Friendship Journeys

An international meeting of Vietnam war veterans from the United States, Vietnam, France, Germany, Britain, and Japan took place in Santa Cruz, California on May 12, 1994. Dubbed "Day of Reconciliation," the historic meeting was attended by the highest-ranking Vietnamese officials ever to visit the United States and was hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) "Bill Motto" Post 5888. Mike Cooper, president of the Santa Cruz Veterans Affairs Office, commented, "What we're seeing now is the end of a war and the making of a long friendship between peoples and individuals. Our soldiers are ending that war. We're not going to wait for the government." Invited luminaries included project founders George Mizo and Sr. Lt. Gen. Tran Van Quang and actor Ed Asner, who said, "I'm happy to see that this bridge is being strongly built and not to be easily torn down." Above right, VFVP-USA board member Ruben Gomez shakes hands with Mr. Chu Do, then head of the Friendship Village Construction & Management Committee. (Mr. Chu Do passed away in March 1997.)

A delegation of nine people from Santa Cruz, California traveled to Vietnam in May of 1995, a year after the Day of Reconciliation in Santa Cruz (see above) and just weeks before normalization of US-Vietnam relations. Leading the pack were then-mayor Katherine Beiers and city councilman Scott Kennedy. The delegation also included VFVP-USA Director Jeff Huch, Vietnam veteran Larry Goodman (on beach, above left) and his two daughters, videographer LB Johnson, travel agent Joseph Mutti, and Brian Burns, whose father was killed in action near Danang two months before Brian's birth. Above right, delegation members pose with their Vietnamese hosts after touring the Cu Chi Tunnels. Their adventure is documented in the Forget-Me-Not video produced by LB Johnson.

Special Events & FUN-Raisers

LEFT: Just a few of the (mostly) Vietnam veterans who attended Gordon Smith's Bay Area BBQ in August 1996 and helped raise over $1,000 for the Friendship Village Project (left to right): Ruben Gomez, Larry Hellinge, Alex Padilla, David Ewing, Jim Long, Gordon Smith, Michael Blecker, and Steve Brooks. RIGHT: Country Joe MacDonald showed up at Gordon's and led a sing-a-long of a few of his memorable songs . Altogether now: One, two, three, what are we fightin' for?...

In September of 1996 Erik and Judy Johnson, owners of the Erik's Delicafe restaurants, sponsored a wine tasting benefit and raised over $6,000 for the Vietnam Friendship Village in one day! Erik, above left, poses with his rare Salamanazars, and Judy, pictured above right with VFVP co-directors LB Johnson (left) and Becky Luening (right), shows off the beautiful and delicious food spread. Revelers were entertained by dancer Linh Murphy (center), who grew up in Vietnam.

Above: VFVP-USA board member Becky Luening holds up the VFVP-USA banner at a Veterans For Peace rally in Washington DC in August 1997. Holding up the other end of the banner is Gilbert Jacquemin, member of the French VFVP committee (since deceased in Nov. 1999). Right: Sanford Kelson and Peter Shaw of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Veterans for Peace made a pledge to raise $150,000 for the Village Project. They have held several "fun-raising" picnics in the Pittsburgh area in the past several years and are making steady progress toward their goal.

Left: In November 1999, VFVP supporters Mike Cull and Suel Jones (shown in photo with Vietnamese boys at Friendship Village) hosted a dinner and presentation in Anchorage, Alaska, which raised $2,800 and a lot of awareness. Suel reflected, "Won't change the world, but it has changed me knowing that with a little caring work something can be done." Suel hand-delivered the money to Hanoi in December 1999. Suel and Mike, both Vietnam veterans, subsequently became board members of VFVP-USA and continue to raise funds -- and fun -- in support of the Friendship Village. Center: S. Brian Willson rolls over the finish line of the New York City marathon, Nov. 7, 1999, on his arm-powered, three-wheeled hand-cycle. Pledges raised through the national Veterans For Peace office for Brian's ride resulted in close to $3,000 being raised for the Friendship Village. Right: On April 30, 2000, VFVP-USA hosted a Day of Remembrance in Santa Cruz, California to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. The event included music, poetry, speakers, and a sharing circle. In the photo, children open a basket to free 25 white doves, symbolizing the years passed since the Americans pulled out of the war.