veterans against
drugs
A collaborative effort between Veterans Support Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, various other Veterans groups, Local community groups, Anti-Drugs Program, the clergy, law enforcement and educators has been formed to reduce the efforts of drugs and Violence on our local youth.. Veterans will be visiting classrooms and volunteering by stressing the five core values of the Veterans Against Drugs program.
These core values are: Respect & Camaraderie, Loyalty & Compassion, Honesty & Integrity, Meaningful Achievement and Advocacy.
There are three other programs developed by Veterans Against Drugs including an Anti-Violence program, an advanced drug prevention program for a more mature audience, an a new, exciting, patriotism program.
Our theme ”Commit To Life” is designed to help youth develop responsibility, good judgement and commitment to their families, schools, communities and each other.
Veterans will go into the communities to visit students, detention centers and youth organizations to educate and demonstrate support. Veterans will also participate in many programs already in place to support our youth.
This program is done on a community basis with support from local organizations.
If you are interested in joining the Veterans
Against Drugs Program, (VAD) please contact:
Dave Simmons at 1-800-882-1316 or e-mail dsimmons@vsf-usa.org.
Click to download the VAD manuals and supplemental materials.
Paulette Carlson 
Honoring Vietnam Vets is a cause dear to country singer Paulette Carlson’s heart.
‘‘What took me back to my music was a song I had written called `Thank You Vets,’ ’’ she says. ‘‘My brother, Gary, served in Vietnam in 1968 with the 82nd Airborne and in 1969 with the 173rd Airborne. Gary was a medic. He was 17 when he landed in Vietnam and was convoyed up to Hue in the first days of February 1968. ’’ She wrote "Thank You Vets" in the fall of 2004 when he was in a VA hospital with Agent Orange-related liver cancer. "The war had finally caught up with him," she says, "and I thought we were going to lose him. I pulled my guitar out of my closet, sat on my bed, and ‘Thank You Vets’ wrote itself in ten minutes. I don't think I changed a lyric on it.”
Paulette lost her brother a year later.
"When a song comes that quickly, all you have to do is pick up a pen,” says Paulette, the founding member and lead singer of the acclaimed country music band Highway 101. “I knew I could not, in good conscience, put this song on the shelf with the other songs I had been writing. This song needed to be heard. Who knows why a song like this writes itself after all these years? All I know is that "Thank You Vets" was given to me, and I knew I had to go back to work so this song could be heard."
Paulette’s work in support of Vietnam Veterans of America began with a phone call requesting an opportunity to share “Thank You Vets” with Vietnam veterans gathered in Tucson in the summer of 2006 for the national leadership conference. Her desire to share her song was a gift to those who were there. It wasn’t long before VVA took her up on her offer to record public service messages for the Veterans Against Drugs Task Force. She also performed at the Sylvan Theatre on the grounds of the Washington Monument as part of VVA’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Paulette’s dedication to veterans continues with her work on behalf of VVA.
Click To Listen to the PSA's Paulette recorded in conjunction with VVA and VAD.
