Local Vietnam veterans organization meets to plan upcoming events

Updates on upcoming events and fundraising projects took up the main portion of the Texarkana Chapter #278 Vietnam Veterans of America monthly meeting Saturday.

VVA #278 Chapter President Greg Beck said the chapter now has 151 members and the Second Annual Wagons For Veterans held back in April collected more then $23,000.The money can now be used to help local disabled and needy veterans as well as their immediate family members.

The Third Annual Wagons for Veterans fundraiser will be held April 18 next year at the Four States Fairgrounds and between now and then local sponsors and donations will be needed for the event.

For more information on wagon sponsoring or making a donation, call 903-277-8597 or 903-556-1613. Both those telephone numbers can also be used by any local veterans needing assistance.

The VVA #278 will also be holding it 32nd Annual POW-MIA Vigil Sept. 20 and 21 at the Korea-Vietnam Memorial near the West Seventh Street and North State Line Avenue intersection in downtown Texarkana. The vigil will include two evening candlelight services, a balloon release and an afternoon memorial service honoring and remembering those American military servicemen and women still classified as either prisoners of war or still missing in cction.

Besides the candlelight and memorial services, the vigil will also include public participation in the event's 25th annual "Ride to Remember." For those seeking to participate in the ride, the procession will start at the Arkansas Welcome Center located where U.S. Highway 71 crosses the Red River. From there, the rider participants, all of who will need to use street legal motorcycles, cars, pick-up trucks and big rigs, will proceed south on U.S. 71 to the Memorial site in downtown Texarkana. No drugs or alcohol will be
allowed.

For more information about the vigil call 870-773-8279, 903-556-1613 or 903-824-2727.

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