[House Document 105-261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-261


 
           PROCEEDINGS OF THE 98TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF 
         THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES 

                          [SUMMARY OF MINUTES]

                          Salt Lake City, Utah

                           August 17-21, 1997



   June 3, 1998.--Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed


        98TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS


105th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-261


           PROCEEDINGS OF THE 98TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF 
         THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES 

                       [SUMMARY OF MINUTES]





             Salt Lake City, Utah ::: August 16-21, 1997




                 U.S. CODE, TITLE 44, SECTION 1332 

    NATIONAL ENCAMPMENTS OF VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS; PROCEEDINGS 
                   PRINTED ANNUALLY FOR CONGRESS

     The proceedings of the national encampments of the United Spanish 
War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the 
American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans 
of World War I of the United States, Incorporated, the Disabled 
American Veterans, and the AMVETS (American Veterans of World War II), 
respectively, shall be printed annually, with accompanying 
illustrations, as separate House documents of the session of the 
Congress to which they may be submitted. 

[Approved October 2, 1968.]



                       LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

  VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 
                          December, 1997


Honorable Newt Gingrich, 
The Speaker U.S. House of Representatives 
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:  In conformance with the provisions of Public Law No. 
620, 90th Congress, approved October 22, 1968, I am transmitting to you 
herewith the proceedings of the 98th National Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in Salt Lake City, 
Utah, August 17-21, 1997, which is submitted for printing as a House 
document. 
     Sincerely, 
                                               Larry W. Rivers 
                                                       Adjutant General



                          TABLE OF CONTENTS 
                                                                   PAGE

ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE 
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 1997

Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Pledge of Allegiance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
Invocation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
Memorial Ritual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

JOINT OPENING SESSION
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997

Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
Advancement of Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
Invocation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
Video Presentation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
Introduction - The Honorable Deedee Corradini . . . . . . . . . . .   4
Greetings - The Honorable Deedee Corradini,
   Mayor, City of Salt Lake City  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
Introduction - The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt,
   Governor, State of Utah  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
Greetings - The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt,
   Governor, State of Utah  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
Presentation of American Flag Sets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Nier . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
Remarks - Commander-in-Chief Nier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
Presentation of Awards to 1996-'97 All Americans  . . . . . . . . .  10
ESPN Video Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to 
   Ladies Auxiliary President Eileen Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Response - Ladies Auxiliary President Eileen Tanner . . . . . . . .  16
Presentations of VOD Winner Christine Rice 
   and Youth Essay Contest Winner, Dominic E. Draye . . . . . . . .  16
Presentation of the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion 
   of Honor Bronze Medallion  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Presentation of VFW Armed Forces Award, Gold Medal and Citation . .  22
Remarks - Colonel James Colvin  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
Introduction of Charles D. Short, Supreme Commander, 
   Military Order of the Cootie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
Remarks - MOC Commander Charles Short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
Introduction of Lieutenant General Chung-Yuan Kao, VAC  . . . . . .  27
Response - Lieutenant General Chung-Yuan Kao  . . . . . . . . . . .  27
Introduction of Helen Blackwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
Remarks - Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon . . . . . . . . . . .  31
Introduction - The Honorable Togo D. West, Jr., 
   Secretary of the Army  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
Keynote Address - The Honorable Togo D. West, Jr. . . . . . . . . .  33
Remarks - Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Pouliot  . . . . . . . . .  39
Closing Prayer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
Salute to Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
RECESS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40

FIRST BUSINESS SESSION
MONDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 18, 1997

Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
Invocation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
Salute to the Colors and Pledge of Allegiance . . . . . . . . . . .  41
Report of Credentials Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
Report of Committee on Convention Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Report of Credentials Committee (Cont'd.) . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
Report of the Committee on National By-Laws, 
   Manual of Procedure and Ritual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
RECESS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
Winners of Insurance Drawing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
Benediction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
Salute to Colors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
RECESS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET 
AUGUST 18, 1997

Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
Pledge of Allegiance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
Invocation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Nier  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Presentation of the Dwight David Eisenhower Distinguished 
   Service Medal and Citation to General John Shalikashvili . . . .  76
Response and Principal Address - General John Shalikashvili . . . .  78
Benediction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83
RECESS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83

SECOND BUSINESS SESSION
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 21, 1996

Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Opening Prayer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Salute to the Colors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Report of Credentials Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Introduction of General John P. Herrling, 
   Secretary, American Battle Monuments Commission  . . . . . . . .  84
Remarks by Major General John Herrling  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
Presentation of Special Award to Commander-in-Chief Nier by the 
   VFW Political Action Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  88
Presentation of "Consecutive Years of Membership" Citation 
   to the Department of Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  88
Presentation of VFW Americanism Award, Gold Medal and 
   Citation to Mr. James K. Kallstrom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  89
Response - James K. Kallstrom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  90
Introduction of the Honorable Hershel Gober 
   Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  92
Address - The Honorable Hershel Gober . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  92
Presentation of J. Edgar Hoover Award, Gold Medal and Citation  . . 101
Remarks - Mr. Russell Philibert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Presentation of VFW Emergency Services Award, Gold Medal 
   and Citation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Response - Sergeant John L. Taylor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Presentation of Commander-in-Chief's Special Award to 
   Mr. Wilson Smith, African-American Medal of Honor Memorial . . . 104
Remarks by Comrade Wilson Smith, Jr.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Introduction of Lieutenant General Claude M. Kicklighter, Deputy 
   Undersecretary of the Army for International Affairs . . . . . . 105
Remarks - Lieutenant General Claude M. Kicklighter  . . . . . . . . 105
Introduction of Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, President, 
   Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc.. 111
Remarks - Brigadier General Wilma Vaught  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Introduction of Jan C. Scruggs, President, Vietnam Veterans 
   Memorial Fund  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Remarks - Janc C. Scruggs - Vietnam Memorial  . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of 
   Procedure and Ritual (Cont'd.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Winners of Insurance Drawing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Benediction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Salute to the Colors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
RECESS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

THIRD BUSINESS SESSION
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 22, 1996

Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Salute to the Colors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Pledge of Allegiance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Opening Prayer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Report of Credentials Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of 
   Procedure and Ritual (Cont'd.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization  . . . . . 137
Report of Committee on General Resolutions  . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Presentation of Certificate of Congratulations 
   50th Anniversary of the United States Air Force  . . . . . . . . 141
Response - General Eugene Habiger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Presentation by March of Dimes Representative to Departments of 
   Maryland and South Dakota  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Presentation of Commander-in-Chief's Special Award to 
   MACH 1, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Response - Mr. Paul Farsai  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Presentation of Commander-in-Chief's Special Award to 
   Mr. Thomas Kinkade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Response - Mr. Thomas Kinkade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Presentation by Comrade James Chancellor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Presentation of the James C. Gates Distinguished Service Award  . . 150
Visit of Ladies Auxiliary Delegation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Presentation of National Large Employer of the Year Award . . . . . 153
Response - Mr. Thomas Remondini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Presentation of National Small Employer of Year Award to 
   UNC Aviation Services  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Response - Mr. Paul Stelzner  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Presentation of the National Local Office of 
   the Public Employment Service Award  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Response - Mr. Billy W. Patterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Parade Winners  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Distinguished Service Award, Gold Medal and Citation to 
   Jack A. Mack, Quartermaster, Department of Utah  . . . . . . . . 157
Response - Mr. Jack Mack  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Outstanding VA Health Care Provider Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Response - Mrs. Dee Anna Robert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Outstanding Community Health Care Provider Award  . . . . . . . . . 159
Response - Mr. Patrick T. Bohmer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Outstanding Volunteer Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Response - Ms. Mary Gomeringer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs  . . . 161
National Buddy Poppy Contest Winners  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Introduction of the Honorable Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the 
   House, United States House of Representatives  . . . . . . . . . 167
Address - The Honorable Newt Gingrich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Visit of National Home Representatives  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Remarks by Director of Programs Susie Shoultz . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Remarks by Buddy Poppy Child  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Report of VFW POW/MIA Subcommittee Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Report of Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions . . . . . . . . 181
Introduction of Past Commanders-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Introduction of Sergeants-at-Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Nomination of Officers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Nomination of Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Nomination of Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Nomination of Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Nomination of Quartermaster General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Nomination of Judge Advocate General  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Nomination of Surgeon General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Closing Ceremonies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
RECESS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

FOURTH BUSINESS SESSION
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 21, 1997

Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Salute to Colors and Pledge of Allegiance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Opening Prayer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Final Report of Credentials Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Introduction of Members of National Credentials Committee . . . . . 203
Presentation of Distinguished Service Award to 
   Past Commander-in-Chief Paul A. Spera  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Response by Immediate Past Commander-in-Chief Spera . . . . . . . . 205
Nominations for National Home Trustees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Election of Officers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Announcement of Council Members-Elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Announcement of Appointments by Commander-in-Chief-Elect  . . . . . 211
Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Nier  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Installation of Officers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Presentation of Distinguished Service Medal to Curtis M. Jewell . . 217
Response - Comrade Curtis M. Jewell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Presentation of Past Commander-in-Chief Lapel Pin and Gold Life 
   Membership Card  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Acceptance Address by Commander-in-Chief Moon . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Retiring of Colors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Closing Prayer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Adjournment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227



          COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 
                      OF THE UNITED STATES 

(Including societies that amalgamated to form Veterans of Foreign Wars)

     The Veterans of Foreign Service and the Army of the Philippines 
amalgamated at Denver, CO, August 1913, forming the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars as it is today. However, the birth of the order dates from 
September 29, 1899, when the first national officers were elected and 
the eligibility clause adopted. The original chapter was granted 
October 11, 1899. 

                       * indicates deceased

              American Veterans of Foreign Service

1899-1900 James C. Putnam*  . . . . . . . .  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.
1900-1901 Maj. Will S. White* . . . . . . .  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.
1901-1902 Maj. Will S. White* . . . . . . .  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.
1902-1903 James Romanis*  . . . Elected at Washington Courthouse, Ohio.
1903-1904 James Romanis*  . . . . . . . .  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1904-1905 James Romanis*  . . . . . . . .  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1905-1906 George Metzger* . . . . . . Elected at Altoona, Pennsylvania.
1906-1907 Charles H. Devereaux* . . . . .  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1907-1908 David T. Nevin* . .  Elected at James Exposition Grounds, Va.
1908-1909 J. Alfred Judge*  . . . . . Elected at Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
1909-1910 J. Alfred Judge*  . . .  Elected at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1910-1911 Robert J, Woodside* . . . Elected at Jersey City, New Jersey.
1911-1912 Robert J, Woodside* .  Elected at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1912-1913 Robert J, Woodside* . .  Elected at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


       American Veterans of Foreign Service (Eastern Branch)

1903-1904 Capt. Robert S. Hansburg* . Elected at Altoona, Pennsylvania.
1904-1905 H.O. Kelly* . . . . . .  Elected at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

      (The above two organizations amalgamated September 1905,
                    at Altoona, Pennsylvania.)


                      Army of the Philippines

1900-1901 Gen. Francis V. Greene* . . . .  Elected at Denver, Colorado.
1901-1902 Gen. Irving Hale* . . . . .  Elected at Salt Lake City, Utah.
1902-1903 Gen. Irvin Hale*  . . . . .  Elected at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
1903-1904 Gen. Charles King*  . . . . . Elected at St. Paul, Minnesota.
1904-1905 Gen. Wilder S. Metcalf* . . . Elected at St. Louis, Missouri.
1905-1906 Col. Alfred S. Frost* . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1906-1907 Gen. Arthur MacArthur*  . . . .  Elected at Des Moines, Iowa.
1907-1908 Capt. H.A. Crow*  . . . . . Elected at Kansas City, Missouri.
1908-1909 Maj. P.J.H. Farrell*  . . . . Elected at Galesburg, Illinois.
1909-1910 Col. Charles L. Jewett* .Elected at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1910-1911 A.H. Anderson*  . . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1911-1912 F. Warner Karling*  . . . . . . Elected at Detroit, Michigan.
1912-1913 F. Warner Karling*  . . . . . . Elected at Lincoln, Nebraska.



           Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

1913-1914 Rice W. Means*  . . . . . . . .  Elected at Denver, Colorado.
1914-1915 Thomas Crago* . . . . . . Elected at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
1915-1916 Gus Hartung*  . . . . . . . . . Elected at Detroit, Michigan.
1916-1917 Albert Rabin* . . . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1917-1918 William Ralston*  . . . . . .  Elected at New York, New York.
1918-1919 F. Warner Karling*  . . .  Elected at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1919-1920 F. Warner Karling*  . .  Elected at Providence, Rhode Island.
1920-1921 Robert G. Woodside* . . . . . . . Elected at Washington, D.C.
1921-1922 Robert G. Woodside* . . . . . . Elected at Detroit, Michigan.
1922-1923 Tillinghast Huston* . . . . . Elected at Seattle, Washington.
1923-1924 Gen. Lloyd M. Brett*  . . . . . Elected at Norfolk, Virginia.
1924-1925 John H. Dunn* . . . . . Elected at Atlantic City, New Jersey.
1925-1926 Fred Stover*  . . . . . . . . . . Elected at Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1926-1927 Theodore Stitt* . . . . . . . . .  Elected at El Paso, Texas.
1927-1928 Frank T. Strayer* . . .  Elected at Providence, Rhode Island.
1928-1929 Eugene P. Carver* . . . . . Elected at Indianapolis, Indiana.
1929-1930 Kezekiah N. Duff* . . . . . . Elected at St. Paul, Minnesota.
1930-1931 Paul C. Wolman* . . . . . . . Elected at Baltimore, Maryland.
1931-1932 Darold D. DeCoe*  . . . . . Elected at Kansas City, Missouri.
1932-1933 Adm. Robert E. Coontz*  .  Elected at Sacramento, California.
1933-1934 James E. Van Zandt* . . . .  Elected at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1934-1935 James E. Van Zandt* . . . .  Elected at Louisville, Kentucky.
1935-1936 James E. Van Zandt* . . .  Elected at New Olreans, Louisiana.
1936-1937 Bernard W. Kearny*  . . . . . .  Elected at Denver, Colorado.
1937-1938 Scott P. Squyres* . . . . . . . Elected at Buffalo, New York.
1938-1939 Eugene I. Van Antwerp*  . . . . .  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.
1939-1940 Otis N. Brown*  . . . . . . Elected at Boston, Massachusetts.
1940-1941 Joseph C. Menendez* . . . Elected at Los Angeles, California.
1941-1942 Max Singer* . . . . .  Elected at Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.
1942-1943 Robert T. Merrill . . . . . . .  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1943-1944 Carl S. Schoeninger*  . . . .  Elected at New York, New York.
1944-1945 Jean A. Brunner*  . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1945-1946 Joseph M. Stack*  . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1946-1947 Louis E. Starr* . . . . . . Elected at Boston, Massachusetts.
1947-1948 Ray H. Brannaman* . . . . . . . . Elected at Cleveland, Ohio.
1948-1949 Lyall T. Beggs* . . . . . . . Elected at St. Louis, Missouri.
1949-1950 Clyde A. Lewis  . . . . . . . . .  Elected at Miami, Florida.
1950-1951 Charles C. Ralls* . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1951-1952 Frank C. Hilton . . . . . . .  Elected at New York, New York.
1952-1953 James W. Cothran* . . . . Elected at Los Angeles, California.
1953-1954 Wayne E. Richards*  . . . .  Elected at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1954-1955 Merton B. Tice* . . .  Elected at Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.
1955-1956 Timothy J. Murphy*  . . . . Elected at Boston, Massachusetts.
1956-1957 Cooper T. Holt  . . . . . . . . . . Elected at Dallas, Texas.
1957-1958 Richard L. Roudebush*   . .  Elected at Miami Beach, Florida.
1958-1959 John W. Mahan . . . . . . . .  Elected at New York, New York.
1959-1960 Louis G. Feldmann*  . . . Elected at Los Angeles, California.
1960-1961 T.C. Connell  . . . . . . . . . Elected at Detroit, Michigan.
1961-1962 Robert E. Hansen  . . . . .  Elected at Miami Beach, Florida.
1962-1963 Byron B. Gentry*  . . . .  Elected at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1963-1964 Joseph J Lombardo*  . . . . .  Elected at Seattle, Washinton.
1964-1965 John A Jenkins* . . . . . . . . . Elected at Cleveland, Ohio.
1965-1966 Andy Borg*  . . . . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1966-1967 Leslie M. Fry*  . . . . . . .  Elected at New York, New York.
1967-1968 Joseph A. Scerra  . . . .  Elected at New Olreans, Louisiana.
1968-1969 Richard W. Homan  . . . . . . . Elected at Detroit, Michigan.
1969-1970 Raymond A. Gallagher  .Elected at Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.
1970-1971 Herbert R. Rainwater* . . .  Elected at Miami Beach, Florida.
1971-1972 Joseph L. Vicites*  . . . . . . . . Elected at Dallas, Texas.
1972-1973 Patrick E. Carr . . . . .  Elected at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1973-1974 Ray R. Soden  . . . . . .  Elected at New Olreans, Louisiana.
1974-1975 John J. Stang . . . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1975-1976 Thomas C. Walker  . . . . Elected at Los Angeles, California.
1976-1977 R.D. Smith Jr.  . . . . . . .  Elected at New York, New York.
1977-1978 Dr. John Wasylik  . . . .  Elected at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1978-1979 Eric Sandstrom  . . . . . . . . . . Elected at Dallas, Texas.
1979-1980 Howard E. Vander Clute Jr..Elected at New Olreans, Louisiana.
1980-1981 T.C. Selman*  . . . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1980-1981 Arthur Fellwock . . . . Succeeded T.C. Selman, Oct. 21, 1980.
1980-1981 Arthur Fellwock . . .  Elected at Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.
1982-1983 James R. Currieo  . . . . Elected at Los Angeles, California.
1983-1984 Clifford G. Olson Jr. . .  Elected at New Olreans, Louisiana.
1984-1985 Billy Ray Cameron . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1985-1986 John S. Staum . . . . . . . . . . . Elected at Dallas, Texas.
1986-1987 Norman G. Staab . . . . .  Elected at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1987-1988 Earl L. Stock*  . . . . .  Elected at New Orleans, Louisiana.
1988-1989 Larry W. Rivers . . . . . . . . Elected at Chicago, Illinois.
1989-1990 Walter G. Hogan . . . . . . . . Elected at Las Vegas, Nevada.
1990-1991 James L. Kimery . . . . . . . Elected at Baltimore, Maryland.
1991-1992 Robert E. Wallace . . . .  Elected at New Orleans, Louisiana.
1992-1993 John M. Carney  . . . . . . Elected at Indianapolis, Indiana.
1993-1994 George R. Cramer  . . . . . . . . . Elected at Dallas, Texas.
1994-1995 Allen F. "Gunner" Kent  . . . . Elected at Las Vegas, Nevada.
1995-1996 Paul A. Spera . . . . . . . . .  Elected at Phoenix, Arizona.
1996-1997 James E. Nier . . . . . . . . . Elected Louisville, Kentucky.



           VFW NATIONAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, 1996-97

Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James E. Nier
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  John E. Moon
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas A. Pouliot
Adjutant General  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry W. Rivers
Quartermaster General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Joe L. Ridgley
Judge Advocate General  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leonard R. Herrst
Surgeon General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Robert W. Reif
National Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  William J. Bleiler
National Chief of Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Bill E. Lark
Inspector General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles R. Stephens
Assistant Adjutant General &
   Executive Dir., Washington Office  . . . . . . . Kenneth A. Steadman
Assistant Adjutant General, Administration  . . . . . John J. Senk, Jr.
Assistant Adjutant General, Programs  . . . . . . . .  W. Benny Bachand
Assistant Adjutant General, Marketing . . . . . . .  Ronald G. Browning
Assistant Quartermaster General . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence M. Maher
Director, Administrative Services . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence LeFebvre
Director, Americanism & Community Activities  . .  Michael J. Gormalley
Director, Emblem & Supply Department  . . . . . . . .  M. L. "Bud" Cale
Director, Finance and Human Resources . . . . . . . .  Robert B. Greene
Director, Insurance Programs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Crow
Director, Membership  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas L. Kissell
Director, Membership Reporting/State Coordinator  . . . Gary Housknecht
Director, National Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Joseph D. Ross
Director, Post Services & Buddy Poppy . . . . . . . .  James R. Rowoldt
Director, Publications & Editor, VFW Magazine . . . . . Richard K. Kolb
Director, Public Affairs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Van Buskirk
Director, VFW Foundation  . . . . . . . . . . . . Robbie Fazen Marchant
Director, VFW Properties  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy R. Weissend
Director, Voice of Democracy,
   Youth Activities & Safety  . . . . . . . . . . . . Gordon R. Thorson
National Service Officer & Director,
   National Veterans Service  . . . . . . . . . . Frederico Juarbe, Jr.
Director, National Legislative Service  . . . . . . . . James N. Magill
Director, Political Action Committee  . . . . . . . .  M. Kelly Goddard
Director, Public Affairs, Washington Office . . . . .  William G. Smith
Director, Veterans Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Sidney Daniels
Administrative Assistant, Kansas City . . . . . . . Russell R. Cutright
Administrative Assistant, Washington Office . .  Edward L. "Leo" Andrew



                      REGIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL
                  OF ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS, 1996-97

DISTRICT  1 (ME, NH, VT)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arthur J. Roy
DISTRICT  2 (MA, CT)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William J. Madera
DISTRICT  3 (MD, RI)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Armondo C. Azzinaro
DISTRICT  4 (DC, DE, EU)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Bruce A. Withers
DISTRICT  5 (IN, MO)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  John L. Dahman
DISTRICT  6 (VA, WV)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottie E. King
DISTRICT  7 (TN, KY)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roy C. Womble
DISTRICT  8 (GA, AL)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Oliver W. Dial
DISTRICT  9 (SC, NC)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  George M. Pullie
DISTRICT 10 (OK, AR)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leslie F. Thone
DISTRICT 11 (WI, IA)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Bernard J. Boyle
DISTRICT 12 (SD, ND, WY)  . . . . . . . . . . . . William F. Cerny, Jr.
DISTRICT 13 (NE, KS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Jack L. Armagost
DISTRICT 14 (MT, WA, ID)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earl E. Chase
DISTRICT 15 (NM, CO, AZ)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James H. Ferguson
DISTRICT 16 (CE, PAC, AK, HI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dannie Cooper
DISTRICT 17 (UT, NV, OR)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary L. Clark
DISTRICT 19 (LA, MS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Hollis Smith
DISTRICT  A (Pennsylvania)  . . . . . . . . . . .  Americo D. DiLoretto
DISTRICT  B (Illinois)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell R. Rieke, Sr.
DISTRICT  C (New York)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Ralph U. DeMarco
DISTRICT  D (Ohio)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George W. Marks
DISTRICT  E (Minnesota) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Gordon W. Kirk
DISTRICT  F (Michigan)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne A. Buck
DISTRICT  G (California)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raymond C. Sisk
DISTRICT  H (Texas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ferrell E. Warden
DISTRICT  I (New Jersey)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George J. Lisicki
DISTRICT  J (Florida) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eugene R. Manfrey
Past Commander-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul A. Spera






                         James E. Nier
                      Commander-in-Chief
                            1996-97





                         John E. Moon
                      Commander-in-Chief
                           1997-98



          VFW NATIONAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, 1997-98

Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  John E. Moon
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas A. Pouliot
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief  . . . . . . . . . . . . . John W. Smart
Adjutant General  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry W. Rivers
Quartermaster General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Joe L. Ridgley
Judge Advocate General  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Brian J. Kennedy
Surgeon General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Henry F. Sexauer
National Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Derieg
National Chief of Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  James J. Thiel
Inspector General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Daniel Bartholomew
Assistant Adjutant General & Executive Dir.,
   Washington Office  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenneth A. Steadman
Assistant Adjutant General, Administration  . . . . . John J. Senk, Jr.
Assistant Adjutant General, Programs  . . . . . . . .  W. Benny Bachand
Assistant Adjutant General, Marketing . . . . . . .  Ronald G. Browning
Assistant Quartermaster General . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence M. Maher
Director, Administrative Services - Kansas City . . . Lawrence LeFebvre
Director, Citizenship Education &
   Community Service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Michael J. Gormalley
Director, Emblem & Supply Department  . . . . . . . . . M.L. iBudi Cale
Director, Finance and Human Resources . . . . . . . .  Robert B. Greene
Director, General Services  . . . . . . . . . . . . . David L. Swindler
Director, Life Membership & Dues Processing . . . . . . Gary Housknecht
Director, Membership  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Thomas Kissell
Director, National Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Joseph D. Ross
Director, Operations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Crow
Director, Post Services & Buddy Poppy . . . . . . . .  James R. Rowoldt
Director, Publications & Editor, VFW Magazine . . . . . Richard K. Kolb
Director, VFW Foundation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Van Buskirk
Director, VFW Properties  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy R. Weissend
Director, Youth Development, Scholarship &
   Recognition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gordon R. Thorson
Deputy Executive Director, Washington Office  . . . . Robert E. Wallace
Director, Action Corps & Deputy Director, National
   Legislative Service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Sidney Daniels
Director, Administrative Services - Washington  . Edward L."Leo" Andrew
Director, Communications and Public Affairs . . . . .  William G. Smith
Director, Employment Service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . James N. Magill
Director, National Legislative Service  . . . . . . . . Dennis Cullinan
Director, National Security & Foreign Affairs . . . . . Bruce R. Harder
National Service Officer &
   Director, National Veterans Service  . . . . . Frederico Juarbe, Jr.
Administrative Assistant  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Russell Cutright



       REGIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS,
                             1997-98

DISTRICT  1 (ME, NH, VT)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert W. Madigan
DISTRICT  2 (MA, CT)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William J. Madera
DISTRICT  3 (MD, RI)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Raymond J. Boyle
DISTRICT  4 (DC, DE, EU)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Bruce A. Withers
DISTRICT  5 (IN, MO)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  James R. Mueller
DISTRICT  6 (VA, WV)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottie E. King
DISTRICT  7 (TN, KY)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Leroy Ford
DISTRICT  8 (GA, AL)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Oliver W. Dial
DISTRICT  9 (SC, NC)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  William J. Hendren
DISTRICT 10 (OK, AR)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leslie F. Thone
DISTRICT 11 (WI, IA)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  William P. Shannon
DISTRICT 12 (SD, ND, WY)  . . . . . . . . . . . . William F. Cerny, Jr.
DISTRICT 13 (NE, KS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Lewie B Cooper
DISTRICT 14 (MT, WA, ID)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earl E. Chase
DISTRICT 15 (NM, CO, AZ)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . George H. Palmateer
DISTRICT 16 (LAT AM/CAR, PAC, AK, HI) . . . . . . . . . . Dannie Cooper
DISTRICT 17 (UT, NV, OR)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank R. Risewick
DISTRICT 19 (LA, MS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Richard J. Fruge
DISTRICT  A (Pennsylvania)  . . . . . . . . . . Charles R. Feltenberger
DISTRICT  B (Illinois)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Rick Frank
DISTRICT  C (New York)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  T. William Bossidy
DISTRICT  D (Ohio)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George W. Marks
DISTRICT  E (Minnesota) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Gordon W. Kirk
DISTRICT  F (Michigan)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard L. Lehner
DISTRICT  G (California)  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Richard R. Pignone
DISTRICT  H (Texas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ferrell E. Warden
DISTRICT  J (Florida) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  James DePass
Past Commander-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James E. Nier




                         SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS

                 OF THE 98TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE

             VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

                          SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

                           AUGUST 17-21, 1997

                        ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE

                        SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 1997

    (The Memorial Service of the 98th Annual Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held at the Salt 
Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, was called to order at 
10:30 o'clock a.m., with Commander-in-Chief James E. Nier 
presiding.)

