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Agent Orange In Ohio – COVVHA Event Press Release

On September 21, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

For Immediate Release

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance
COVVHA@GMAIL.COM
www.Covvha.net

Agent Orange In Ohio

Boardman, OH – October, 13 2012 – Two Generational Victims of Agent Orange who founded the Non-Profit Organization ‘Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance’ will host a meet & greet and educational seminar on October 13th starting at 6pm at Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center, 755 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Suite D- (Southbridge West), Boardman, OH. Appetizers and beverages will be served, followed by the seminar at 7pm. Please make your reservations at COVVHA@Gmail.com for attendance since seating is limited. The event is free and open to the public and can also be joined through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/COVVHA

Heather A. Bowser (39), Daughter of Bill Morris, of Canfield Ohio and Kelly L. Derricks (37), Daughter of Harry C. Mackel Jr., of Bucks County Pennsylvania are both daughters of deceased Vietnam War Veterans. Each of their father’s were exposed to the deadly herbicide Agent Orange/Dioxin while serving with the United States Military resulting in their untimely deaths. Heather and Kelly were both born with multiple birth defects and illnesses which they still suffer from Today. In early 2012, after many years of independent advocacy, they came together to form ‘Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance’ a Non-Profit organization seeking justice and providing assistance for the tens of thousands of sons and daughters also suffering from the generational effects of Agent Orange that occurs during the conception of a child.

Karen Y. Wengert (38), Daughter of surviving Vietnam Veteran George Ridgeway, of Newark Ohio, will also be attending the event. Karen’s mother, Barbara Ridgeway (Dunn), who is now deceased, was a key proponent in starting the area’s local VVA chapter. At the age of 8, Karen accompanied by her parents on November 11, 1982, stood in attendance at the official opening of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. As a surviving Vietnam Veteran, Karen’s father now suffers the severe health effects that Agent Orange / Dioxin is known for leaving in its destructive wake. Recently, Heather and Kelly were very pleased when Karen graciously accepted the position of Secretary as an Official COVVHA board member. Karen has worked tirelessly over the last several months, despite her suffering with numerous illnesses, to ensure COVVHA’s ability to reach the 2ND generation victims of Agent Orange.

Nicknamed COVVHA, Kelly and Heather stress four simple words that have reached millions, not just in the American community, but also the international community of those exposed including Vietnam, Australia, Korea, Japan, Guam, and Canada; “You Are NOT Alone.” COVVHA has vowed that no Vietnam Veteran, Child, Grandchild, or those who were exposed to Agent Orange by other circumstances, will ever feel like they are waging the fight for their lives alone. The event which is being hosted by Kelly and Heather on October 13th starting at 6pm at Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center, 755 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Suite D-(Southbridge West), Boardman, Ohio, Is intended to educate the general public and those exposed about the generational health and medical effects of Agent Orange. They also hope to meet other Sons and Daughters of Vietnam Veterans who may have interest in volunteering any extra time to COVVHA.

Before his Death at the age of 37, Kelly’s father stated, “I know I have a bomb ticking inside of me, I know that bomb is Agent Orange.” Before his death at the age of 50, Heather’s father stated, “If I only knew I was taking my children to war, I would have dodged the draft.” Please join Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance on Saturday evening, October 13, 2012 to help COVVHA raise awareness. R.S.V.P. by email at COVVHA@GMAIL.COM At the conclusion of the evening’s events, A brief memorial tribute will be held in honor of Kelly’s father marking the 30 year anniversary of his death on October 14, 1982. Kelly was only 7 years old when her father died. Agent Orange was not just a Vietnam War Era tragedy. In fact, Agent Orange was used globally long before the war began. To people like Kelly and Heather and the millions they fight for, the Vietnam War never ended. The battle ground and weaponry have simply changed.

Visit Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance at their main website www.CovvHa.net

Support COVVHA’S Facebook Page by clicking the “LIKE” button at https://www.facebook.com/COVVHA

Contact Heather and Kelly by email at COVVHA@GMAIL.COM

Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance Hosting Reception and Film Screening

On April 3, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance Hosting Reception and Film Screening

Living The Silent Spring

Generational Victims of Agent Orange from around the country will host a reception and film screening on April 14th starting at 6pm at Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center, 755 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Suite D-3 (Southbridge West), Boardman, OH. Light appetizers will be served, followed by the documentary screening at 7pm. Please make your reservations at COVVHA@Gmail.com for film viewing since seating is limited. The reception itself is open to the public, no reservations necessary. This is a free community event. You can also join through Facebook –

