City Rolls Out Red Carpet as Decision Makers Visit to Choose Future Home of Vietnam Veterans of America
Bridgeport rolled out the red carpet today, Thursday and will keep it out Saturday morning as city officials are hoping the community will be the new home to a national veterans organization.
Recently, it was announced that the organization was looking to move its national headquarters from Washington D.C. and conducted a national search. The two finalists include Bridgeport and Pittsburgh, Pa. Pittsburgh has already been visited.
Today, presentations were made by numerous groups at the Bridgeport Conference Center. The presentations began following remarks from Secretary of State Kris Warner and wrapped up just prior to lunch. They will continue this afternoon with one of the presentations by the City of Bridgeport being handled by Mayor Robert Matheny and Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth.
All the presentations were geared toward convincing three men Bridgeport is the place they need to be. And that place would be on the second floor of the 600 Building at Charles Pointe.
The men in question were VVA President Tom Burke; General Counsel Dominick Yezzo; and Captain James McCormick, the Director of National Legislative affairs. They sat at the head of the table inside a small, but intimate, conference room listening to the pitch.
time – location.
“A key thing was the location in perspective to Washington, D.C.,” said Burke. “It’s the distance, and it’s also the area itself.”
But there were more things.
“What really drew us here were the people,” said Burke. “We looked at a lot of different areas in our search, but this seemed to fit into the grouping that we were looking for. The people were part of that equation.”
Many of those people are veterans. West Virginia ranks high for the concentration of people who have served. Veterans comprise close to 8 percent of the state’s adult population, which is among the highest in the nation. More than 100,000 former service members live in the state.
“Veterans are important. That’s our business, and we looked at the area of veteran population, and we looked at how we can serve those veterans,” said Burke.
Burke also got an unexpected tour of the Mountain State. Due to the flooding, he ended up having to take a different route to get to the Bridgeport for the event that started Thursday and wraps up with a breakfast gathering Saturday.
“I was up in the hills. I was amazed to see the devastation,” Burke said. Burke added that he was also aware through following the news the community response to assist those in need.
“I’m real excited that we’ve been included,” said Matheny. “… This would certainly be a win for Bridgeport, the region, and the state to have the honor of having them here. We also see them coming here as being a win for the Vietnam Veterans of America. This community, this region, this state, would embrace them.”
For those who follow history, decades ago Vietnam Veterans were not embraced by the country. It is a fact not lost on Burke, a member of the Navy attached to a combat helicopter squad aboard the USS Hancock Aircraft Carrier. And watching communities stepping up hoping to call their organization home, along with the respect veterans are shown today, is wonderful.
“There is no question (it is heartwarming),” said Burke. “Most people know the situation involving Vietnam Veterans. We were really not wanted; nobody wanted to talk to us or see us, and it was a very tough time for veterans.
“The nation has learned a valuable lesson I believe,” Burke continued. “You cannot concern the warrior with the war. They’re two different things. The appreciation of veterans, particularly those from Vietnam, is greater than it’s ever been.”
Matheny made it clear they would be welcomed here with open arms. He said his presentation would focus on what Bridgeport has to offer that will show that and show everything the community has to offer the Vietnam Veterans of America organization.
VVA has more than 92,000 members nationwide. The organization also has more than 600 chapters in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Philippines. Sixteen chapters are in West Virginia.
Corton’s team has already submitted floor plans for VVA’s National Headquarters.
The VVA National Headquarters comes with 18-20 full-time professional jobs with potential for growth. The organization also hosts three to four events per year with 200 or more attendees.
West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner has helped in pulling officials from across the state and welcomed the group this morning. Those making presentations today include Amy Wilson and Luis Ramirez with the Harrison County Economic Development Corporation; Ron Eagle for the North Central West Virginia Airport and various entities; Ryan Kennedy the head of the West Virginia Department of Foreign Affairs; Jerry Wood who is the strategic advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army Retired Soldier Council; Frank Vitale, the West Virginia State Chair for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; Susan Riddle of the Mountaineer Country Convention & Visitors Bureau; State Senator Ben Queen; Command Sergeant Major James “Dusty” Jones of the West Virginia National Guard; Emily Huguenin and Danny Twilley of the WVU Ascend and Ascend Heroes Program; and Jonathon Board of the West Virginia First Foundation. Other officials were also anticipated to address the group today.
The presentation ends this evening with dinner at Mia Margherita followed by after dinner comradery at the Bridgeport American Legion Post 68.
Things began Thursday with lunch at Mia Margherita, which was followed by a tour of space at the 600 Building and a presentation by Genesis Partners. After that, the group toured Bridgeport, parts of Harrison County, the FBI Center, The Bridge, and more. A key stop was at Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg along with the Veteran’s Retirement Home. Thursday was also concluded with dinner at Mia Margherita.
Editor’s Note: Top photo shows, from left, Captain James McCormick, VVA President Tom Burke, and General Counsel Dominick Yezzo representing the VVA; second image, one of several presentations is being made, while the third image shows Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth, left, and Mayor Robert Matheny listening to a point being made by McCormick. Bottom photo is Jamie Corton of Genesis Partners. Cover photo shows Matheny, right, with Burke just prior to lunch.