                             CALL TO ORDER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Ladies and gentlemen, please 
remain seated as I call this Memorial Service for the 98th 
National Convention to order. Please allow me to begin by 
recognizing our Gold Star parents and our Gold Star wives who 
are with us today.
    I would especially like to thank the Church of Jesus Christ 
Latter Day Saints for allowing us to hold our Memorial Service 
in the Mormon Tabernacle. A special recognition to Mr. Mr. 
Wendell Smoot, President of the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir, and 
to the Tabernacle Choir, and the Director Jerald Ottley, 
Associate Director Craig Jessop, and Organists, John Lonherst 
and Richard Elliott.
    As you know, the choir performed during their weekly 
television program just prior to our Memorial Service. Since 
they are so gracious to remain for our service, we have agreed 
to limit our service to one hour and we have made some 
modifications to the program.
    I would also like to point out that the National Memorial 
song of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is ``Sleep Soldier Boy 
Sleep.'' Composed in 1923 by a native of Salt Lake City, 
Dorothy Kenner Alexander, who was serving as President of 
Auxiliary 409 at the time.
    As a reminder, the Tabernacle and the Temple Square are 
considered sacred ground. Please refrain from smoking until 
leaving this area.
    Will everyone please stand and join me in the Pledge of 
Allegiance to the flag of our country and join the Tabernacle 
Choir in the singing of our National Anthem.

                          PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

    (Whereupon, the assembly gave the Pledge of Allegiance, 
followed by the National Anthem. The Tabernacle Choir presented 
a patriotic medley at this time.)

                               INVOCATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Please remain seated during the 
Invocation by Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald.
    MONSIGNOR FITZGERALD: Let us pray. Loving Father, eternal 
guide, we praise you and we thank you for the life and the 
light that you share with us this day. We gather at this 
historic Tabernacle to seek your blessing for the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, for their loved ones and that we might remember 
their departed comrades.
    You have bestowed on us such generous gifts, the freedom of 
our democracy, the natural resources of our country, the 
ingenuity and diversity of our people. For these gifts, we give 
you thanks. We ask that you extend your hand and blessing on 
all who gathered.
    They have defended our country so well. They have served 
the cause of freedom in so many distant parts. Bless them 
generously, reward them with your love, and bless the many 
departed who have sacrificed their lives in freedom's name.
    Father, teach us to cherish those values our deceased 
comrades defended: peace and justice, sacrifice and service, 
unity and diversity, compassion and forgiveness, generosity and 
love. Teach us always to cherish your divine gift of life. So 
we pray in your name. You are the Lord of all for ever and 
ever. Amen.
    (Whereupon, the assembly sang, ``Nearer, My God, to Thee'' 
under the direction of the Tabernacle Choir.)

                            MEMORIAL RITUAL

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, Ladies of the Auxiliary 
and Friends: We have met at this time to commemorate our 
comrades of the United States Armed Forces who have answered 
the last call. The VFW Ritual provides that the audience 
refrain from applauding. The Chief of Staff will see that there 
is no disturbance during this ceremony.
    NATIONAL CHIEF OF BILL LARK: Commander-in-Chief, your order 
will be obeyed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I request that the National 
Chaplain preside. (National Chaplain Reverend William J. 
Bleiler presided during the Memorial Services performed by the 
National Officers in accordance with the Ritual.)
    (Marilyn Schultz, National Soloist of the Ladies Auxiliary, 
sang ``Sleep, Soldier Boy'' followed by the Tabernacle Choir 
presenting ``God of Abraham Praise'' and ``A Mighty Fortress''. 
Then the Tabernacle Choir and the assembly sang ``America, the 
Beautiful'' followed by the ``Battle Hymn of the Republic by 
the Tabernacle Choir.)
    NATIONAL CHAPLAIN BLEILER: We will now have our Benediction 
by The Right Reverend Carolyn Tanner Irish, Bishop of the 
Episcopal Diocese of Utah.
    THE RIGHT REVEREND IRISH: Let us pray. Holy and Gracious 
God, giver of life, bearer of sacrifice, we give thanks for 
this opportunity to remember and to honor before you the men 
and women who have served this nation in uniform; those who 
have died and those whose faith remains unknown, those who live 
on bearing scars of sacrifice.
    We can never fully know what they experienced in their 
courage and in their fear, their triumph and despair, their 
hope and their loneliness. Yet in another sense their sacrifice 
makes us one with them. For no person or family or nation can 
endure war without being deeply wounded.
    War brings not only bloodshed, tears and fear, it can also 
distort a humanity, undermine our reverence for life, and 
threaten our dignity. For as long as memory endures, no war is 
truly over. So we pray for ourselves as well as for those who 
have suffered war more directly.
    Together with them we are one in our need for healing and 
reconciliation. We pray to those now in positions of 
responsibility and power, and we give thanks for all those 
throughout the world who work for justice and freedom that our 
children and our children's children may live in peace. In your 
most holy name we pray. Amen.
    (The VFW National Band played the Taps at this time.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, Sisters, Ladies and 
Gentlemen, this concludes our Memorial Service. Thank you so 
very much for attending.
    (Whereupon, the service was concluded at 11:15 o'clock 
a.m.)
                                ------                                


                         JOINT OPENING SESSION

                        MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997

    (The Joint Opening Session of the 98th National Convention 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the 
84th National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary was called to 
order on Monday, August 18, 1997, at 8:30 o'clock a.m., in the 
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, by Comrade 
Ben Russo, Chairman of the VFW 98th National Convention 
Committee.)

                             CALL TO ORDER

    COMRADE BEN RUSSO: Comrades and sisters, I am Ben Russo, 
Chairman for this, the 98th VFW National Convention here in 
Salt Lake City. I welcome you on behalf of myself and all who 
are working so hard to make this our most successful Convention 
ever.
    We sincerely hope that the time you spend with us this week 
will renew your pride in our nation, rededicate your commitment 
to America's veterans and bring new excitement to your work as 
a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
and its Ladies Auxiliary.
    Please rise as we officially open this Convention with the 
Advancement of the Colors.

                         ADVANCEMENT OF COLORS

    (Whereupon, the National Honor Guard advanced the Colors at 
this time followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.)
    COMRADE RUSSO: And now this morning's Invocation, the 
National Chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, the Reverend William J. Bleiler.

                               INVOCATION

    (Whereupon, National Chaplain Bleiler gave the Invocation.)
    NATIONAL SERGEANT-AT-ARMS GEORGE SARVER: Comrade Chairman, 
the Opening Ceremonies have been performed.

                           VIDEO PRESENTATION

    COMRADE RUSSO: We will now ask you to all sit back and 
relax as we present the video of the ``Above and Beyond'' year.
    (Whereupon, the assembly enjoyed the video on the ``Above 
and Beyond'' year.)

              INTRODUCTION--THE HONORABLE DEEDEE CORRADINI

    COMRADE RUSSO: Now, please join me in welcoming our first 
guest to this 98th VFW National Convention., a lady of 
remarkable talents who has done so much to improve government 
and the quality of life here in Salt Lake City.
    First elected in 1991, she won re-election in 1996. Her 
style of government stresses good business practices, coupled 
with efficient management of people, money and resources. From 
fuel efficiency vehicles to Triple-A baseball, she is leading a 
community-wide renaissance that will propel Salt Lake City into 
the 21st Century and make it one of America's leading cities.
    Please give a warm VFW welcome to Her Honor, the Honorable 
Mayor of Salt Lake City, Deedee Corradini. (Applause)

               GREETINGS--THE HONORABLE DEEDEE CORRADINI

                     MAYOR, CITY OF SALT LAKE CITY

    MAYOR CORRADINI: Thank you very much. The theme of our 
Olympic Games that will be coming here in 2002 is ``The World 
is Welcome Here.'' Welcome to all of you. We are thrilled to 
have you here. Having grown up away from Salt Lake City, it is 
a special privilege for me to welcome people who come here from 
other parts of the country for a very special reason.
    I was born in Rhode Island, grew up in Lebanon and Syria, 
lived in Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York and 
Washington, D.C. All right. All of you from all of those places 
clap. Now, why did I wind up in Salt Lake City? Well, I hope 
you are going to discover that while you are here for this 
Convention.
    When I first came here as a visitor, and I flew into this 
airport and saw a metropolitan area of just under one million 
people nestled right up against these fantastic mountains, I 
could not believe the physical beauty of this place.
    Then when I discovered the warmth and friendliness of the 
people here, I decided, never having been west of Chicago, that 
the West was a great place to live and Salt Lake City is where 
I wanted to settle. That is how I got here.
    So I hope while you are here you will enjoy all of the many 
things that we have to offer, that you will get up into the 
mountains and see our spectacular mountains. Take a ride on the 
tram at Snow Bird. Go up to Park City and see our Olympic 
preparations where we have our ski jump and our bobsled and 
luge runs up. There are just so many wonderful things to see, 
and hopefully you will have a chance to even see a little 
baseball while you are here.
    I also have a special welcome for you, because I am so 
proud that you have decided to have your Convention here. I 
have had personal experience in what veterans and the military 
have done for Americans and peace around the world. As a child, 
when I grew up in Lebanon, I was in boarding school in Beirut, 
Lebanon, and my parents got thrown out of Syria during the Suez 
crisis.
    I remember the Sixth Fleet constantly being on watch in the 
Mediterranean while I was living in Beirut and my most vivid 
memories is in 1958 when the Lebanese Revolution broke out. I 
was away from my parents who were living in Syria, and I will 
never forget when the Marines landed. It was in the middle of 
the night. The Marines escorted me out of Lebanon with the 
bombs blasting overhead and helped me escape. That is a sad 
departure, but I want you to know how proud I am and how proud 
you make all of us as Americans for the peace and the help you 
have given us around the world.
    Welcome to Salt Lake City. Have a wonderful Convention and 
God bless each and every one of you. Thank you very much. 
(Applause)

            INTRODUCTION--THE HONORABLE MICHAEL O. LEAVITT,

                        GOVERNOR, STATE OF UTAH

    COMRADE RUSSO: Comrades and Sisters, again let me say that 
Utah attained statehood on January 4, 1896, just three years 
before the VFW was founded. As a state and as a veteran's 
organization, we have shared much in this most remarkable of 
all centuries.
    From promise to despair and back to promise, we have been 
what America is all about; people seeking freedom and people 
dedicated to preserving that freedom even if it means fighting 
for it.
    Those who settled this state came West in covered wagons. 
Today many of the people here play a major part in America's 
space exploration programs. Such success is not due to luck, 
instead it is the result of many years of stable, reliable, 
imaginative and dynamic state government; government that has 
consistently given new meaning to the state's one-word motto: 
industry.
    Our next guest has served the people of Utah for many 
years. Through his leadership, Utah carries forward the 
traditions on which it was built while at the same time meeting 
the challenges of the modern day world. Education, crime 
prevention and the new relationship between state and federal 
governments are three of the major areas in which Utah is 
leading the way into the new century.
    Just as their ancestors crossed a frontier that led to a 
new and promising land, those who live here today are on the 
threshold of a new and promising era, and the individual 
leading the way is Michael O. Leavitt, Governor of the great 
State of Utah. Please give the Governor a big warm VFW welcome. 
(Applause)

              GREETINGS--THE HONORABLE MICHAEL O. LEAVITT,

                        GOVERNOR, STATE OF UTAH

    GOVERNOR LEAVITT: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and 
welcome to Utah. Your Chairman has indicated that our motto in 
this state is industry. Well, we have a new motto. The new 
motto is, ``Utah: Highway Construction the Next Ten Miles.''
    We are so pleased to have you in our state. We are a young, 
vibrant state. You add to that vitality. We are a state with 
many children, but I must confess my wife and I have added to 
that. We have five children. I might say we have changed the 
culture a little bit in the governor's mansion. We are the 
first family to have small children in that mansion for quite a 
while.
    Some months ago I called home and my youngest, who at the 
time was about four, we had a conversation that took place like 
this. ``Hello.'' I said, ``Weston,'' that is his name, ``is mom 
home?'' He said, ``She is here but she can't come to the 
phone.''
    I said, ``Is

 Anna Marie there?'' That is my only daughter. He said, ``She is here, 
   too, but she is busy.'' I said, ``What about Taylor?'' That is my 
 second son. ``He is busy, too.'' I said, ``What are they all so busy 
            doing?'' He said, ``Looking for me.'' (Laughter)

    These children really keep us going in this day. I was in 
the shower a couple of months ago and I get this knock on the 
shower door. It is my thirteen year old son. He said, ``There 
is some guy on the telephone from Time magazine.'' Well, at 
this point I had just broken into a full lather and I am in my 
nice, warm shower.
    I am a politician and you don't want to miss a chance to 
talk to Time magazine. I get out of the shower, wrap myself in 
a big towel, and by this time I am groping for the telephone 
with shampoo in my eyes. I say, ``This is Mike Leavitt.'' ``Mr. 
Leavitt, for $1.75 a week.'' (Laughter)
    My youngest son and I, actually the thirteen year old I 
just told you about, we were out at our ranch having a little 
holiday a year or two ago, and as I walked into the restaurant 
there was an old farmer who was sitting at the corner of the 
snack bar next to the cash register.
    You have been to these places before and you will see some 
in our state that have the vinyl booth where you can go sit and 
put three plays on the jukebox for a quarter and he is there 
sipping coffee most of the morning. I could tell when I walked 
in that probably he recognized me. I wasn't exactly dressed in 
uniform.
    We had our lunch and I walked up to the counter to pay. He 
said to me, ``Do a lot of people say you look like the 
Governor?'' I said, ``Quite a few people do.'' He said, ``Makes 
you mad, don't it?'' (Laughter)
    We feel a sense of deep confidence that you will be 
bringing us more respect than that in our state. We honor you, 
we honor you for what you have done. We thank you for coming to 
our state not just to do your business but to teach our 
children the value of patriotism and the value of this nation 
and what people like you and millions of others have done to 
secure it. We honor you for that. You honor us by your 
presence. Have a great time in the State of Utah. Thank you. 
(Applause)

                   PRESENTATION OF AMERICAN FLAG SETS

    COMRADE RUSSO: It is my pleasure to introduce Jane Tittle, 
the Ladies Auxiliary National Patriotic Instructor, for the 
purpose of a presentation.
    NATIONAL PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTOR JANE TITTLE: Thank you, Mr. 
Chairman. Good morning. Governor Leavitt and Mayor Corradini, I 
have the pleasure of making the presentation to you this 
morning. Before I do, I would like to tell you a little about 
how the over 2.2 million veterans that this group represents 
feel about the gift you are about to receive.
    There is no coward stripe upon it and no shading is written 
on it. All the blood that is crimson is the blood of manhood's 
troop. There is no gradation in the fervor of glory anymore in 
its story. It is the bright flag and a right flag, and the flag 
from me to you.
    It is the flag without fetter. It is the flag of manhood 
better. It has never done a mean thing, never waved above its 
roots, greeted hate never shielded and to raw it never yielded. 
It is a fine flag, a divine flag that in reverence we salute.
    It is the flag of all the glory that is written in many 
stories. It is the symbol of the freedom and the hope of men 
oppressed. It adds no disgraceful duty, never shame that 
beauty. It is a pure flag and it is a sure flag, and it is our 
flag and it is the best.
    Governor Leavitt, will you join me at the podium, please. 
It is my high honor, on behalf of President Eileen Tanner and 
the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, to present to you our best, this American Flag.
    GOVERNOR LEAVITT: Thank you.
    NATIONAL PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTOR TITTLE; Mayor Corradini, will 
you join us at the podium, please. It is with great pleasure 
that I present to you on behalf of the 744,818 members of the 
Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States of America and our National President Eileen Tanner, 
this flag, the symbol of our nation. Long may she wave.

                INTRODUCTION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER

    COMRADE RUSSO: James E. Nier of El Paso, Texas, was elected 
Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at its 97th 
National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on August 23, 
1996. Jim was the third Texas to be elected to that high 
office.
    He entered the U.S. Army in 1959 and served for 22 years. 
Overseas tours of duty included Vietnam, 1962-63 and Korea 
1967-68. He served seven years with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
Command and Control, at the Alternate National Military Command 
Center, Fort Ritchie, Maryland. A graduate of the U.S. Army 
Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas, his last 
assignment was as an instructor there until his retirement in 
1981.
    While on active duty, Jim attended night school, earning a 
Bachelor of Science degree in business and finance and a 
Master's degree in management.
    He joined the VFW in 1981, and he is a Life Member of VFW 
Post 8919 in El Paso. He has held numerous VFW offices at the 
Post, District, Department and National levels. He earned all-
American honors as a District Commander in 1986-87, and as 
Department of Texas Commander in 1989-90.
    Following his term as VFW Commander-in-Chief, Jim Nier will 
return to Texas where he will continue to work for the 
recognition and rights of America's 26 million veterans.
    Comrades and sisters, please welcome our Commander-in-
Chief, James Nier.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a standing ovation.)
    COMRADE RUSSO: At this time I would like to present you 
with your official name badge and the gavel for this 
Convention.

                    REMARKS--COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Ben. Thanks, ladies and 
gentlemen. Comrades and sisters, you are very kind.
    A year ago I wasn't able to stand for you and ask for your 
support, but I knew it was there as I assumed the duties of the 
Commander-in-Chief of this great organization. Today, I stand 
before you to thank you for that support and thank you for 
reaching the goals that we set at last year's Convention.
    Veterans are better off today than they were one year ago, 
and that success is due to the efforts of each and every one of 
you, and to include the Ladies Auxiliary.
    With our 100th Anniversary just two years away, I asked 
myself every step of the way this year, how well are we 
fulfilling the hopes and dreams and goals of our VFW founders? 
Are we as dedicated today as they were yesterday when they gave 
life to their dream of having a veterans organization that 
would serve each and every veteran in this great country?
    I am proud to say to you this morning that I found the 
answer in every veteran I met. I found it in the VA Hospitals I 
visited, and in particular the one that saved my life in 
Louisville last August. I found the answer in Posts and 
Districts, Departments and Conferences. I found it in the 
dedication and enthusiasm of old members and new members alike. 
I found it in widows who asked, ``Can the VFW help me?'' The 
answer is yes, we are fulfilling their hopes and dreams and 
goals, and we are honoring the dead by helping the living.
    Our success has never been measured in membership figures 
alone, instead it has been measured in what we do and how well 
we do it. This year has been one of milestones and records, 
challenges and changes. We're not rebuilding the VFW, we're 
making it better. From Americanism to legislative service, we 
are putting new life and vitality into our VFW programs. What 
we gained in Congress last year can be lost this year, if we do 
not meet tomorrow's challenges with new ideas. And let me add 
that in just the last few weeks we have seen budget proposals 
that threaten much of what we have gained through the years of 
hard work.
    I promise you today that this organization is not going to 
stand idly by while that bridge to the future has a toll booth 
set up on it for veterans to pass through. We gave this country 
its future and we are not going to pay to get there.
    While you meet in Convention this week, I encourage you to 
look back at our year and review what we have done and what 
still needs to be done. This is a week of hard work for each of 
us. We have to put our best effort, our best ideas and our 
strongest dedication into everything we do in the next four 
days. The future of veterans affairs hangs in the balance. We 
can do no less than do our best.
    I thank you again for your support, your encouragement and 
your dedication to our cause, and to going above and beyond for 
America's veterans. Thank you very, very much.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)

                   PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO 1996-'97

                             ALL-AMERICANS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It is now time for us to recognize 
the All-American Commanders for 1996-97. Much of our success 
during this past year is due to their hard work and leadership. 
We will also take this opportunity to honor those individuals 
who excelled in other programs sponsored by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary. These presentations are 
being made here at our Joint Opening Session to allow all of 
you the opportunity to give them the recognition they deserve.
    I would like to ask the National President of our great 
Ladies Auxiliary, Eileen Tanner, to join me at the center stage 
so we can jointly present awards to the national program 
winners.
    I would also like to ask Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief 
John Moon to assume this station and introduce our winners as 
the presentations are made.
    (Whereupon, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon assumed the 
Chair at this time.)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: I know everyone here 
is excited today for what we are about to do. I would, however, 
ask that you refrain from taking pictures that would tend to 
cause a delay in the orderly presentation of the awards. Your 
cooperation will allow us to give the recipients the 
recognition they have earned and allow us to proceed in an 
orderly fashion.
    The first award to be presented is for the National 
Americanism Record Book Program. The first place winner is Post 
9693, Bay Village, Ohio.
    The next awards to be presented are the winners in the 
National Community Activities Record Book Contest.
    First place in Division 1 is Post 4633 and its Ladies 
Auxiliary, Hampden, Maine.
    First place in Division 2 is Post 3343 and its Ladies 
Auxiliary, Clyde, Ohio.
    First place in Division 3 is Post 6873 and its Ladies 
Auxiliary, Abilene, Texas.
    First place in Division 4 is Post 9972 and its Ladies 
Auxiliary, Sierra Vista, Arizona.
    Let's give these four national winners, as well as the rest 
of the Posts and Auxiliary that entered record books in the 
1997 National Community Activities Record Book Contest, a big 
hand. (Applause)
    The next awards we are going to present are to the National 
Loyalty Day winners.
    First place winner is Post 775 and its Ladies Auxiliary, 
Ottumwa, Iowa.
    First place winner among districts goes to District 3 and 
its Ladies Auxiliary, Department of Virginia.
    The Department of Wisconsin and its Ladies Auxiliary were 
judged first place winners in state competition. Please give 
each and every one of them a round of applause for the Loyalty 
Program. (Applause)
    The next award to be presented is for the National Youth 
Activities Program. The first place winner among Posts and 
Auxiliaries goes to Post 2135, Peoria, Arizona, and its Ladies 
Auxiliary. To all of those, please give a warm hand for all the 
interest in the Youth Activities Programs.
    I would ask the Commander-in-Chief to escort the President 
of the National Auxiliary back to her seat. Before we conclude 
the programs awards, I would like to provide you with 
information about our community service programs for 1996-97.
    Nationally, the number of volunteer hours donated was over 
12 million, and the total amount of monies spent or donated 
exceeded over $53 million through April 30. All totals exceeded 
last year's records. Truly a record of achievement the VFW and 
its Ladies Auxiliary can be extremely proud.
    This does conclude the Program Awards. Again, if you will 
all please give all our volunteers a big hand for the work they 
do to make our organization so successful. (Applause)
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief Jim Nier, will you please resume 
your station.
    (Whereupon, Commander-in-Chief Nier assumed the Chair.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thanks very much, John. I am sure 
that many of the Commanders I am about to introduce set their 
sights on becoming an All-American Department Commander when 
they assumed office a year ago. Through perseverance and 
effort, they achieved their goal. Today, they will receive 
their just award, the coveted red, white and blue cap that 
clearly distinguishes them as an All-American Department 
Commander.
    Before I begin announcing the names of the 1996-97 All-
American Department Commanders, I would like to introduce a 
very special group of individuals. These special individuals 
are the Post and District Commanders who distinguished 
themselves, selected by their respective Department, as All-
American Commanders.
    They are guests at the National Convention and will receive 
a trip to the Washington Conference in February. They are 
seated in the audience. I can't see them from right here, but 
as I read your name, will you, please, stand up and remain 
standing. Please hold your applause until I have read all of 
their names, if you would, please.
    From the Department of Alabama, Charles D. Gavin, District 
9, Clyde Maddox, Post 5658.
    From the Department of Alaska, Robert S. Watchus, Post 
9365.
    From the Department of Arizona, Charles R. Self, District 
10, Ronald E. Bubb, VFW Post 9972.
    From the Department of Arkansas, Harold N. Harris, District 
No. 1, Verlin F. Williams, VFW Post 1991.
    From the Department of California, Frank Gafney, Jr., 
District 13, and David Norris, Post 1537.
    From the Department of Colorado, George R. Fick, District 
No. 13.
    From the Department of Connecticut, Alfred F. Perugini, 
District No. 5, Dominic J. Ramano, VFW Post 7330.
    From the Department of Delaware, Michael P. Pizzola, 
District 4, George M. Ritchie, Post 7234.
    From the Department of District of Columbia, Remigio A. 
Cabacar, Post 5471.
    From the Department of Europe, Peter J. Mascetti, Post 
10658.
    From the Department of Florida, John F. Fogarty, District 
21, Daniel V. Hughes, Post 8696.
    From the Department of Georgia, Frederick Engelhardt, III, 
Post 2518.
    From the Department of Hawaii, Monte Ray Briggs, Post 970.
    From the Department of Idaho, Ray Gault, District 7, Conrad 
W. Parvin, Post 11065.
    From the Department of Illinois, Terry Vance, District 7, 
John W. Fessler, Post 1308.
    From the Department of Indiana, Jerry B. McIntyre, District 
10, William Thien, Post 3281.
    From the Department of Iowa, Wilbur Tiffany, District 9, 
Joseph D. Snedden, Post 9662.
    From the Department of Kansas, Herbert Schwartzkopf, 
District 8, Sherry E. Blede, Post 11555.
    From the Department of Kentucky, Don A. Potts, Post 1170.
    From the Department of Maine, Robert H. Turcotte, District 
8, William F. Kraus, Post 10989.
    From the Department of Maryland, Ellsworth D. Patterson, 
Sr., District 17, Robert J. Rogers, Post 6506.
    From the Department of Massachusetts, Jean Claude 
Martineau, District 10, Gerald F. Hurley, Post 697.
    From the Department of Michigan, Sherman Gauthier, District 
15, Dewey Stevenson, Post 1566.
    From the Department of Minnesota, Ronald Janke, District 5, 
Earl H. Greer, Post 5518.
    From the Department of Mississippi, Donald L. Verucchi, 
District No. 4, Gene L. Schloegel, Post 3253.
    From the Department of Missouri, Glenn D. Schaefer, 
District No. 17, James M. Hughes, Post 5789.
    From the Department of Montana, David Hellod, District No. 
3, Raymond M. Lutz, Sr., Post 5590.
    From the Department of Nebraska, Dale Wittrock, District 
16, Steve Norton, Post 1077.
    From the Department of Nevada, Paul A. Webster, Post 10054.
    From the Department of New Jersey, Henry J. Adams, Jr., 
District 18, Jeffrey A. Ross, Post 9503.
    From the Department of New Mexico, Michael L. Alford, 
District No. 5, Orlo L. Parker, Post 7686.
    From the Department of New York, Joseph La Porta, Post 
7955.
    From the Department of North Carolina, Carl E. McAlister, 
District No. 13, James D. Linker, Post 6480.
    From the Department of North Dakota, Wayne Paulson, 
District No. 3, Glenn Brevik, Post 6139.
    From the Department of Ohio, John E. Keirns, District 12, 
Paul A. Lucas, Post 7174.
    From the Department of Oklahoma, Francis L. Neel, District 
No. 4, William C. Bender, Post 4446.
    From the Department of Oregon, Theodore R. MacConnell, 
District No. 5, Thomas N. Tangney, Post 922.
    From the Department of Pacific Areas, Emory Russell, 
District No. 7, James D. Malott, Post 10216.
    From the Department of Pennsylvania, Charles H. Prince, 
District No. 23, John A. McMullen, Post 47.
    From the Department of Rhode Island, Bertand Remy, District 
No. 2, Roger J. Lavoie, Post 5392.
    From the Department of South Carolina, Robert A. Finch, 
District No. 7, Jack D. Hills, Post 10420.
    From the Department of South Dakota, Maynard L. Hemp, 
District No. 4, LaVern O. Winge, Post 750.
    From the Department of Tennessee, Ronnie Bell, District No. 
9, Bill Boyatt, Post 5669.
    From the Department of Texas, Raymond K. Nelson, District 
No. 28, Melvin R. Parker, Post 4372.
    From the Department of Vermont, Thomas J. Stone, District 
No. 1, Ronald J. Gascon, Post 792.
    From the Department of Virginia, John E. DeWitt, Post 392.
    From the Department of Washington, Jack Kelley, District 
No. 10, Gary Hulsey, Post 1949.
    From the Department of West Virginia, Arthur G. Hamrick, 
District No. 7, Alroy S. Irvin, Post 4595.
    From the Department of Wisconsin, Tony Eulo, District No. 
5, Robert L. Yugsdal, Post 1916.
    From the Department of Wyoming, Ralph Logan, District No. 
6, Herb Carstens, Post 579.
    Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pride that I give 
you the 1996-'97 team of All-American Posts and District 
Commanders. (Applause)
    I would once again ask the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief 
to please come forward and call the names of the All-American 
Department Commanders as I go forward and place their hats on 
them.
    (Whereupon, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon assumed the 
Chair.)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: From the Department of 
Alaska, Preston E. Nelson.
    From the Department of Arkansas, Raz T. Munholland.
    From the Department of Delaware, Harry J. McLaughlin.
    From the Department of Indiana, Omar F. Kendall.
    From the Department of Kansas, Gerald D. Mangold.
    From the Department of Maine, Erlon B. Rose.
    From the Department of Minnesota, Orlin D. Jackson.
    From the Department of Montana, David A. Tupper.
    From the Department of Nebraska, Rolland E. Hild.
    From the Department of North Dakota, Richard J. Belling.
    From the Department of Ohio, Craig D. Swartz.
    From the Department of Pacific Areas, Robert W. Zaher.
    From the Department of Pennsylvania, Howard L. Adler, Jr.
    From the Department of Rhode Island, John C. Medeiros, Jr.
    From the Department of South Carolina, Tom M. Sherman.
    From the Department of Vermont, Roy R. Beardsley.
    From the Department of West Virginia, John A. Dillinger, Sr.
    From the Department of Wyoming, William H. Saunders.
    Will all the All-American Post, District and Department 
Commanders please stand and be recognized as the All-American 
Commanders for 1996-97. Let's give them a big round of 
applause. (Applause)
    Comrades and sisters, this concludes the presentation of 
awards. I want to thank each and every one of you for your 
participation as these recipients received their awards.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief.
    (Whereupon, Commander-in-Chief Nier assumes the Chair.)

