Fellow American,
I was a 19-year-old machine gunner at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
And I didn’t talk about my Army service for more than 65 years after that.
But my life changed forever when, as an 85-year-old, I returned to Bastogne, Belgium to pay my respects to my fallen comrades.
On my first day, a local man hugged me and thanked me for my service. Then he took my daughter and me to the area that my division – the 101st Airborne, also known as the “Screaming Eagles” – had held. I even identified the exact location of my foxhole.
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Above: My friends at the American Veterans Center released a video documentary about my World War II service in July 2021.
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When I visited Bastogne for the first time since the Battle of the Bulge, I was stunned to learn that I had become a local legend.
More than 65 years ago, I’d brought back beer for wounded soldiers in my unit – and, since there were few taverns open and no glasses to be found, I’d poured it all into my helmet.
I told this story to a few locals on my trip to Bastogne … and I couldn’t believe it when they led me to a bar that served “Airborne Beer” in honor of the event.
I never imagined that a Belgian beer would be part of my legacy, but thanks to American Veterans Center supporters like you, it’s now part of our shared American history, too.
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No other organization does as many programs – or as deeply thorough work – to preserve and honor our veterans’ legacies like the American Veterans Center.
The many important programs of the American Veterans Center include:
- The Annual Veterans Conference in Washington, D.C., where I was honored to speak on a panel of fellow veterans and share our hard-won lessons with the students and military cadets in attendance.
- The powerful oral history and video documentary project. These videos are recorded at no cost to veterans; in fact, AVC usually sends their video team to veterans’ homes and, after the production is complete, gives veterans and their families a keepsake copy.
- The National Memorial Day Parade, which AVC brought back to its full glory after it hadn’t been held for many decades. Today, it’s the largest Memorial Day commemoration in the country, and thousands of servicemen and women, from World War II to active-duty forces, march in it.
But the American Veterans Center is only able to offer these programs with the generous support of patriotic Americans like you.
That’s why I hope you’ll make your most generous, tax-deductible gift of $25, $50, $75, $100, $250, $500, or more to help support the American Veterans Center today.
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I didn’t tell the story of my World War II experience for 65 years.
I didn’t even watch movies about the military – I just couldn’t.
But once I returned to Bastogne and met men and women who remembered the war, everything changed.
Sharing my experience as a World War II veteran – at AVC’s Annual Conference, in AVC’s video documentary, at special events, and in my own memoir – changed my life tremendously and for the better.
Now you have the opportunity to help veterans like me share their stories and know that their legacies will be recorded, preserved, and honored – today and in future generations.
Please make your most generous gift to the American Veterans Center right now.
Thank you,
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Vince Speranza
World War II Veteran
For the American Veterans Center
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The mission of the American Veterans Center and the World War II Veterans Committee is to preserve and promote the legacy and experiences of America's veterans and active duty service personnel from World War II through today.
A non-profit educational organization, the AVC and WWIIVC are funded solely through generous contributions from people like you. All contributions are tax-deductible.
© American Veterans Center
1100 N. Glebe Road Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22201
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