The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council

Help us help those serving in the military and the veterans returning home, whenever and wherever the help is needed most.

 Why LVMAC Was Created

From the very earliest days of the Nation, the Lehigh Valley has answered the call of duty.  It has been a cornerstone for its defense.  As a result, over 40,000 veterans plus their families live, work, and enrich the communities in Lehigh and Northampton counties alone. 

Yet, while we have one of the largest populations of veterans for an area of our size, they and their loved ones have often been overlooked.  For example, there is no local, major military installation nearby on which our serving military guard and reservist families can rely while serving or to answer the questions and problems which arise upon and after leaving service. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs has placed much more weight in veterans services to surrounding urban areas, large and small, than to the Lehigh Valley itself – despite our being the third largest metropolitan area in the state with one of the largest and heaviest concentrations of veterans. 

For all veterans, the state government is woefully behind in providing the sort of planned, integrated, and organized veterans affairs system that befits the times. A study commissioned by the Commonwealth stated,

The provisioning of veterans’ benefits in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been a problem for several decades. Even the most cursory examination reveals inconsistent provisioning of services and benefits, and an arcane and ineffective bureaucracy.

Local veterans, returning military and their families are often at a loss as to where to turn. Consequently, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 2003 by a group of concerned veterans as an organization of organizations.  It was formed to address local problems in our area via harnessing and integrating existing resources or creating them — for the benefit of our veterans, serving military (Active or Reserve Component), and their families. To accomplish their vision, they realized a whole community – local businesses, governments, veterans and other service organizations, military organizations, schools and colleges, hospitals, religious and other institutions, and concerned individuals – must work together in common cause.   

They also recognized, they had to heighten the awareness of their regional community to the presence of a large military-veterans population in the area and the sacrifices those who serve have often made for our society.  This website is one of the methods serving that purpose.

Our Mission

To improve the lives of our local military service members, veterans and their families by fostering and coordinating support from businesses, organizations, institutions and communities; and by promoting awareness of the military’s role in defending America through educational programs and public events.

 Our Vision

For serving military, veterans and their families to find the Lehigh Valley to be the most supportive community in the United States.

  LVMAC’s Core Operating Principles

• Since the military is vital to our nation’s existence, it is both necessary and honorable that some in our community perform military service. Consequently, we – as a community – are indebted to those who serve and have served to protect us. Their sacrifices should not be overlooked.
• The act of taking care of our own begins with us and our community … and rises above individual agendas. Helping those who serve or have served strengthens our community, honors our fallen, and ensures the willingness of others to serve.
• Honest patriotism requires knowledge and understanding of our military and our heritage.
• The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council exists to facilitate community awareness of, advocacy for, and assistance to our service members, veterans, and their families. To ensure LVMAC’s success, all government, business, civic, religious and veteran organizations, and individual citizens must come together in common purpose.
• The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council supplants no existing organization that serves military service members, veterans, or their families. Its intention is to work with these organizations, when willing and as suitable, to accomplish its mission.
• While it is to be considerate of its individual members’ concerns, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council does not further any particular financial interests of its members, public or private. Its duty lies with serving the service members, veterans and their families. Its interest is in needed services and benefits provided to them from whomever they may best be obtained. Its immediate focus is upon its own strategic plan agreed upon by the board elected from the membership.