The Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) to the Upstate July 15-19 for its National Leadership Conference at the Hyatt Regency. VVA will also celebrate its 30th Anniversary during this year's Conference and the Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) will hold its 1st Annual VMW Convention at the same time.

The first formal event of Vietnam Veterans of America's biennial National Leadership Conference in Greenville, will take place on Tuesday, July 15, at 3 pm when VVA's four national officers and members of the Board of Directors join with members of the South Carolina VVA to lay a wreath at the Greenville County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located in Cleveland Park. The ceremony is open to the public.

"It's traditional for VVA to honor local Vietnam War dead before we get on to the business of our National Leadership Conferences and National Conventions," said VVA President John Rowan. "It is something we take very solemnly and seriously. It is our honor to recognize those Americans from Greenville County who paid the ultimate price in Vietnam." Rowan will be joined in the ceremony by National Vice President Jack Devine, Secretary Barry Hagge, Treasurer Alan Cook, Region 3 Director Bruce Whitaker, Region 9 Director Dick Southern and AVVA President Mary Miller. The Conference's Opening Ceremonies will take place on Wednesday, July 16, at 8:45 am at the Hyatt Regency.

The Leadership Conference will bring together over 400 Vietnam veteran advocates from around the nation. They will take part in four days of seminars, meetings, and other activities. VVA's supporting organization, the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, will hold its biennial convention and national elections, and the Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) will have its founding National Convention concurrently with the Leadership Conference.

Vietnam Veteran of America is the only congressionally chartered, not for profit veterans service organization devoted exclusively to Vietnam era veterans and their families. Their memberships are those that have served in the US Military during the Vietnam War (1959 - 1975) as well as their families. They hold a national meeting every year in the late summer which rotates between National Conventions and National Leadership Conferences every other year. The Leadership Conference is designed to train and assist current and prospective leaders in maintaining strong chapters, state councils, and successful programs.