                        ESPN VIDEO PRESENTATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: As you are aware, VFW began 
advertising on ESPN, America's premier television sports 
network, in April. The response to that advertising has been 
extraordinary.
    Everywhere I go people express appreciation for the content 
and quality of our commercials. Our visibility on ESPN has 
generated articles in several major publications, including an 
in-depth article in a recent edition of the Wall Street 
Journal. Our exposure on ESPN is truly a showcase of the work 
of our great organization and the service and sacrifice of 
America's veterans.
    In case you've been wondering what all the excitement is 
about, ESPN has been kind enough to provide us with a brief 
video report of their efforts on our behalf. Please join me as 
we enjoy that video now.
    (Whereupon, the ESPN video was presented at this time.)
     COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, comrades and sisters. 
I think you can see we have a wonderful affiliation with ESPN 
to get the word out on our great organization.

    PRESENTATION OF VFW GOLD MEDAL OF MERIT AND CITATION TO LADIES 
                   AUXILIARY PRESIDENT EILEEN TANNER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Founded in 1914, the Ladies 
Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars has been an active 
part of everything that we've done. Together, we've 
accomplished many things and through those accomplishments we 
have built a better organization and a stronger nation.
    ``People Loving People for a Brighter Tomorrow'' is the 
theme of their National President, Eileen Tanner. Its inspiring 
challenge and Eileen's dynamic leadership allowed the Ladies 
Auxiliary to reach new milestones and set new records during 
the past year. In their own programs and in those they share 
with the VFW, great progress was made.
    It is with a great deal of pleasure that I now introduce to 
you the National President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eileen Tanner, and present her with 
the VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation. Please welcome the 
most gracious lady that I know, Eileen Tanner. (Applause)
    I would like to read the citation, if I may.
    ``Gold Medal of Merit and this Citation awarded to Eileen 
Tanner, National President, Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, 1996-97.
    ``In special recognition of her untiring dedication to our 
country and in sincere appreciation for her enthusiastic 
leadership as evidenced by the exceptional contributions of the 
Ladies Auxiliary to the programs and purposes of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars and, by their deeds, fulfillment of the 
commitment of `People Loving People for a Brighter Tomorrow'.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 18th day of August, 1997.'' This has been signed 
by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.
    Eileen, it is with a great deal of pride and love that I 
present this to you.

           RESPONSE--LADIES AUXILIARY PRESIDENT EILEEN TANNER

    LADIES AUXILIARY PRESIDENT TANNER: Commander-in-Chief Nier, 
National VFW and Auxiliary Officers, Comrades, Sisters and 
Guests:
    It is an honor for me to receive this special award from 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and I thank you from the bottom 
of my heart. This past year has been quite memorable for me and 
has given me the opportunity to see firsthand how our programs 
help our people, personally handing out the pre-paid long-
distance telephone cards when I was overseas, witnessing the 
spirit and determination of the avid wheelchair games 
participants, sharing the excitement of our scholarship winners 
in their achievements, and seeing the cancer research projects 
that we are funding and supporting this year were just a few of 
the remarkable experiences that I have had this past year.
    With each unique experience, I gained new insight and a 
fresh appreciation for the good that our program can provide. 
Each experience proved once again that the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars and the Ladies Auxiliary are people, loving people who 
will go above and beyond for a brighter tomorrow.
    I want to say a special thank you to each VFW member here 
today on behalf of the 744,818 Auxiliary members. We have 
always been very proud of our partnership with the VFW and this 
past year has been no exception.
    Commander-in-Chief Nier, it was a pleasure to serve with 
you and on behalf of all the members of the Ladies Auxiliary I 
wish you a very successful National Convention. (Applause)

  PRESENTATIONS OF VOD WINNER CHRISTINE RICE AND YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST 
                        WINNER, DOMINIC E. DRAYE

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: For the past 50 years, the Voice 
of Democracy Scholarship Program has challenged high school 
students to think, write and speak out for freedom and 
democracy. Today, this program reaches over 100,000 students 
and awards over $2.5 million in scholarships.
    Through these VFW scholarships, many young Americans are 
able to continue their education at the college and university 
levels. We are pleased to have with us today the 1997 First 
Place National Winner in the VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship 
Program.
    She graduated from Laguardia High School of Music, Arts and 
Performing Arts in New York City, New York, and hopes to attend 
Georgetown University. She is sponsored by VFW Post 95 and its 
Ladies Auxiliary in Bronx, New York, and is accompanied today 
by her father and mother.
    Here to present her award-winning essay: ``Democracy -Above 
and Beyond'', the 1997 First Place National Voice of Democracy 
Winner and recipient of the $20,000 T. C. Selman Memorial 
Scholarship, Christine Rice. Let's welcome Christine. 
(Applause)
    MS. CHRISTINE RICE: Thank you so much for the warm welcome 
and the kind introduction. I just want to change part of that. 
Mr. Nier said I was hoping to attend Georgetown. Well, because 
of the VFW and because of the Voice of Democracy, I am going to 
go to Georgetown this Friday.
    They say pride comes before fall. I better watch my step, 
because you make me very, very proud. There are so many people 
that I have to thank, first, Post 95, the Chapter of the Ladies 
Auxiliary, and District 2, Department of New York, and finally 
the National Headquarters and Mr. Gordon Thorson.
    I also want to bring you a thank you from a very special 
group of people that are not here today. Last February, 54 
finalists gathered in Washington, D.C. They represented all the 
states, the District of Columbia and the overseas regions. They 
were from every imaginable ethnic group.
    They came from major cities and rural towns, they were 
actors, auto mechanics, swimmers and skaters. They were by any 
objective measure the most intelligent and articulate and 
talented and the most dynamic group I have ever been with. Each 
of them asked that I tell you this morning how valuable the 
Voice of Democracy was to them and how grateful they are to 
you.
    Last fall, each of us spent a great deal of time reading 
about, thinking about, writing about, and finally speaking 
about democracy. This is truly a defining experience and a 
chance that we give ourselves in relation to our political 
system and in relation to our fellow citizens.
    How much of a difference can the Voice of Democracy make? 
Well, just a few weeks ago the nation lost one of its best 
known and most loved journalists. Charles Kuralt traveled 
throughout the country searching for heroes, the simple and 
visible heroes who make this country the envy of the world.
    His stories inspired each of us what inspired him. Charles 
Kuralt was one of the early national winners of the Voice of 
Democracy competition. I like to think that it was him that 
made me appreciate what a unique country and what a rare group 
of citizens we are. Thanks to all of you from each of us. You 
have given us a great gift.
    The topic for last year was ``Democracy--Above and 
Beyond.'' Out of the thousand essays, this is just one.
    It is one thing to turn on the television and watch a 
newscast about the pain that tyranny causes -- another to see 
that pain in the eyes of a friend.
    I've lived in a democracy ever since birth. But only 
lately, as I've grown older and met different people, have I 
begun to understand what democracy really means.
    Last year, my new neighbors told me how they risked their 
lives to get here, crossing the ocean in boats that were no 
more than rafts.
    This year, my friend Lena told me about her family's long 
wait for permission to emigrate.
    Last month, Paul, who spends most of his retirement as a 
volunteer helping children, showed me the number tattooed on 
his arm, a constant reminder of the years spent in 
concentration camps.
    I've never had to plan my escape. Or to hide my religion. 
Or to watch what I say and to whom I say it. I will never be 
forced to wear a veil in public. Or to have only one child. 
Why? Because I live in a democracy.
    Because our government is ruled not by the military, not by 
the economic elite, not by a handful of religious extremists, 
but by the will of the people.
    We, you and I, make the laws here. If we don't like those 
laws, we can change them. We are the ones responsible for what 
our government does. We are the government.
    People in many parts of the world are trying today to 
establish this same kind of self-rule.
    Places like the Russian Republic and the Palestinian West 
Bank are trying democracy for the first time in their history. 
Other countries, like those that fell behind the Iron Curtain, 
are trying to recapture the democracy stolen from them 
generations ago.
    All of them are trying to move above and beyond what they 
have experienced into what they yearn to experience.
    Beyond predetermined lives into lives that are as 
productive as their talents and energy will allow.
    Beyond mere acceptance of political decisions into actual 
involvement in shaping their direction.
    All of them, in other words, are finding their way out of 
the darkness of tyranny into the light of freedom.
    Many of these countries are struggling through this process 
of change. But that's to be expected. People need time to 
understand what it means to be free. When the United States 
began, it took us time to realize we could no longer blame the 
failures of government on any king or aristocrat, only on 
ourselves.
    Today, our model of democracy is repeated in many other 
lands where freedom has taken root. Just as democracy inspired 
Jefferson and Franklin, so it inspired Walesa and Mandella and 
Aquino.
    Just as democracy gave courage to the colonists of Boston, 
so it moved citizens to face tanks in Red Square and students 
to face bullets in Tianamen Square.
    Just as democracy spurred our militia at Bunker Hill, so 
have thousands of other patriots given their lives for the 
cause of freedom.
    But the voice of democracy is not always heard in the roar 
of the multitude. Sometimes it is only a single cry above the 
gunfire or a solitary whisper in the cells of political 
prisoners. So compelling and passionate a force is democracy 
that these cries and whispers can never be stilled.
    The power of that force is found in the words of Antoine de 
Saint Exupery, author of ``The Little Prince.'' His 
reconnaissance plane crashed into the sea in 1944, but his 
legacy of brotherhood lives on today.
    ``Democracy'', he wrote -- and these are his words-- 
``makes each responsible for all, and all responsible for 
each.''
    For those haunted by tyranny that message holds hopes. For 
my friends, Paul and Lena, and for all of us living in liberty, 
it holds special meaning as well.
    Democracy can never be just a destination -- it will always 
be a journey. Thank you.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I will ask our National President 
to please join us at the podium as we present this eagle trophy 
to Christine Rice, First Place National Winner, Voice of 
Democracy, 1997. Congratulations. (Applause)
    This was the second year of the VFW Youth Essay Contest, a 
program designed to give 7th, 8th and 9th grade students an 
opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme.
    Over 56,900 students entered the competition nationwide. 
All 54 Departments submitted a winner. Savings bonds and other 
incentives, totaling over $407,000, were distributed by our 
membership to young people throughout our great nation.
    We are very pleased to have with us this morning, the 1997 
National Winner of the VFW Youth Essay Program Competition. He 
was a ninth grade student at Blanchet High School in Seattle, 
Washington, when he wrote his winning essay. He is sponsored by 
VFW Post 3348 and its Ladies Auxiliary from Seattle, 
Washington, and is accompanied today by his father, mother and 
sister.
    Here to present his award-winning essay: ``What Makes 
America Great'', the 1997 First Place National Youth Essay 
Winner and recipient of a $5,000 United States Savings Bond, 
Dominic Draye. (Applause)
    MR. DOMINIC DRAYE: Thank you, Mr. Nier, and all of you for 
this wonderful opportunity here in Salt Lake City.
    ``What Makes America Great.''
    America is a great nation for many reasons. However, to me 
America's greatness stems directly from the American Dream. 
Throughout history the American Dream has inspired people to 
develop this country from thirteen struggling colonies to the 
most industrialized nation in the world. The American Dream 
exists in the hearts of the American people, the hands of the 
American worker, the eager eyes of immigrants, and the strong 
minds of American youth. Because of the American Dream, the 
greatness of America is guaranteed for years to come.
    America is great because of the American Dream of freedom 
and democracy. It is alive in every person who votes and 
participates in the democratic process. From small town 
meetings to the national government Americans exercise their 
freedom. In the past when this precious aspect of the dream has 
been threatened, American men and women have fought and even 
given their lives to preserve our democracy and keep our 
country free and strong.
    America is great because of the American Dream of 
achievement. Hard work and creativity result in advancements 
that provide a safe, healthy, and comfortable life for 
Americans. America is great because of the ingenuity of 
dreamers like the Wright brothers, Henry Ford, Neil Armstrong, 
and Bill Gates.
    Because of achievements like theirs, American industry is 
able to flourish and make our country prosperous. The American 
Dream of opportunity is so real that it draws thousands of 
foreigners from around the world to start new life in America. 
They are drawn to possibilities based on the promise that if 
they work hard they can improve life for themselves and their 
families.
    America is great because of the American Dream of a better 
tomorrow. Nowhere is this more alive than in the minds of young 
people. This dream promises that regardless of where you live, 
the family you are in, the race you belong to, or the religion 
you practice you can shape your own future through hard work. 
The most important step in keeping America great in the years 
to come is maintaining the freedom to dream and the possibility 
to make those dreams come true.
    The American Dream contributes to making the country great 
because it challenges people's creativity, inspires citizens to 
reach new heights, it draws people to come and share their 
talents here, and challenges youth to reach for a better 
tomorrow. This is what makes America great. (Applause)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I would ask the National President 
to please come forward again. Eileen and I wish at this time to 
present Dominic E. Draye with this $5,000 United States Savings 
Bond. As we did with Christine, we would like to present this 
eagle trophy to Dominic Draye, First Place National Winner, 
Youth Essay, 1997. Congratulations.
    They are two outstanding young Americans. I would say to 
both Christine and Dominic that the limits as to what you can 
do in your lives are those that you place upon yourself. I know 
I speak for the Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW members when I say 
we certainly wish you both the very best in all of your future 
endeavors. Let's give them one more round of applause. 
(Applause)

  PRESENTATION OF THE CHAPEL OF FOUR CHAPLAINS LEGION OF HONOR BRONZE 
                               MEDALLION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I would like to introduce Boyd W. 
Winterton, Past National Chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars. He is here representing the Chapel of the Four Chaplains. 
Bishop Winterton.
    COMRADE BOYD WINTERTON: No tradition of the American 
society is more precious to or characteristic of our culture 
than that of voluntarily reaching out to neighbors in need. 
Such selfless service is part of both our civic and our 
religious heritage.
    The Chapel of Four Chaplains, a national non-profit 
organization, is founded upon one shining manifestation of that 
heritage. That is Army Chaplain George L. Fox, John P. 
Washington, Alexander D. Goode and Clark V. Poling who, after 
giving their life jackets to the soldiers who had none, linked 
arms with one another and went down with the U.S. Army 
Transport Dorchester after it was torpedoed on February 3, 
1943.
    In this extreme act of voluntary service to others, these 
four Chaplains, one Catholic, two Protestants and one Jewish, 
displayed the highest sense of interfaith unity and the best of 
the national tradition of selfless service. To recognize and to 
encourage acts of volunteerism, brotherhood and sacrifice among 
Americans of every age and station in life, the chapel has 
established its Legion of Honor program.
    The bronze medallion is an award given by the Chapel in 
recognition of exceptional selfless service on the part of an 
individual which contributes to the well-being of others at the 
national or world level, and to a spirit of interfaith 
cooperation.
    Will the Commander-in-Chief and the National President, 
please join me at the podium. For exemplary countless years of 
selfless service to others, on behalf of the Chapel of Four 
Chaplains, it is my privilege to present the traditional Legion 
of Honor Bronze Medallion to Commander-in-Chief James E. Nier 
and National President Eileen Tanner.
    I wish to thank Adjutant General Larry Rivers for being 
present and coming forward and placing of these medallions. 
There is, in addition to the medallion, a plaque, which will be 
presented to each of these recipients, which reads as follows: 
``The Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion to James E. Nier'' and 
similarly to Ladies Auxiliary President Eileen Tanner,'' on 
August 18, 1997, in recognition of your service to all people 
regardless of race or faith. This award symbolizes for all 
Americans and for all time the unity of this nation founded 
upon the fatherhood of our God.''
    I asked Eileen if she wanted me to take her plaque and 
maybe she had a reservation about the chaplain. She said I will 
just give it to my Chief of Staff.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I have been asked by Eileen to 
speak for both of us, and I will certainly do that. Thank you, 
Boyd, for bestowing this great honor upon us this morning from 
the Chapel of Four Chaplains.

    PRESENTATION OF VFW ARMED FORCES AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It is fitting this morning that 
during this opening session of our 98th National Convention we 
present the VFW Armed Forces Award to a very unique but 
extremely important activity of the United States Army.
    Since it was established in 1973, the men and women of the 
U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, have 
labored long and hard in the search, recovery and 
identification of our military personnel lost in World War II, 
the Korean War, Vietnam, as well as other conflicts and 
contingencies.
    With steadfast commitment and compassion, the men and women 
of CILHI, as it is known in the military, have worked 
tirelessly to help bring closure to hundreds of families who 
have lost loved ones and who have wondered if their grief and 
search would ever come to an end.
    Since its inception CILHI has identified 593 remains from 
World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The CILHI team has also 
rendered assistance in such terrible disasters as the 1983 
Marine Corps barracks bombing in Beirut, the Arrow air crash in 
Gander, Newfoundland in 1985, the USS Stark Missile attack in 
the Persian Gulf in 1987, and the explosion of the USS Iowa.
    CILHI also provides planning information and assistance to 
Joint Task Force-Full Accounting in its search and recovery 
missions in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
    It is with pride and a deep sense of honor that the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars presents its Armed Forces Award to the 
men and women of the Central Identification Laboratory in 
Hawaii for their dedication and unwavering sense of mission.
    Here to accept this award on their behalf of the Commander 
of the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, Colonel 
James Colvin, United States Army.
    I would like to read this citation.
    ``National Armed Forces Award, Gold Medal and Citation 
awarded to the United States Army Central Identification 
Laboratory, Hawaii.
    ``In special recognition of the unprecedented dedication 
exhibited by the men and women of CILHI as they perform their 
mission of searching for, recovering and identifying remains of 
American military personnel associated with losses from World 
War II, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts. Due to their 
unwavering sense of mission, included in their major 
achievements, besides their work in Southeast Asia, are the 
identification of the casualties from the Marine Corps barracks 
bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983, the Gander, Newfoundland, 
air crash in 1985, and the USS Stark missile attack in the 
Persian Gulf in 1987.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States this 18th day of August, 1997. Approved by the National 
Council of Administration.''
    This has been signed by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, 
and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General.
    Colonel Colvin, it is with a great deal of pride and honor 
I present this to you on behalf of all the fine work that you 
and your people do for our great cause.

                     REMARKS--COLONEL JAMES COLVIN

    COLONEL COLVIN: Good morning. Commander-in-Chief Nier, Mr. 
Steadman, Distinguished Members of the VFW: It is indeed a 
privilege and honor to be standing before you today and accept 
this award on behalf of the soldiers and civilians of the 
Central Identification Laboratory of Hawaii.
    We are truly honored to join the most distinguished ranks 
of the prior recipients of this award. As a member of the 
mission, we have always had the utmost respect for the VFW. The 
wide variety of programs have a tremendous impact on the 
veterans and their families.
    The programs for the needy, programs for homeless, programs 
such as the Voice of Democracy which helps high school students 
strive for excellence. Of course, the countless other programs 
that offer assistance to service members and civilians alike.
    The organization is a valuable asset to all veterans, and 
it is a great privilege to be honored by such an outstanding 
association of veterans. The honor of our organization being 
presented with this award is a direct tribute to the 
unparalleled dedication and professionalism of my soldiers and 
civilians to perform the utmost worthwhile humanitarian mission 
of our armed forces, the mission that fulfilled the promise to 
service members who gave their lives for our freedom will not 
be forgotten.
    I have been Commander of CILHI for 11 months. Since my 
assumption of the command in September, 1996, I have just been 
in sheer awe of the organization's mission and our outstanding 
personnel. The mission that is extremely difficult, extremely 
rewarding, and sometimes misunderstood.
    The extreme difficulty lies in the backs of our 13 search 
and recovery teams, the teams that spend approximately nine 
months out of every year deployed all over the world conducting 
excavations of crash sites, mass graves and isolated barriers, 
giving their best efforts to recover the remains of our fallen 
comrades.
    Their efforts take them from the jungles of Vietnam to the 
tropical rain forest of the Amazon Jungle in Brazil, from the 
high remote mountain regions of Papua, New Guinea, to the tiny 
remote islands in the South Pacific. From the 17,000 feet 
glaciers of Tibet, China, to the mostly unfriendly soil of now 
North Korea.
    Despite all that time the deploy of these arduous 
conditions, I can honestly say I have never heard them complain 
one time. In fact, the only time I have ever heard these guys 
complain is when I take them off their mission. Our mission is 
extremely rewarding and for me personally gratifying.
    As a matter of fact, rewarding is only a word that touches 
the service. To be able to return the remains of someone's 
loved one to the family is an honor that you can just not 
express with mere words. To be able to answer a question that 
has been lingering in the minds and hearts of these families 
for some 25 to some 50 years is an honor that we take with 
great pride at CILHI.
    Colonel Ward Neggas, the Director of the Casualty Affairs 
Operation Center in Alexandria, Virginia, my boss, who is with 
us here today, sends me E-mail just about every day. At the end 
of the E-mail he used the expression, ``It is heart work as 
opposed to it is hard work.''
    By the way, it is great to have your headquarters 4,000 
miles away from Alexandria, Virginia.
    This mission is one that you cannot prepare with any cost 
benefit analysis or dollar value, or any such statistical 
measures. When you have a mission such as ours, you need not 
look any further than the tears of the families whose loved 
ones never came home.
    When family members of these mission service members visits 
to our organization, it became real important and it brings it 
very much home to hear how important our mission is, to hear 
these families tell of their loved ones brings realization home 
to every member of CILHI.
    These are war heroes. There are still lives in the hearts 
and memories of these families. We owe it to them to bring them 
home for they are truly not forgotten. However, it is a tragedy 
that everyone does not realize the importance of keeping that 
promise.
    To many people our mission is greatly misunderstood. Not 
everyone understands why our government goes to such great 
lengths to account for those service members that never came 
home. They tend to focus more on, well, how much does this 
cost? When is enough enough? Why does it take so long? Is it 
really worth it?
    Hearing questions like this, it is very disconcerting for 
me personally and the rest of my colleagues at CILHI and other 
government organizations that deal in this issue, and I know 
for you of the VFW. For the most part, though, these people 
don't really intend to sound insensitive.
    A part of them has forgotten what sacrifices these veterans 
have made for our nation and the true cost of what freedom 
really is. However, CILHI, we don't get discouraged when we 
hear this on the news or in the newspapers, we rededicate our 
efforts to try hard to fulfill the promises, to carry out the 
mission to bring our comrades home.
    I would like to relate a story to you that kind of brings 
it home or brought it home for me. If you have ever been to 
Hawaii, Hickam Air Force Base where we are stationed, every 
month we have arrival and departure ceremonies for the U. S. 
service members that come home. It is a monthly ceremony.
    At one such occasion, I was standing next to a veteran. At 
the end of the ceremony, I introduced myself to him and we were 
chit-chatting. He turned to me and he says, ``Sir, you know, 
there is one thing that I would like to say.'' I said, ``What 
is that?''
    He said, ``No matter where we are sent, one thing is sure, 
you are always going to get a free ride home.'' I thank God 
that organizations like the VFW and many others out there 
recognize the importance of fulfilling the promises of these 
veterans that gave their lives to this country. The families, 
of course, are missing them.
    Once again, I would like to thank you on behalf of all the 
soldiers in CILHI. It is an honor to be recognized by your 
organization. If you are ever, ever in Hawaii, please stop by 
and see us. I think you will be most impressed. Thank you very 
much and I salute each and every one of you, and I leave you 
with the following: simply, anchors away and aim high and hope. 
(Applause)

INTRODUCTION OF CHARLES D. SHORT, SUPREME COMMANDER, MILITARY ORDER OF 
                               THE COOTIE

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Charles D. Short was born in 
Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up on Nantasket Beach, Hull, 
Massachusetts. He graduated from Sacred Heart High, Weymouth, 
Massachusetts, and went on to graduate from Northeastern 
University with a degree in finance. Charlie also holds a 
Master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate 
University, San Francisco, California.
    His military service includes a tour with the United States 
Marines and 20 years in the United States Air Force as a B-52 
crew member. He logged 169 combat missions over Vietnam.
    Among his many awards and decorations are the Vietnam 
Campaign Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
    A VFW member for over 20 years, Charlie has served with 
dedication and distinction. He is a Life Member of Chesty 
Puller VFW Post 1503 in Dale City, Virginia.
    Please welcome the Supreme Commander of the Military Order 
of the Cootie, Charles Daniel Short.

