Prayer for Agent Orange Victims and Their Families
History and Impact of Agent Orange
VA Presumption of Agent Orange Exposure for Vietnam Veterans
A ceremony was held at Bicentennial Park in Fall River for Agent Orange Awareness Day to honor Vietnam veterans and all veterans exposed to toxins. The event began with an opening prayer by Reverend Rob, who asked for comfort and healing for those affected. The main speaker, identifying himself as a regional director for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), then provided a detailed history of the chemical defoliants used during the Vietnam War, including Agents Pink, Purple, Blue, White, and Orange. He detailed the millions of gallons sprayed and the development of the toxins by companies like Monsanto and Dow Chemical Company through British and American collaboration. The speaker discussed the vast impact of the exposure, citing a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presumption that over 5.3 million service members who served in Vietnam between January 1962 and May 1975 were exposed. He also touched upon the devastating effects on the Vietnamese population, with estimates of 4.8 million people exposed and up to six generations suffering from health issues. He noted that while Vietnam veterans had to wait decades for recognition and benefits, their advocacy paved the way for current service members exposed to toxins to receive care more quickly. The ceremony concluded with a final prayer from Reverend Rob, remembering the fallen and those still suffering, and a call to continue supporting all veterans.
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The first Agent Orange event here at the Bicentennial Park for Vietnam veterans and all veterans who have been exposed to the toxins.
0:21But before I begin the program, I'd like Reverend Rob to come out and do a prayer.
0:30Good evening.
0:30Let us take a moment, bow our heads, and join with me in prayer.
0:34Lord our God, we gather in this sacred space in our city of Fall River today as we have this ceremony for Agent Orange Awareness Day.
0:44We honor, remember, and lift up in prayer those brave men and women who served our country in the Vietnam War.
0:53And were exposed to Agent Orange and other toxic chemicals.
0:58We recognize those still suffering from this war, with thousands continuing to die from cancer caused by this.
1:07And for those who continue to suffer, struggle, and battle illness today because of these deadly chemicals, we ask you, Lord, to be with them and their families as we honor their sacrifice.
1:20To give them comfort and healing from these unseen wounds of war.
1:27As we give you thanks for their selfless sacrifice, we ask you to continue to inspire us to fight for that freedom for which they sacrificed so much for.
1:41And may we honor them by advocating for them to get them the care, treatment, and respect they so much deserve.
1:50We give you thanks, Lord, for the lessons of this day.
1:54May we always remember them who have endured sacrifice for our freedom and given us so much that we enjoy standing here today.
2:02This we ask in your most holy name.
2:05Amen.
2:14Again, I would like to welcome everyone here today.
2:17Before I could put together a program like this, a ceremony, I need to consider those who have died, those who are now living with dioxin presumptives, and those yet to be diagnosed.
2:30It's important also to recognize those in Southeast Asia, especially the civilians from the South that assisted us during the 20 years our armed forces were there.
2:40As Americans who were exposed to the multicolored toxins for their tour, whether one or two tours, those who remain have lived in contaminated fields, streams, and rice paddies for the past 50 years.
2:55But today we are here, present to remember those who have died and pray for those affected by Agent Orange.
3:03First, let me give you a few facts about these toxins.
3:07In 1961 through 1963, Agent Pink was used for defoliation.
3:14Some 72,000 gallons were sprayed.
3:18In 1962 through 1965, Agent Purple was used also for defoliation of jungle vegetation.
3:27Some 686,000 gallons were sprayed.
3:31Then in 1966 through 1972, Agent Blue, crop destruction.
3:381.6 million gallons was sprayed during that time.
3:441966 to 1972 also was the white— Agent White, which was defoliation of the jungle vegetation.
3:54Some 5.7 million gallons were sprayed during that time.
4:00And finally, from 1965 to 1970, Agent Orange, defoliation of the jungle vegetation.
4:1011.4 million gallons were sprayed.
4:14Because the amount of Agent Orange sprayed, these toxins were all lumped together as we now have come to call them all Agent Orange.
