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Comparison of Veteran Legacy Network (VLN) with Related Groups

The Veteran Legacy Network (VLN), led by Paul Beran, a candidate for Supervisor of Franconia District, Fairfax County, VA, is an initiative to create a comprehensive social media platform (Remember.Vet) to honor U.S. military veterans through personalized profiles. It aims to preserve veterans’ stories, both living and deceased, independently of government or military affiliation. Key features include unfiltered narratives (within national security and privacy guidelines), podcasts like "AT EASE," QR codes for headstones, and a pending partnership with the American Legion. VLN projects a database of over one million profiles by year-end, with an estimated cost of $50–100 per profile. Below, VLN is compared with similar organizations based on mission, scope, affiliation, content, and accessibility.

Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM)

• Mission: The Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM), managed by the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is an online platform launched in 2019 to honor nearly 10 million veterans interred in VA national cemeteries, Department of Defense (DoD) cemeteries, and private cemeteries worldwide. It provides interactive memorial pages for tributes, photos, and documents.
• Scope: Covers nearly 10 million veterans from the American Revolution to modern times, including international cemeteries.
• Affiliation: Government-run by the VA’s NCA, ensuring integration with official cemetery records.
• Content: Memorial pages with user-submitted tributes, photos, and official service records. Focuses on deceased veterans.
• Accessibility: Fully operational at vlm.cem.va.gov.

Veterans Legacy Program (VLP)

• Mission: Established in 2016 by the NCA, VLP engages K-12 and university students in researching and sharing veteran stories, often tied to national cemeteries, producing biographies, documentaries, and lesson plans.
• Scope: Involves nearly 15,000 students, creating over 2,500 veteran biographies through academic partnerships (e.g., St. Ambrose University, University of Central Florida).
• Affiliation: VA’s NCA, leveraging government resources and cemetery access.
• Content: Structured educational outputs like biographies, documentaries (e.g., on Buffalo Soldiers), and lesson plans.
• Accessibility: Publicly available via the VA’s website and YouTube channel.

U.S. Veterans Legacy Project (Delaware County, PA)

• Mission: A 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on preserving veterans’ oral histories in Delaware County, PA, and hosting community events like Veterans Day and Memorial Day parades and essay contests.
• Scope: Regional focus on Delaware County, with student involvement in documenting veteran stories.
• Affiliation: Independent non-profit, operating locally.
• Content: Oral histories, filmed stories, and community events for educational outreach.
• Accessibility: Active through local events and a Facebook presence.

Veterans Legacy Oregon

• Mission: A non-profit aimed at breaking the cycle of veteran suicides, mental health issues, and social challenges through community-based therapeutic programs and extended care.
• Scope: Regional focus in Oregon, emphasizing veteran wellness.
• Affiliation: Independent non-profit.
• Content: Therapeutic experiences and community support, with no digital memorial component.
• Accessibility: Active in Eugene, OR, through direct services.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

• Mission: A national non-profit providing advocacy, benefits assistance, employment resources, and caregiver support for disabled veterans.
• Scope: Serves over 1 million members nationwide with programs like job fairs and adaptive sports.
• Affiliation: Independent non-profit with a national presence.
• Content: Practical services including claims assistance, job fairs, and philanthropy, but no digital memorial platform.
• Accessibility: Widely accessible via dav.org and local chapters.

Legacy Australia

• Mission: Supports families of fallen or injured veterans with financial, social, and emotional assistance since 1923.
• Scope: Serves 28,000 beneficiaries across 43 clubs in Australia.
• Affiliation: Independent non-profit with a century-long history.
• Content: Financial aid, mentorship, and social support for veterans’ families, with no focus on digital archives.
• Accessibility: Well-established across Australia.

Summary Table

Organization	Mission	Scope	Affiliation	Content	Accessibility
Veteran Legacy Network (VLN)	Preserve veteran stories via digital profiles	National, aims for 1M+ profiles	Independent non-profit	Profiles, podcasts, QR codes	In development (Remember.Vet)
Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM)	Digital tributes for deceased veterans	10M profiles, global cemeteries	VA/NCA	Memorial pages, tributes	Fully operational (vlm.cem.va.gov)
Veterans Legacy Program (VLP)	Educational programs on veteran stories	Academic, cemetery-focused	VA/NCA	Biographies, videos, lesson plans	Public via VA resources
U.S. Veterans Legacy Project	Preserve oral histories, local events	Delaware County, PA	Independent non-profit	Oral histories, parades	Active via events, Facebook
Veterans Legacy Oregon	Veteran mental health, wellness	Oregon, service-based	Independent non-profit	Therapeutic programs	Active in Eugene, OR
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)	Support for disabled veterans	National, 1M+ members	Independent non-profit	Advocacy, job fairs, services	Widely accessible (dav.org)
Legacy Australia	Support veterans’ families	Australia, 28,000 beneficiaries	Independent non-profit	Financial, emotional support	Established in Australia

Key Takeaways

• Unique Strengths: VLN’s independence from government or military affiliation allows unfiltered veteran narratives (within security guidelines), distinguishing it from VA-run programs like VLM and VLP. Features like podcasts and QR codes for headstones are innovative compared to traditional memorial or service organizations.
• Challenges: VLN’s platform (Remember.Vet) is still in development, lacking the established infrastructure of VLM or DAV. Its funding model ($50–100 per profile) and reliance on donations may limit scalability compared to VA-backed initiatives with government resources.
• Complementary Roles: VLN complements VLM by including living veterans and VLP by offering a broader platform beyond academic settings. It differs from service-focused groups like DAV and Legacy Australia but could integrate family support features in the future.
• Critical Consideration: VLN’s independence offers flexibility but requires transparency in funding and data privacy to achieve its goal of a million profiles. Government-backed programs like VLM benefit from official records but may face constraints in content flexibility.