The president of a national veterans organization said Americans should support U.S. service members and avoid political division surrounding the current Operational Epic Fury military operations involving Iran.
“We are Americans. We are veterans. And we will stand with those who stand watch for this nation,” said Tom Burke, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). “As Vietnam veterans, we know what it means to return home to a divided country.”
“We are determined that never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,” Burke said. “Our troops deserve our respect, our support, and our unity — not political division.”
Burke reaffirmed support for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their families, and Gold Star families, including troops serving in ongoing missions connected to Iran. He said the organization’s message reflects lessons learned by Vietnam-era veterans who returned home to public division and hostility despite their service.
He emphasized separating policy debates from attitudes toward service members and called on Americans to support military families managing deployments and uncertainty at home.
Burke’s comments come a week after asking Congress to prioritize accountability for missing service members, toxic exposure research and bipartisan cooperation on veterans policy.
“We learned quickly that if veterans did not fight for each other, no one else would,” said Burke during testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. “So we fought. We fought for ourselves when no one else would. And we won battles many said could not be won.”
“Although our name reflects one generation, our mission has never been confined to one,” Burke said. “We speak today not only for Vietnam veterans, but for all veterans. Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”
VVA, founded in 1978 and chartered by Congress, advocates for veterans’ benefits, POW/MIA accountability, and support for veterans and their families across generations of service.
