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Welcome to the Virginia Vets for Freedom Web Site. We
are pleased you chose to visit this site which represents Veterans
from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars as well as friends and Vets from
other wars which support our efforts.
For the majority of our members, our combat tours are over, but we
feel our efforts are continuing with a great deal of success by
soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who continue the War on
Terror. They are valiant and represent the best the United States
has to offer. Vets for Freedom was created to support the
mission. The "Surge" in Iraq planned and executed with brilliance
and courage is working. That message, however, is not being
portrayed in our popular press. Vets for Freedom wants to
change that message by enlisting veterans who can tell their story.
The unique capability our Vets have is to tell what they have seen
and witnessed, the successes of the Iraqi government, the drop in
violence throughout the country, the progress made by the Iraqi
Armed Forces, the progress being made in Afghanistan and the
increase in security in the formerly contested cities and
provinces. The authority of a Vet speaking is the ultimate
message.
We have run media ads with success and have conducted two "Vets on
the Hill" events in Washington, DC also with success. Our state
representatives visited the offices of Congressmen and Women and
Senators in order to support testimony being given in the Congress
by General Petraeus. We also conducted a quick order Vets on the
Hill on 5 November 2009 to support the troop request made by
General McCrystal.
As you may be aware, a decision has been made and announced at
West Point by President Obama. Vets for Freedom applauds the
announcement of the 30,000 additional forces. VFF, however, does
not understand the end date announced by the President. We will
have to wait to see what the Congress says. That leaves it up to us
to contact our congressman or congesswoman, to write letters to the
editor of our local newspapers and to write editorials or appear on
radio stations. Those of you who have served in Afghanistan will be
the most believable. Us old soldiers can offer our opinions, but
the word from the men and women who served there will carry the
most weight. The war is not over and we still have work to do.
Please let the state leadership know if we can be of
assistance.
The Virginia Vets for Freedom chapter is uniquely
qualified to put our message out with the large numbers of
political, service, and community organizations, the large number
of local media outlets and the proximity to Washington, DC.
Virginia Vets for Freedom wants all Virginians who support
the mission with the War on Terror to join our ranks to ensure the
war is not lost in the political scene in Washington, DC. We do not
want to succeed on the battlefield only to lose to the wrong
message and the people who do not believe our efforts have been
successful.
We are always seeking volunteers to help us convince our
politicians and others that the war in Afghanistan is proceeding as
well as it can with the forces we now have on the ground and If you
want to join our effort, please enter your e-mail in the space
provided or e-mail me at cdillard@vetsforfreedom.org.
Thank you for your interest in this State message and thank you
for any help you can provide.
Coby W. Dillard
Virginia State Captain
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