The Vietnam War Memorial to the war’s DeWitt County veterans, opened in 2012 by the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America

“Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another…”

This motto drives the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)是一个致力于越南退伍军人及其家属利益的全国性组织. 这是肯尼斯·布恩格和亨利·钦纳利深深共鸣的座右铭. 两人都在那个时代服役,他们回忆说,20世纪60年代末,美国公众对军队中的任何人都怀有深深的敌意. 两人都回忆说,“从越南回国后,穿着制服穿过机场时,没有人朝我们吐口水,没有人朝我们扔东西,也没有人骂我们。.”

多年来,对越战老兵来说,情况有了明显改善,但记忆依然挥之不去. 这些情感上的共鸣激发了这对搭档,他们要确保那个时代的老兵——或者任何其他时代的老兵——再也不会感到被忽视. That’s an important part of the VVA’s mission.

In Service, One Generation to Another

Buenger, who served two years in the Army as a combat medic, 自2009年成立以来一直在德威特县美国越战老兵协会工作. He currently serves as treasurer. Chinnery是老约克镇美国退伍军人协会第272号的副官,他是第1029号的会员,这促使两人在2019年建立了伙伴关系. 虽然272号邮路已经成为约克镇的一部分99年了,但参与人数却急剧下降. “他们大多是二战和朝鲜战争的老兵,”42岁的海军老兵Chinnery解释说. “The membership was aging out; but the remaining members had a vision for what could be achieved if the two organizations shifted focus and resources a bit.”

At the final official meeting of Post #272, 剩下的成员投票决定将该分会的所有资产捐赠给美国德威特县越南退伍军人协会. VVA已经是德威特县最活跃的退伍军人组织. In 2012, for example, 该分会为一座精美的越战纪念碑设计并筹集了资金,纪念碑上有一架休伊UH-B直升机, a plaque with the 569 names of every vet that served from DeWitt County, memorials to the 13 county natives killed and more. 不过,收购美国退伍军人协会重新激发了布恩格为退伍军人服务的热情. Chinnery, inspired by the vision for what #1029 could become, ran for Chapter president and won, giving him a firsthand opportunity to help see the vision through.

Powered Up Strong for the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America

Buenger and Chinnery立即开始与#1029物业总监Laverne busing合作,制定3号楼的翻新和升级计划,700平方英尺的美国军团大楼(布辛本人是一名两年的陆军兽医和GVEC退休人员). This is when Buenger discovered and applied for GVEC’s Power Up grant. He and Chinnery were thrilled when #1029 was awarded $15,000. “GVEC’s grant helped us put in a new septic system,” Buenger explains. “我们正在努力对社区产生积极影响,而不仅仅是退伍军人,这笔拨款真的给了我们很大的推动.”

Chinnery补充说:“GVEC作为一家电力供应商和空调/供暖公司已经给我留下了深刻的印象. 但在我看来,这笔拨款是为社区服务的一个全新水平.”

For Veterans, Community

为社区和国家服务正是美国德威特县越南退伍军人协会的动力所在. 该分会的退伍军人服务包括定期为退伍军人举行军事葬礼,以及一个名为“退伍军人帮助退伍军人”的项目. “你在何时何地服役并不重要,”布恩格谈到这个项目时说. “如果你是一个兽医或一个家庭,我们会来你家附近做一些小的维修或安装.”

Other #1029 initiatives include “Poppies for Veterans,在这个项目中,#1029向德威特县所有K-8学校的学生分发罂粟花,供他们在退伍军人节佩戴. #1029 also holds a 13-gun annual Memorial Day gun raffle. There’s a blood drive every 60 days at the #1029 building, too. “When we did that first blood drive earlier this year,” Chinnery says, “这提醒了我为什么选择在这里安顿下来养老:在农村的人们总是互相支持, and that’s how life is in the military. Whether it’s a broken fence, a cow in the street, an open gate or a blood drive, people take care of people out here.”

Each year in the spring, #1029还为德威特县的毕业生提供至少五项奖学金, 该分会每年举行两次大型仪式,一次是在阵亡将士纪念日的约克镇纪念堂举行, and one at the chapter building on Veterans Day. The Veterans Day ceremony starts each year on November 11, at 11 a.m., and is open to the public.


对于美国德威特县越南退伍军人协会来说,一面破旧的旗帜代表着一个 opportunity for community outreach. 该组织从退役的国旗中打捞完整的星星,如图所示, placing each into a small, resealable baggie alongside a card printed with the inscription below. Since 2009, 该组织已经分发了数千个这种便于携带的纪念品,以纪念美国国旗和那些为国服役的人.

“This is a part of the American Flag. It has flown over a home in the U.S.A. It can no longer fly. The sun and the wind have caused it to become tattered and torn. 请拿着这个来纪念我们的国旗和那些在国旗下忠实服役的人.”

 


Within This Hall, All Are Welcome

“我们已经开始租用这个大厅,用于社区葬礼后的接待, reunions, showers, weddings, birthday parties—you name it,” Buenger says. “We’ve had a lot of response, but we’re getting more every day. That’s why we’ve been doing renovations on the kitchen, with more planned, and are adding two new bathrooms.”

“We keep the rental cost low,” Chinnery adds. “We want to be accessible for everyone. 任何为退伍军人服务和促进社区发展的活动——让社区变得更好——我们都有兴趣参与其中或提供帮助——这就是我们所做的, and it’s what folks in this community do, too.”

他继续说道:“我们要对GVEC的成员表示衷心的感谢. 我们正在通过社区服务和德威特县的其他退伍军人,尽可能地将这笔赠款传递给他们. 像这样的拨款让我们(越战老兵)感到被铭记和被欣赏. So thank you.”

For More Information on the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America

德威特县退伍军人中心位于德克萨斯州约克镇72号东高速公路901号. All veterans are welcome. 有关租用大厅或任何德威特县美国越南退伍军人的信息 community initiative or veteran outreach, call 361.550.1860.

Learn More About the GVEC Power Up Grant

自2012年以来,GVEC的Power Up项目已向当地非营利组织提供了超过300万美元的赠款. 该计划的资金来源是会员选择将每月的电费四舍五入到最近的一美元. The amount rounded is donated. The application deadline for the next award cycle is February 15. To learn more or to complete an application, visit our Power Up page or call 800.223.4832. GVEC.

company icon