Veterans of Modern Warfare chapter coming soon

&#8220Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,” vowed Pat Toro, the President of Chapter 32 of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) in Glendale, as he spoke about the intention of Queens veterans to form a new chapter, aimed at serving veterans of the more recent wars.
The group, Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW), would be open to any veteran or active-duty member of the U.S. military, who served at least one active day of duty after Aug. 2, 1990.
&#8220This is going to be an organization that will take over where we [the VVA] leave off,” Toro said, explaining that the number of veterans of earlier wars is dwindling as time passes.
Whitestone resident Michael Porcaro, a Vietnam veteran who retired from the Air Force as Colonel in 1999, has spearheaded the drive to enlist members to form the Queens chapter of the VMW, said John Rowan, National President of VVA, which formed 1981.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Vietnam vets were shunned by the Veterans of Foreign Legions and American Legion, and many veterans of Vietnam experienced side effects of Agent Orange and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) disorder. To provide much-needed support beyond that given to veterans of earlier wars, the vets formed the VVA.
Since Vietnam veterans were not accepted into other support groups, VVA organizers have vowed to provide support for the newly formed VMW.
&#8220We provide whatever a veteran needs,” Toro said of the VVA, listing shelter, food, and pension benefits as some of the bigger services of the organization. A Queens chapter of the VMW would provide similar support services once established and referrals to other groups.
To form a chapter of the VMW, organizers must have at least 10 veterans of recent conflicts, who have proof of their service record, members must petition for the formation of a chapter, and the group must hold a meeting with a majority of their members present where they elect officers.
If formed, the Queens chapter would be the fifth in the country - by the end of the month chapters in Kansas City, MO; Pittsburgh, PA; Buffalo, NY and Washington County, NY will be completely set up, said Paul Davidson, Executive Director of the first VMW chapter in Kansas City.
&#8220We also are … a place where veterans from recent and current conflicts can talk to each other and have their own voice, which they can not do in most of the other organizations,” Davidson said.
Since the formation of the first group - in June 2006 - the VMW has worked to lobby for measures in Washington, D.C. - to extend the presumptive service connection of Gulf War Veterans through 2011 and conduct a comprehensive study of veterans' exposure to depleted uranium.
Although Davidson himself is a civilian, he has dedicated most of his working career to veterans' services.
&#8220By and by, seeing how much veterans have done for our country, how much they continue to help one another and improve the lives of others, it's very rewarding work,” he said.
For information about joining the Queens chapter of the VWM, call Chapter 32 of the VVA at 718-830-0037.