AGENT ORANGE AWARENESS DAY
Each year on August 10, Agent Orange Awareness Day presents opportunity to provide information regarding the effects of Agent Orange. It also serves as a reminder of the lasting damage a single decision can cause.
#AgentOrangeAwarenessDay
In the early 1960s, Americans used the herbicide in Vietnam to clear thick foliage from battlegrounds to eliminate the enemy's protective ground cover. The use of Agent Orange impacted U.S. troops and the Vietnamese troops and civilians. It cost hundreds of thousands of lives and continues to impact survivors today.
Those exposed to the chemical suffer a wide range of negative medical effects including:
AL amyloidosis
Diabetes Mellitus, Type II
Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Leukemia
Multiple Myeloma
Parkinson's Disease
Prostate Cancer
Respiratory Cancer
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
AGENT ORANGE AWARENESS DAY HISTORY
Over 50 years ago, Agent Orange was first used in Vietnam. The date is thought to be August 10, 1961. In 1988, Agent Orange Awareness Day began as a way to reach Vietnam veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange. The campaign informed the country through newspaper and radio messages, encouraging veterans to seek assistance through VA programs. Since then, military and veteran organizations have continued to promote the observance.
