It was a late night in 2007, and military veteran Jerry McDermott was alone. The Vietnam veteran had been thinking about the war and went to see the Moving Wall, a touring replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, when it visited Gates.
“You always look at the calendar and know exactly what you were doing on a specific date,” he said. “Perhaps, it is as a veteran ages, he looks back and feels different things emotionally that when you're a younger person you don't think about or dwell on as much.”
At the memorial, he met a few members of the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. McDermott had been aware of the group —he said he used to get jealous seeing them marching in parades— but he could never bring himself to join.
McDermott said he used to see veterans organizations as clubs members join for cheap beer. That night changed his mind.
“These people were so welcoming,” he said. “I had finally found a group I could identify with, and if I’m going to join something, I’m not going to be a strap-hanger.”
Last Man’s Club
McDermott is now the health affairs chairman and board director for the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20, the local chapter and one of the largest, most active, and longest-running in the nation.
According to Census data, there are nearly 22 million veterans alive in America from as far back as World War II up to the current conflicts in the Middle East. The Vietnam Veterans of America is a not-for-profit veterans service organization chartered by Congress to enroll only members who served in the military between 1962 and 1975. Because of that limitation, the organization is devoted entirely to service, not self-perpetuation.
“We’re kind of a last man’s club,” McDermott said. “When the last of us die out, there won’t be a Vietnam Veterans of America.”
For over 30 years, Chapter 20 ran a local thrift store and used that income and volunteer power to help the community and maintain the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park. Increased popularity of stores like Goodwill slowly forced that store out of business over the past 3 years. Now short on income, the group lobbies for causes important to veterans and works with local organizations to adopt community-based projects.
“As a chapter unit, we would like to continue to help the community and be as involved as we can,” said Chapter 20 President Valentino Gatto. “Since we lost our source of income to support the community, we don't have that anymore.”
It was a late night in 2007, and military veteran Jerry McDermott was alone. The Vietnam veteran had been thinking about the war and went to see the Moving Wall, a touring replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, when it visited Gates.
“You always look at the calendar and know exactly what you were doing on a specific date,” he said. “Perhaps, it is as a veteran ages, he looks back and feels different things emotionally that when you're a younger person you don't think about or dwell on as much.”
At the memorial, he met a few members of the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. McDermott had been aware of the group —he said he used to get jealous seeing them marching in parades— but he could never bring himself to join.
McDermott said he used to see veterans organizations as clubs members join for cheap beer. That night changed his mind.
“These people were so welcoming,” he said. “I had finally found a group I could identify with, and if I’m going to join something, I’m not going to be a strap-hanger.”
Last Man’s Club
McDermott is now the health affairs chairman and board director for the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20, the local chapter and one of the largest, most active, and longest-running in the nation.
According to Census data, there are nearly 22 million veterans alive in America from as far back as World War II up to the current conflicts in the Middle East. The Vietnam Veterans of America is a not-for-profit veterans service organization chartered by Congress to enroll only members who served in the military between 1962 and 1975. Because of that limitation, the organization is devoted entirely to service, not self-perpetuation.
“We’re kind of a last man’s club,” McDermott said. “When the last of us die out, there won’t be a Vietnam Veterans of America.”
For over 30 years, Chapter 20 ran a local thrift store and used that income and volunteer power to help the community and maintain the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park. Increased popularity of stores like Goodwill slowly forced that store out of business over the past 3 years. Now short on income, the group lobbies for causes important to veterans and works with local organizations to adopt community-based projects.
“As a chapter unit, we would like to continue to help the community and be as involved as we can,” said Chapter 20 President Valentino Gatto. “Since we lost our source of income to support the community, we don't have that anymore.”
Getting the word out
The chapter’s main focus now is on educating all veterans of the benefits entitled to them for their service.
When companies like Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch and Lomb were thriving, the veterans working there had robust benefits programs and often didn’t need to utilize any of their service entitlements. More than 200 veterans showed up at a recent outreach program Chapter 20 organized for Kodak employees losing their benefits. Every one was new to the organization.
Vietnam veterans, in particular, need to be wary of the effects of pesticides and herbicides like Agent Orange which were used in the war to their advantage, but are linked to 17 different illnesses — including cancers and diabetes— that sometimes take decades to manifest.
“We may not have the finances to dole out information to the community,” said chapter vice president Chuck Macaluso, “but I think the information we’re giving now is way more important because a lot more people need to know.”
VA Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, offers three types of benefits: Health benefits, general benefits, and burial benefits. Veterans qualify for these benefits after a minimum 180 days of federal service.
Many people who qualify as veterans don’t think of themselves as such. One of Chapter 20’s biggest goals is to let veterans know that they do not need to have seen combat to qualify for service benefits.
“A lot of times that gentleman who served in Panama or Germany or even stateside feels he’s not a veteran because he didn’t see combat, and that’s not true,” McDermott said. “If you wore the uniform and served honorably, you are a veteran.”
Part of being a veteran is having access to VA medical facilities. Many veterans misunderstand that the VA is health insurance when it is in fact a health service with centers all over the country, including one in Brighton. Service is free to some veterans and requires a minimal copay from others. Macaluso said going to the VA is no different than going to your regular doctor, except patients swipe in digitally and see the doctor on time.
“If you’ve got an appointment for 8 o’clock, then by 8:02 someone’s asking you to go somewhere,” he said.
The Mission
The Vietnam Veterans of America’s national mission statement reads, “Never again will one generation of veterans turn their back on another.” Locally, Chapter 20 lives up to the motto by offering information to veterans of all wars about the services that they may be specially entitled to.
At a national conference held every 2 years, members discuss bills and resolutions to put to Congress and how they can advocate for legislation to benefit all veterans.
“There’s been huge strides funding the VA the last several years, but it’s nowhere near what it can and should be to help the current crop of veterans coming home,” McDermott said. “They’re going to need the help same as we did.”
If you go
WHAT Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day
WHERE American Legion Greece Post #468, 344 Dorsey Road
WHEN Saturday, May 19, 12-5 p.m.
INFO Lunch, beer, raffles, and live entertainment by DannyB. Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Call (585) 260-0585
