Legacy of Our Veterans' Military Exposures
Justice - social, environmental, human
Protecting our veterans' childrenā„¢

August and October are both Agent Orange Awareness Month

It’s time once again to observe Agent Orange Awareness Month.Ā  We began observing Agent Orange Awareness not only in the month of August but also October.

I know it’s confusing to some but here is a little history behind Agent Orange Awareness Month.

My understanding is that most states have designated October as the month of choice but in Maine, where I live, it’s August. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced and the Senate passed a resolution making August Agent Orange Awareness Month:Ā  http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=61&cad=rja&ved=0CDAQFjAAODw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthomas.loc.gov%2Fcgi-bin%2Fquery%2Fz%3Fc111%3AS.%2BRes.%2B248%3A&ei=oG5pUIP5BvO60QGxzoCoCQ&usg=AFQjCNEvnyocSNXanTUl97jteWgWdeptaQ&sig2=HIZXAszdfsexurI0Kf4Nmg.

FROM SENATOR COLLINS:Ā  Increase Agent Orange Awareness

Vietnam Veterans of America declares October as Agent Orange Awareness Month. The pdf also has a brief history of Agent Orange Awareness month on page 14:Ā  http://www.vva.org/OrgDocs/VVA-Resolutions.pdf

Unfortunately, I can not find the website where I first learned about Agent Orange Awareness Month and all the different states that had passed Resolutions.

Why is Agent Orange Awareness Month relevant to those involved in the food movement? Ā One word answer is Monsanto. Ā Monsanto was the largest producer of Agent Orange during the Vietnam war. Ā We all wonder why a company like Monsanto has transformed itself into the leader of Genetically Modified Food, Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs. Ā Well the answer is simple, greed and commercialization of war time technology.

Is Monsanto the first company to commercialize war time technology? Ā The answer is NO, of course not. Ā All we have to do is look at war time technology commercialized from WWII such as nuclear power plants or microwave ovens. Ā Just as chemotherapy was discovered by poisoning our soldiers during WWI and WWII. Ā Not all war time technology is bad but there doesn’t seem to be any mechanism in place to prevent dangerous technology from being commercialized.

 

Here is some of the info I saved over the years:

States that Observe Agent Orange Awareness Month in August:
Agent Orange Awareness Month is honored in the following states for the month of August:
Maine – Date Unknown

States that Observe Agent Orange Awareness Month in October: Agent Orange Awareness Month is honored in the following states for the month of October:

TEXAS – 1998 – 1999
VERMONT – 1999
COLORADO – 1999
LOUISIANA – 1998
NEW JERSEY – 1998
NEW YORK – 1998
ALABAMA – 1998
FLORIDA – 1998
UTAH – 1998
WASHINGTON – 1998
MARYLAND – 1998
NEW HAMPSHIRE – 1998
MINNESOTA – 1998
WISCONSIN – 1998
RHODE ISLAND – 1998
OHIO – 1998

States Awaiting Governor’s Signatures:
ARIZONA
MISSOURI
GEORGIA
OREGON
CALIFORNIA
VIRGINIA
ILLINOIS
MASSACHUSETTS
KANSAS

States that Have Refused to Honor our Agent Orange Veterans:
KENTUCKY

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CREATE AWARENESS:

1)Ā  BDRC ā€˜Children Centerā€™ PETITION;Ā  Signing this petition will help thousands of Vietnam Veterans’ children that are in dire need of specific medical treatment related to Agent Orange exposure. Be a supporter and sign the petition on the behalf of ALL veterans:Ā  http://agentorangelegacy.blogspot.com/2013/05/children-center-petition.html

2)Ā  REGISTER NOW: IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS; Vietnam Veterans of America Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee is asking the children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange; adult children (we recommend you register your children also) who are ill and/or have birth defects, learning disabilities and/or mental health issues; to register with Birth Defect Research for Children, Inc. National Birth Defect Registry:Ā  http://agentorangelegacy.blogspot.com/2013/05/register-now-important-message-to.html

3)Ā  FILE FORM 21-0304: IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS;

Vietnam Veterans of America Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee asks all the children (we suggest grandchildren also) of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange who are ill and/or suffering from a birth defect, learning disabilities, mental health illness, etc..to file a claim with the VA.

