Originally published on Quang Tri Province’s Portal Gate by Pham My Hanh. The following English translation is by Ngo Xuan Hien.
(Portal Gate) On the afternoon of 23 October 2023, Province People’s Committee Chairman Vo Van Hung had a meeting with a working group from Veterans For Peace (VFP) led by VFP Chapter 160 President Chuck Searcy.
Established in 1985, VFP is an international non-profit organization that works to support war victims and veterans from many countries. VFP has protested wars and waged peace in the US on behalf of many nations and peoples.
In Viet Nam, VFP is active in addressing war consequences, cleaning up unexploded bombs and assisting those affected by explosives and Agent Orange, helping to improve their lives.
Through their support of ongoing efforts to clear bombs and mines, assist victims, construct schools and health clinics, American veterans have built solidarity between Vietnamese and American, healing the war wounds and promoting good relations between the two countries.
VFP Chapter 160 President Chuck Searcy and delegation members expressed admiration to the people of Quang Tri Province for their resilience in overcoming wartime devastation to boost socio-economic development.
With that in mind, Searcy said the American veterans recognized the leadership of Quang Tri Province in addressing the war consequences and improving the living conditions of local people.
Searcy said that VFP didn’t have significant resources or money, but the organization is determined to reach out to those heavily impacted by war. Accordingly, all support projects are considered carefully to optimize use of funds. This visit to Quang Tri Province was for group members to learn about the actual situation so that they could discuss and vote to disburse limited funds to the province. Searcy and other members thanked the provincial leaders for their warm welcome and for taking time to host the group.
On behalf of Quang Tri authorities and people of the province, Chairman Vo Van Hung acknowledged and thanked American veterans for their meaningful endeavors for Quang Tri. The Chairman said the provincial leaders appreciated VFP’s activities in Quang Tri during the past years, particularly VFP’s support to war consequences remediation, Agent Orange-affected families and socio-economic development.
The chairman also proposed VFP continue its support to Quang Tri Province to address the war legacies of unexploded ordnance and Agent Orange and provide medical and economic assistance to war victims.
Chairman Vo Van Hung said he believed that people-to-people diplomacy would continue to contribute to advancing the Vietnam – U.S. relationship to new heights.
