What We Do

VVA Chapter 9 has over 40 years of dedicated service to Detroit and the community of veterans.

While we have moved from our long-term home on Woodward Avenue, we will continue as “LZ Motown” for as long as we exist.

Our efforts have been focused in four main areas, as follows:

Supporting Vietnam Veterans

Over the years we have been engaged in legislative initiatives at the state and national levels to gain the proper respect and needed health care benefits for Vietnam Veterans. 

The battle to gain appropriate recognition and care for vets with illnesses due to exposure to Agent Orange sadly needs to continue. As this copy is written, the VA has refused to provide benefits for bladder cancer and other illnesses even though they have the evidence and members of Congress have directed them to do so.

Our efforts have had to expand to include providing financial assistance to our brothers and sisters who need help to construct ramps at their homes and assistance with medical bills and whose families need help paying for their funeral service.

In 2019 we endowed a Descendants of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship with the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan.

Supporting Veterans Locally

Younger veterans returning to Detroit after their military service can confront a myriad of issues ranging from paying for uncovered medical care, housing costs, homelessness, educational assistance, job searching and transition to civilian occupations.

Chapter 9 provides financial assistance to local organizations such as Veterans Returning Home, Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministry and others who are in a position to provide direct assistance to veterans-in-need.

We also reach out to other veterans and charitable organizations to see how we can assist.  And, since the Chapter was founded initially be a group of veterans going to Wayne State University, we stay connected to their student veteran’s organization.

Advocating Legislative Action

From the beginning VVA Chapter 9 has known and recognized the importance of legislation, regulations, and programs that address the aftermath of service during the war in Vietnam.  Forming out of the Bamboo Rap, one of the earliest Vet Centers, they knew that Vietnam veterans were the primary source for identifying and addressing the issues that would affect them for the rest of their lives.  

Whether it was PTSD, Agent Orange exposure, education, employment, homelessness, POW-MIA, or V.A. operations they had to define the needs and help to formulate the means to address the problems.

As a result, or consequence, VVA Chapter 9 members have been deeply involved in addressing those matters and the needs of our community. 

Among them are laws passed to address the effects of herbicides via the Michigan Agent Orange Commission; the operations, repayment, and the constitutional amendment for the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund; the planning and building of the Michigan Vietnam Memorial in Lansing; the creation of a top-notch veterans service representative program; the development of the Michigan Veterans Foundation to tackle homelessness; the establishment of the Veterans Court of Appeals; the recognition of military training to streamline civilian licensing; the passage of the Millennium G.I. Bill; the identification and expansion of veteran-owned businesses; the operations of the Veterans Support Foundation; the development and operations of the Veterans Initiative Program (POW-MIA interaction); the passage of the Blue Water Navy Act; the passage of the Toxic Exposure Research Act; and the early days of Vet Centers & the Vietnam Bonus. Members of VVA Chapter 9 have been deeply involved in all of them.

Today members of VVA Chapter 9 continue to address the issues that face all veterans and their families whether it be at the local, state, or national level. All of its members have a voice and a role to continue that tradition.

Supporting Our Community

From our membership on the City’s Veterans Committee to supporting veterans and staff at the John Dingle VA Hospital, to feeding police lunch annually to supporting an annual fishing derby, our involvement is wide-ranging, personal and reflects our appreciation and respect for the community that is home to our chapter.

We have been fortunate to establish scholarships for students of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Working with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, four $2500 academic scholarships have been established.

As many of our members made careers in the skilled trades, we have also established a Graduate Assistance Program for graduates of the A. Phillip Randolph Career & Technical Center.

In 2019 and 2020, Carhartt and the Southeastern Michigan Home Builders Association Foundation joined with us and the Detroit Public Schools Foundation to assist these great graduates.

 

 

 

Your Support Makes a Difference

All of our initiatives are funded by the Chapter's General Fund. We are an all volunteer not for profit organization. 100% of your donation is tax deductible and all proceeds will go to support the fund you select.

 

 

Chapter General Fund

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