Over 100 vintage models from every decade will be on display at Sunset Square shopping center on Sunday, July 19th between 10 AM and 2 PM. Trophies will be given out for a variety of categories, including the best car for each of nine decades. The show is free, so bring the family .

The Car Show is a fund raising activity for the Ron Davenport Memorial Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America. The proceeds from the show go to a variety of scholarships and the Children of Vietnam charity organization.

Come enjoy the spectacle of one of the area’s best car shows at Sunset Square Shopping Center, located near Interstate 5 and Sunset Drive in Bellingham. Help support Vietnam Veterans with your attendance.

VVA Chapter 165 of Bellingham held a Town Hall meeting on the “Faces of Agent Orange” on Friday, September 19^th which almost overwhelmed the auditorium at the St. Luke’s Health, Education Community Center in Bellingham. Just over 300 attendees from BC to Whatcom and Skagit Counties and even as far away as Lacey came to hear compelling testimonials on Vietnam Veterans who themselves and children alike suffer from the effects of Agent Orange.

After appropriate introductions were made , which included honoring the POW / MIA national recognition day, the audience had the unique opportunity to hear from Jack McManus who himself was a crew chief in Operation Ranch Hand which sprayed the chemical dioxin known as Agent Orange during the peak years of dispersion — ’67-’68. The effects of Agent Orange that he not only incurred but what he saw as impact on the troops who came into contact with the substance –  paved a road that led him to do further research over the years into what has been recognized as a medical travesty to Veteran’s and their families. His understanding of the situation and issues along with his strong advocacy to “right” the situation has helped lead VVA National to be the foremost Veteran organization in helping to create legislation on toxic exposure research and military family support. He captivated the audience.

The other guest speaker who was great to have present was the Founder of the AVVA – Nancy Switzer. A wife of a Vietnam Vet impacted by Agent Orange himself, led to effects that have since transcended to her daughter, son and grandchildren. Her heartfelt experiences and determination to “do something about the impact” given her nursing background has since created an outspoken advocate for Veterans suffering from the effects of agent orange and the impact on their families. She is the Chairman of the AVVA Agent Orange Committee and is also a longtime advisor to the Vietnam Veterans of America legislative and health committees. Her story was  captivating as well and was  followed by a video of recent Senate legislation presented from Senator Moran of Kansas S. 2738 – Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2014.

There were over 35 testimonials that were registered or just over 10% of the attendees. Besides Vietnam Veterans offering testimony, there were numerous wives who provided testimony along with several children of Vets who told there story of impacting developments on themselves.

After the meeting was concluded, many positive comments in holding this type of town hall format were taken in by the members of our chapter who themselves were very highly motivated in making this event a successful outreach to the veteran community. We can attribute the success of this event in the support VVA National provided. There have now been over 110 town hall meetings around the country and we were the 111^th – some say a lucky number — but as Nancy Switzer said (who has attended many of these meetings) probably one of the highest attended Town Hall meetings she has seen – and the quality of testimonials was tremendous. We will be supplying VVA National with some good solid information on “getting the word out” and “Vets helping Vets”.

Faces of Agent Orange

Click the above link for more information. This important meeting is September 19, 2014 in Bellingham. It concerns the medical cared for affected veterans and their affected children and grandchildren from the continuing impact of Agent Orange.

In addition to the three partial college scholarships that the chapter grants each year to veterans or children of veterans, the chapter is now partially supporting a primary school in Vietnam. It is the Mạc Đỉnh Chi School near the village of An Son in Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The chapter is contributing funds to support approximately eight students for an entire calendar year. The anticipation is that the chapter will receive periodic status and grade reports on each of the students. The possible outcome may be that the chapter supports these students each year throughout their education.

This scholarship contact was made possible due to the efforts of chapter member Richard Brummett. Richard’s unit in Vietnam was largely responsible for destroying the village of An Son during the war. Since then he has visited the village and photographed many of the current inhabitants. These scholarships are a way of giving back to the current residents what their parents and grandparents may have never received. Richard will be providing photographs to the chapter of these scholarship students on his next trip to Vietnam.

The Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis is hosting the Vietnam Traveling Wall from July 31st to August 3rd, 2014 and invites you to visit. On Saturday August 2nd there will be two special programs with nationally know guest speakers. The first program will “Recognize those who returned” and the second program will “Honor those who did not return”. Visit the Museum web site at www.veteransmuseum.org or call them at (360) 740-8875 for more information.