                  REMARKS--MOC COMMANDER CHARLES SHORT

    MOC COMMANDER SHORT: Commander-in-Chief Nier, President 
Eileen, after those remarks I don't know what to do. Let me say 
to you, however, Chief, on behalf of the Military Order of the 
Cootie we are on your team for this year and we appreciate all 
the efforts that we could give you in support of your 
objectives for this year.
    The MOC is indeed proud to support our organization and we 
are a part of the team. To Larry, to Joe, most especially to 
Joe, we thank you for all your support over this past year. We 
appreciate all the efforts that have been made to support us 
during those difficult times, and we want to report to you that 
we are succeeding and we are most importantly supporting our 
veterans.
    But it has been my special pleasure for me to serve this 
year as your Supreme Commander. As I said before, I am very 
proud of the accomplishments that we, the MOC, have made this 
year. I hope during this year that I have let no one down, 
because I have tried in all my dealings to uphold the finest 
traditions of our organizations, the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    I truly appreciate the hospitality extended to me 
throughout this entire country as I traveled from Maine to 
Florida, from Massachusetts, from North Carolina to California. 
When I got out to California, my second trip this year, I was 
really shocked and surprised of the support of Commander Robert 
Marr and from Junior Vice Commander Richard was really 
outstanding. I will never forget San Diego. I don't think any 
other Commander will forget San Diego.
    I must also thank my Department. The Department of Maine, 
who has supported me over the many years, no matter where I 
have been, no matter what kind of hat I have worn, no matter 
what was written on my hat, they have supported me. So has my 
Post.
    The Department, once again, I want to say thank you to the 
Department of California, to all the Departments that I had a 
chance to visit over the last five years. I want to say thank 
you and especially to the Department of Europe. You are a grand 
bunch of guys leading the way.
    As for the MOC, we are a little richer than we were last 
year and much richer than we were the year before. We have 
worked on the reduced budget, but we have met those guidance 
and we came in under budget. Our hospital work this year 
established a new record for our organization, one we can all 
be proud of. We were at $35,000 above the record breaking last 
year.
    Even though our membership was down, we have as individuals 
and small groups contributed to the disaster relief, which is 
so important to us, to help one another. To our Posts and 
Departments, my message as I traveled around this year has been 
one of working together, of pulling together behind our leader 
Jim, of pulling together behind our leader for next year, John 
Moon, of working to make our organization just a little better, 
because we wanted to contribute.
    Just as the rowers in that long boat that I so often talk 
about, we have to pull in unison. We have to work as part of 
the team. John, we will be there and working on your team. You 
know, the total and the totality of our organization is much 
greater than the supplement parts. We must as members recognize 
and respect one another and work together.
    The second part of my message was very simple. Be proud. I 
say this as a Vietnam veteran, because it took me a long time 
to be proud, but be proud of your service. You earned it, you 
deserved it and now stand tall. Be proud of your organization. 
Be proud of the cap you wear. When you are proud, you will 
begin to work a little bit differently. You will begin to 
respect yourselves and everyone around you.
    I leave you with this thought, the final words of one of my 
heroes, Commodore

      Arness. ``Don't give up the ship.'' Take care of our great 
organization. We love it and I love you all. God bless you. Remember me 
                      in your prayers. (Applause)

  INTRODUCTION OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHUNG-YUAN KAO VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                               COMMISSION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: For years the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars has enjoyed a warm relationship with the Veterans Affairs 
Commission and the Republic of China on Taiwan. They have truly 
been our friends.
    The Veterans of Foreign Wars has consistently pledged its 
support through resolutions for our friends in the Republic of 
China.
    The citizens of the Republic are proud of their success and 
economic achievement. Certainly, that success in large part can 
be attributed to the employment and development programs that 
the Republic conducts for its veterans.
    The tremendous care, support and vitality of its veterans 
programs have been an inspiration and model for the VFW. We 
wish to thank our friends with the Commission for their long 
and beneficial friendship.
    Joining us today to reaffirm our pledge of brotherhood and 
comradeship is the Secretary General of the Veterans Affairs 
Commission, Lieutenant General Chung-Yuan Kao.
    Comrades, please welcome the Secretary General of the 
Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China.

              RESPONSE--LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHUNG-YUAN KAO

    GENERAL CHUNG-YUAN KAO: Thank you, Commander-in-Chief Nier. 
Distinguished Guests, Members of the VFW, Ladies and Gentlemen:
    It is indeed a great honor and a privilege to have this 
opportunity to say a few words here. It is certainly a great 
pleasure to make so many friends who have consistently 
supported the Republic of China for many, many years.
    For the past two decades, officials from the Veterans 
Affairs Commission of the Republic of China have been invited 
to attend your National Convention. The delegations of the VFW 
have been invited to visit Taipei in order to again further 
understanding of our respective Veterans Assistance Program.
    We are able to learn from each other and gain some new 
concepts and means and ways to better serve all veterans. I am 
thoroughly convinced that this continued exchange of visits 
have not only strengthened the ties between our two 
organizations, but also helped build up strong relations among 
people of our two countries.
    During World War II, the Korea War, Vietnam War, even the 
Gulf War, the members of the VFW adhered to bring duty and 
honor to the country, successfully played the role of world 
peace, protector and justice keeper. I would especially like to 
point that out.
    During World War II, both of our two countries, the United 
States and the Republic of China, were very cooperatively 
fighting shoulder to shoulder against the invasion into China 
and safeguards of justice and the people, and honorably won the 
final victory.
    1997 is the fiftieth anniversary of the Chinese fighting 
against enemies and making me more appreciative and respectful 
to recall the gallant history and the sacrifice done as the 
soldiers of our country at that time. The United States is the 
leading promoter of democracy in the world.
    The American veterans who have devoted themselves to the 
defense of democracy and freedom have built up a grand 
historical record. This glorious Commission is proper for 
veterans' investments of prosperity and progress in the United 
States, therefore, people around the world they respect your 
country and the accomplishments.
    The VAC of the Republic of China and the VFW of the United 
States share common goals and objectives in the past. We fought 
together against violence and aggression. At present we are 
making every effort to defend democracy and freedom on many 
fronts, and even in the future we shall continue to cooperate 
with each other based upon common goals and interests.
    Over the years, deep and profound relations have been 
established concerning the VAC and the VFW. We have approved 
the twenty-first city and the people of the Republic of China 
on Taiwan look forward to continuing our mutual beneficial 
relationship.
    With the United States promoting prosperity and stability 
in the Far East, I am confident that VAC and the VFW will join 
forces to create an even brighter tomorrow based on the firm 
decisions of our past friendship. I am aware the VFW is a book 
we can learn from. For this reason, I believe my visit has been 
more than worthwhile.
    In closing, I wish you a most successful Convention and 
give each one of you my best regards for good health, happiness 
and success. Thank you very much. (Applause)
    DR. MA: Ladies and gentlemen, General Kao will now present 
the National Medal of the Republic of China, which is the Order 
of the Cloud and Banner, to your Commander-in-Chief Nier. Let 
me have the honor to read the citation that accompanied the 
Banner.
    Certificate of Award of the Cloud and Banner Medal. Serial 
No. IG1570040, dated August 1997.
    ``Mr. Jim E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States, has distinguished himself by 
his outstanding contributions to the promotion of friendly 
relations between the peoples of the United States of America 
and the Republic of China and to the enhancement of ties and 
cooperation between the veterans of our two countries.
    ``In appreciation of his meritorious service, Commander-in-
Chief Nier is presented the Order of the Cloud and Banner with 
Cravat by the Government of the Republic of China, in 
accordance with Article 11 of the Armed Forces Decoration 
Regulation.''
    This has been signed by the Minister of National Defense of 
the Republic of China, as well as His Excellency, the Premier 
of the Republic of China, and by His Excellency, the President 
of the Republic of China.
    Ladies and gentlemen, General Kao will now on behalf of the 
Republic of China present a commemorative silver plate to 
National Commander-in-Chief Nier. I will read the inscription 
on the plate.
    ``Presented to Mr. James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, in appreciation 
of his outstanding contributions to the enhancement of 
friendship and cooperation between the VFW and VAC by General 
Husc Li-Nung, Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Commission, 
Republic of China, August 18, 1997.''
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Ladies and gentlemen, if I may, 
General Kao and Dr. Ma were with us yesterday and they will be 
with us at the Distinguished Guests Banquet tonight. They are 
truly distinguished guests. We have a wonderful affiliation 
with their Veterans Affairs Commission and their country, and I 
want to tell you, General Kao and Dr. Ma, that certainly means 
a lot to us.
    I must tell you that we hope to continue to have this 
enduring friendship that we exercise annually by you coming to 
our country and I returning to your country. I wish you God's 
speed and safe travel as you return to the Republic of China. 
We are looking forward to you being on the dais with us at the 
Distinguished Guests Banquet tonight. Thank you so very much. 
(Applause)
    Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and sisters, our 
distinguished guest and keynote speaker is about five minutes 
from the facility. I would just like to reflect on a couple of 
things, if I might.
    First of all, my wife just received an award, but I would 
like to personally introduce you to my wife and say to Kimie 
publicly, I thank you, Kimie, for being beside me for these 
past three years as I advanced through the National chairs.
    She has done an outstanding job and is a Life Member of the 
Auxiliary and well received in the Posts. You have been 
courteous and kind to both of us in our travels through this 
great nation and around the world. This is my wife, Kimie.
    We started the 1996-97 VFW year with a promise that we 
would do a couple of things. We would attempt to do the right 
things and we would attempt to do things right for this 
country's veterans. I believe in our deliberations over the 
years and over this past year that with the help of the staff 
in Kansas City and the staff in the Washington, D.C. office, 
and in particular my fellow line officers, John and Tom, and 
the Council of Administration that we have done that.
    I think that we can now say yes, we are doing the right 
things and, yes, we are doing things right for this country's 
veterans. I would like to share just a couple of figures with 
you, if I might. The Life Membership Program this year has 
produced some incredible figures.
    We have 165,000 Life Members in 1996-'97. That is an 
unprecedented number. It is unprecedented because next year 16 
percent of the continuous members will not have to be signed up 
because they are Life Members now. We also set a goal to meet 
for the new and reinstated members.
    Some of the Department Commanders who passed by here before 
me had met that quota and made All-American status and, in 
fact, for the first time in seven years this organization is 
ahead in new and reinstated members by 1,431 specifically. We 
are very, very proud of that.
    The other thing I wish to do is to just take a moment to 
say thank you to the members of the Ladies Auxiliary. In my 
travels around the country, I have said this many times at Post 
Auxiliaries, particularly Department Auxiliary meetings, but 
bear with me as I say it one more time at this National 
Convention because I truly believe it is very important.
    Too often we don't take the time to say thank you to the 
members of the Ladies Auxiliary. We take the ladies for 
granted. We know what you do for all of our programs and we 
realize some of that will change next year, but we know what 
you have done for Americanism, safety, youth activities, 
community service, buddy poppies, the Voice of Democracy and 
God knows what you do for cancer aid and research.
    There is an old cliche that says behind every good man is a 
good woman. I think that is wrong. I think that it should be 
beside every good man is a good woman and beside the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars is a great organization, its Ladies Auxiliary. 
I would ask my fellow comrades to please give these ladies a 
round of applause.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, comrades. It is 
absolutely imperative that we work side by side to ensure the 
accomplishment of our goals and our objectives.

                    INTRODUCTION OF HELEN BLACKWELL

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: There is someone I need to 
recognize in the audience. If we could take just a moment to 
introduce two individuals who are very special to the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars. Will you please welcome Helen Putnam 
Blackwell, daughter of James C. Putnam, the first President of 
the American Veterans of Foreign Wars Service.
    Helen is also a Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary, VFW 
Department of Arkansas. She is here and I see her. Thanks so 
much for being with us. Accompanying Mrs. Blackwell is her 
oldest granddaughter, Vicki Blackwell Norvel, a Life Member of 
the Ladies Auxiliary, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Ladies, thank you 
so much for joining us today. (Applause)
    Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Moon, would you like to 
say a couple of words?

              REMARKS--SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON

    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Thank you very much, 
Commander-in-Chief. I do appreciate the opportunity this 
morning to just make a few remarks prior to our main speaker 
being here. That is to express my sincere thanks to the 
Commander-in-Chief Jim Nier for the great year he has had and 
the opportunity that he has given me to travel throughout this 
country and throughout the world.
    To echo maybe some statements given by General Colvin, the 
opportunity that was afforded me this past year was to travel 
with Jim not only to Ohio but over to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, 
and to see the efforts that are being put forth by these many 
volunteers, the servicemen and service women, and doing a job 
that is tireless, is very endless, and it doesn't have a great 
degree of rewarding attributes to it other than to those 
personally that are there hour after hour, day after day, week 
after week, trying to bring closure to at least one person.
    That one person is a family member that is missing in 
action. We are very honored that we get to go over there to see 
those people and when Colonel Colvin said he had never heard a 
complaint, he is very true there, because we have asked them 
from time to time what they felt were some of the major 
concerns.
    The bottom line they said was there is just not enough time 
given to us. We have to rotate and go back home. We are not 
done with our job. They mean that so sincerely. So many times 
these individuals volunteer to go back time and time again.
    It isn't the idea of great living conditions, because they 
don't live well over there. They live, in fact, rather poorly. 
They do what they can do for this great country and do what 
they can do to make sure that the prisoners of war and missing 
in action is taken care of.
    I know Colonel Colvin had to leave, but believe me it is a 
great honor when I am allowed to go over there with Commander-
in-Chief Nier, and in the near future when Tom Pouliot will go 
over there to see these individuals do the work and then come 
home so many times just to rest up and go back.
    We owe them a great deal of gratitude that we will never be 
able to express in any words other than to just say ``thank 
you''. The countless times that we get a chance to review to 
and go our or year, mainly to reflect in the past, when I went 
into California for a seminar, I thought it was going to be 
somewhat boring.
    In this seminar was a diverse group of individuals from 
many, many non-profit organizations. The non-profit 
organizations that were assembled there with more or less from 
the very tall or high professional standards to just the 
beginning standards, to the realtors, to the veterans groups, 
to the policemen, whatever the case may be. It was a very 
diverse group.
    These individuals were told that roughly two percent of the 
respective organizations they belong to was made up of 
leadership. From that two percent that made up the leadership 
of the organization, there was two percent that were the main 
dissenters of every organization and, believe it or not, two 
percent many, many times could challenge and could somehow 
upset the other 96 percent.
    Two percent leadership, two percent dissenters and 96 
percent of the other members wait to see what will happen and 
fall by the wayside. I am proud to stand here today and say to 
you that Jim Nier has taken two million members, has been the 
leader that has worked with this great crew, that has worked 
with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and has brought it out to be 
the great leader in this country.
    That is not only for non-profit organizations but as a 
veterans organization, a very, very vibrant and internal and 
external part of our country. To you, Jim, we owe you a great 
deal of gratitude that you will never know for your hard work 
and effort that you put forth. We thank you very much. 
(Applause)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thanks very much, John.

             INTRODUCTION--THE HONORABLE TOGO D. WEST, JR.,

                         SECRETARY OF THE ARMY

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Ladies and gentlemen, it is a 
special pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker. Sworn in as 
the 16th Secretary of the Army in November, 1993, Togo West 
brings with him a wealth of varied and challenging experience 
as an attorney, businessman and public servant.
    As Secretary of the Army, Mr. West is responsible for 
recruiting, training, equipping and sustaining the world's 
premier land force. Secretary West manages an annual budget of 
nearly $60 billion, leads a work force of just over one million 
soldiers and 270,000 civilian employees, and has stewardship 
over 25 million acres of land.
    An Army veteran, Secretary West served on active duty with 
the Office of the Judge Advocate General and thereafter with 
the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Manpower and 
Reserve Affairs.
    He has served as the Department of the Navy's General 
Counsel and as the Special Assistant to the Secretary and 
Deputy Secretary of Defense. He has also served as General 
Counsel of the Department of Defense.
    Prior to being named Secretary, he was the Senior Vice-
President for Government Relations of the Northrop Corporation.
    Please join me in a warm VFW welcome for a very special 
guest, the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Togo D. West, 
Jr. (Applause)

            KEYNOTE ADDRESS--THE HONORABLE TOGO D. WEST, JR.

    SECRETARY OF THE ARMY WEST: Thank you. Thank you to your 
Commander-in-Chief Nier, to your officers and to all of you who 
are inviting me to join you at this opening of your 98th 
National Convention. It is a particular pleasure for me to be 
here.
    As you might expect, it is a pleasure to be almost anywhere 
other than Washington, D.C., today at this time of the year. 
But it is especially a joy to be here in Salt Lake City and to 
be here with you, the members of the VFW and the Ladies 
Auxiliary.
    Today America is at peace. No enemy threatens our borders. 
Our citizens can go about their jobs in security and about 
their daily occupations, and I think entirely for the most part 
protected by a banner that throughout the world signals peace 
and freedom for the star-spangled banner.
    At the same time, our citizens and our forces face the 
threat of the occasional terrorists and there are still out 
there in the world forces that mean ill for our interests in 
our allies and on occasion for us.
    In this somewhat mixed environment that today there seems 
to be a slightly lessening among the people of American 
citizens and our emerging leaders who have actually had an 
experience with the armed forces of the United States, either 
by serving or otherwise.
    That collection of conditions underscores even more the 
importance of your vote of this organization in America's 
society today. Your 2.1 million members across the country give 
definition to the term selfless service. Having served once, 
you have chosen to serve again.
    This great organization is setting in motion the process 
not just the many good works that your organizations do, but an 
example it stands not just for our current service members in 
uniform but for every American who cares about our country, 
cares about our countrymen and countrywomen, and all Americans 
who care for one another.
    Your work in communities, your work in support of the 
veterans, your work in support of our soldiers is important, 
and moreover your work is greatly appreciated. I am 
particularly touched by your long-standing relationship with 
the Boy Scouts, who have been so much in my life.
    Of course, I could not be a new representative of your Army 
if I did not express our gratitude for the support of Operation 
Uplink and your support over the years now of our Soldiers 
Show, which travels and performs and shows American soldiers, 
soldiers who do soldier's jobs every day, giving their best for 
their fellow soldiers.
    I would like to thank, and I have often observed at this 
time that the summer months are time for high patriotism for 
our country. I know there are other times, other seasons. You 
and I are well aware of the Veterans Day in the fall in 
November.
    But think about it for a moment. As you start the summer, 
we have Memorial Day. For those of you who know the Army 
history, you know that on June 14th, shortly after Memorial 
Day, a few days after Memorial Day, we have the Army birthday.
    By mid-summer, July 4th, Independence Day. That is the 
birth of our country. Even Labor Day, which will be upon us 
shortly, is in many respects a celebration of all Americans of 
the dignity of working men and of working women who have 
contributed so much to our country and to our country's 
security.
    Memorial Day is of a fairly recent origin, inaugurated 
shortly after the Civil War to commemorate those that gave 
their lives in service to America and those that give their 
lives on both sides of that great conflict of the Civil War and 
ever since all who have given their lives in service to 
America.
    The birthday is one that stretches all the way back to June 
14, 1775. That is a year I might also say that the Marine Corps 
celebrates its birth as well. Then Independence Day here a 
month later, July 4th, 1776. They reach back to the origins of 
our country when patriots gathered in coffee houses, in greens 
and in homes to talk about what was coming on the founding of 
this nation, to talk about what they would face and the kinds 
of people who would be needed, to talk about what was at stake.
    It was in those times that Thomas Paine set out what was at 
stake in the kind of characteristics that would be needed. He 
said, ``These are times that try men's souls. The summer 
soldier and the sunshine patriot well in this time of crisis 
shrink from his country's call. But he, who will stand it now, 
will deserve the love and thanks of every man and every 
woman.''
    Thomas Paine was quite right then in those Revolutionary 
War days. He spoke the words of George Washington who would 
read to the soldiers that cold winter at Valley Forge, words 
spoken of commitment that they would display and the commitment 
that has been displayed ever since then by our men and women in 
uniform, by you, by those who serve today.
    Whether it was the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812, or 
the Spanish American War, or the Civil War or World Wars I or 
II, or Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Granada, or Desert Storm, Haiti 
or Somalia, or any of the employments or actions in between, 
America's men and women in uniform have stood for that 
commitment whether it is summer or in the long cold winters, 
whether it is in sunshine or in a gray cloud, a commitment to 
America and to its ideals.
    Those ideals are framed in our formal documents of the 
Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, but also a 
commitment to a tradition, if you will, even broader than that. 
The tradition of our armed forces of service in the uniform of 
our country.
    That is a tradition, as you well know, that puts liberty 
before life. That puts country before self. That puts honor 
above all. Today countless places around our country, around 
our globe, men and women in uniform are following in your 
tradition of that commitment.
    In this world that is so different from the cold world war 
of just a few years ago, they face many and varied challenges. 
We, who would hope to lead them and to support and provide for 
them, face a number of troubling questions. Some of them go 
like this.
    First, can we in our armed forces and in our Army continue 
the pace? Today, as I said, America is at peace, and yet the 
number of service members in uniform deployed around the world 
is at an all-time high if you count the deployments as times 
away from your home bases, whatever that home base is, whether 
it is in the Continental United States, in Germany, or in the 
Pacific.
    Deployments are up and yet our numbers and force structure 
is down. The active United States Army is at an all-time high 
of 800,000, now stands at 495,000 headed toward the QDR, which 
means the number of 480,000 on active duty. Our research 
components, the Army Reserve and the National Guards are 
undergoing similar reductions.
    So the question is that this increased pace of deployments 
with soldiers and members of the other services as well in more 
countries around the world than ever before, can we keep that 
pace up? Can this Army and its soldiers keep up that pace of 
deployment?
    Well, I give you the answer that your soldiers and my 
soldiers give me. One of them recently said to me, and this was 
a soldier who had had triple deployments virtually back to 
back. He had Desert Storm, he had Somalia and he had Haiti. He 
said, ``Sir, don't worry about us. This is what we signed up to 
do, but it is awfully hard on our families.''
    I believe our answer as to whether we can keep up the pace 
is yes. Our soldiers, all the members of our armed forces can 
do their job, can meet the requirements of today. But we must 
look to the benefits and the quality of life of those service 
members and of their families.
    An important part of readiness is every soldier, what I 
call the ability to have a quiet mind, a mind that can focus on 
the job at hand, whether that job is on the training fields at 
Fort Benning or Fort Jackson or Fort Knox, or whether that job 
is on the battlefield and know that his or her family is cared 
for and that his or her service is so valid that when they 
return from that service they, too, will be cared for.
    Our second question of the challenges that I believe face 
us in this atmosphere of many and varied challenges, many and 
varied dangers around the world, is can we assure our soldiers, 
the members of our armed forces, that they will continue to be 
the best equipped in the world?
    First, let's be clear. They already are. Your Army is not 
the largest in the world nor is it the second largest or the 
third. Probably at the last count it was about number nine in 
size, but it is the most respected. It is the best trained and, 
yes, it is the best equipped.
    Our challenge is to keep it so. For the last four years, 
our armed forces budgets have been essentially flat and we must 
change that. The Secretary of Defense has vowed to do so. Even 
with these budgets, we continue to play for a future. We 
continue to plan to revolutionize the battlefield on the uses 
of information warfare and we are doing it now with our plans 
for the Air Force 21 with the monies we have put into it and 
with our developmental efforts.
    At the same time, even as we plan for the new information 
age of warfare that will be upon us, that we will bring upon 
the rest of the world and to all the developments in 
technology, we concentrate today as well on the things that our 
soldiers need to do their jobs every day.
    We upgrade equipment and our jets, but we also buy new 
trucks so that our soldiers will have both today's equipment 
and the marvels of tomorrow that will make this the most feared 
Army on the globe.
    A third challenge that faces us as we plan for the 
millennium that is now only three years away is can we continue 
to assure the American people that their Army will be composed 
of the very best soldiers, the highest quality, receiving the 
very best conditions?
    I raise that question today because if you do not know 
better, you would think that our service members are distracted 
by a whole host of issues that seemed to be raised every day. 
Yet the fact is when you talk to a soldier at Fort Jackson or 
Fort Campbell, or on the Korean Peninsula, or Bosnia, their 
focus is on the job.
    Today we continue to recruit America's very best of men and 
women. You may have heard that we are lessening the quality of 
our recruits. That is not so. The change is that instead of 
requiring 95 percent of incoming recruits to have high school 
diplomas and high school diploma graduates, we will now require 
that number to be 90 percent and the remaining 10 percent must 
have some other high school graduation certification 
equivalent, whether it is GED or otherwise, so that every 
incoming recruitment to the United States Army has been 
educated with a high school education or the equivalent 
thereof.
    There is no change, no different issue, no inequality of 
our soldiers. We continue to refine our screening to ensure 
that we are yet what we claim, the America's best. We continue 
to say every day on our training fields, in our classrooms and 
our battlefields, that is exactly what we are getting.
    But these young soldiers, America's sons and daughters, 
deserve more than just the best training. They require more 
than just the best equipment. They deserve the very best in 
non-commission and officer leadership that we can provide. They 
are getting it.
    Let me give you an example. Not long ago I found myself at 
Fort Benning, Georgia. I had a chance to have lunch with some 
non-commissioned officers. They were not command sergeants, not 
the most senior, but they were also not buck sergeants. They 
were about E-6s and E-7s.
    They had seen a lot of the Army. They had the Secretary of 
the Army there in a private luncheon alone for an hour. That is 
all the training they would permit. They could ask and lean on 
the Secretary just for about anything they wanted.
    As you all know, non-commissioned officers are not at all 
reluctant to do just that. We talked about a lot of things, 
about some of the issues that I raised with you today, about 
training, about the prospects of deployments, about their 
families, about where they came from.
    Finally, I said, ``Look, please, what about you? Let's talk 
about you. How are you doing?'' One of the sergeants stood up 
and he said, ``Well, sir, we are doing fine. We know there is 
not enough money in the budget this year''--that was, I guess, 
two fiscal years ago--``for pay increases. We understand that, 
sir. You have got to have priorities. But if you could, if you 
could do something about our most junior servicemen, the E-1s, 
the E-2s. They are coming in and some of them are getting 
married and they can hardly make it. So, don't worry about us, 
the senior ones, but if you could do something for the most 
junior of our soldiers.''
    That is the kind of leadership that you want in your Army. 
NCOs and officers who remember the creed of the non-
commissioned officer, ``I will put my soldier's needs before my 
own.'' NCOs and officers who stand up wherever and whenever 
they can to support and nurture and mold and eventually lead 
those soldiers that America has entrusted in their care.
    That NCO is a fine example of those who lead your Army and 
you can be confident that we will do everything in our power to 
continue to support them so that they may be free to go about 
their jobs leading America's sons and daughters and training to 
fight America's force.
    Well, I have talked to you briefly about some challenges 
your Army, for a large part your armed forces are facing today: 
the challenge of peace, the deployment, the challenge of 
equipping, the challenge of leadership, morale and quality of 
our soldiers.
    Yet, it would seem to me that somehow we have not quite 
touched the nerve ending in the answer to the question why is 
it that you and I can have so much stake and in the young men 
and women who stand in your shoes serving this country 
defending this country's people?
    Why is it that we can be so confident that we can do the 
job that you can do so well? I would say that it is because of 
something that they share with you, the veterans who have set 
the examples, who have set the mold.
    Let me use someone else's words to describe that something. 
At the outset of World War II, the nation debated whether to 
join the allies or not, whether to get involved or not. As is 
appropriate and is usual in the United States, when matters of 
war or peace, the debate was hot and heavy. Some of you may 
remember it.
    One member of the President's Cabinet, Harold Ickes wrote 
about it one day, and he asked this question. He said, ``What 
constitutes an American?'' He answered, ``Not color, not race, 
not religion, not his pedigree nor her place of birth, not the 
size of her bank account nor his family's social standing; not 
his profession or her occupation. An American is one who loves 
liberty and has a high regard for the dignity of men and women 
and an American will fight for his freedom and that of his 
friends and neighbors. An American will forego any property and 
security in order to ensure the benefits of free people for 
himself and for his heirs.''
    That is what your soldiers shared with you, those 
traditions of Americans, those values, those beliefs in one 
another in their country and in the value of fighting for both. 
Oh, there are soldiers who share something else as well. 
Earlier this year, the President awarded in behalf of the 
Congress and the people of the United States the Medal of Honor 
to a First Lieutenant by the name of Vernon Mason.
    He was an African-American who had served in World War II. 
After the ceremony, when receptions were occurring all over the 
Capital, the journalist cornered Lieutenant Baker in a corner 
and asked him one of those questions that journalists ask.
    They said, ``What is it that allows you to persist for your 
battle to your life, what has been your creed, your code, how 
have you made it?'' And it is understandable that the question 
was fraught with implications of ``Vernon, aren't you bitter 
because you suffered discrimination?
    ``Vernon, what do you have to say about the trauma of 
combat? Vernon, what insights can you give us and what regrets 
do you have?'' Vernon Baker spent most of his active duty time 
as a sergeant. He spoke straightforwardly as a soldier. You may 
have heard his words or read them.
    He said, ``My feat was get respect before you expect 
respect. Remember the mission, set the example, keep moving.''
    The words of the soldier, words for all of us, words which 
describe what you, the VFW and your Ladies Auxiliary have taken 
on. You have remembered your mission. And as Victor Devereaux, 
your Director of Americanism in the '30s once said, ``You have 
remembered that even though the guns have ceased firing, your 
service to America is not ended.''
    You have remembered your mission and continued to service. 
Yes, by serving you have set an example for all to see, an 
example of service for all Americans, an example of patriotism 
at which the world can marvel by your effective representation 
of efforts of our soldiers.
    You have kept America moving, moving on its promises that 
it makes for everyone's service. By so doing, you have earned 
the respect of us all. God bless you for that and God bless all 
you have touched and all that you will touch. God bless the 
members of the armed forces who today serve in Europe and 
around the world.
    God bless this glorious day on the 98th Convention here in 
Salt Lake City and on each succeeding day and many such future 
Conventions wherever they be held in times of social or 
economic challenges, whether they are held during peace or we 
be at war, may God bless you as well as the dear and noble 
nation to which you have given your sacrifice of service, to 
which our service members everywhere give their duty and to 
which they and you and I continue to give our love. Thank you. 
God bless you all.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for a 
most inspiring presentation. I must tell you, Mr. Secretary, 
that the young men and women serving in your Army today are the 
future of this great organization. I also must tell you that 
2.1 million members of the VFW and the 750,000 members of the 
Ladies Auxiliary are working as diligently as we can to ensure 
that the young people in your Army and, in fact, all the young 
people serving in all branches of the armed services do have 
that quality of life that you just spoke about.
    We are at the Congress all the time, as you know, trying to 
do the right things for these young people. Mr. Secretary, we 
truly wish to be their heroes and their mentors. Thank you very 
much for being with us today.

