Vietnam Veterans of America meet in Spokane

About 1200 members of the Vietnam Veterans of America are converging on Spokane this week for the VVA's national convention at the Spokane Convention Center. Tuesday afternoon, some of the group gathered around the Vietnam Memorial in RIverfront Park to lay a wreath.

Section:Gallery

Tue., July 16, 2019

From left, Virgie Hibbler, Neil Johnson and Tawana Jones salute with other military veterans as the national anthem is is played Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the Vietnam Memorial in Riverfront Park during a wreath-laying event to kick off the VVA’s national convention, which runs through Saturday in Spokane. The organization features social activities, but is also organized to help veterans with issues such as PTSD, Agent Orange exposure and pension benefits. Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl speaks for a group from the Vietnam Veterans of America Tuesday, July 16, 2019 near the Vietnam Memorial in Riverfront Park in Spokane. Meidle is being applauded after mentioning he is a Marine veteran who served in the Middle East. The VVA national convention started Tuesday and runs through Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Allen Lynch, a Vietnam veteran who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam, welcomes the Vietnam veterans and other participants in the Vietnam Veterans of America’s national convention Tuesday, July 16, 2019. The convention runs through Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Vietnam veterans salute while standing around the Vietnam Memorial in Riverfront Park in Spokane Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the opening day of the Vietnam Veterans of America’s national convention, which runs through Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Joe Plant of Denver, Colorado has his photo taken with Miss Spokane, Ashlee Karras, at the Vietnam Memorial Tuesday, July 16, 2019 in Riverfront Park. The Vietnam Veterans of America group is holding their national convention in Spokane through Saturday with social events but also sessions on topics of interest to veterans, such as Agent Orange exposure, PTSD, veterans benefits and other topics.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Neil Johnson, left, and Virgie Hibbler wait for the wreath-laying ceremony to begin at the Vietnam Memorial in Spokane’s Riverfront Park Tuesday, July 16, 2019. The Vietnam Veterans of America’s national convention runs through Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Al Rice of New Jersey and Ben Vega of Phoenix, Arizona share some memories of from their service years in Vietnam, where they were both military intelligence analysts, Tuesday, July 16, 2019 near the Vietnam Memorial in Riverfront Park in Spokane. It was the start of the Vietnam Veterans of America’s national convention, which runs through Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Al Rice, from New Jersey, points at the name on of Frederic William Miller on the Vietnam Memorial in Riverfront Park Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the Vietnam Memorial in Riverfront Park before a wreath-laying event to kick off the Vietnam Veterans of America’s national convention, which runs through Saturday in Spokane. Rice said that Miller, who served with Rice in the 181st Military Intelligence Detachment of the 101st Airborne, saved him from drowning, then died in a plane crash two days later while in Vietnam. The organization features social activities, but is also organized to help veterans with issues such as PTSD, Agent Orange exposure and pension benefits.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
From right, Virgie Hibbler, Neil Johnson and Tawana Jones salute with other military veterans as “Taps” is played Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the Vietnam Memorial in Riverfront Park during a wreath-laying event to kick off the VVA’s national convention, which runs through Saturday in Spokane. The organization features social activities, but is also organized to help veterans with issues such as PTSD, Agent Orange exposure and pension benefits.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review