(VNF) - The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) has hosted a meeting to present the certificate of merit to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” medals to its active members on January 22^nd.

The VVA’s delegation including VVA Vice President Marsha Four, Communications Director Margaret Pratt Porter, and POW/MIA Chair Grant T. Coates, who are in Hanoi from January 19^th to February 2^nd.

VUFO Vice President in-charge cum Secretary General Don Tuan Phong (L) presents the certificate of merit to VVA's members.

The VVA's ‘Veterans Initiative’ Program (VIP) has provided 300 dossiers with information of about nearly 12,000 Vietnamese martyrs, assisting the search and collection of the remains of 1,500 fallen soldiers since 1994, according to VUFO Vice President in-charge cum Secretary General Don Tuan Phong.

He also spoke highly of the U.S. veterans' initiatives which helps promote the two countries' friendship, cooperation and redress postwar issues affecting the Vietnamese people.

In addition, the VVA is cooperating with several American television channels to broadcast documentary of the fallen soldiers’ search results, the consequences of war and the situation in Vietnam today; and continue to urge the U.S. government to support the development of relations with Vietnam, the Vice President noted.

VVA has continuously supported its members to return to Vietnam to witness the positive changes the country has made over the past time, thus fostering the friendship between the two nations’ veterans and people.

Over the past year, the VVA has also engaged in a number of activities to assist Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Vietnam, he added.

Vietnam-US Society and VVA’s delegates pose for photo.

Phong also expressed his wish that VVA will continue to pay attention to humanitarian aid and provide supports for Vietnam to deal with AO/dioxin and unexploded ordnance issues. The two organisations will continue serving as a bridge promoting the Vietnam-U.S. relationship, benefiting the two countries and its people.

POW/MIA Chair Grant Coates, on behalf of Vice President Marsha Four, pledged that VVA will continue to carry out the VIP to support Vietnam in humanity activities in overcoming the consequences of war, assisting Agent Orange/dioxin victims and searching missing Vietnamese soldiers; and actively support the Vietnam – U.S. relations.

Through the sharing of information between veterans from two sides, America’s and Vietnam’s veterans are expected to develop new sources of information to help resolve the issue of American and Vietnamese MIA, he added.

VUFO Vice President in-charge Don Tuan Phong presents the medals “For peace and friendship among nations” to POW/MIA Chair Grant Coates and Communications Director Margaret Pratt Porter, who presented at the event.

At the event, the VUFO Vice President in-charge also presented the medals “For peace and friendship among nations” to members of the VVA including President John Rowan; Vice President Marsha Four; Communications Director Margaret Pratt Porter and POW/MIA Chair Grant Coates./.

Minh Chau