American couple sows seeds of peace for 30 years in Vietnam’s Quang Tri

Driven by the loss of family members during the war in Vietnam and a desire to heal the wounds of war, Jerilyn Brusseau and her husband, Danaan Parry, traveled to the province to plant the first seeds of peace after diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam were established in July 1995.

That act of faith and reconciliation would eventually blossom into PeaceTrees Vietnam, an organization that has since become a symbol of hope, renewal and friendship.

PeaceTrees Vietnam on Thursday held a ceremony to mark its 30th anniversary of founding in Dong Ha Ward under the province.

From its initial tree-planting activities, PeaceTrees Vietnam expanded into a wide range of humanitarian projects, including mine detection and clearance, mine risk education, victim assistance, post-clearance development support, and people-to-people diplomacy.

“We have built preschools, libraries, and community centers; supported sustainable livelihoods with new crops and agricultural training; and provided scholarships and mine risk education for children,” said Claire Yunker, executive director of PeaceTrees Vietnam.

Over the past 30 years, PeaceTrees Vietnam, in collaboration with Vietnamese partners, has safely removed and handled more than 155,600 explosive remnants of war, clearing over 4,170 hectares of land.

Through its programs, more than 222,900 people have benefited from mine risk education and live in safer environments.

The organization has also made lasting contributions to local infrastructure and education, including the construction of 22 preschools, 12 libraries, two community centers, and 100 resettlement houses.

Educational support has reached 5,772 students, with 3,937 scholarships awarded.

Additionally, PeaceTrees has provided assistance to 221 unexploded ordnance (UXO) victims and 62 families affected by war legacies.

Also, the organization planted more than 50,800 trees with the participation of 1,251 volunteers and visitors from the United States.

Beyond statistics, the enduring value created by the couple lies in the relationships between Americans and Vietnamese, and between former soldiers and new generations.

“Every effort is a living symbol of friendship and persistence,” said Yunker.

“Every safe field, every harvest, every classroom and library is a shared promise that future generations will grow up in safety, with opportunities to learn and thrive,” she added.

Tran Ngoc Lan, director of the Quang Tri Department of External Relations, praised the organization’s contributions.

The results achieved by PeaceTrees Vietnam reflect a profound humanitarian spirit and make a meaningful contribution to the sustainable development of the province, as well as to the friendly partnership between Vietnam and the United States, he said.

PeaceTrees Vietnam remains committed to its mission, planning to expand mine clearance operations, build more schools, improve local livelihoods, and deepen cultural and educational exchanges between the people of Vietnam and the United States.