Inmate veterans raise money for Patriot Fund

Vietnam veterans incarcerated at Northern Nevada Correction Center donated $1,000 to Nevada's Patriot Fund.

Members of Chapter 719 of the Vietnam Veterans of America also donated $4,000 to Stead Elementary School for books and supplies for the children.

Jerry Bussell, Nevada's Director of Homeland Security, accepted the $1,000 check on the behalf of the Patriot's Fund.

This is the eighth year that inmates in the prison veterans chapter have donated funds to the children's reading program. Inmate Chapter President Charles Dearing said members of Chapter 719 unanimously voted this year to also make a contribution to Nevada's Patriots Fund as a way of honoring Nevadans serving in Iraq and acknowledging the sacrifice of their families.

Other statewide dignitaries attending the awards ceremony included Darrel Brown, region IX director of VVA; Lew Rosenberg, vice president of the Nevada State Council of VVA and Jim Weller, president of VVA Chapter 388 in Nevada and several teachers from Stead School who read letters of thanks from the children.

VVA Chapter 719 members are all inmates who previously served in the armed forces of the United States. Some are Vietnam combat veterans as well. The inmates had raised the funds throughout the summer by hosting barbecues in the prison yard for other inmates.