
in 1986, VVA has grown nation-wide with a current membership of over 48,000,
with more than 530 chapters in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands. VVA places great emphasis on coordinating its national
activities and programs with the work of its local chapters and state councils
and is organized to insure that victories gained at the national level are implemented
locally.
VVA's essential purpose is to promote the educational,
economic, health, cultural and emotional readjustment of the Vietnam-era veteran
to civil life. This is done by promoting legislation and public awareness programs
to eliminate discrimination suffered by Vietnam Veterans.
VVA's governmental relations efforts combine the three
ingredients essential to success in the legislative arena - lobby, mobilizing
constituents, and working with the media - to achieve its ambitious agenda.
Legislative victories have included the establishment and extension of the Vet
Center System, passage of laws providing for increased job-training and job-placement
assistance for unemployed and underemployed Vietnam-era veterans, the first
laws assisting veterans suffering from exposure to Agent Orange, an landmark
legislation permitting veterans to challenge adverse VA decisions in court.
All were enacted largely as a result of VVA's legislative efforts. The Vietnam
Veterans in Congress (VVIC), formed in 1978, in part through the efforts of
VVA, now boasts membership of nearly 100 members of Congress.
Locally, in Atlantic County, approximately 250 members
are represented by Chapter #228, South Jersey. In keeping with the VVA motto
"In Service to America", Chapter #228 also has several community programs
designed to extend a helping hand to those in need of it. A "Project Outreach"
in Atlantic City Rescue Mission helps to provide clothing and various other
types of help for the clients there. An annual Christmas Tree trimming party
for the children who are in residence at the Mission is a highlight of our year.
Visits to the Vineland Vets Home, the offering of two one-thousand-dollar scholarships
annually, and an annual Stand Down for homeless veterans are among some of the
programs in which our members participate.
On the lighter side, an annual Blues Festival and Bar-B-Que,
known as Firebase Blues, is a full day of music, food and fun for the entire
family that is open to the public and has been very successful.
For membership information, please contact the Chapter
at 609-645-3511. Membership is open to any Vietnam Era Veteran who served on
active duty between the dates of January 1, 1960 and May 7, 1975. Associate
membership is open to anyone who would like to become a part of the Chapter
and help out with our various community programs.