4:23Although the government numbers do not take into account those who transported these barrels in ships, planes, and stored in bases around the world, more veterans are showing signs that they have been exposed.
4:37Agent Orange was developed by the U.S. military in collaboration with the British and American scientists in the 1940s and '50s.
4:44Its origins are tied to research on plant hormones and defoliant chemicals.
4:50The herbicide was required— was created as part of a broader effort for military use.
4:56Early work began with Arthur Galston, an American plant physiologist, studied the use of tribobenzide or TIBA to encourage flowering in soybeans.
5:10He observed that high concentration of this TIB had defoliant effects on plants.
5:17This finding was later taken up with the British and U.S. military and adapted in a more practical herbicide formulation.
5:24The U.S. program that became Operation Ranch Hand from 1962 to 1971 used a 50/50 mixture of D— of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, and the latter containing the toxic byproduct.
5:44These were called Tetrahydroxyindanthracene dioxide, if I can get it all, TCDD, commonly known as dioxin.
5:54The British first used this defoliant during the Malayan Emergency in the late '40s and was adopted by the U.S.
6:02While the U.S. oversaw deployment and production, the chemical was a result of the joint British and American wartime research.
6:10The herbicide was was manufactured by companies as Monsanto and Dow Chemical Company for the use in Vietnam.
6:19In summary, Agent Orange was developed through wartime collaboration between the British and American scientists with the early research of Galveston on these plant hormones and adapted for military use.
6:33I know it's a lot.
6:35The total number of Vietnam veterans presumed exposed to Agent Orange.
6:41The U.S. Department of the VA presumes that any veteran who served in Vietnam between January 1962 and May 7th, 1975 were exposed to the herbicides including Agent Orange regardless of whether they personally experienced exposure.
6:59This presumptive applies to land service in Vietnam, inland waterways, blue water Navy service within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, Cambodia.
7:12Certain other locations such as the Korean DMZ, Thailand, and U.S. bases in Thailand are also considered.
7:20Because of this broad presumption, the exact number of veterans exposed is not a fixed statistic.
7:26It depends on what you describe as exposed.
7:29If you mean presumed exposed under VA rules, the figure is simply that the total number of Vietnam veterans who met the service criteria.
7:38According to the VA, over 5.3 million servicemen during this period were exposed.
7:49If you mean documented or confirmed exposure, the number is much smaller.
7:53Studies estimate— suggest that tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans have been medically diagnosed with conditions linked to Agent Orange, but the actual confirmed cases are far fewer.
8:04I'm not going to get into the— what's presumed under the PACT Act, but in short, the VA purposes total presumes about 5 million have been confirmed with the exposure.
8:20And also, for those veterans, the Agent Orange Registry health exam, healthcare, and disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure.
8:32Their dependents and survivors may also be eligible for benefits.
8:40The majority of people identified as Agent Orange victims live in the provinces in central— this is for Vietnam— southern regions of Vietnam where the chemical herbicides were sprayed.
8:51They also include descendants of soldiers from the North who fought in the South during the war.
8:57There are multiple generations of Agent Orange victims in Vietnam.
9:03They actually have up to 6 generations now and they believe that 1 in 10 have been exposed to these toxins in Vietnam.
9:16There is no consensus on the number of Vietnamese who were exposed, but they believe that more than 4.8 million, and 3 million of them experiencing health and disability effects.
9:28In 2000, the Committee on Investigation of Chemical Use in Vietnam estimated there was around 1 million surviving Agent Orange victims, including 150,000 born with defects.
9:40Although our generation was exposed, still today our servicemen and women being exposed to new different toxins.
9:47Unlike our generation, they do not have to wait 50 years for the VA to recognize their suffering.
9:53We as Vietnam veterans paved the road for them now to file and receive the treatment and benefits they earned.
10:02In closing, let us leave here with good memories and good thoughts of our fellow brothers and sisters who served.
