If all goes according to plan, the Vietnam Veterans of America Granite City Chapter will host a reunion next year that could bring thousands of people to Mount Airy.

“The Vietnam Veterans have always been doing reunions, but we’ve never had one here,” explained Dan Hilton, VVA reunion chairperson.

The local chapter recently sent out letters announcing its plans to host a veterans reunion in Mount Airy sometime next spring, summer, or fall. The organizers haven’t set a date yet, because they have one big hold-up — land.

Organizers say they need donated use of a 50-acre field to serve as base camp for the event. Attendees would park their RVs and campers at the location. They would also set up tents. Various events would take place at the location as well.

If a Mount Airy location can’t be found, Hilton said he hopes to keep the event in Surry County. The VVA is working with the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce to find a location. Jessica Icenhour, director of tourism for Mount Airy, said they are “looking outside of the box” to help the VVA get started with the event.

“We think it’ll be a good shot in the arm for the local economy,” said Don Belle, president of the Granite City chapter.

The reunion, which would bring together veterans of different eras and organizations, would feature entertainment, displays and vendors. Hilton said he attended a veterans reunion last month in Indiana which had more than 35,000 people in attendance.

Since the local reunion is only in the early planning stage, organizers aren’t sure how many attendees to expect. Hilton, Belle and Icenhour tossed out estimated attendance numbers ranging from 1,000 to 10,000. The reunion will be geared toward bringing in people from across the Southeast.

“It would definitely be a huge economic impact to our community with that many people,” said Icenhour.

She pointed out that reunion attendees would hopefully do a lot of shopping in Mount Airy and would have to buy a lot of gas in the area to fuel their RVs.

Belle said of reunion attendees, “These people come ready to explore the community where they have these events.”

The chamber is working with the group, like it does with many organizations, on aspects such as booking, lodging, room rates and bags to give to attendees. Icenhour said she has just begun working with the VVA.

“We’re excited about this event,” she remarked. “I’m glad we can help them.”

So far the VVA is throwing out a lot of different ideas about what will take place at the reunion. Hilton said they do know that the reunion will last for three or four days and will have a military theme.

For entertainment, the chapter has discussed having ’60s and ’70s or bluegrass music, car shows and reenactments. They also plan to have food, vendors and displays with military items such as helicopters, tents and gear from infantry divisions.

The public will be welcome to attend many of the reunion events. Belle explained, “We want to make this an exciting event for everyone.”

To help put on the event, the VVA will need vendors and sponsors. Money raised from registration and special events during the reunion will go to the VVA.

Hilton said they plan to put back some of the money for purchasing land and putting up a building for the VVA. He said they would like to have a place of their own to meet and have community events and classes for veterans.

Belle said that some of the money will be used for the chapter’s regular purposes, such as helping other nonprofits and giving no-interest loans to veterans and their dependents.

“I believe it is a good way to help the community,” said Belle.

The idea to host a reunion was brought up at a recent VVA meeting. A committee was then appointed to plan the reunion. Hilton said if the reunion is a success and turnout is good, a reunion is something they hope to plan every year.

VVA Granite City Chapter 1021 was instituted in January. According to Hilton, the chapter currently has 135 members and is the fastest growing chapter in the state. People come from across Surry, Stokes, Yadkin and Wilkes counties and southern Virginia to participate.

The Vietnam Veterans of America was founded in 1978 and is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered.

For more information about the VVA or the upcoming reunion, contact the local chapter at 356-2085.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.