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.

















Above: My friends at the American Veterans
Center released a video documentary about my World War II service
in July 2021.










Today, I've shared my story with thousands of
Americans, and my 56-minute video documentary with the American
Veterans Center (AVC) has been seen nearly 1 million times
online.

So when my friends at the American Veterans
Center told me they were launching an urgent campaign to honor
even more veterans' legacies, I knew that I had to act.

I know how powerful - and critically important
- the American Veterans Center's work is to honor servicemen and
women like me.

Can I count on you to help AVC continue their
important mission with your generous contribution of $25, $50,
$75, $100, $250, $500, or more today?









Support the American Veterans Center










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.

















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.









Support the American Veterans Center










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,

















Vince Speranza
World War II Veteran
For the American Veterans Center









Support the American Veterans Center











 











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 Center1100 N. Glebe Road
Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22201

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