The Dogwood Chapter 991 of the Vietnam Veterans of America in Palestine closed their Fall 2019 Fund Raising Donation Raffle on December 10 with a drawing of the two winning tickets. The two winners met with VVA Chapter 991officers at Buffalo Sporting Good in Buffalo on Saturday, December 22 to take possession of their prizes from Buffalo Sporting Goods.
The primary prize was an Armalite model AR-10, in .308 caliber. It was won by Brannon Lamb of Palestine. Brannon is a graduate of Slocum High School. He purchased his winning ticket from the VVA 991’s concession at this year’s Hot Pepper Festival in Palestine. The second prize was a Kimber Ultra Carry II 9mm with Crimson Trace laser sight. It was won by William Strong of Grand Prairie. William is a retired U.S. Navy Vietnam War-era veteran, having served from 1969 to 1989. He purchased his winning ticket from the VVA 991’s concession at this year’s Peanut Festival in Grapeland. Both winners each purchased only two tickets.
This was the last of the two 2019 major fund raising donation campaigns that VVA Chapter 991 conducts each year. The majority of the funds raised through these donations go to the Chapter’s scholarship program. This program awards 4-6 scholarships worth up to $1,000 each for students attending Colleges/Universities, Community/Junior Colleges, or certified trade schools. They are awarded to the families of Vietnam War and Vietnam War-era Veterans from Anderson and all of the counties surrounding Anderson. Since 2007, Chapter 991 has awarded over $100,000 through the program. Additional funds are granted to individual Veterans who require assistance. The Spring Donation campaign will begin in January at the Lone Star Gun Show in Tyler.
Applications for the Fall 2020 semester will be opened in January, with an award in April 2020. Electronic applications will be posted on the VVA Chapter 991 web site (vva991palestinetx.org ) when announced in January. Hard Copy applications also will be available.
