Vietnam Veterans of America to Benefit From Veterans Tribute Dragster

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2007; Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is proud to be included in the effort by drag-racing philanthropist Evan Knoll to salute Vietnam veterans by dedicating a Top Fuel dragster in memory of the 58,000 Americans who perished in Vietnam, along with those still listed as missing in action, and the 2.8 million American veterans of the war.

"VVA is honored that Mr. Knoll's car will carry our organization's logo," said Vietnam Veterans of America national president John Rowan. "This is a very big step in helping us get the word out that VVA has been working since 1978 in service to America and that we live our founding principle every day of the year: that never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."

Knoll, the president of Torco Race Fuels in Decatur, Mich., will honor Vietnam veterans and VVA with an 8,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster that will be driven by Melanie Troxel and will compete in all 23 NHRA POWERade Series races in 2007. Vietnam veterans, he said, "did what their country asked of them and regardless of what anyone's political beliefs are, it's high time these men and women got the due respect they deserve. That is what this car is. It's a high-horsepower 'welcome wagon.'"

Knoll and VVA also hope to bring awareness to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its dedication in 2007. VVA is planning to honor The Wall's 25th anniversary with a parade on Nov. 10 in Washington, D.C.

For more information, visit Vietnam Veterans of America's Web site, http://www.vva.org/, or contact the project's coordinator, Bobby Bennett, at HarleynSC@aol.com or 864-266-0937. For the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series 2007 schedule, go to http://www.nhra.com/2007/schedule.asp.

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the nation's only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA's founding principle is "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."