A new partnership between the Elks and the charitable affiliate of the Vietnam Veterans of America will raise funds to assist soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as all veterans of the nation's wars.

The affiliate, the Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund, is renaming its Coin Can Donation Program, "The Michael Manning National Veterans Program," as a tribute to the long-time director of the Elks National Veterans Service Department who died July 22. Mike had worked with the organization in setting up the program, which will feature coin cans in every Elks lodge and in other locations.

Full details will be announced when the national roll-out of the program begins this fall. Money raised in this effort will aid veterans as they deal with health issues, homeless services, and transitioning programs.

Calling Mike "truly a great leader in the veterans' community," John Rowan, national president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, said: "It was with Michael's great enthusiasm for veterans that this program will exist as a partnership between the Elks and the VVA."