Who We Are

Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA is organized as a not-for-profit corporation and is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

VVA’s Founding Principle

“Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

Goals

VVA’s goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans.

Organizations

• Over 65,000 individual members
• 48 state councils
• 650 local chapters

Special Programs

• Aggressively advocate on issues important to veterans
• Seek full access to quality health care for veterans
• Identify the full range of disabling injuries and illnesses incurred during military service
• Hold government agencies accountable for following laws mandating veterans health care
• Create a positive public perception of Vietnam veterans
• Seek the fullest possible accounting of America’s POW/MIAs
• Support the next generation of America’s war veterans
• Serve our communities

VVA strives for individual and group empowerment and locally originated action to assist veterans and other needy members of their communities. These volunteer programs offer unique and innovative services to an ever-widening population. They include: support for homeless shelters; substance-abuse education projects and crime-prevention campaigns; sponsorship of youth sports, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters; and relief to other communities affected by natural disasters and chronic poverty.