            REMARKS--JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF POULIOT

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, ladies and gentlemen, we 
give you our Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, soon to be our 
Senior Vice, Mr. Tom Pouliot.
    JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF POULIOT: Thank you, Jim. 
Comrades, Sisters and Special Guests:
    If I may take this privilege, I would like to introduce to 
you my wife, Shirley Pouliot. If I may take the privilege of 
introducing the wife of our Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
Susie Moon. I am not going to leave anyone out. Also the wife 
of our Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief-Elect, Mary Smart, and 
the wife of our Quartermaster General, Judy Ridgley, as well as 
the wife of our Adjutant General, Connie Rivers.
    Having put my best foot forward, I will say thank you to 
all of you for your cards and letters and expressions of 
concern over my recent surgery. I just had my gall bladder out 
about ten days ago. I did it intentionally before this 
Convention so that I could be here and I could be strong and I 
could be ready to go as your Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief 
immediately when we have the elections and we leave the 
Convention.
    I want to thank you all for your courtesies and the 
courtesies that you have extended to myself and Shirley as we 
have traveled this past year. We hope to visit with you in the 
ensuing two years. Have an outstanding Convention. Thank you, 
comrades.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thanks, Tom. Ladies and gentlemen, 
I have one administrative announcement. The Resolutions 
Business Session will start promptly at 1:00 p.m. in the 
Ballroom. It will not be here. They will have to prepare this 
room for the banquet tonight.
    I know we will have a wonderful Convention. I thank you for 
your attendance at this Joint Session this morning and I wish 
you well in your deliberations in the next three or four days.
    At this time I would ask to come forward for the 
Benediction our National Chaplain, Father Bleiler.
    (Whereupon, National Chaplain Bleiler gave the Closing 
Prayer.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Sergeant-at-Arms, prepare the room 
to Salute the Colors.
    (Whereupon, the Salute to the Colors was had at this time.)
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the 
Closing Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. Comrades and 
sisters, this concludes the Joint Session. Thank you.
    (Whereupon, the meeting was duly recessed at 11:50 o'clock 
a.m.)
                                ------                                


                         FIRST BUSINESS SESSION

                   MONDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 18, 1997

    (The First Business Session of the 98th National Convention 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was called 
to order in the Ballroom of the Salt Palace Convention Center, 
Salt Lake City, Utah, at 1:00 o'clock p.m., by Commander-in-
Chief Nier.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I am going to call this meeting to 
order. I will ask the Department Chaplain for the Department of 
Michigan, Lowell Elson, to please come forth and give us the 
Invocation.
    (Whereupon, the Invocation was given at this time by 
Comrade Elson.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Sergeant-at-Arms, prepare the room 
to Salute the Colors.
    (Whereupon, the Salute to the Colors was had at this time.)
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, your 
order has been fulfilled.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Before we go to our Committee 
Reports, I will ask the Assistant Adjutant General John Senk to 
come forth for some administrative announcements, please.
    ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL SENK: Thank you, Commander-in-
Chief. My remarks are directed to the Department Commanders. I 
hope by now you have all received a report that shows the 
delegates from your Department that have registered, their 
delegate credentials to this Convention. Have all the 
Departments received those?
    You will get a similar report every morning showing an 
update, so should there be a roll call this will facilitate 
your taking the roll there at your Departments. If you have any 
questions concerning that, please come up and see me after this 
meeting and I will fully explain it to you. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We will have the Report of the 
Committee on Credentials. The Chairman is Richard Trombla. I 
will ask him to come forward, please.

                    REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): I am Richard 
Trombla, Department of Kansas, Chairman of the National 
Credentials Committee. This is a temporary report of the 
Credentials Committee of everyone that has filed their 
credentials as of 12:15 today. This report is up to date until 
12:15 today.
    Total delegates that have registered, 11,112. Total 
Department Commanders, 51. Total Past Commanders-in-Chief, 27. 
Total National Officers, 36. That makes a grand total of 
11,226. This is a temporary report, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I will now call forward for his 
report the Chairman of the Committee on Convention Rules, 
Chairman Clyde A. Lewis, Past Commander-in-Chief.

                REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CONVENTION RULES

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF LEWIS: Commander-in-Chief, Comrades 
and Delegates:
    The Committee on Rules, comprising of the Committee 
appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, namely Past Commanders-in-
Chief Soden, Kimery and myself, met yesterday afternoon and 
agreed on this report, and we are submitting this report to the 
Convention.
    To the 98th National Convention, Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    Your Committee on Convention Rules met Sunday afternoon, 
August 17, and agreed on the following recommendations which 
are respectfully submitted for your consideration:
        1. That, with exceptions noted below, Demeter's Manual 
        be recognized as the parliamentary authority for this 
        Convention.
        2. That when a delegate desires to make a motion or 
        address the Convention, he shall rise, address the 
        Chair as ``Comrade Commander-in-Chief'', and after 
        being recognized, shall state his name, Post number and 
        Department, before proceeding.
        3. A delegate shall be permitted to speak but twice on 
        any one subject, or any pending resolution for a period 
        of eight minutes each, except by consent of two-thirds 
        of the voting strength of the Convention present: 
        provided, that chairmen of Convention Committees may 
        speak as frequently as necessary in connection with 
        reports of their committees; and in the event of 
        controversy, the presiding officer shall not entertain 
        any motion which will curtail further debate without 
        affording the maker of the motion or a member of the 
        particular group presenting the resolution an 
        opportunity for five minutes of final rebuttal.
        4. All resolutions offered by individual delegates must 
        bear the endorsement of the Department Commander or in 
        his absence the Department Adjutant. All resolutions 
        must be submitted to the office of the Adjutant General 
        for numbering and referral to committee no later than 
        9:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 20, 1997, and must be 
        accompanied by a written explanation as to why the 
        resolution was not presented to the Department 
        Commander for consideration.
        5. All resolutions offered on the floor at the 
        Convention, or otherwise, shall be in writing, and 
        shall automatically, and without reading, be referred 
        to the Adjutant General for assignment to the proper 
        committee.
        6. Committee chairmen, in reporting on resolutions 
        referred to their committee, shall first read those 
        resolutions on which favorable action is recommended. 
        Specific resolutions shall be set aside for individual 
        action at the request of any delegate, the others being 
        voted upon collectively. After action has been taken on 
        all such resolutions, the chairman shall read the 
        number and title of those resolutions which the 
        committee has disapproved. A resolution disapproved by 
        the committee shall be automatically rejected unless a 
        motion is made and seconded that it be approved, in 
        which case it shall be brought up for debate and 
        Convention action.
        7. This Convention will not consider any resolution 
        dealing with race, creed or religion, or endorse anyone 
        for public office. This Convention will not consider 
        any resolution calling for the expenditure or 
        appropriation of organization funds.
        8. This Convention will not consider any resolution 
        endorsing legislation sponsored by any other veterans 
        organization, or requesting us to join with any other 
        organization in sponsoring legislation not expressly 
        proposed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
        States.
        10. No person not a duly accredited delegate or member 
        of the National Convention shall participate in debate, 
        directly or indirectly, in a viva voice vote on any 
        subject before the Convention.
        10. Unit rule of voting shall not be allowed in this 
        Convention.
        11. On roll calls, the Chairman or acting Chairman of 
        each delegation shall poll his delegation on the floor 
        and shall announce the vote of his delegation.
        12. Delegations may arrive at a vote in any manner they 
        see fit, but shall announce it in terms of full units 
        and not in terms of a fractional part of a vote.
        13. Reconsideration upon which final disposition has 
        been made shall not be allowed after the session at 
        which it was acted on has been recessed unless the body 
        is notified of such contemplated action prior to the 
        close of that session.
        14. When the report of the chairman to the delegation 
        is not acceptable to all members of the delegation and 
        a poll of the Department delegates is demanded by three 
        delegates of said Department, the Adjutant General 
        shall poll the delegates, without discussion of 
        question.
        15. Voting shall be by acclamation, except when a roll 
        call be demanded by ten delegates representing Posts in 
        ten separate Departments.
        16. Nominating speeches for the National Officers shall 
        be limited to five minutes each. Not more than two 
        seconding speeches shall be made for any candidate and 
        such speeches shall not exceed two minutes each. 
        Nomination and election of National Officers will be 
        held according to the Congressional Charter, By-Laws 
        and Manual of Procedure, Article VI, Section 609.
        17. Delegates and persons recognized by the Chair shall 
        be entitled to a respectful hearing and the Chair shall 
        have the authority to clear the gallery or the floor or 
        have the Sergeant-at-Arms escort from the floor any 
        person or persons who may create any disturbances which 
        interfere with the orderly procedure of the Convention.
        18. Consent of two-thirds of the voting strength of the 
        Convention present is necessary for suspension of the 
        rules of this Convention. Respectfully submitted, 
        Comrade Commander-in-Chief. I move the adoption of the 
        Report of the Committee on Rules.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF RAY SODEN: I am Ray Soden, delegate 
from Post 2149, Department of Illinois. I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion. It has 
been duly seconded. Any discussion on the motion? Hearing none, 
those in favor of the motion will signify by saying ``aye''; 
those opposed by the same sign. The motion carries.
    Thanks for a job well done, Clyde. Your Committee is 
discharged.
    At this time I will bring back to the microphone for a 
correction to the Credentials Report, Chairman Richard Trombla.

               REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE (Cont'd.)

    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): I am Richard 
Trombla from the Department of Kansas. There is a correction. 
The total delegates should now read 11,123. That is making a 
grand total of 11,237. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, in a few moments and 
throughout the remainder of this Convention, we will be taking 
up the important business of our Committee Reports and acting 
on the Resolutions proposed for adoption by this Convention.
    I have asked the Committee Chairmen to use the following 
procedure in presenting their respective reports. First, the 
Committee Chairman will read the list of those Resolutions 
which the Committee recommends be adopted, or adopted as 
amended.
    Following the reading of the list, the Chairman will move 
the adoption of those Resolutions. After that motion and the 
second, the Chair will ask if there are any of those 
Resolutions which a comrade wants set aside. Note will be taken 
of those Resolutions to be set aside and action will then be 
taken on those Resolutions which have not been set aside.
    After the vote on those Resolutions which were not set 
aside, the Chair will take up those Resolutions which have been 
set aside for debate. They will be taken up in the order in 
which they have been set aside. Each Resolution will be voted 
on by the Convention as a motion to adopt.
    If the Committee has recommended referral of any 
Resolutions to any permanent Committee of the VFW for review, 
those motions will then be acted upon. After action is 
completed on the Resolutions recommended for adoption or for 
referral to the Standing Committee, the Chairman will read the 
list of those Resolutions to which the recommendation is 
rejection.
    After the list is read, you will have the opportunity to 
move the adoption of any of those Resolutions. Each motion will 
be taken up and disposed of in order. If no motion is made by 
any comrade, the Resolution is, under our Convention Rules, 
automatically rejected by the Convention.
    At this time I will call forward the Chairman of the 
Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual, 
Chairman John M. Carney.

              REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL BY-LAWS,

                     MANUAL OF PROCEDURE AND RITUAL

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: Thank you, Commander-in-
Chief. I would like at this time to recognize the Vice-Chairman 
of this Committee, Past Commander-in-Chief John Staum from 
Minnesota. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to 
the Committee yesterday for their long, hard work on these By-
Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual. I certainly appreciate 
their comments and the actions they have taken.
    I will read those by-laws as approved, and I will read them 
by the number that appears on this particular sheet. The 
Committee recommends adoption of B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, B-7, B-8. 
Just a minute. Let me start over again. B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, B-
7, B-8, B-11 and B-13.
    Commander-in-Chief, I move adoption.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN STAUM: John Staum, delegate 
from Post 9625, Minnesota, seconds that recommendation.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion. It has 
been duly seconded. Any discussion?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE WAYNE J. THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief. I am Wayne Thompson, Department of 
Colorado, Post 5061. I hereby request that By-Law Amendments 
identified as B-13, B-19, B-22, B-23, B-26, B-30, B-31 be set 
aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Let me interrupt you, Comrade. The 
only one we have read so far is B-13.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, the others were proposed for rejection; is 
that correct?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Not yet.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): We ask that 
B-13 be set aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: B-13 will be set aside.
    Microphone No. 3.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Commander-in-Chief, Howard Vander Clute, Post 6467, 
New Jersey. I ask that B-8 be set aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: B-8 will be set aside.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOE MURPHY (Post 1289--Tennessee): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Joe Murphy, Post 1289, Tennessee. I would 
like for B-1 to be set aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: B-1 will be set aside. It is 
difficult for me to tell if there is anyone at the microphones. 
Sergeant-at-Arms, is there anyone at any of the microphones?
    Okay. You have heard the motion. It has been duly seconded. 
Any further discussion on the motion? If not, those in favor of 
the motion will signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed by the 
same sign. The motion carries.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, 
B-1 pertains to Section 202 of the By-Laws and it amends 
Section 202 by deleting in its entirety and inserting in lieu 
thereof, and I will not read this long paragraph. I would hope 
that everyone has the sheet in front of them. It pertains to 
Post By-Laws, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Now, I need a motion to adopt in 
accordance with the Convention Rules.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE GLEN GARDNER (Post 3359--Texas): Glen Gardner, a 
delegate from Post 3359, Garland, Texas. I move that we adopt 
B-1.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. I stand corrected. 
It is already on the floor. It is open for debate. Is there any 
debate on B-1?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOE MURPHY (Post 1289--Tennessee): On B-1, I have 
no problem with all the changes about the Resolution. My only 
problem is how it gets mailed out. It says in there it will be 
mailed out by first class mail. As you all know, that is 32 
cents.
    Then they tell me that if they are a small Post they need 
to do that. Normally, the small Posts don't have the money to 
send out even 25. If you look at a Post with 1,000, it will 
cost you $320 in postage. If they send it first class mail, 
most of you comrades know you don't increase your membership at 
the next meeting over ten percent.
    It should have been, I would think, that it should have 
been either bulk mail or it should have been a Post Newsletter 
would have been sufficient to change any by-laws that you are 
going to have to let all the comrades in the Post know that you 
are going to change the by-laws or make new by-laws.
    My whole problem is with the first class mail. I just can't 
see where there is any use in wasting that kind of money when 
there are other ways of sending out in the communications to 
the members. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Comrade Murphy.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE GLEN GARDNER (Post 3359--Texas): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, this by-law was proposed because under the by-laws 
that we have now there is no requirement for notification to 
the members before adopting by-laws. You can bring it up at any 
Post meeting to adopt by-laws and whoever is there is going to 
create for that Post a set of by-laws that everyone has to live 
with.
    Once that is done, in most cases, it is going to take a 
two-thirds vote after notification to change them. Under this 
proposal, also, any Post that already has by-laws, their by-
laws would dictate how those occasions would be given to the 
members.
    This would only refer to the Posts that don't have by-laws 
at the present time. So I would hope that we would adopt this 
so that every member of the Post would have proper notification 
before a Post adopts by-laws that will govern their operation. 
Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Glen. Anyone else at 
any other microphone? Hearing no more debate, the motion is to 
adopt. Those in favor of the motion to adopt will signify by 
saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. The motion 
carries.
    B-8 is now open for debate.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: B-8 dealt with the 
realignment of the National Council of Administration 
Districts, due to the Department of New Jersey falling under 
the required number of members, which is 70,000 to retain their 
own National Council seat.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Obviously, I want to be heard on this as opposing 
adoption of B-8, because my Department is involved. We have 
complied with the by-laws as they now stand, New Jersey, 
District I, as having 70,000 members.
    This year New Jersey dropped below 70,000 members. It is at 
approximately 68,000 members. We stand to lose a Council 
member, or at least have to share a Council member in this 
proposal with Maryland. However, I noticed, first of all, that 
B-8 is somewhat flawed in that it did not include in the second 
paragraph District G and I, which should have been addressed in 
that second paragraph. So it is flawed.
    Now, Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I want to speak on this 
based on the fact that there is another by-law proposal that 
the Committee rejected, so I know there is an alternative to 
this later on in the debate. I can only discuss this B-8 at 
this time.
    This affects the Eastern Conference besides New Jersey, 
because we lose one vote on the National Council of 
Administration. In addition, it will cause us to have a four-
state District. This will occur if this by-law is adopted. It 
will cause the Departments of the District of Columbia, 
Delaware, Europe and Rhode Island to become a Council District.
    That seems to me to be unfair when most of the Council 
Districts are composed of not more than two, and on one or two 
occasions three, in the occasions of the small overseas 
Departments, there is one other, not overseas but with two 
overseas Departments, Hawaii and Alaska.
    Commander-in-Chief, we discussed this at our Eastern 
Conference meeting and we are appealing to the other 
Departments on the basis that we are and we have all said it 
and you have said it as well, we are in a period of decline 
simply because there is a shrinking pool of eligible veterans 
from which to draw our membership.
    This may occur on future dates to other Departments. In 
addition, it will affect one other Department in the National 
Organization, that of the Department of Indiana should we adopt 
B-25.
    But we stand opposed to B-8 on the basis that we have an 
alternative to B-8 in B-25. We feel it is unfair to the Eastern 
Conference because it would place four Departments together and 
those Departments would have only a Council member every eight 
years. New Jersey would lose its Council District when the same 
circumstance may occur to other Departments in the near future. 
So, Commander-in-Chief, I am opposed and my Department is 
opposed to B-8.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE BRUCE WITHERS (Post 10436--Department of Europe): 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Bruce Withers from the Department of 
Europe and also District Council member for District No. 4. I 
also rise to support rejecting B-8 based on the fact that the 
Department of Europe already has to wait six years in order to 
serve on the Council.
    By adding Rhode Island with the other three Departments 
that we have now, that means that we will have to wait eight 
years. I personally would like to know what is the criteria for 
combining us into four Departments. I don't know what that 
criteria is. It is not outlined in this document. Therefore, I 
oppose combining four Departments and rise to say that we 
should keep it at three.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Any further debate on B-8?
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE SAL CAPIRCHIO (Post 2396--Rhode Island): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Sal Capirchio, Junior Vice Commander of the 
State of Rhode Island. I stand here also opposed for the 
Department to B-8 because we are going from four years to eight 
years.
    I think that this morning we saw the video during the Joint 
Session, the Opening Session, and in the video it said about 
getting to our grassroots. I think the National Council member 
elections definitely throws a lot of interest within our state 
as well as all the other states, and I believe by taking this 
away from us, I think the membership will go down and the 
grassroots will be hurt.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE RON RUSKO (Post 9460--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Ron Rusko from Post 9460 in Stratford, 
Connecticut. We have heard Past Adjutant General and Past 
National Commander-in-Chief Howard Vander Clute say that B-8 is 
flawed, and it certainly is.
    What is left out from B-8 and the Districts A, B, C, and 
then the letter G, that is the Department of California. So if 
you would adopt B-8, California will not have any 
representation on the National Council if B-8 is adopted. I 
don't think that will make them real happy.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE GERARD MISERANDINO (Post 2979--District of 
Columbia): I stand to oppose the adoption of B-8. We, in the 
District of Columbia, right now share the six-year rotational 
system and it would make us go to eight, on an eight-year 
basis, plus it also creates an additional burden on the Council 
member who is going to be traveling between these four 
Departments, because there is a great distance between the 
Departments of D.C., Rhode Island and Europe.
    Delaware is close to us so we can't use that argument, but 
Rhode Island is a great distance away as well as Europe. We 
stand opposed to B-8 and encourage the rest of the members and 
delegates at this Convention to vote it down.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE PAUL PHILLIPS (Post 2863--Delaware): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Paul Phillips, Post 2863, Delaware. I rise 
to support the previous speakers, to ask the body here to 
reject B-8 so as not to throw the burden on the small states 
for the Council Districts.
    You have all heard the reasoning and I certainly support 
that. We, in Delaware, ask that this body reject B-8 so as not 
to throw us into an eight-year term. Thank you, Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE RAY SISK (Post 97--California): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, I am Ray Sisk, Post 97, California, National Council 
member for California District G. I rise also in opposition to 
this for one simple reason. It is the idea that you have four 
Departments that are to be expected to have one representative.
    I feel very strongly that three is enough. Any Council 
member that represents three states has a hard enough time, let 
alone someone trying to take care of four of them. Four is 
going to leave the Council member every eight years out of 
their particular Department. I think that is wrong and I think 
we ought to defeat it. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DEAN WHITE (Post 27--Department of Europe): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Dean White, Post 27, Department of Europe. 
I have a question. Which set of by-laws are we discussing? I 
have a blue set and a white set.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The blue set.
    COMRADE DEAN WHITE (Post 27--Department of Europe): Thank 
you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You are welcome.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE DANA HUSSEY (Post 4485--New Hampshire): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Dana Hussey, Post 4485, New Hampshire. I 
rise in opposition to B-8 basically for the simple reason that 
the National Council member is elected to represent the 
grassroots, because everyone cannot go to the Council meetings.
    By reducing the number of Council members, you are reducing 
the strength of the grassroots organization, I think, and 
putting the decision-making process in the hands of a few 
people. By reducing the National Council of Administration, you 
are weakening the organization. I am opposed to B-8.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Let me ask this. Is there anyone 
that is in favor of B-8? Having ended the debate, the motion is 
to adopt. Those in favor of adoption of B-8, signify by saying 
``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. B-8 is rejected.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-Chief 
and Comrades, B-13 is a rewrite of Section 111 in its entirety. 
Section 111 pertains to Life Membership. There were several 
other proposals, proposed amendments dealing with the same 
matter. However, the Committee felt that B-13 was the best one 
to adopt.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAUL SPERA (Post 144--
Massachusetts): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Paul Spera, 
delegate from Post 144 in Boston, Massachusetts. I rise in 
opposition to B-13. I look at the rate schedule, and on the 
third list, in 2004, we are right back to where the delegates 
at this Convention last year rejected.
    I also rise in opposition to it because I believe, and let 
me say up front so there is no misunderstanding, before we 
leave this Convention the Life Membership fees will be raised. 
I know in my heart and my mind that is unavoidable and for the 
fiscal integrity of our organization that we will raise the 
Life Membership fees.
    What we will decide is how we will raise those fees. What 
we will decide is what is best for the members of this 
organization. I stand to oppose B-13 and intend to return to 
this microphone if B-13 is defeated to support another 
Resolution, B-15 that I believe it is more fair.
    But B-13 bothers me for another reason. If you come before 
the Convention to raise the Life Membership fees, if two years 
later you feel that those fees should be raised again and you 
have the courage of your convictions to come back two years 
later after having tried for a Life Membership fee increase, 
and try to raise them a second time, and two years after that 
if you are successful, come back to the delegates, to the 
grassroots of this organization, and convince them a third time 
that the fees for the Life Membership should be raised.
    I know of no time in our history when we have raised the 
Life Membership fees three times with one by-law change. The 
Life Membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars to the vast 
majority of the Post Commanders and Quartermasters and 
Membership Chairmen that I spoke to is a way for them to 
stabilize the membership in their Posts, to give them the 
ability to sell a Life Membership to someone and never have to 
collect that person's dues again. That is what the Life 
Membership is to the Post level of our organization.
    But I understand there is also a financial part to it. The 
financial part is what our National Organization and our 
Departments primarily get paid back on the Life Membership 
fees. I stand in opposition to B-13. If the people want to 
raise the Life Membership fees, want to raise it in two years, 
let them come back and face us again.
    Let them convince us of that in two years from now or four 
years from now. We should not raise the Life Membership three 
times with one by-law change. I recommend that we reject this.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, Department of 
colorful Colorado. I hereby move that--
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We have a motion on the floor, 
comrade. We have a motion to adopt on the floor at the moment. 
We are under debate on B-13.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): I am in 
opposition to that, Commander-in-Chief, primarily for the 
reason that the information that was provided to us, in my 
opinion, doesn't really provide sufficient information for us 
to have full disclosure to understand what the financial 
problems are.
    The financial report that was given to us at this 
Convention indicates right now that we have got close to $42 
million in surplus funds in the Life Membership account. I find 
it very difficult to support a dues increase that will further 
diminish our opportunity to bring in new members, Life Members 
to this organization, when this report shows a $42 million 
surplus. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief. I ask for a ``no'' vote 
on this.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE LYNN HALL (Post 6240--Kansas): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Lynn Hall, Post 6240, Russell, Kansas, and the State 
Department Commander of Kansas. I rise in opposition to B-13 
primarily on the purpose that after review our Department would 
defer a rise in the Life Membership fees on a one-time basis 
and object to any proposal of any increment beyond 1998.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE RICHARD PIGNONE (Post 3173--California): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Richard R. Pignone, Post 3173, incoming 
Council member from District G. I rise in opposition to B-13. 
The delegates of California at their Convention mandated me to 
tell you and the rest of the comrades in this Convention they 
vote ``no''. They are not in favor, not of this one or any one 
following it. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you. There is no doubt where 
he stands on that.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE DONALD LINSCOTT (Post 1603--Maine): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Don Linscott, Post 1603, Auburn, Maine. I 
am not a candidate for anything. I am just speaking against 
this because it has already been brought up. The important 
thing is to put something as important as this back into the 
grassroots.
    Two more years from now I am quite sure if they could, we 
would vote another increase. But, gentlemen, I have done all 
kinds of figures and all kinds of things, and all I know is 
that the accounting reports are wrong. Last year we had 
$122,325,000 in the Life Membership Fund.
    We had to panic because of the big pay out because of 
topping one million. I looked at the report from May 31st this 
year in your book, which says after all that big payoff the 
fund went up to $125 million. I see nothing against helping 
those ten years when I am gone and the rest of us are gone, but 
let's remember one thing, guys.
    We started the Life Membership Fund, the most successful 
Life Membership Fund of any organization going, with zero. In 
five years, the way things are going, we are going to pass on 
to the next generation a Life Membership of probably $145 
million.
    It is time to take care of ourselves and continue. I hope 
you will all vote this down so realistically we, the delegates, 
can vote on how the Life Membership Fund is going to go. Thank 
you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE TIGER MILLER (Post 1059--Illinois): It is going to 
hurt three times as much to cut the dog's tail off three times. 
If you are going to do it, just cut the dog's tail once.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 2.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ART FELLWOCK (Post 1141--Indiana): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Art Fellwock, a member of Post 1114 
in Evansville, Indiana. I rise to speak on this and let me say 
that I am against the increase because you are asking for an 
increase in years to come, 2004. We don't know what will happen 
in 2004.
    Let me tell you, we show a little deficit in the Life 
Membership Fund, but I have seen corporations throughout the 
United States that have shown a slight deficit and they have 
come out of it in a matter of a few months, six months or a 
year.
    We really don't know now what will happen. I say right now 
we do not need it. I am for just leaving it like it was last 
year when we passed the membership, the Life Membership thing, 
and leave the fees the same way, because look at how many Life 
Members you signed up last year in the Life Membership Fund. 
Let's leave it as it is and let's go from there.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE EDMUND GUCWA (Post 6896--Michigan): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am in concurrence with all the previous 
speakers. I have not heard one person in favor of B-13. At this 
time I call for the question to put it to a vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. I need a second to 
do that. I need a second to call for the question.
    COMRADE TOMMY THOMAS (Post 9657--California): I will second 
it. I am Tommy Thomas, Post 9657, California.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you. I will now call for the 
question. You have heard the motion. All those in favor of the 
motion to move the question will signify by saying ``aye''. All 
opposed by the same sign. Let me see if I can clarify the 
motion.
    The motion that is before us now is to call for the 
question and terminate debate. That is the motion that is 
before us. Now, knowing that, those in favor of the motion, and 
it takes a two-thirds vote, will signify by saying ``aye''; 
those opposed by the same sign. That motion carries.
    Now, the motion before us is to adopt. Those in favor of 
adopting B-13 will signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed by 
the same sign. B-13 is rejected.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: Thank you, Commander-in-
Chief. The Committee recommends rejection of B-4, B-5, B-9, B-
10, B-12, B-14, B-15, B-16, B-17, B-18, B-19, B-20, B-21, B-22, 
B-23, B-24, B-25, B-26, B-27, B-28, B-29, B-30, B-31 and B-32.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Howard Vander Clute, Past 
Commander-in-Chief and a delegate from Post 6467, Bergenfield, 
New Jersey. I ask to set aside B-22, B-23, B-25 and B-26.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Sir, I need a motion to adopt, not 
set aside.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Can I move to adopt all of those?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: No, one at a time.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Well, the reason I asked that is that B-22, B-23 and 
B-26 address the same subject.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: In that context, we will authorize 
that, yes.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Commander-in-Chief, I move adoption of B-22, B-23 and 
B-26. If you wish, I will hold my motion to adopt B-25 until 
you get a second on those.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That will be fine.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE GEORGE MEAD (Post 9400--Arizona): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Mead, Post 9400, Department of Arizona. I 
second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We have a motion duly seconded. We 
are now ready for debate on B-22, B-23 and B-26.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): As you can see, these three by-law amendments address 
the salaries in the two areas of the by-laws that salaries are 
discussed. In the case of B-22, it addresses the salary of the 
Adjutant General.
    B-23 addresses the salary of the Quartermaster General, and 
then B-26 addresses the powers and duties of the National 
Council of Administration relative to establishing salaries for 
employees and officers of our organization. The intent of the 
by-law is to place a cap on the salary of the Adjutant General 
and the Quartermaster General at $150,000 per annum.
    The reason that it has been proposed is that it is 
perceived by me, as by many others, that that $150,000 figure 
is rapidly being approached through the generosity of the 
National Council of Administration who administers the 
salaries.
    If it is to be that the Commander-in-Chief is the highest 
paid officer in this organization, and that traditionally has 
been the case, where will the salary of the Commander-in-Chief 
go if we don't cap the salaries of the Adjutant General and the 
Quartermaster General?
    If we don't cap the salaries, in fact, in all, where will 
they go when they surpass the $150,000? Will it go to $160,000, 
$180,000 to $200,000, when this organization seemed so 
concerned about raising funds in many different ways through 
mail solicitations to non-members and to members themselves on 
the various programs that they have, that you continue to have 
a flow of money into the treasury of this organization to come 
from you, the members and the delegates of this organization.
    Now, it has been said by many that this organization 
belongs to you. The argument on the floor yesterday went 
something like this. They said this was a vendetta against the 
Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Nothing could 
be further from the truth. This is not a vendetta.
    This is a concerned member expressing his view before the 
National Convention, the supreme body of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars. It was also said, ``Wait a minute. The National 
Council of Administration takes care of administering to the 
salaries of our officers.''
    That's true. But if the National Council of Administration 
is to be compared to the Board of Directors of the corporation, 
we like to think of ourselves as a corporation, although we 
don't produce a profit nor do we produce a product, we are in 
business because we have the legacy to serve veterans and their 
survivors.
    Then let me ask you, my comrades, if you did not see the 
actual salary of the employees for which you served on a Board 
of Directors, would you be inclined, then, to approve their 
salaries? I am here to tell you that the National Council of 
Administration for at least the past three years has not seen 
the salary of any officer or any staff member of this 
organization.
    They see salary ranges. There are so many employees in 
Grade 10 and their salaries are between X amount and X amount. 
No one knows precisely how much any officer makes except the 
Commander-in-Chief, the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief and the 
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, whose salaries and expenses are 
published in the report from the Quartermaster General.
    Now, this is not intended to take away any responsibility 
or any of the authority or any of the good judgment of those 
good members who serve on the National Council of 
Administration. As a matter of fact, I am sure there are a few 
Council members who would be happy to have the guideline and 
happy to have the by-laws established at $150,000 maximum 
salary on our two top officers. It would make their job that 
much easier.
    Secondly, I speak, after having some experience, as you 
might suspect, because I served 14 years as the Adjutant 
General. I started at $40,000 and the last full year that I was 
employed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, 
the last full year, because I retired in '94 after only ten 
months, I left at the end of October, but my last full year I 
have a W-2 form here and should anybody doubt my word, I 
brought them all, my salary was something under $118,000.
    That was over 14 years, and that was through a salary 
administration. So I am not ashamed to tell you or show you how 
much I earned as an officer of this corporation. But I am 
concerned about the fact that the National Council of 
Administration does not know the exact amount of salary that 
they are voting on when they cast their votes in favor of the 
salary administration.
    I have one thing further, Commander-in-Chief. Something 
else was said at the meeting yesterday that disturbed me 
somewhat. They said someone had been, and that someone I 
suspect was me, had mentioned or communicated with members of 
the Council saying that the National Adjutant General in the 
American Legion earns $125,000.
    Why do we care what the Adjutant General in the American 
Legion makes? That is probably so, but we don't care. It is 
none of our business unless we have some interest in the 
Legion. I will tell you this, when the salary administration 
was established in this organization and voted by the Council, 
the principal concern at the time was to establish internal and 
external equity for all the employees in our organization.
    In other words, if you had a job that had a certain degree 
of responsibility and accountability that they could identify 
with someone in private industry, that is the salary he should 
have received. That is how we keep people working for our 
organization.
    External equity counts as well. It is kind of difficult 
with our offices to identify with industry. Let's identify them 
with another veterans organization. The National Adjutant 
General, with an organization much bigger than ours, the 
American Legion, earns $125,000. That we can use as an external 
equity. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Howard.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE GLEN GARDNER (Post 3359--Texas): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Glen Gardner, a delegate from Post VFW 3359, Texas. I 
stand in opposition to this motion. For all the years that our 
good Past Commander-in-Chief served as Adjutant General, it was 
fine for the Council to decide what the salaries would be.
    I think that we elect the Council members to make those 
decisions. Let me tell you, comrades, as the Budget Chairman, 
at the Council meeting in October, in Kansas City, every member 
was given the opportunity to ask the salary individually of any 
employee of this organization if they wanted to know it.
    Every Council member will tell you that they were given 
that opportunity. If they wanted to know an individual's 
salary, all they had to do was to stand up on their two hind 
feet and say, ``I want to know how much James Brown makes in 
the Membership Department.'' So they were given that 
opportunity.
    Our Council does a great job. They have all the material 
they need, the same things they need to decide the issues that 
come before them. I think we should leave with the Council of 
Administration that right and that privilege and vote ``no'' 
for this amendment.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, Department of 
Colorado and Past Judge Advocate General. I am speaking in 
support of the motion, the three amendments to adopt. And 
specifically I think there is a strong feeling among all of us 
that we are volunteers.
    This is a volunteer organization. We know we can't operate 
as volunteers totally. We do have paid staff. It is a great 
feeling between what we do as volunteers between what others 
get paid as salaries. I certainly would commend the National 
Officers for what they have done and the staff for the work 
they do, but it is a really a question of fairness.
    We ought to feel good about this. I don't think there is a 
good feeling about what is going on between the National Office 
and the troops, if you will. Part of it is the lack of 
information. If this will help to bring us back together, then 
I urge that these three amendments be adopted. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE TOM DOUGHERTY (Post 3474--Pennsylvania): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Tom Dougherty, Post 3474, Delaware, 
Pennsylvania. I stand in opposition and call for rejection of 
this proposed amendment. I have heard the speaker from Texas 
state that -- when I served on the Council in 1983 and '85 that 
we were aware of all of this.
    Yes, if you were a speed reader. They took this budget 
around and set it in front of you. You were supposed to digest 
this all in a short period of time. I was also told by a 
previous Chief that we had the opportunity to take that, they 
would never refuse us. I guarantee you if you tried to put that 
in your briefcase they were there to pick it up from you.
    Now, as I stated yesterday, and I am the guy that talked 
about the American Legion and I am the guy that talked about 
the vendetta. I still firmly believe that. I mentioned 
yesterday that we have an organization worth a quarter of a 
billion dollars, which is administered by these people at the 
National Headquarters and all the Council members have the 
ability and the intelligence to put a cap on it.
    They are taking the power away from our Council members. 
Why have Council members, number one, to begin with? We don't 
need them. That is a very important item. This power should not 
be taken away from them. They should be able to decide whether 
there should be a cap.
    I will state one other thing. I will have to ask the 
previous speaker to the fellow from Texas, which was on this 
microphone, I am sorry, there was from California, too, if he 
were in that position today as the Adjutant General or the 
Quartermaster General, would he be looking for a cap on his 
salary?
    I think that they should be compensated commensurate with 
their responsibilities and that should be the obligation of our 
Council of Administration. The next thing we will be asking for 
if we have to buy $10,000 worth of paper. Will that come next 
or other budget items come to the floor next? I think it is 
dangerous, and I call for rejection of this amendment.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE GEORGE MEAD (Post 9400--Arizona): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Mead, Post 9400, Department of Arizona. I 
rise in favor of these three. Let's get the information and the 
decisions back to the grassroots. It has gone away from that, 
it has gone into the Council.
    I will state this, yesterday it was stated you vote on your 
representative to the Council of Administration. That is not 
the case in many states. We get a representative in the 
Department of Arizona every six years. That means we have to 
wait four.
    That means if the two other states are in opposition for 
Arizona, we have to wait and have no choice or vote on the 
Council of Administration. Let's put this back to the 
grassroots.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE DONALD LINSCOTT (Post 1603--Maine): Commander-in-
Chief, I guess I have a question, first. What does the Adjutant 
General and the Quartermaster General make now? What are their 
salaries now? We are not supposed to know? What are their 
salaries now?
    If we are at $150,000, why am I wasting my time? What are 
the salaries of the Adjutant General and Quartermaster General 
now? I think the Quartermaster General is going to come forth 
now.
    QUARTERMASTER GENERAL JOE RIDGLEY: For everybody's 
information, every officer in the organization that is a 
designated officer is on a 990, you can look at this. The 
salary of the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General is 
$144,000 this year.
    COMRADE DONALD LINSCOTT (Post 1603--Maine): So, I guess 
basically what we are trying to say is that you shouldn't 
compare this to paper clips, like my previous speaker was 
talking about. This is probably the highest we are going to go 
in the organization and we should have some control.
    Yes, our Council does meet and go over their budget, and I 
don't know about you, but I have talked to some Council members 
and in a matter of a day and one-half they have thrown them a 
$194 million budget and say let's act on it.
    I went to the Council meeting yesterday where we saw a 
proposal for $1,520,000, I think it was, to put new fan coils 
into the building, which we probably need.
    My problem is it also said in 1995 we put new fan coils in, 
and when I total up the figures in there, including legal of 
$330,000, but you add in the mark-up and it came to $1,520,000. 
My problem is that they do have the ability to do that, but 
they just don't have the time to do that.
    I am in favor of putting a cap. Two years from now, we can 
come back here, if the economy changes, we can change this 
figure. Right now, guys, it is time for us to decide how much 
our highest paid executives are going to get.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE GENE WARDEN (Post 8552--Texas): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Gene Warden, Council member from Texas, VFW Post 
8552. As I said, I am a Council member and I stand in 
opposition to this amendment. I have listened to both sides, I 
have sat in the Council meetings, I have seen the figures that 
these people were given.
    I was offered the opportunity to see them. I did ask and I 
saw the figures. I know what our National Officers are getting. 
I think that if you will compare, if you are working in a field 
of any kind, what you were receiving ten years ago and compare 
that with what you are receiving today, you will find that your 
salary has probably increased at a larger percentage than that 
of the National Officers, including our Past Commander-in-Chief 
Vander Clute's salary.
    I am sorry. Take a look and see what your salary has 
increased. I speak personally from my own salary. I say let the 
Council have the authority to help the working members of this 
organization run the organization the way it is designed. If 
you take this authority away from them, then you have no one 
who will be able to sit down and do it unless you will do it on 
a National Board. Can you imagine what would happen? Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JAMES CARLISLE (Post 10097--Florida): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, my name is James Carlisle, Past State 
Commander of Florida. My Post is 10097, Fort Myers Beach, 
Florida. I have been on the Council before a few years back and 
I was on the Budget and Finance Committee.
    I will guarantee you that the Council knows what the 
National Officers make. We knew what the National Officers 
made. If the Council now does not know what the National 
Officers make, then the Council should do their job and demand 
to know.
    The Council of Administration runs this organization. They 
should run it. If they don't know what they have, then they 
should know. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE RAY SISK (Post 97--California): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Ray Sisk, Post 97, California, District G Council of 
Administration. I would just like to clarify a few facts that 
were stated by our first speaker. The fact that, first of all, 
the Council of Administration, I know for the last two years it 
certainly has been given figures for each of the categories.
    They were told by Past Budget Chairman Joe Scerra from 
Massachusetts, Cliff Olson and by Glen Gardner this year. Any 
individual that wanted to see an individual number, the salary, 
it was there and available. I chose to do such a thing, and I 
can tell you right now that our Quartermaster General and our 
Adjutant General does not make $144,000. They only make 
$143,776.
    Now, I had the opportunity and pleasure of serving on the 
National Budget Committee for the last two years. I have been 
the California Budget Chairman for several years, and we have 
never had a red budget, and I am very happy to say we have had 
a surplus the last two years, no matter what anybody made in 
this organization.
    I am very, very happy to stand here and say that I don't 
think that for one minute that these two gentlemen are 
overpaid. I pay a general manager of my trucking company damn 
near that much money to run 20 trucks across the United States, 
and it certainly doesn't take a college education for that.
    So I rise and say that is not too much money for our 
Quartermaster General. You can put a cap on it if you want to, 
but I also want to say that the Council of Administration does 
not run this organization, you people here on the floor run 
this organization. I am certainly aware of that. Thank you very 
much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Before I call for any other 
debate, let me ask, please, let's have considerate 
deliberations and please refrain from the boo's and cat calls, 
please.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE MYRON YOUNG (Post 9571--Ohio): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, my name is Myron Young. I am a delegate from Post 
9571, Ellsworth, Ohio. I am a former National Council member. I 
sat on the National Council for two years and never once did I 
ever hear of any of the National Officers getting out on the 
floor after they had left the National Office and ridicule as 
it has been done here today.
    I think to stand there and take on debate past the rules of 
the Convention, I think that was totally wrong. I think that it 
is time, comrades, that we all get together, vote ``no'' on 
this issue and let our Council members, as they have done in 
this organization from its very beginning, let the National 
Officers and the men that you elect as National Council members 
on the Board of Directors, if you will, let them continue to 
run this organization as they have in the past. It has been 
tremendously successful, and let's continue to keep it that 
way. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE EUGENE MANFREY (Post 6827--Florida): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Gene Manfrey, VFW Post 6827, St. 
Petersburg, Florida. I am a Council member from Area J. Comrade 
Commander, officers and members, this sounds like deja vu. I 
can remember just a few years ago the same thing happened when 
a Past Commander-in-Chief by the name of Joe Scerra challenged 
the chair.
    Howard Vander Clute was the Adjutant General at the time. 
They asked for the specific amount of money that the officers 
were making. We had a good comrade just a minute ago just ask 
what it was. National did not say anything. They gave you the 
number. They told you how much they are paid.
    I served on that National Council of Administration and on 
the Budget and Finance Committee, and I had that privilege. I 
had the privilege of seeing what the National Officers made and 
there was never any debate. I think what we are talking about, 
after all this is a corporation with over $33 million.
    We are paying our CEO $144,000. He should be getting more 
than that. You know that. Let's keep this organization and quit 
kibitzing about how much someone makes and work for the 
organization. They are all working for us. You work with them.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN MOON (Post 2873 -Ohio): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, John Moon, Post 2873, Grover Hill, 
Ohio, a delegate and also Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief. 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I recently met along with you and a 
couple of other representatives with a management firm who for 
many years has watched and safeguarded some of the views and 
the ways that our organization has run.
    They not only watch our organization, but they take care of 
many other organizations. It is a management consulting firm. 
This group of individuals came forth at our request, not at 
their own request, but at our request to give us some insight 
as to this particular by-law.
    They reviewed it, simply made a statement to start this at 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars or any other level of an 
organization is going to prove to be the downright out and out 
downsizing of an organization as to the importance of it. What 
we have got from them in that long meeting that we did hold 
with them was the fact that we would be one of the first to 
ever do this, and they did not feel it was in our best interest 
to do so.
    They said, however, any time you want to do that, that 
again is the right of the body They said that is why you have a 
so-called Board of Directors. That is the Council of 
Administration that is elected throughout this country to 
represent those respective states or those respective 
departments in the best interests of the organization.
    Although they may not be popular decisions they make, those 
decisions that are made are, as a Board of Directors, on how 
this organization should be steered in between Conventions. 
Included in that, Commander-in-Chief, is the rate structure for 
the individuals that work at the National level, they being in 
Kansas City or Washington, D.C.
    That is why the support of this by-law for rejection is in 
the best interest of this organization, to allow that Board of 
Directors and to allow that Council of Administration that we 
elect every two years to make that decision on behalf of each 
and every individual.
    It is not to take the authority away from those individuals 
that are delegates on this floor or any Convention floor, but 
it is designed to be in the best interest to look closely at 
the budget, to make those decisions on the budget, the way they 
see fit and the way they can feel it is justifiable for 
everyone's best interests. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL LARRY W. RIVERS (Post 1736--Louisiana): 
Commander-in-Chief, Larry Rivers, a delegate from Post 1736, 
Alexandria, Louisiana. My fellow comrades, I had not planned to 
get to this microphone at any point during this debate.
    I want to preface my remarks and tell you why. I am tired 
of being the issue instead of us honestly looking at the 
issues. We can say whatever we want to say, but many of us 
here, and probably everyone in this room knows that is the 
case.
    I want to set the record straight, and that is the only 
reason I am here, because there are inferences made, there are 
inferences made since I have been Adjutant General somehow the 
procedures have changed, that things have been put in place by 
me somehow designed for my personal benefit to the detriment of 
this organization.
    Those that have differences of opinion too often want to 
couch what they say as speaking for truth. Let me tell you, I 
am one of truth. I have served my country well. I have served 
my family well. I work hard for this organization. I am tired 
of being the whipping boy.
    I want to tell you what the procedures are and how long 
they have been in place. The Adjutant General had the 
opportunity to make more than $150,000 way before I became 
Adjutant General. There was never any move to put any cap on 
anybody's salary.
    I want to tell you something else, too, and it is very 
personal, and it is very difficult for me to stand up here and 
have to be this personal to so many people. I am not afraid to 
because I don't have anything to hide. I made more money by 
$100,000 the last year I practiced law than I make now in the 
VFW. I am not a money grubber; I am not a money grubber.
    I want to tell you what the procedures are and how that has 
always been. They have always been in place. You know, there is 
a certain degree of secrecy with salaries. I will tell you why. 
It is because we have employees in Kansas City that make 
different salaries.
    In order to make our organization work, we don't need 
secretaries comparing salaries with each other. We don't need 
managers and directors comparing salaries with each other that 
will tend to undermine the cohesion we need with our employees.
    We respect their privacy. Maybe if you say by virtue of 
serving as your Adjutant General, while I am temporary in this 
office, just as my predecessors have been, no one owns the 
office of Adjutant General or Quartermaster General. We serve 
at the pleasure of this organization. That is the way those 
decisions need to be made.
    Do we deserve a certain amount of privacy like everybody 
else? Simply because we make our living trying to serve you 
American veterans well, we are not entitled to that? We ought 
to stand here and tell you what every secretary makes and 
undermine the cohesion?
    The reason there is a modicum of secrecy is because of that 
need, and that is the way it has always been. Throughout these 
debates or these kind of inferences, all of that has come about 
in the past three years because now you have those that want to 
make me out to be a devil.
    I have not changed one procedure in either the Council 
meetings, how they deal with salaries, how they address that 
issue, how salaries are set. In fact, when I was sitting up 
there when they said tell me your salary, I didn't even know 
it. I said I make something over $140,000.
    I have never once talked to any member of this organization 
about how much you ought to pay me for the work I do as your 
Adjutant General. I never will. You make that decision through 
the Council members. Yes, the Council does run this 
organization when the Convention is not in session, because 
that is what the by-laws say; that is what the by-laws say.
    That is not me, that is not the Quartermaster General, that 
is what the by-laws say. I have not changed one procedure. I 
don't have any control over salaries. I am not telling you to 
vote yes or no. That is for you to decide. But the inference is 
somehow there is something sinister afoot in Kansas City 
because we have new people there with different names and 
different faces and, yes, in many cases different ideas.
    You can tar and feather us for every ill, and to couch your 
opposition and your animosity toward us personally in the name 
of the troops is dead wrong. I wanted to get up on this floor 
and say it. I enjoy working for you. I am going to continue 
working for you as long as you want me regardless of what my 
salary is.
    So let's call a spade a spade. That is what is going on 
here. Couch it in whatever way you will, but make no mistake 
what is at stake here. Thank you, my friends.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARTHUR FELLWOCK (Post 1114--
Indiana): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Art Fellwock, Post 1114, 
Evansville, Indiana. Let's get it straight. We are not trying 
to take anything away from the Council of Administration. What 
we are doing here, this is the governing body and the governing 
body is trying to tell the Council of Administration they want 
the salary at $150,000.
    Now, it is in addition to that, each of these get a new 
car, which is paid for completely by the VFW, the use of it, 
the gasoline and everything else. So you have to add that on to 
there, too. You know, if I was working for a corporation and 
another corporation offered me $50,000 more in salary, by golly 
I would think of my family and say I am going to go to that 
other corporation because this $50,000 means money in my pocket 
which I can take care of my family a little bit better and have 
some of the luxuries.
    Let's look at what it costs, $150,000. Let's round that off 
to $150,000. Do you know to pay $150,000, you have to collect 
27,272 dues to pay one salary of $150,000. This means that the 
State of Alabama, who has volunteers who go out and get 
membership, whose salary they have in their company is probably 
less than $40,000 or $50,000 a year, get the volunteers to go 
out and collect these dues, every dues that is collected in the 
State of Alabama and every dues that is collected in the State 
of Oklahoma would have to go to pay the two salaries.
    You know, this is a volunteer organization. I think we have 
got to keep it within that frame. Therefore, I rise to support 
this amendment.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE BILL BREEN (Post 1002--Nevada): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, this is Bill Breen, Department of Nevada, Past 
National Council member 1991-'93. I am up here and I agree with 
the Resolution. I think we should have a salary cap.
    I have to agree with the comrades this thing could get out 
of line. It could get way out of line if we don't have a cap on 
it. But I also agree that the Council of Administration should 
have some power or authority to set the salaries.
    In conclusion, I disagree wholeheartedly with the National 
Budget Chairman when he got up and stated that all Council 
members have always been allowed to see the budget. Now, let me 
tell you something that happened the year of 1991-'92.
    We were informed by the National Budget Committee Chairman 
at that time that we couldn't see that budget because it was 
against the Privacy Act. Now, how many of you people have heard 
that before? That is exactly what we were told. The Privacy 
Act, my butt. You people approved those salaries and you are 
entitled to know what they make. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE CHARLES WILLIAMS (Post 3665--Louisiana): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Charles Williams, Post 3665, Louisiana. I 
stand to reject this Proposal B-26 for two reasons. One, we are 
singling out two members of our organization.
    Out of the 2.2 million, we are saying cap those two 
people's salaries but let everybody do whatever the hell they 
want to do. Take the power away from the Council of 
Administration on these two individuals, but let the Council of 
Administration set the salaries and all the other things for 
everybody else that is employed by the National Organization.
    When you cap salaries, just like the President capped the 
military retirees, when you start capping it, you start losing 
good people. Now, what happens down the road a year from now if 
something happens to Larry Rivers and we go out and get 
somebody else and they say I want $190,000 or I won't take the 
job?
    We can't get anybody to take it for $150,000. I say let the 
Council of Administration do their job, set the salary 
schedule, whatever the Council of Administration thinks is 
fair, and if my Council member is not doing what I ask, I will 
go out and elect another Council of Administration member as 
soon as I can that will go in there and do what we ask him to 
do.
    Let's leave it with the Council of Administration, the 
salary schedule.
    If we are going to do it, let's cap everybody's salaries in 
the VFW and not just single out these two individuals.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 3.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BOB CURRIEO (Post 9972--Arizona): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Bob Currieo, a delegate from Post 
9972, Arizona. I rise in support of the Resolution. I think we 
are missing and steering away from the main question before the 
floor.
    It is not whether the Council of Administration does a good 
job or a quiet job, or whatever job they do between National 
Conventions, or whether the national staff does a good job or a 
poor job. The question is the delegates at this Convention here 
assembled have the right and have the duty to set the 
boundaries for the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization.
    You only have one chance to do it and it is at this 
Convention. You don't come to the Convention to go sightseeing. 
You come to act on these Resolutions and carry that message 
back to your Posts, and your Posts will inform the delegates. 
Support this Resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOHN CAMFIELD (Post 1999--California): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I rise in opposition to this Resolution. I 
am a retired engineer and I don't make anywhere near the 
$150,000. The $150,000 seems like a lot of money, and it is a 
lot of money. But for the leaders or the head people of an 
organization as large as the National Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
$150,000 is not a lot of money.
    You can verify this by attending any of the other large 
corporations' meetings and just ask how much the CEOs of these 
organizations make. I guarantee you that you will not find one 
who is anywhere near the bottom of $150,000. I think the 
Council of Administration should have the responsibility 
because I myself don't know whether $150,000 is a reasonable 
figure or whether it is too low of a figure, which I think it 
is, or maybe it is too high.
    But let's give that responsibility to the people we have 
elected, the Council members. If we don't like it, then we ask 
the Council member and if he or she does not give us the 
information, then we should write as one of the previous 
speakers said, it is available.
    If we don't like it, then we should let our Council member 
know and for the next election ahead of time direct the Council 
member as to how we feel on the situation. I urge a ``no'' vote 
on this.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAUL SPERA (Post 144--
Massachusetts): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Paul Spera, Post 
144, Boston, Massachusetts. Just like the Adjutant General, I 
had no intention of coming to the microphone on this issue, but 
it was his very eloquent, very moving speech to this Convention 
that drew me up here.
    I am up here for one specific reason. For the past year, 
and perhaps even longer, I am one of the individuals in this 
organization that has been tagged with the title. I am one of 
the individuals in this organization who has been pointed to 
when we discuss an issue that some people don't agree with as 
someone who has a vendetta.
    I have tried in my entire career in this organization to 
come to the microphone at the Convention, to come before 
everybody of this organization and to discuss issues, to debate 
and argue, if necessary, for the best interest of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars.
    Quite frankly, I am getting very tired of that old dead 
horse being beat every time you come to a microphone and you 
disagree with someone, to have the individuals claim that it is 
a personal attack, that that is the only reason why you are 
coming to the microphone.
    Anyone that wants to label me with that kind of tag, go 
ahead. Those of you who have known me for the more than 30 
years that I have been a member of this organization know where 
my heart is, know where my mind is, and know how I feel about 
the VFW.
    I resent anyone in any position in this organization that 
takes my motives and turns them around. I am not going to stand 
for it anymore. If you want to debate issues, let's debate 
them. When you replace an individual in a corporation, when you 
have someone that you are replacing who is being paid a salary 
and you are bringing in someone new to fill that position, and 
they do not have the experience in that position yet, you do 
not bring them in at the same salary or higher.
    We do, and we have done it. We have done it for the last 
three Quartermaster Generals and we did it with the Adjutant 
General. They talked about the previous Adjutant General. They 
talked about his salary. They talked about the fact that the 
ability to achieve $150,000 has always been there. Well, it 
has. But we have never gotten close to it.
    We are getting close to it. We are getting close to it in a 
climate where year after year we lose tens of thousands of 
members. We are coming close to it in a climate where our 
Departments are laying off people and finding people to fill 
two jobs.
    They are cutting back. They are limiting the salaries of 
the Quartermasters and Adjutant Generals in the Departments. 
They are limiting the salaries of service officers and what the 
secretaries get. We are limiting everywhere.
    There is nothing wrong with us coming to the Convention and 
saying in that atmosphere is it not best for us to say there 
should be a cap on the salaries? As far as the Council of 
Administration is concerned, with all due respect to every 
individual who has served on that Council, the ruling body of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars is the National Convention. We do 
not ever give our responsibility to anyone else, so I urge 
everyone to support this motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE ROLAND FURST (Post 9972--Arizona): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Roland Furst, delegate from Sierra Vista 
Post 9972, Department of Arizona. While I rise in favor of this 
motion to adopt, I would like to offer a couple of 
observations.
    Earlier a comrade made mention of the fact that an 
organization recommended that we continue to raise salaries. I 
would like to say today the value of this organization is 
measured by the salaries of its National Officers. Today we are 
indeed in a sorry state of affairs.
    Secondly, I would like to offer this observation also. At a 
time when the awards and recognitions coming from National 
Headquarters have been reduced and reduced and reduced, to the 
point that my All-American Post Commander has to pay for his 
own breakfast, then once again we have come to a sorry state of 
affairs.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I can respond to that comment.
    The All-American Commanders have received this year more in 
monetary compensation or benefits, whatever you want to call 
it, than they have ever in the past. They came here as our 
guests and are going to the Washington Conference. That is a 
personal observation.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PAUL MONTGOMERY (Post 3465--Idaho): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Paul Montgomery, Post 3465, Nampa, Idaho. I 
am Post Quartermaster and I hold no other office. However, I 
know that the Adjutant General is appointed by the Commander-
in-Chief. The Quartermaster General is elected.
    The Quartermaster General is elected by this body and the 
Commander-in-Chief is elected by this body. Why cannot this 
body dictate the caps on their salaries? If we look at their 
salaries, I know that in most corporations somebody is hired at 
a salary, they get raises for a certain number of years, and in 
20 years they retire at a certain amount.
    They don't hire another man back at this same amount. They 
start them out at a base salary to graduate up again. The cost-
of-living allowance right now for our top officers is almost 
$5,000 a year if they get a three-percent cost-of-living 
allowance.
    Now, I have got a lot of people out there in my Post that 
do a lot of work. They might make $537 a month on their 
pension. Let's get real. These guys up here at National do a 
fantastic job. I have worked with them for 14 years as a 
Quartermaster and I know that they do good work.
    We need to think about our responsibilities, comrades. So 
just keep that in mind when you vote on this. I recommend that 
we pass this Resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE MICHAEL BURRIS (Post 2615--North Carolina): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Mike Burris from Post 2615, Department of 
North Carolina. Comrades, I believe we all understand what has 
been proposed on this by-law. We are either going to cap it or 
leave it with the Council of Administration.
    I am like Larry Rivers, I am tired of hearing this 
bickering and differences that don't relate to the issue. 
Therefore, Commander-in-Chief, I move to call for the question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE ARTHUR SHELL (Post 2843--North Carolina): I second 
it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The motion has been made and duly 
seconded. We need to vote on moving the question. All those in 
favor of the motion to move the question will signify by saying 
``aye''; all those opposed by the same sign. We will move the 
question.
    The motion is to adopt B-22, B-23 and B-26. I want to make 
sure of one thing. The people that vote on this motion, or any 
motion, must have in their possession the National VFW 
registered card. That is for any motion. We neglected to 
announce that. You have to have one of those cards. You have to 
be a registered delegate.
    Now, those in favor of adopting B-22, B-23 and B-26, 
signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. The 
Chair rules that B-22, B-23 and B-26 are rejected because it 
takes a two-thirds vote.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Vander Clute, New Jersey, 
Post 6467, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It takes ten Departments.
    COMRADE LESLIE CHADWICK (Department of Massachusetts): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Leslie Chadwick, Department of 
Massachusetts, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is two.
    COMRADE RON RUSKO (Post 9460--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Ron Rusko, Post 9460, Stratford, 
Connecticut, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is three.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Wayne Thompson, Department of Colorado, 
Post 5061, requests a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is four.
    COMRADE ERNEST MEYERS (Department of Michigan): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Ernest Meyers, Senior Vice Commander from 
Michigan, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is five.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE PHILIP SCHIFFMAN (Post 8691--New York): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Philip Schiffman, Post 8691, Department 
Commander of New York, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is six.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE CARL EBY (Post 2503--Nebraska): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Carl Eby, Post 2503, Commander of Nebraska, I call 
for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is seven.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE CLYDE DAVIS (Department of Illinois): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Clyde Davis, Commander of the Department of 
Illinois, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE GREG WOODRING (Post 10308--Arizona): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Greg Woodring, Post 10308, Department 
Commander, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: What department, sir?
    COMRADE GREG WOODRING (Post 10308--Arizona): The Department 
of Arizona.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is nine.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PHILIP FARRELL (Post 11299--Maine): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Philip Farrell, Commander of the great 
State of Maine, requests a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is ten. I will ask the 
Adjutant General to conduct the roll call vote. We will take a 
ten-minute break to get ready for the roll call vote and time 
to caucus.

