Vienna Man Named Vietnam Veterans' Member Of The Year

When Vienna's Leonard Ignatowski was selected as the 2011 Vietnam Veterans of America Member of the Year last month, friends and family were quick to offer a congratulations for his hard work and dedication.

But Ignatowski, a member of Chapter 227, credits the award to a "team effort."

"First, Diane, my wife, who supported my efforts especially when she was a full time mom to our two sons and a full time public school teacher and to the great group of chapter members and veterans who worked with me over the years," said Ignatowski, who accepted the award at the group's national convention in Reno, Nev. last month. "It was a team effort."

The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is a congressionally chartered Vietnam veteran service organization dedicated to addressing veteran issues and benefits through its founding principal, "Never Again Shall One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another." VVA has advocated for several Veterans needs and issues in the past, leading the political fight to establish the concept of a Veterans Center and veteran judicial review court, and also helping with the 1991 court case that opened veteran disability claims for Agent Orange. They continue to advocate on the issues of today's veterans, including the post-9/11 GI Education Bill and the new Veteran's Health Council.

The award makes Chapter 227 the only chapter with two national members of the year. In addition to Ignatowski, Lou James, who received the honor in 1995, was a Vienna resident at the time as well.

Ignatowski, who has a civil engineering degree, calls himself lucky -- he went to Vietnam as an infantry officer, but says "the Army recognized their great mistake," assigning him to an engineering battalion that built roads and infrastructure. 

The association says Ignatowski was selected for his "exceptional and dedicated service at the chapter, state council, and national office levels since 1987."

He's been everything from a newsletter editor, to a chapter leader officer and director, national convention delegate and a member who addresses local homeless veteran and active duty military needs. 

He also founded the Minuteman Alert email system, which solicits members, and "partnered with local social agencies and charities in responding to immediate emergency veteran and active duty."

Currently, Ignatowski is a retired federal employee and runs his own consulting firm, Ignatowski Environmental Engineering Consultant. For the chapter, he is a delegate to the state council and the council’s regional liaison for several chapters. He also serves on the national membership affairs committee.

"[Len] is the super glue that inspired and held together our chapter since he joined VVA in March 1987," Chapter 227 President Byron Sheldon said. "His guidance and wealth of knowledge about VVA matters, locally, at the state level and nationally are invaluable to the Officers and the Board of Directors responsible for successfully managing the affairs of our chapter.”