To the Editor: 

On Saturday morning, February 25, several members of the Vietnam Veterans of America organization (V.V.A.), Chapter #1004 of Lebanon, Tennessee, visited our storage facilities at 6920 E Old Murfreesboro Road, Lebanon, Tennessee, and discovered that our building had been burglarized. Among the stolen items are a cooking unit, various pieces of metal, boxes of paper products and food items.

We are a non-profit organization which assist disabled and needy War Veterans including, but not limited to, the Vietnam Veterans, their dependents, the widows and orphans of deceased Veterans. We aid veterans by supplying them food, clothing, appliances, utility/property tax bills and transportation to the area V.A. Hospitals. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, we donate food packages to needy veterans.

In order for the V.V.A.- to provide urgent assistance to veterans, we raise money through various fundraising events throughout the year. Our concession revenues from the Wilson County Fair are the primary source of income that enables the V.V.A. to provide veteran assistance.

The loss of the stolen goods, which are vital for our organization's fundraising activities, financially impedes the efforts of the Vietnam Veterans of America organization, Chapter #1004 to continue to afford support to veterans.

The V.V.A. members are hoping that the individual (s) who are responsible will return the cooking unit and other items taken.

Wendell Granstaff, president
Lebanon