                               (RECESS.)

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Please find your seat so we can 
proceed with the roll call vote. Thank you, comrades. To 
expedite the process, I will ask the Department Commanders to 
please line up in alphabetical order at all three mikes. Line 
up in alphabetical order.
    As the Adjutant General goes through the roll, all the 
Department Commanders should be at Microphones 1, 2 and 3. I am 
asking the Assistant Adjutant General John Senk to come forward 
and call the roll. May I have order, please. The motion is to 
adopt B-22, B-23 and B-26. We will now have the roll call vote.
    ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL JOHN SENK: First of all, before 
I begin, the Credentials Committee gave me a correction. Please 
note that correction. It has to do with Connecticut. Their 
delegate strength is 225 and the total with the registration of 
the Commander would be 226.
    That makes the total delegate strength 11,251. The grand 
total is 11,365. It needs 7,577 votes to pass. That will be 
two-thirds.
    . . . As Assistant Adjutant General Senk called the roll, 
the following votes were cast: . . .

OFFICERS                                                YES    NO 
  Commander-in-Chief Nier                                       X
  Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon                           X
  Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Pouliot                  X
  Adjutant General Rivers                                       X
  Quartermaster General Ridgley--(Voted with Post) 
  Judge Advocate General Herrst--(Voted with Post) 
  Surgeon General Reif                                          X
  National Chaplain Bleiler--(Voted with Post) 
  National Chief of Staff Lark                                  X
  Inspector General Stephens                                    X

DISTRICTS                                               YES    NO 
  District No. 1--Arthur Roy                             X
  District No. 2--William J. Madera                             X
  District No. 3--Armondo C. Azzinaro                    X
  District No. 4--Bruce A. Withers                              X
  District No. 5--John L. Dahman 
  District No. 6--Scottie E. King                               X
  District No. 7--Roy C. Womble                          X
  District No. 8--Oliver W. Dial                                X
  District No. 9--George M. Pullie                              X
  District No. 10--Leslie F. Thone                              X
  District No. 11--Bernard J. Boyle                             X
  District No. 12--William F. Cerny, Jr.                        X
  District No. 13--Jack L. Armagost                      X
  District No. 14--Earl E. Chase                         X
  District No. 15--James H. Ferguson                     X
  District No. 16--Dannie Cooper                         X
  District No. 17--Gary L. Clark 
  District A --Armon J. Long                                    X
  District B --Russell R. Rieke                          X
  District C --Ralph U. DeMarco 
  District D --George W. Marks                                  X
  District E --Gordon W. Kirk                                   X
  District F --Wayne A. Buck                                    X
  District G --Raymond C. Sisk                                  X
  District H --Ferrell Warden                                   X
  District I --George J. Lisicki                         X
  District J --Eugene R. Manfrey                                X

STATE                                                   YES    NO
  Alabama                                                      197 
  Alaska                                                 50     34 
  Arizona                                               202 
  Arkansas                                                     158 
  California                                            186    401 
  Colorado                                              190 
  Connecticut                                           226 
  Delaware                                               44     76 
  District of Columbia                                   35      2 
  Department of Europe                                    3     31 
  Florida                                                      437 
  Georgia                                                      174 
  Hawaii                                                 37 
  Idaho                                                  77 
  Illinois                                              690 
  Indiana                                               306 
  Iowa                                                  139 
  Kansas                                                240     27 
  Kentucky                                               25    113 
  Latin America/Caribbean                                28 
  Louisiana                                               1    168 
  Maine                                                 109      1 
  Maryland                                              322     16 
  Massachusetts                                         292     80 
  Michigan                                              345    127 
  Minnesota                                                    361 
  Mississippi                                                  134 
  Missouri                                                     301 
  Montana                                                92 
  Nebraska                                              188 
  Nevada                                                 65      9 
  New Hampshire                                         115 
  New Jersey                                            287     15 
  New Mexico                                            121 
  New York                                              282 
  North Carolina                                          4    223 
  North Dakota                                           84 
  Ohio                                                    1    653 
  Oklahoma                                               42    117 
  Oregon                                                 29     84 
  Pacific Areas                                          44 
  Pennsylvania                                                 524 
  Rhode Island                                           58 
  South Carolina                                                96 
  South Dakota                                          156     33 
  Tennessee 144 Texas                                    19    496 
  Utah                                                          73 
  Vermont                                               102 
  Virginia                                              162 
  Washington                                            139     36 
  West Virginia                                           6    150 
  Wisconsin                                              69    138 
  Wyoming                                                54

PAST COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF                                YES    NO 
  Billy Ray Cameron 
  John M. Carney                                                X
  George Cramer                                                 X
  Robert Currieo                                         X
  Art Fellwock                                           X
  Robert Hansen-- (Voted with Post) 
  Walter Hogan--(Voted with Department) 
  Cooper T. Holt--(Voted with Department) 
  Richard Homan                                                 X
  Allen ``Gunner'' Kent (Voted with Department) 
  James L. Kimery--(Voted with Department) 
  Clyde Lewis-- (Voted with Department) 
  John Mahan 
  Robert T. Merrill 
  Clifford G. Olson--(Voted with Department) 
  Eric Sandstrom                                                X
  Joseph Scerra--(Voted with Post) 
  R. D. Smith--(Voted with Department) 
  Ray Soden--(Voted with Department) 
  Paul A. Spera                                          X
  Norman G. Staab--(Voted with Department) 
  John Stang--(Voted with Department) 
  John Staum-- (Voted with Post) 
  Howard Vander Clute, Jr.--(Voted with Post) 
  Tom Walker--(Voted with Post) 
  Robert E. Wallace--(Voted with Post)

    ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL SENK: That concludes the roll 
call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We will have the votes as quickly 
as possible. My fellow comrades, as soon as these results are 
counted here, we are going to call it a day.

                      WINNERS OF INSURANCE DRAWING

    QUARTERMASTER GENERAL RIDGLEY: May I have your attention, 
please. As we do every year, the insurance companies that we 
work with for our membership programs provide a drawing. You 
can put your name in the bucket over there. I am going to read 
those off quickly. There will be a drawing each day at the 
Convention.
    The winners today are:
    $25--Gary Brown, Post 4548, Arkansas
    Jimmy Allison, Post 2572, Mississippi
    $50--Donald Leach, Post 112, Kansas
    Charles Edwards, Post 856, Texas
    $100-- Charles Mayer, Post 4075, Kentucky
    Vernon Brundage, Post 9960, North Carolina
    Congratulations. You can pick up your money over at the 
Insurance Booth in the Main Exhibit Hall.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Remember the Distinguished Guests 
Banquet is at 7:00 o'clock tonight. We expect a tremendous 
turnout, about 2,700 people. A reminder while we are waiting 
for the results of the vote, the Business Session will resume 
at 9:00 a.m., sharp tomorrow morning in Hall B. We will have 
some guest speakers and we will resume with the resolutions and 
will continue with our business. That is 9:00 o'clock a.m., 
tomorrow morning in Hall B.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, will we be considering 
anymore by-law amendments after the announcement?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: No. We are ready to announce the 
vote. May I have order, please.
    ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL SENK: The Credentials Committee 
has tallied the vote. The results are: 5,866 yes; 5,548 no. It 
failed to achieve a two-thirds vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Therefore, B-22, B-23 and B-26 are 
rejected.
    Will the National Chaplain please come forward for the 
Benediction. All rise, please.
    (Whereupon, National Chaplain Bleiler gave the Benediction 
at this time.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrade Sergeant-at-Arms, please 
prepare the room to Salute the Colors.
    (Whereupon, the assembly gave the Salute to the Colors.)
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: The Closing Ceremonies have been 
performed, Comrade Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you. This session will be in 
recess until 9:00 o'clock a.m., in Hall B.
    (Whereupon, the meeting was duly recessed at 3:50 o'clock 
p.m.)
                                ------                                


                      DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET

                            AUGUST 18, 1997

    (The Distinguished Guests Banquet of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States, meeting in the Salt Palace 
Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, was called to order at 
7:00 p.m., by Comrade Ben Russo, Chairman, Board of Directors, 
VFW 98th National Convention.)
    COMRADE BEN RUSSO: May I have your attention. Good evening, 
ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
Distinguished Guests Banquet for this, our 98th National 
Convention. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of this 
Convention, I want to extend to you a sincere welcome to Salt 
Lake City and the great state of Utah.
    I sincerely believe that this banquet may be one of the 
highlights of this exciting Convention. We have a memorable 
program in store for you and we hope you enjoy the dinner and 
the program. Please stand as we join together in the Pledge of 
Allegiance to the Flag.
    (Whereupon, the assembly gave the Pledge of Allegiance at 
this time.)
    COMRADE BEN RUSSO: Please remain standing and I would like 
to call on Dr. William J. Bleiler, National Chaplain of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, to give the 
Invocation.
    Father Bleiler.

                               INVOCATION

    NATIONAL CHAPLAIN BLEILER: Heavenly Father, we come unto 
Thee in this moment of our Distinguished Guests Banquet of our 
98th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. We 
believe that Thou art our God and we are Thy people and Thou 
art the creator and sustainer of life.
    We acknowledge that every good and perfect gift cometh from 
above. We have come from Thy divine province. We humbly invoke 
Thy blessings upon our celebration, our comrades and the food 
we are about to partake. Teach us, O God, to be always mindful 
and thankful of the loving kindness and tender mercies. Amen.
    COMRADE BEN RUSSO: Thank you, Father. We may all be seated. 
I would still like your attention to make an introduction. I 
consider it a great pleasure to have the privilege of 
introducing to you a distinguished member of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States who will serve as your Master 
of Ceremonies for the remainder of this evening.
    John Moon was elected Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief at the 
97th National VFW Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on August 
23, 1996. John joined the VFW in April, 1970, while serving the 
United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. He has served as the 
District Commander and County Council Advocate and at the 
Department level he has served as Chairman of the several 
Committees, including Legislation, Membership, Vietnam 
Veterans, National Home, and the Ohio Caravan. He visits the 
Home every year.
    He was an All-American Department Commander for the year 
1987-1988, and was elected to the National Council of 
Administration in 1988. I am pleased to introduce to you our 
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Moon from the great state 
of Ohio. (Applause)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Thank you, Ben. To 
each and every one of you, ladies and gentlemen, comrades and 
sisters, I am most honored to be here this evening to serve as 
your Master of Ceremonies. We have a tremendous program this 
evening and we are pleased to have all of you here, somewhere 
in the neighborhood of 2,700.
    It is the National Department and the local leaders at the 
VFW and Auxiliary levels. We are equally pleased to have our 
distinguished guests whom I am going to introduce to you after 
dinner. In the meantime, please enjoy the evening and enjoy 
your dinner. And for your dining pleasure, we know you will 
enjoy the music of the Joe Muscolino Band. Thank you very much.
    (Whereupon, the dinner was served at this time.)
    (Whereupon, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon introduced 
the head table guests.)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: I am privileged this 
evening to introduce to you, a very special audience, the 
Commander-in-Chief for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States. Since its founding some 98 years ago, the VFW 
has drawn together dedicated men and women who share the same 
concern and love for America and its veterans.
    For the long and proud history of accomplishments, the VFW 
has always been in the forefront of every constructive program 
that is set forth to expand and protect the rights and 
privileges of the American veterans, whether it is an effort 
for a strong national defense or concerning veterans.
    The VFW must have inspired leaders who will guide us. We 
have been most fortunate this year to have a man of this 
stature to guide us. He has had 16 years of active involvement 
in the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Jim Nier has been a man on the 
move helping veterans in his community.
    In keeping with his motto ``Above and Beyond'', he has 
worked hard to address the concerns and the mandates of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars. Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and 
sisters, I am pleased to introduce to you a man dedicated to 
working for American veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
our Commander-in-Chief from the great state of Texas, James 
``Jim'' Nier.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thanks, everyone. Thank you, John, 
for that very warm introduction. My remarks tonight will be 
very brief. My comrades and sisters, I must tell you that you 
see standing before you a very proud person who for the last 12 
months has had the wonderful privilege of leading the greatest 
veterans service organization in the world, the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.
    Representing you around the country and around the world 
has been a most rewarding experience, one that I shall never 
forget. I have seen the results of the services for over two 
million VFW members and the 750,000 members of the Ladies 
Auxiliary.
    In every town I visited, I saw a positive fruit that the 
VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary are a dynamic force serving our 
nation's communities and our nation's veterans. This year has 
been a memorable year as the VFW worked to ensure that the 
veterans programs received proper funding.
    It has been a year of challenge and as we have worked to 
maintain the integrity of the VFW health-care system. In 
responding to our ``Above and Beyond'' theme, we have supported 
our armed forces and the need to maintain a strong national 
defense. Tomorrow night at our VFW Patriotic Rally, we will 
reinforce that support when we recognize members of our armed 
forces.
    I have visited our military men and women around the globe. 
I have been with them in Europe, in Kuwait and in South and 
North Korea. How proud I was to bring your message of support 
to our troops. That message was made all the more clear and 
meaningful with those wonderful VFW telephone calling cards. 
They are a visible sign of our support. The VFW and the Ladies 
Auxiliary are to be commended for this tremendous program.
    In visiting Southeast Asia and Korea, the fate of our MIAs 
were always with me. The VFW will continue to lead the way in 
what we believe to be the best means of achieving our goal of 
the fullest possible accounting of our MIAs. We take our role 
seriously and we will continue as we monitor the progress and 
results in working with Vietnam and the other governments of 
the region to be of service to our members, to those missing 
and their families, and to do what this great organization 
stands for.
    Your efforts and your support of every program that we have 
undertaken in the past year, whether it be in community and 
youth activities, Voice of Democracy, Post Development, Buddy 
Poppy or whatever, have proven that working together we can be 
successful. Yes, it has been a very special year for me, 
because I was proud to be with and serve with the finest men 
and women of our nation, its veterans.
    Now, as my personal mission as your National Commander-in-
Chief draws to an end, I wish to say once more on behalf of 
Kimie and me thank you for your hard work and support which 
truly went above and beyond. Thank you very, very much.

