Vet Group Asks Non-Military Families To Donate

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) hopes to raise $30 million for its new support fund.

Its sales pitch, however, may be driven by guilt. If you've got money and your kids didn't go to war, then pay up.

"We are truly free,"?said Vietnam veteran Glenn Delevan. "It's still our choice for everything, and its worth 100%

Delevan is a Shriner, visiting Charlotte for their International 138th Imperial Convention. He chokes up when asked about the cost of freedom.

"It's worth everything you have."

But freedom is more than just flags and parades on the Fourth of July. It's also service to country. Delevan believes it starts with the military.

"It's a personal thing to me that everybody should be in the military as soon as they get out of high school,"?said Delevan.

During Vietnam and the wars before it, men where drafted into the military. They didn't have a choice. Now everyone voluntarily joins. Some argue because of the last two wars in this decade, those that didn't serve owe a debt to those who did.

"We have so many veterans that's coming back, that are coming back wounded,"?said Huntersville resident Eva Bidgood.

To help those individuals who've sacrificed so much, it takes money. So IAVA believes all citizens have a moral obligation to return the favor.

As the wife of a vet, Bidgood believes military service should be a choice, but helping out should be a commitment.

"We just go in and just try to help with child care, help with the meal, some time off so they can have some quite time," said Bidgood.

While the Veteran Support Fund targets wealthy families, Augusta, GA resident Rita Leets believes it's everyone's responsibility.

"We need to take care of our veterans because they're out their fighting for our freedom,"?said Leets. "And they did it voluntarily, nobody forced them."

The IAVA?fund is a centralized tool. Donors choose from among five non-profits. Beneficiaries include Operation Mend, and Operation Homefront. Three philanthropic families have already donated over $1 million.

Source: http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/local/Vet-Group-Asks-Non-Military-Families-To-Donate-161392525.html

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