Who We Are and What We Do
The Vietnam Veterans of America is a national Vietnam Veterans organization chartered by the U.S. Congress and approved by President Reagan on May 23, 1986. The VVA was founded as a non-profit organization to: promote the well being of American Vietnam Veterans; foster the improvement of the condition of Vietnam-era veterans; promote the social welfare (including educational, economic, social, physical, and cultural improvement) in the United States by encouraging the growth and development, readjustment, self-respect, self- confidence and usefulness of Vietnam-era veterans and other veterans; improve conditions for Vietnam-era veterans and develop channels of communication to assist Vietnam-era veterans; conduct and publish research, on a nonpartisan basis, pertaining to the relationship between Vietnam-era veterans and the American society, to the Vietnam war experience, to the role of the United States in securing peaceful coexistence for the world community, and to other matters which affect the educational, economic, social, physical, or cultural welfare of Vietnam-era veterans and other veterans and the families of such veterans; assist disabled Vietnam-era veterans and other veterans in need of assistance and the dependents and survivors of such veterans; and consecrate the efforts of the members of the corporation and Vietnam-era veterans generally to mutual helpfulness and service to their country.
The Carson Area Chapter -388 of the Vietnam Veterans of America was founded on Veterans Day, 1988. Our Chapter is based in Carson City, Nevada however, our members come from all over Northern Nevada and California. While the Chapter is made up of and focuses on Vietnam Veterans, it is dedicated to the well being of all American veterans throughout Northern Nevada by way of it's involvement in numerous in-house and area wide veteran programs.
The Chapter sponsored and financed the Nevada Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Mills Park and in 2012, it worked with the local Parks Department to restore and refurbish the Memorial. A yearly POW/MIA ceremony at the Memorial in Mills Park is organized by the Chapter. In the fall of 2012, Chapter 388 worked with the local community to bring the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to Carson. This was a healing event for Vietnam Veterans in the area. We also hosted a Welcome Home BBQ with over 270 Vietnam Veterans and their families. Chapter 388 also holds a Vietnam remembrance ceremony at the memorial in Mills Park on March 30th each year as part of the national “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” celebration.
We are most proud of our activities that directly help veterans in the area. The Chapter recently worked with other service organizations at the Homeless Connect in Carson City, providing warm clothing to veterans in need. In 2010 the Chapter was recognized for its long standing financial support of jobless veterans by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. We also supplement the Disabled American Veterans ride program, which provides transportation for local veterans to the Veterans Administration hospital in Reno. The Chapter provides bus passes for unemployed and homeless veterans and the Chapter provides gift cards and gas vouchers to needy veterans.
In 2013, Chapter 388 undertook bringing the Reno based “Adopt a Vet Dental Program” to the Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey Counties. (For more information click on the Adopt a Vet Dental Program or go to VVAD section.)
The Chapter works with local social service organizations, such as Friends in Service Helping (FISH) and the Carson Valley Community Food Closet in Minden. In addition we often provide direct support to needy veterans in the area. We sponsor several veteran families at Christmas and our Chaplain Program visits hospitalized veterans in the area. Over the years, Chapter 388 has provided financial support to the Nevada State Veterans Home in Sparks Nevada, the Veterans Guest House in Reno, and the Vietnam War Memorial at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada. The chapter works closely with the Veterans Resource Center
Additionally, we are reaching out to help our new young veterans who are homeless, hurting, or otherwise need help. The chapter is working in support of the Veterans Administration’s local homeless veterans project and is a member of the Nevada Department of Veterans Service's, to ensuring that all veterans in Nevada have access to jobs, education and wellness.