PRESENTATION OF THE DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL 
               AND CITATION TO GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The head table guest, 
distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: We are most honored 
this evening to present the Veterans of Foreign Wars' 
prestigious Dwight David Eisenhower Award to a man who is a 
great soldier and a great American, the thirteenth Chairman of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John M. Shalikashvili.
    In preparation for a distinguished career as the principal 
military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense of 
the National Security Council, General Shalikashvili's long and 
dedicated service to the cause of national security and world 
peace was formulated at an early age when at eight, he and his 
family fled Poland at the westward advance of the Red Army. At 
16, he came to the United States like many refugees, seeking a 
new life.
    Upon graduation from officer's candidate school in 1959, he 
was commissioned a second lieutenant in the artillery and for 
the next 28 years he served in a variety of command and staff 
positions in Alaska, the United States, Germany, Vietnam and 
Korea.
    In 1987, he assumed command of the 9th Infantry Division at 
Fort Lewis, Washington. In August, 1989, he was selected for 
promotion to lieutenant general and returned to Germany and 
assumed duties as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, United States 
Army, Europe and 7th Army.
    In April of 1991, General Shalikashvili assumed command of 
Operation Provide Comfort, the relief operation that returned 
hundreds of thousands of Kurdish refugees to Northern Iraq, and 
in August of 1991, he returned to Washington, D.C., and became 
the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    Upon his promotion to General, he further distinguished 
himself serving as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and 
Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command from June, 
1992, until October, 1993. General Shalikashvili is retiring 
next month after a distinguished military career that has 
contributed jointly to the cause of America's security, unity 
and world peace.
    Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and sisters, please join me 
in welcoming the recipient of the 1997 VFW Dwight David 
Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award, the Chairman, Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, General John Shalikashvili.
    The citation you see behind me reads as follows:
    ``Dwight David Eisenhower Distinguished Service Medal and 
Citation presented to General John M. Shalikashvili, Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    ``In grateful recognition of your distinguished service as 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and for your continuing 
contributions to the cause of national security, unity and 
world peace; and for providing outstanding leadership to our 
armed forces, thus earning the admiration and appreciation of 
the citizens of this nation.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 18th day of August, 1997. Approved by the National 
Council of Administration.''
    This has been signed by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, 
and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General.
    General Shalikashvili, it is with a great deal of honor and 
pride that I present this prestigious award to you on behalf of 
the 2.1 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States. (Applause)

       RESPONSE AND PRINCIPAL ADDRESS GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI

    GENERAL SHALIKASHVILI: To all of you and to your Chair, 
thank you so much for this great honor and for this wonderful, 
wonderful evening.
    Ladies and gentlemen, it is certainly a great honor to 
receive the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Dwight David Eisenhower 
Award for Distinguished Service. Of course, I will have to tell 
you that it is great to be here with you in Salt Lake City, for 
among other things that simply means that I am not back there 
in the Pentagon.
    You know, after the war, General Eisenhower was called back 
to Europe to serve in the Pentagon. But for Ike, coming to 
grips with the size of that monstrous building, was a 
particular challenge. In later years, Ike was fond of telling 
his friends the story of the hapless Army Air Corps Captain, 
who came to the Pentagon right after it opened in 1943. I am 
sure some of you in the audience remember that day very well. 
The poor captain got so lost that by the time he reached his 
destination, at the other end of the Pentagon, he found out 
that he had been promoted to Bird Colonel.
    But even today, there are lots of jokes about the Pentagon 
and how many people work there. A former Secretary of Defense, 
Secretary Weinberger, when asked how many people worked in the 
Pentagon, used to reply ``about a third.''
    Perhaps closer to the mark, a former Secretary of the Navy 
used to say that the Pentagon reminded him of a log floating 
rapidly downstream covered with 20,000 ants, each of them 
convinced that he was steering this log.
    With that you will understand why I think it is so great to 
be away from the Pentagon and out here in God's country and 
among friends and so many real heroes. My friends, let me say 
that as a man who came to our great country as a teenage 
refugee from worn-torn Europe, it is, in fact, a special thrill 
to receive a medal named for General Eisenhower, the leader of 
our ``Crusade in Europe'', a great soldier and a great 
President.
    It is also a great honor, because the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars' two million members, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 
our armed forces, epitomize patriotism, sacrifice and all 
that's good about America. So this prestigious award from this 
great organization is a very special honor indeed.
    But if Ike were here today he would remind us that a 
General must accept such an award only in the name of the men 
and women under his charge. So, with a great deal of humility, 
I accept this great honor on behalf of our soldiers, our 
sailors, our airmen, our Marines, our Coast Guardsmen, Active 
Guard Reserve, who every day lay it on the line for the 
greatest country in the world.
    So, if you will permit me for the next few minutes, I would 
like to tell you about your armed forces and those outstanding 
men and women who are its life's blood. Let me start, first, 
with a bit of recent history. As I know you are well aware that 
since the end of the Cold War we have been able to safely cut 
our forces by 700,000 people, about a third of the active 
force.
    I am not sure that you realize what 700,000 really is. If 
you were to take the forces, all of the armed forces of Great 
Britain, add to it the armed forces of Germany, the Netherlands 
and the Danish armed forces, you still wouldn't get the 
700,000. Or to put it another way, the force we cut is about 
200,000 people more than all of the auto workers in the United 
States.
    In terms of combat structure, we have cut active Army 
Divisions from 18 to 10. The Air Force tactical fighter wings 
from 36 to 20. The number of ships in the Navy are down nearly 
40 percent. By the way, the defense budget has gone down 40 
percent as well.
    And as an aside, today we spend less of a percentage of our 
nation's wealth on defense than at any time since before World 
War II. Now, in the past these deep cuts, which followed every 
war that we have ever had, always meant a dramatic down turn in 
the quality and the readiness of our forces.
    Again, many of you here in the room remember those days. 
But I am happy to report to you that this time with sound 
leadership in the field, the support of the Congress, and the 
hard work of two different administrations, we have 
successfully managed a huge post-war draw down, creating a 
smaller but pound-for-pound an even more capable force.
    It is a good thing that we did. Today, as we are all 
painfully aware, we also live in a world traumatized by ethnic 
conflicts, failed states and outbreaks of that rare but deadly 
virus: naked aggression. As a result, today's force has been 
one of the busiest in our peacetime history.
    In just four years that I have been chairman, our forces 
have conducted nearly 50 different operations, some you have 
hardly ever heard of and others are as well known to you as 
anyone else, such as Bosnia. By the way, I just returned a few 
days ago from a trip to Bosnia. Thanks to our 8,000 troops 
there and the forces of our allies and partners, which, by the 
way, include a very effective Russian brigade, thanks to all of 
them we have stopped the killing which has made that country a 
living hell.
    More importantly, today because of our troops, there is 
relative very little risk that war will once again be involved 
in Bosnia. I am sure all of you here tonight, especially you 
veterans of World War II, remember that for America, when it 
comes to wars in Europe, an ounce of prevention is better than 
a pound of cure. By that standard, our force in Bosnia has been 
a great investment.
    Let me pause here for a moment to say thank you to the VFW 
for supporting our troops in Bosnia and the Middle East, 
especially with those phone cards that we just referred to that 
you provided as part of your Operation Uplink. I cannot 
overstate how much they mean to the troops and to their 
families. From the bottom of my heart and from every service 
member who has been able to take advantage of those phone 
cards, thank you very, very much.
    But today Bosnia is just one of our key operations. Today 
we are also in strength in the Persian Gulf where we keep a 
powerful naval battle group. In the skies of Iraq, where our 
valiant airmen enforce the U.N. sanctions against Saddam 
Hussein's regime and keep him from threatening its neighborhood 
and the world's oil supply.
    And just recently our Marines, God bless them, have just 
finished another major non-combatant evacuation in troubled 
West Africa. All that is in addition to about 100,000 personnel 
in the European theater and another 100,000 sustained in the 
Pacific.
    Our friends in trenches want our forces to stay for two key 
reasons. First and most obvious, is our power. Thanks in large 
measure to your sacrifices in years gone by, we are a global 
power today with global interests to protect.
    While we stay overseas to protect our interests, wherever 
we are, we are also a positive force for peace and stability. 
Our friends know that, our former adversaries know that, and 
the outlaw nations and the terrorists who wish us ill, they 
know it, too.
    But the second reason that our friends and allies value our 
presence overseas is our men and women in uniform. You know, 
when foreign generals come to the Pentagon to visit me, they 
speak with great admiration about our equipment, but they are 
in awe of our people, especially our young NCOs. If you could 
come with me on my travels and see the professionalism of these 
young men and women, you would be very extraordinary proud of 
them. One look into their eyes makes you proud to be an 
American.
    I have seen that look just a few nights ago in the eyes of 
the remarkable sailors on the flight deck of an aircraft 
carrier, named aptly enough, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Not 
long ago, I saw it in the eyes of the young Marines who had 
just rescued a downed Air Force fighter pilot. I have seen it 
just this past week in the compassion of Army National 
Guardsmen from the State of Georgia, who were repairing an 
orphanage in the faraway Republic of Georgia, in the former 
Soviet Union.
    It is no mystery what inspires them, what sets them apart, 
for you see along with their professionalism and patriotism it 
is your accomplishments, your example and your legacy that 
inspires our men and women today. I thank you for that.
    As President Clinton would so aptly say, ``Today's men and 
women in uniform are the sons and daughters of your 
sacrifice.'' They are what make ours the best danged armed 
forces in the world, bar none. But that said, it doesn't mean 
that everything in the armed forces today is perfect. It never 
was and today is no exception.
    We all have seen on TV screens about the various problems, 
some acts of hazing, concern over gender integration and sexual 
misconduct. The media, by the way, loves those stories and, in 
fact, for some weeks here it was hard to tell the difference 
between news stories about our armed forces and the network 
soap operas.
    Well, certainly these things are problems, serious 
problems, but they are not epidemics. Even though these social 
problems occur less in the military than in the civilian world, 
they are especially dangerous to our military. You see, they 
destroy the dignity of the individual, they damage morale, 
inhibit teamwork and does not get combat readiness. They are 
flat wrong and we will not tolerate it.
    I can assure you that we will continue to address each 
wrong speedily, openly and fairly, protecting the rights of the 
person wronged and also protecting the rights of the accused. 
But while we do that, we will get on with the job at hand, 
protecting our interests wherever they might be challenged. 
That is why the readiness of our force is of concern to me.
    While our readiness in the near term is fine, we are 
beginning to see some very early cracks, which if not fixed, 
could spell trouble. With a booming economy, enlistments are 
beginning to show signs of falling off and recruiting is 
becoming more difficult.
    Our men and women in uniform, and their families, are 
finding it more challenging to keep up with the demanding tempo 
of rigorous training, frequent deployments and numerous ongoing 
operations.
    I am confident that we have some good plans to right this 
situation, but readiness is one area where we will have to be 
especially watchful. This past spring we completed the 
Quadrennial Defense Review, an exhaustive study of the future 
and the kind of force that we will need in the challenging 
years ahead.
    All indications are that for the next ten to fifteen years 
our forces in the field are likely to face the same wide range 
of threats that they face today from terrorists to rogue states 
equipped with weapons of mass destruction, to dangerous 
regional powers, such as Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Sometime 
beyond that power we may even face an emerging global power.
    To deal with such a world, our armed forces must help shape 
the international environment by promoting regional stability, 
preventing conflicts and deterring aggression in key regions of 
the world. But if we fail to prevent conflicts, we must then be 
ready alone or with our partners to respond quickly and to 
fight and win in our nation's wars.
    Finally, we will have to prepare our forces to deal with 
the security challenges of an unpredictable future. That means 
that tomorrow's force must have the new weapons and equipment 
that they will need to give them the quality edge of any future 
battlefield against any future adversary.
    All of this is a very tall order, and we know that we will 
need your help to get the job done. First and foremost, we need 
the VFW to keep doing what it does so well, fighting for our 
veterans.
    Not long after the founding of the VFW, Teddy Roosevelt 
said: ``A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his 
country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.'' 
You and I have a deep responsibility to see that no veteran is 
ever to settle for anything less.
    You see, that is important to me for our young service 
members watch very carefully what is happening to retiree and 
veterans' benefits. If you want to keep good people in the 
military today, it is imperative to give a ``square deal'' to 
those who have served so well in the past.
    Another way the VFW can help the armed forces is in 
education. Veterans are wise but an aging breed. The median age 
of the World War II vet, I am told, is nearly 75. The median 
age of the Korean War vet is over 65, and those ``young 
whippersnappers'' of the Vietnam War era, their median age is 
over 50.
    In effect, our population is losing military experience and 
the wisdom that comes along with it. If we are to have the best 
decision-makers possible, organizations like the VFW, we need 
to redouble their considerable efforts at educating the 
American people on national security issues.
    That brings me to the third area where we need your help. 
We need you to continue to speak out about the importance of 
military preparedness and the importance of a strong armed 
forces.
    The VFW has been a very sane and influential voice on 
national security issues to include most recently NATO 
enlargement and our policy on land mines. But with our 
population of vets getting smaller, your voice must get louder. 
Some of you out there have paid in blood for our lack of 
preparedness in the past. We cannot let that happen ever again.
    For tomorrow, the key to keeping our armed force well 
prepared is people, quality men and women, the resources to 
train them and the experienced, well-educated leaders to make 
them all that they can be. I don't have to tell this audience, 
but in the urge to save money, we cannot balance the budget on 
the backs of our young men and women in uniform or on the backs 
of their families.
    To remain strong, to remain the best military in the world, 
we need to continue to help our veterans, and the cooperation 
of Congress and the support of the American people. I know that 
we can count on the VFW to come through in these days. 
(Applause)
    Ladies and gentlemen, our nation approaches the 21st 
century from a position of great strength. We will never forget 
that it was you, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who helped make 
us the best, the strongest nation on earth. Because of you, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, we stand on the threshold of the 
second American century. Thank you for a magnificent job.
    As for me, my time in uniform grows short. But in the 
months I have left and in the years to come, I will look back 
on this day with pride. I will remember it as a day when 
standing here among old comrades, that I could conclude my time 
as a soldier and get ready to start my time as a veteran.
    So, my fellow veterans, I salute you. I thank you for this 
great honor and may God bless you, and may God bless the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars and may God bless this great country 
of ours. Thank you very much.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you very much, General. We 
are fortunate, indeed, that you have taken time from your busy 
schedule to be with us this evening. We are truly honored.
    As I told the Secretary of the Army this morning at our 
Joint Session, we will continue to work in the areas that you 
have just addressed and I also wish to tell you, General, that 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States will continue 
to strive to be the heroes and mentors of all the young men and 
women serving in your armed services. Thank you very, very 
much, General. (Applause)
    I will now turn the program over to our MC for the evening, 
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Moon.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Thank you very much, 
Commander-in-Chief Nier. I would, too, like to thank the 
audience for coming, and to all of our honored guests that have 
been here.
    I will now call on our Chaplain, William J. Bleiler, for 
the Benediction.
    (Whereupon, National Chaplain Bleiler gave the 
Benediction.)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Thank you very much 
and have a wonderful evening.
    (Whereupon, the Distinguished Guests Banquet was concluded 
at 9:15 o'clock p.m.)
                                ------                                


                        SECOND BUSINESS SESSION

                    TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 19, 1997

    (The Second Business Session of the 98th National 
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, held in the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake 
City, Utah, was called to order at 9:00 o'clock a.m., with 
Commander-in-Chief James E. Nier presiding.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We will call this Business Session 
to order. It is 9:00 a.m. I will ask the National Chaplain to 
please come forward with the Opening Prayer.
    (Whereupon, the Opening Prayer was given by National 
Chaplain William Bleiler at this time.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Sergeant-at-Arms, prepare the room 
for the Salute to the Colors.
    (Whereupon, the National Sergeant-at-Arms led the 
Convention in the Salute to the Colors and the Pledge of 
Allegiance.)
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the 
Opening Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. At this time I 
will have the Chairman of the Credentials Committee, Richard 
Trombla, to come forward and give his report, please.

                    REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Richard Trombla, Chairman of the 
Credentials Committee from the Department of Kansas, Post 1174. 
This is a temporary report as of 8:00 o'clock this morning.
    The total delegates, 11,999; Department Commanders, 53; 
Past Commanders-in-Chief, 27; total National Officers, 38. That 
makes a grand total of 12,117 as of this time, Commander-in-
Chief.

  INTRODUCTION OF MAJOR GENERAL JOHN P. HERRLING, SECRETARY, AMERICAN 
                      BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, will you, please, come 
in and find your seats. I am about to introduce our first 
distinguished guest speaker. Please find your seat so we can 
have order.
    Sergeant-at-Arms, will you see that is done, please.
    NATIONAL SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Yes, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
which proudly includes one million World War II veterans among 
its membership, unanimously approved a Resolution at our 
National Convention in 1994 strongly supporting the 
establishment of a World War II Memorial in the District of 
Columbia to honor members of the armed forces who served in 
World War II and to commemorate the participation of the United 
States in that war.
    Last month, I appeared before the Commission of Fine Arts, 
one of the approving authorities, to urge the Commission to 
begin construction of this long overdue World War II Memorial.
    We, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, are fully committed to 
fulfilling our mandated pledge to support this Memorial and 
what it stands for as expressed by the President during the 
site dedication ceremony on November 11, 1995.
    The American Battle Monuments Commission, which was 
authorized by Congress in 1993 to establish a World War II 
Memorial in Washington, D.C., has maintained strict compliance 
with the applicable laws to see that this Memorial is 
appropriately located, designed and constructed.
    This morning, I am pleased to introduce a fellow VFW member 
and good friend of the VFW, the Secretary of the American 
Battle Monuments Commission, Retired Army Major General John P. 
Herrling.
    Comrades and sisters, please give a warm VFW welcome to the 
Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, Major 
General John Herrling. (Applause)

                 REMARKS BY MAJOR GENERAL JOHN HERRLING

    MAJOR GENERAL HERRLING: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. 
It is a pleasure to be here with you this morning. My purpose 
today is to brief you on the status of a memorial for the 
servicemen and women who served in World War II, and those on 
the home front that sacrificed to defend freedom and democracy 
during World War II.
    I am the Secretary of the American Battle Monuments 
Commission, a federal agency given the responsibility by the 
Congress to build the World War II Memorial. My Commission is 
also responsible for the care and maintenance of 24 military 
cemeteries overseas, 20 in Europe, one in North Africa, one in 
Manila, one in Mexico City, and one in Panama.
    The cemetery in Panama is run by Mr. Dannie Cooper, a 
member of your National Council of Administration. He does a 
great job. In these 24 military cemeteries rests 130,000 U.S. 
servicemen and women who died in the defense of our country. 
Approximately, 91,000 lay in rest in 14 World War II 
cemeteries.
    The American Battle Monuments Commission is also 
responsible for the care and maintenance of 27 federal 
monuments, most of which are overseas. Together these 
memorials, cemeteries and monuments are among the most 
beautiful and well-maintained memorials in the world.
    We had approximately nine million visitors to those 
memorials, cemeteries and monuments last year. Most are non-
Americans. So, what I would ask you, when you are traveling 
abroad, check to see if there is an American military cemetery 
near where you are traveling.
    A visit to one of our cemeteries is not only inspirational, 
it is a moving, emotional experience that you will never 
forget. The beauty of the architecture and landscaping and the 
endless rows of crosses and Stars of David will both fill you 
with pride and sorry.
    The realization once again will be brought home that 
freedom isn't free. It is paid for with young lives and 
national treasures. If you have the opportunity, please visit 
one of your overseas military cemeteries.
    Now, I would like to spend the next few minutes updating 
you on the World War II Memorial and the VFW's active 
involvement in this important national project. I want to 
personally thank the Commander-in-Chief Jim Nier for coming to 
Washington last month and testifying before the Commission of 
Fine Arts, one of the approving bodies for this memorial.
    Jim Nier's presentation at that hearing was hard-hitting 
and convincing. It made it very clear to the chairman and the 
members of that Commission the importance of World War II to 
Americans across this country. In his remarks, your Commander-
in-Chief said, ``We, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, are fully 
committed to fulfilling our mandated pledge to support this 
memorial and what it stands for as expressed by the President. 
The time has come to move forward with building this national 
memorial.''
    Later he went on to say, ``Mr. Chairman, speaking on behalf 
of the largest organization of overseas veterans, I 
respectfully urge the Commission to approve the design concept 
that is before you so that the orderly process of design 
development can proceed.''
    The Commission of Fine Arts was moved by his remarks, and 
at the end of the day they reaffirmed the Rainbow Pool site for 
the memorial. They also requested changes be made in the design 
concept. When it counted, your Commander-in-Chief was there 
with a strong and clear message. Jim, thanks very much for that 
great support.
    One week later, Mr. Ken Steadman, the Executive Director of 
the Washington Office, appeared before the National Capital 
Planning Commission, the other Washington agency that must 
approve both the site for the memorial and its design. As Jim 
Nier had done a week earlier, Ken Steadman let the Commission 
know that the national leadership of the VFW and its membership 
across the country strongly supported the World War II Memorial 
site and the design.
    Again, the message was strong and clear, and again at the 
end of the day the National Capital Planning Commission 
reaffirmed the Rainbow Pool site along with asking the American 
Battle Monuments Commission to make modifications to the 
design. Ken, the American Battle Monuments Commission wants to 
thank you for appearing on behalf of the VFW at that very 
important hearing.
    Throughout this entire process, your National Adjutant 
General, Larry Rivers, has been working with me and my staff to 
orchestrate the VFW's support for the World War II Memorial. 
This is the tough behind the scenes work that pulls it all 
together. Larry, thanks for the great job you have done.
    I can't tell you how important Jim Nier and Ken Steadman's 
testimonies were to these two committees, for there are those 
in Washington, D.C. who don't agree that the World War II 
Memorial should sit on one of Washington's most prominent 
sites.
    There are those who strongly disagree with the design 
concept for the memorial. These people have a right to their 
views, but it is heartening to see that the real support for 
the Memorial is coming from Americans across the country, and 
the VFW is leading the way. (Applause)
    So where are we today? The answer is we have the best site 
in Washington on which to build the World War II Memorial. It 
sits on the east-west axis of the National Mall between the 
Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. We are back to 
the drawing board on the design concept, but we are not back to 
square one.
    We will have to make some major modifications. This is not 
unusual for memorials or monuments in Washington, D.C. They all 
go through the same degree of scrutiny and modification. Henry 
Bacon's original design concept for the Lincoln Memorial was 
rejected. He went back to the drawing board and what emerged 
was a better design, the Lincoln Memorial that we know today.
    Now, the American Battle Monuments Commission will go back 
to the drawing board and sometime this fall we will bring a 
revised design concept to both the Commission of Fine Arts and 
the National Capital Planning Commission. It will be a better 
design than what we have today. We will get it approved. In the 
meantime, we will continue the fund-raising efforts to raise 
the money necessary to build the Memorial.
    Let me summarize by saying that the American Battle 
Monuments Commission is totally committed to the World War II 
Memorial and working hard to get it done before too much more 
time goes by. We will continue to need with the VFW's support.
    You can help by writing your Senators and Congressional 
Representatives, reminding them that this country owes a great 
debt to the World War II generation, and you want their support 
for the World War II Memorial. At the states and local levels, 
you can encourage your governor and the members of the 
legislation to support the World War II Memorial by adopting 
special legislation in support of the Memorial.
    Finally, I would ask each of you to communicate to your 
communities the importance of this Memorial and its legacy and 
lessons for future generations of America. The World War II 
Memorial is not just for Washington, D.C. It is a memorial for 
the entire country, and when it is all said and done this 
battle will not be won in Washington, D.C., it will be won by 
the voices of people in the cities and the community, the 
communities across the country.
    But we need your help. We need you to join with a strong 
voice. You will be joining Senator Bob Dole and millions of 
other fellow veterans in very street across America, and you 
will be joining former Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan and 
Bush, who in a letter asked Americans to support a memorial 
which they said ``will inspire future generations to carry on 
the legacy of those Americans who stepped forward when their 
country needed them.''
    With your help and support, we will build a World War II 
Memorial and it will be a lasting tribute to an extraordinary 
generation of Americans. Thank you very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you very much, General. You 
can be assured that you will have the support of this great 
organization as you establish this long overdue Memorial.

  PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL AWARD TO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER BY THE VFW 
                       POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Joining us at the podium this 
morning is a comrade who has been here many times before. Jack 
Carney was the 1992-1993 VFW Commander-in-Chief. His ``Stand 
Up--Speak Out'' year marked a major milestone in the history of 
our organization.
    Today, he serves as the Chairman of the VFW Political 
Action Committee. Please join me in giving Past Commander-in-
Chief Jack Carney of the great Department of Florida a very 
warm VFW welcome.
    Chief. (Applause)
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: Commander-in-Chief, on 
behalf of the Board of Directors of the PAC, I am pleased this 
morning to present to you a little gift in appreciation for 
your support, certainly your friendship, and how important you 
have been to us in making our decisions.
    Realizing in your travels that you have received two huge 
eagles, which will be bookends, we have selected to give you a 
coin, an American eagle gold coin, gold bouillon of the 
American Eagle. I want to present this to you, Chief, and thank 
you very much for serving this organization through the PAC.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thanks, Chief. I want to thank 
Jack. Not only was he an outstanding Past Commander-in-Chief, 
or Commander-in-Chief, he is doing a tremendous job on the PAC 
Committee as well.

  PRESENTATION OF ``CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP'' CITATION TO THE 
                         DEPARTMENT OF ARIZONA

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: At this time I would like to 
present a very special citation to the Department of Arizona. 
For 30 years, the members of the Department of Arizona have 
worked together as a team to increase VFW membership throughout 
the state. Each member of the Department of Arizona can take 
pride in their many years of dedication and hard work that went 
in to reaching this milestone.
    Now in recognition of those efforts, I would like to call 
on Vincent J. Mitchell, the Past Department Commander of 
Arizona, to accept this ``Consecutive Years of Membership 
Growth'' citation with my thanks and appreciation.
    Congratulations to the Department of Arizona. I want to 
read the citation. This is for 30 consecutive years of 
continued growth. ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, Certificate of Commendation presented to the Department 
of Arizona in recognition of 30 consecutive years of membership 
growth evidencing the attainment of three decades of continuous 
membership gain by the Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    ``In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 19th day of August, 1997.'' This has been signed 
by Commander-in-Chief James E. Nier and Adjutant General Larry 
Rivers. That is 30 years. Let's give them a hand, folks. 
(Applause)
    COMRADE VINCENT MITCHELL (Department of Arizona): I would 
just like to say that these past Department Commanders in the 
State of Arizona deserve a hand also, because if it wasn't for 
them in the last 30 years we would not be receiving this award. 
Thank you, Arizona.

 PRESENTATION OF VFW AMERICANISM AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION TO MR. 
                           JAMES K. KALLSTROM

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Ladies and gentlemen, beginning in 
1959 the Veterans of Foreign Wars has presented the prestigious 
Americanism Award to an American who has made an outstanding 
contribution to our society and the principles of Americanism.
    This year's recipient is James K. Kallstrom, Assistant 
Director of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation and the FBI's chief investigator into the crash 
of TWA Flight 800.
    Despite speculation and theories as to the July 17, 1996, 
crash, Mr. Kallstrom has balanced his investigatory 
responsibilities and the need for public information with keen 
insight and judgment. With two agencies involved in the 
investigation, the FBI from a possible criminal or sabotage 
motive and the National Transportation Safety Board for 
Accident Investigations, Mr. Kallstrom has clearly defined for 
the American public the progress of the investigation and the 
responsibilities of the agencies involved, thereby exhibiting 
and practicing his, and that of the FBI, clear sense of civic 
responsibility.
    Mr. