SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
CHAPTER 160 AWARDED VETERANS FOR PEACE CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
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The July 29, 2004 Email Message from President Chuck Searcy – “Well, congratulations to all of us — and that means all of this unique assemblage of multi-dimensional, kind-spirited, motivated and concerned veterans and non-veteran members who have managed to turn our wartime experiences and our post-war recoveries toward atonement, redemption, saving and rebuilding lives, not least the Vietnamese who have suffered much, and yet forgiven us.
“I so much appreciate the friendships and the solidarity we share, as well as the ideas, the commitment, and the creativity of our Chapter 160 members and our board of directors. It is truly an honor to be introduced, from time to time, as President of VFP Chapter 160, because our reputation has been honestly and earnestly achieved, though none of us is bragging.
“Let’s let this recognition, as 2024 VFP Chapter of the Year, encourage us to continue our efforts, in the time we’ve got left, to secure peace in Viet Nam, America, and the world, and to work unceasingly not just to recover and rebuild from the damage of the war in Viet Nam, but to pledge that it will not happen again.”
2025 TOUR – 50TH ANNIVERSARY ENDING OF WAR – VIETNAM UNIFICATION
30th YEAR U.S. VIETNAM RESUMING RELATIONS
PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR – THIS IS A BIG NO MISS ONE TIME EVENT. 2025 will signify the 50th year since the end of the War, Alleluia. Additionally, it is the 30th Anniversary of the United States and Vietnam resuming relations. VFP 160 is planning a tour to include participation in official Anniversary celebrations from April 26 through May 11. The celebrations will be acknowledging the unification of Vietnam and the joint efforts of Vietnam and the U.S. towards reformation and reconciliation. Specifically, there will be a grand 50th Vietnam Anniversary event on April 30th in Ho Chi Minh City followed by a tour of several sites throughout Vietnam. VFP tour delegation members may want to personally consider prolonging their visit and attend the 30th Anniversary Friendship Festival in Ho Chi Minh City on May17th. Additional 2025 tour information details will be
forthcoming very soon.
VIETNAM TOUR OCTOBER 2024
The Fall 2024 tour was a big success and nothing short of a fantastic experience for the tour delegation and organizers. All arrived safe and sound with no hiccups. The delegation was comprised of 18 with 11 veterans, 4 spouses, 2 veteran sons and a 1960’s protestor against the war. Assisting with the tour was President Chuck Searcy, Chuck’s Assistant Hung, Nguyen Gioi from Viet Dreamland Travel, Vice President Rich Allen, Board members Paul Cox, Tom Wilber and Matt Keenan. Kudos for Paul Cox’s diligent preparatory work, Gioi Nguyen from Viet Dreamland Travel and Hung for assisting the delegation and interpretation help.
Accompanying the tour was journalist Laura Holfinger from Germany but currently residing in India. Sorely missed were David and Ushi Clark who helped commandeer many of the prior tours. At the Hanoi Hilton POW prison VFP Board member Tom Wilber gave a special presentation which included his father’s POW experience.
Right from the giddyup the group developed an extraordinary camaraderie which carried through to the very end with laughter, tears, music, singing, poetry and sharing. A highlight of the tour was being entertained by the Hope Choir, all musicians and singers were blind. Additionally, there was an impromptu meeting at Friendship Village in Hanoi whereupon the VFP delegation had a heartfelt and friendly exchange with a group of North Vietnamese veterans, mostly women, sharing their war time experiences culminating with handshakes and good will hugs.
There were many other wonderful educational experiences throughout the tour with traditional visits to historical and cultural sites and organizations such as VAVA, DAVA day care center in Da Nang, Project Renew Action Mine Center, Duc Son Orphanage, a blind center in Dong Ha and Tu Du Peace Village. It’s important to mention that the delegation had an informative meeting with U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper in their hotel in Hanoi. From landing arrival to take off departure the delegation and staff had a great experience creating new friendships and everlasting bonds. All the above, and more not mentioned, was topped off with the generous distribution of the tour donation funds in the amount of $23,000.00 to the organizations focusing on Unexploded Devices and Agent Orange and other related causes to continue the goal of healing and reformation.
You may find it interesting to look through the following links which include the full tour itinerary, a synopsis “Return to Vietnam” with poem “Tapestry” written by Roger Craig and a segment of a VFP podcast radio interview with Anthony Donovan discussing his tour experience..
LIASON WITH THE VETERAN (QUARTERLY NEWSPAPER)
Board members have liaised with the quarterly newspaper The Veteran published by VVAW – Vietnam Veterans Against the War, to promote VFP 160’s annual Vietnam tour, fundraise for chapter 160’s Bikes for Kids program honchoed by David Clark and Richard Allen, and fundraising for a Girl’s Educational Fund which is managed by sister organization, Friendship with Cambodia. Their website is friendshipwithcambodia.org
Board of Director and member Nadya Williams facilitated articles in The Veteran for the girl’s scholarship program that has raised thousands of dollars. One donation alone in the amount of $4,000.00 was from a veteran member of San Francisco VFP chapter 69.
MEMBER BEN QUICK VIETNAM TV INTERVIEW
VFP 160 member Ben Quick recently had one of his photos considered to be in the top 100 street photos in the world among 500,000 entrants. Additionally, Ben was featured on Vietnam TV4 (VTV4) mini documentary about his street photography. The 10 minute segment is a slice of Ben’s life in Vietnam highlighting street scenes
and people of Vietnam. The segment capturing Ben can be seen at about 2 minutes 20 seconds through 10 minutes 30 seconds segment in the following link.
We are proud of Ben’s work and wish him continued success and recognition for his excellent depiction of the hardworking Vietnamese people. When you have some time take a look, it’s well worth it.
