This is a huge undertaking to honor our Vietnam Veterans from across America.  I attended the Vietnam Veterans  of America (VVA) Florida Quarterly State Council meeting at Lake Mary on 26 Feb where President John McGinty introduced Jack McManus as the new National President of Vietnam Veterans of America, and Ben Peterson the CEO of Engage Your Destiny www.engageyourdestiny.com  (see the picture above).  Ben and his Mobilization Director Bryan Pink are heading up the Heroes Honor Festival at  Daytona International Speedway 27-28 May 2022, and the festival is billed as the largest “Welcome Home” celebration of our Vietnam Veterans ever assembled.  

Ben served eight years in the Army, of which two years were in Iraq where he experienced the trauma of war.  When Ben and his comrades returned home, they were welcomed by a squad of Vietnam Veterans.  He cherished the embrace of an earlier generation of veterans, and even more so considering our Vietnam Veterans were largely spurred when they returned home.  Heroes Honor Festival is a calling for Ben to give Vietnam veterans the long overdue “Welcome Home” they deserve and need. Admission is free to Vietnam veterans, and other veterans will be given an entry discount.  

The festival will have military flyovers, top musical acts (one of which is Toby Keith), interactive exhibits and a Resource Expo.  Get your tickets by going onto www.heroeshonorfestival.com I gave my assurance I would give visibility that this festival warrants and I’m asking all the MOAA Area VP’s to pass this email onto our 40 Florida MOAA chapters, and I’m also asking all the Veterans Council Presidents on this email to funnel it down to the members of your councils.  

Please keep in mind that in May 2022, FDVA will be establishing a Florida Vietnam Veterans Fact Finding Committee (similar to the Florida Women Veterans Committee I am chairing) and the biggest stumbling block is coming face to face with veterans who Do Not Want to Be Found!  What a great opportunity at this Festival to reach out and connect our Florida Vietnam Veterans with information on all the benefits they have earned from serving our country.  Please disseminate this information and give our Vietnam Veterans an opportunity to attend this spectacular event.  Cheers, Lorraine