Please use VA Form 21-0304. This is the same form used for the children of women Vietnam veterans. Your claim will be denied, but it will cause a record to be established.
Once this is done, should the VA change itā€™s policies and allow male veteransā€™ children more than spina bifida as a presumptive for the veteranā€™s exposure to Agent Orange, we will then have recourse:
http://agentorangelegacy.blogspot.com/2013/05/important-message-to-children-of.html

 

4)Ā  FAQ; We are usually swamped with emails from people looking for answers to the same types of questions. If you have questions check the FAQs before contacting us. Many of your questions may already have been answered in this forum:Ā  http://agentorangelegacy.blogspot.com/2013/05/frequently-asked-questions.html

 

5) Ā CLICK HERE for ourĀ PHYSICIANS’ RESOURCE 2015; Vietnam veterans have been reporting that their children have been born with birth defects and other health problems for decades. This cry for help has fallen on deaf ears for many years.

We have created this one page document to help educate our doctors about the generational effects of Agent Orange on the Children of Vietnam veterans.

The children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange continue to go without adequate medical intervention, without the support and services they so desperately need!

Ā We hope that thisĀ informational document that we created for the children of Vietnam veterans will help aid in getting adequate medical intervention.

 

Ā AGENT ORANGE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

HONOR YOUR VETERAN AND THEIR CHILDREN LOST TO AGENT ORANGE;Ā  AGENT ORANGE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL (AOVVM).Ā  AOVVM is an online memorial. A MEMORIAL TO OUR U.S. VETERANS LOST TO AGENT ORANGE: This page is a memorial of our veterans we loved & lost because of Agent Orange/Dioxin or physical & emotional wounds as a result of their service in Vietnam & to their country:Ā  http://www.facebook.com/aovvm

 

USE THESE PICTURES TO HELP SPREAD AWARENESS:

Living with Agent Orange

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agent Orange Broke My Heart

HISTORY OF AGENT ORANGE BROKE MY HEARTā„¢Ā and IMAGE

My daughter, Dee and I made this image in 2007 when we founded Agent Orange Legacy after her father (my husband) died due to his exposure to Agent Orange and his service (Hep C and PTSD).

When I wrote the words Agent Orange Broke My Heartā„¢ for the first time I did so as the mother of a child affected by her father’s exposure to Agent Orange and as the widow of a Vietnam veteran lost to Agent Orange. Agent Orange had taken so much from me, from my daughter, my husband’s life, from our family.

Agent Orange broke my heart because I was forced to stand by and watch my child suffer while I was helpless to do anything for her. This wasn’t just a day, a week, a month; this was years on end. Her entire childhood. I advocated for her, of course I did. It was difficult. We didn’t know why she suffered from debilitating muscle spasms all over her body or why she also suffered from other serious health problems. The doctors didn’t know. The school officials didn’t know. Nobody seemed to know why she was ill or how to best help her. As a result she suffered in pain from these muscle spasms for many years.

Every mother wants the best for their child, not pain and suffering. A mother’s heart breaks when she can not relieve her child’s pain and suffering.

After reflecting on this and after my husband’s death I realized that Agent Orange Broke My Heartā„¢.

My daughter and I have been using this image and Agent Orange Broke My Heartā„¢ to spread awareness. It is our signature piece for our “Agent Orange Awareness Month Campaign” which we have been observing annually for many years.

Please help us spread awareness by sharing this image. Thank you for your support, Sharon & Dee, founders of Legacy of Our Veterans’ Military Exposure L3C and Agent Orange Legacy.

 

Sprayed and Betrayed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agent Orange Killed My Vietnan Vet

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy of Our Veterans’ Military Exposures LOVME (c) All rights reserved.
Agent Orange Legacy (c) All rights reserved.

Legacy of Our Veterans' Military Exposures
Widow of a Vietnam veteran exposed to Agent Orange and founder of Agent Orange Legacy.
  1. Laura Salmons Reply

    I don’t see the state of Pennsylvania on any list for Agent Orange Month. Does anyone know if it is even observed in our state. Enough Veteran’s have & are suffering from this, my husband included.

    • LOVME Reply

      So sorry for delayed response. If it’s not on the list chances are it is being observed in PA.

  2. Mary L Jasicki Reply

    Hello, I believe my children also have autoimmune diseases from Agent Orange. I am creating a performance for the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival for Agent Orange Awareness. Please contact me regarding materials , testimonies or any other information that will inspire a script to educate the public regarding the dangers of Agent Orange passed to the next generations. Thank you!

    • LOVME Reply

      So sorry for delayed response had serious illnesses that resulted in death. If you every need any info email me at aolegacy@gmail.com

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