Vietnam Veterans of America to make local donation

The Northwest Montana Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will present a donation to the Veterans Association at Flathead Valley Community College on Sept. 15.

The gift will be made to honor fallen U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Atkinson, who was raised in Lakeside and served as a tomb guard, honor guard and multiple tours in Iraq.

The chapter will be present a $1,000 check to the Veterans Association at FVCC, helping the association reach its $5,000 Veterans Endowment Fund goal.

“With this gift, the Veterans Association will now have the ability to issue scholarships to veterans in need to help them complete their studies at FVCC,” said Scott Brooke, president of the FVCC Veterans Association.

The Veterans Endowment Fund was created through fundraising conducted by members of the Veterans Association at FVCC and generous donations by the community. The endowment was established to provide money to veterans attending FVCC whose educational benefits have expired or no longer can be used.

This endowment will provide a $250 scholarship to a student veteran at FVCC during the fall and spring terms for years to come.

The community is invited to observe the presentation of the check at 9 a.m. Sept. 15 outdoors on the western side of the Learning Resource Center building. Veterans and their families are encouraged to attend.

To contact the local chapter, email John Burgess at northwestmtvva@yahoo.com or call 862-3570. To make a gift to the Veterans Endowment Fund or for more information, contact Brooke at scottdbrooke@fvcc.edu or 406-407-2328.