The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) has found itself at the center of a dispute over a planned commemorative arch backed by former President Donald Trump, amid conflicting views within the veterans community. The debate comes as a federal judge prepares to hear arguments regarding whether construction on the 250-foot-tall arch near Arlington National Cemetery can proceed.
Tom Burke, president of the VVA, recently acknowledged that he was “misled” about the scope of a legal brief submitted in support of Trump’s arch project, which the organization joined alongside several other veterans groups. The brief urged a federal court to allow the construction to move forward and argued that three Vietnam War veterans suing to stop the arch did not represent the broader veterans community. However, Burke later emphasized that the national VVA has not taken an official position either supporting or opposing the arch and stressed the association’s commitment to neutrality on the matter.
The brief, encouraged by the White House, asserted that the majority of veteran feedback was supportive and characterized opponents as a small, isolated minority politicizing a project that should transcend party lines. Alongside the VVA, groups such as the Korean War Veterans Association and the Military Order of the Purple Heart also signed the brief. This endorsement by veterans organizations, however, took some chapter leaders and members by surprise.
Jay Kalner, president of the VVA’s Northern Virginia chapter, expressed opposition to the arch and noted that many local leaders and members shared his stance. Kalner said they were not consulted before the national body endorsed the legal brief. Similarly, David Pickett, a former president and current board member of the Korean War Veterans Association, said the group’s support for the arch was decided without broader discussion and that the topic had not been brought up among members. Meanwhile, Harold Trieber, the current president of that association, defended his decision to back the project, asserting it should be built without polling membership opinion.
Opponents of the arch, including the three Vietnam veterans leading the lawsuit, argue that the project will degrade the experience of visitors at Arlington National Cemetery, a sacred site where two of the plaintiffs hope to be interred. Critics also highlight concerns that the arch would negatively impact views of the cemetery and nearby historic sites, cause years of construction disruptions, and cast shadows on graves and monuments, according to analyses.
The Trump administration, aiming to begin construction around Nov. 5 to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary, acknowledges these potential impacts but has asked the court to dismiss the veterans’ complaint. Their legal argument draws on a recent Supreme Court precedent involving a separate construction project at the White House, where the court found a preservationist’s objections insufficient to stop the work.
As the debate continues, the Vietnam Veterans of America finds itself navigating a complex and sensitive issue, balancing internal divisions with efforts to maintain a neutral stance while engaging with the administration on veterans’ priorities. The pending court decision will determine whether construction on the arch proceeds amid ongoing disagreement within the veterans community.