10:09Let us never forget that those who have given their life from an enemy not seen.
10:16And I would go on to say that as the regional director for VVA, when I'm here in Fall River, I speak with the local Vietnam vets in New England.
10:30I'm speaking to all the Vietnam vets in New England, whether it's a town up in Bennington, Vermont, or down in Hartford, Connecticut.
10:37Their cities and small towns that our veterans came from.
10:42As behind us, we have the 58,000 who didn't come home.
10:46These are— they were 19, 20-year-old young men who never came home to raise a family, to see their grandchildren, to walk their daughter down the aisle.
10:58And although Agent Orange is taking many of our veterans in their 70s and 80s now, It's difficult sometimes when I think about it because it's sad to see so many of us going by the way with toxins exposure.
11:16And yet when I turn and look at the wall, I sometimes think that there isn't one person on the wall that wouldn't change places with us in a heartbeat because they couldn't come home and raise that family.
11:29They weren't able to do the things that we have done in our lifetime.
11:33And so sometimes when I make a comment about we should celebrate our lives, I know sometimes it angers some people, especially those who are really suffering now in the late stages.
11:44But they must remember that they've lived a good life.
11:50And I think the 58,000 on the wall would expect us to have returned and lived a good life.
11:57To honor them, we came home and we did what we needed to do.
12:07It's very moving when I have to sit with a veteran who's in his late stages of pancreatic cancer or bladder cancer, and on top of that, they may have dementia.
12:18And I remember recently looking into someone's eyes and asking me why.
12:26You can't, you can't, can't get that out sometimes.
12:30Sometimes you just sit with them, hold their hand, and tell them that they've lived a good life and they should be proud of their service in their country.
12:41I'm not a hospice provider.
12:47And maybe I should look into what to say to a veteran when he asks me those questions.
12:54Again, this is a tough— this is a tough ceremony to conduct only because not only have we lost people, but there are some people here tonight who are suffering from Agent Orange.
13:07And all I can tell you is that your fellow veterans are here, the VA, whether we like them or not, They're here.
13:15And your veteran service officers, we are the luckiest state in the country.
13:19As some of you may not be aware, 49 other states do not have veteran service officers in their towns.
13:27We have it by law in this state.
13:31And I have veterans who are driving 3 and 4 hours to a VA or trying to get someone to file benefits for them.
13:41On that note, I would like to bring the chaplain back up to close out.
13:52Thank you, sir.
13:55Please join with me in prayer.
13:58Lord God, as we conclude this ceremony observing Agent Orange Awareness Day, We give you thanks for this time of remembrance, advocacy, and awareness.
14:12Let us remember the importance of caring for our veterans and ensuring that their sacrifices are acknowledged.
14:23The fight for awareness, support, and justice for those affected by Agent Orange continues, and together we can make a difference.
14:32So let us do so.
14:34We ask your grace and heavenly blessing upon all those who served in the Vietnam War.
14:41We honor and acknowledge their devotion to duty for our country in defense of liberty, justice, and truth, showing us the meaning of true patriotism.
14:49We also honor all those who served in all wars and who have served our country.
14:54But as we honor those veterans who served in Vietnam, At this wall in this city of Fall River, we pause to remember the 58,000-plus who gave their lives there, those who were prisoners of war, and the over 2,600 still unaccounted for, missing in action there, as well as for the numerous who have died after returning home from toxic chemicals.
15:23We also lift up to you in prayer, Lord God, those who still suffer from the scars of war internally and externally, those suffering from cancer and other physical and mental struggles.
15:38Be with them and their families.
15:42We also ask your blessings on all of us gathered here and those who prepare this important remembrance today.
15:49As we continue to provide care, support, and prayer for our veterans who have given so much of themselves for us and for the freedom that we enjoy.
15:58This we ask in your most holy name.
16:01Amen.
16:02May God bless you all.
16:03May God bless Fall River and the United States of America.
16:10Thank you, Reverend Rob.
16:11This concludes today's event.
16:13Thank you all for coming.