Arlo Guthrie to Receive Award At VVA Convention

[boardman]

Arlo Guthrie to Receive Arts Award
At Vietnam Veterans of America’s
16th National Convention

(Washington, D.C.) – The famed singer/songwriter Arlo Guthrie will receive the President’s Award for Excellence in the Arts on Saturday, August 17, at Vietnam Veterans of America’s 16th biennial National Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Arlo Guthrie is a cultural icon of the Vietnam War era. His song ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ resonates with all Americans who lived through that time, including Vietnam veterans,” said VVA national President John Rowan. “We’re very pleased that he will be joining us in Jacksonville to accept the award and to meet and greet our members.”

Some one thousand delegates from VVA chapters across the country are expected to join hundreds of other Vietnam veterans and guests in Jacksonville. The delegates will set the organization's course for the next two years, hear from an array of speakers, attend information sessions, and take part in special events. That includes the Saturday evening Awards Banquet, which honors Vietnam veterans and others in the arts.

Former Congressman David Bonior, who spoke at VVA’s Founding Convention in 1983, will deliver the Keynote Address at the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday morning, August 14. Other special Convention guests include Vietnam veterans Reid Lyon, the renowned neuropsychologist, who will receive the Excellences in the Sciences Award, and Lee Barnes, the award-winning novelist who will receive the Excellence in the Arts Award at the Saturday night Awards Banquet.