SPECIAL EVENT NOTICE
COVVHA HOSTING RECEPTION AND FILM SCREENING “LIVING THE SILENT SPRING” APRIL 14, 2012

Seven Agent Orange generational Victims from around the United States will be in Canfield, Ohio for three days to collaborate on a new organization created for the children of Vietnam Veterans by children of Vietnam Veterans. The new organization name is ‘Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance’ (COVVHA). During this time, award winning photographer Goro Nakamura will be documenting this historic meeting. In addition Kyoren Takamasa, a Japanese reporter and staff writer for The Chugoku Shimbun will be interviewing the Agent Orange generational victims and attending the reception. Both are flying in from Japan to record this unprecedented event. Never before have so many U.S. Agent Orange second generation victims come together to change the face of Agent Orange Activism. COVVHA is committed to serving as a voice for the children of Vietnam Veterans including, second and third generation victims of Agent Orange and Dioxin exposures worldwide. They believe in empowering each other to hold the companies and governments responsible for causing so much devastation and suffering to their generations. Their mission includes fighting for justice globally.

Attendance at the reception and screening include:

Heather A. Bowser, OH, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, COVVHA Founder, Director of International Affairs & Mental Health Services. Born with multiple birth defects.

Kelly L. Derricks, PA, Retired Mental Health Therapist, COVVHA Founder, Director of Legislation & Operations, and Agent Orange Victim suffering over 25 unexplained illnesses.

Laura Hammons, TX, Founder of Daughters of Vietnam Veterans (DOVV) and sibling of an affected Agent Orange victim.

Jennifer Loney, PA, born without her arm, and 1982 subject of Japanese Photographer, Goro Nakamaura’s Photographs chronicling Agent Orange devastation in the USA and in Vietnam. Her photograph is on permanent display in Ho Chi Minh City, VN at the War Remnant Museum. It also has been exhibited in NYC.

Tanya Mack, CA, Daughter of a Vietnam Veteran who served in one of the most densely sprayed areas in Vietnam. Tanya was born with birth defects and is currently fighting rare cancers.

Jenna Mack, CA, Tanya’s oldest daughter, Miss Teen California, Murrieta, who educates others how agent Orange has affected her life for her pageant platform.

Ben Quick, AZ, Author of ”The Boneyard”, Adjunct Professor of English and Creative Writing at The University of Arizona, born with Agent Orange related Birth defects.

All will be available to talk and answer questions regarding Agent Orange/Dioxin exposures and the effects taken on their lives as a result.

The film screening will be of ”Living The Silent Spring“, by Japanese Filmmaker, Masako Sakata, a widow of an American Vietnam Veteran. The film features Canfield, Ohio resident and Agent Orange Activist, Heather A. Bowser, a thirty nine year old female born with birth defects associated with her father’s exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

The event will be hosted by Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance (COVVHA), a newly founded organization fighting to give the children and grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans a voice. Many Children and Grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans are suffering from birth defects and unexplained illnesses which have no prior family history. Like their Fathers, many have become seriously ill in the prime of their lives. At this time, the United States Government refuses recognition for the birth defects and illnesses in the children of male Vietnam Veterans accept for certain types of Spina Bifida.

More about the documentary:

Living the Silent Spring: Fifty years ago, Rachel Carson‘s landmark book “Silent Spring” warned of the danger of widespread use of pesticides and herbicides, helping to launch the environmental movement in the U.S. Around this same time, the U.S. military began to spray defoliants in Vietnam, so as to deny cover to guerrilla forces entrenched in dense jungles and swampland. The defoliants, including Agent Orange, were potent mixes of chemicals used in agriculture, which were contaminated with the deadly toxin, Dioxin during manufacturing. Over a decade of U.S. spraying, some 4 million Vietnamese were directly exposed to the defoliants, and the health effects continue today. American soldiers serving in Vietnam, and other locations, were also exposed. Many veterans suffer a range of diseases as a consequence. In both countries, the effects have now carried over to the children and even grandchildren of those exposed including Heather A. Bowser, the daughter of an American Vietnam Veteran, who was born missing a leg and many of her fingers. In the film Heather visits Vietnam, her father’s battleground, and discovers the importance of building links between victims of Agent Orange in the U.S. and Vietnam. Living the Silent Spring depicts the struggles and courage of American and Vietnamese children who bear the imprint of Agent Orange, and asks us to once again heed the prophetic warnings of Rachel Carson.

About Agent Orange:
Agent Orange the chemical defoliant sprayed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, has been linked to many illnesses in our country’s Vietnam Veterans. Many people do not know the long term, unrecognized, damage the chemical has done to the Children of Vietnam Veterans from around the world not just the U.S. but also, in the adults and children of Vietnam. Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance is working diligently to bring awareness and justice for all generational victims of Agent Orange wherever in the world they may be.

Living The Silent Spring Preview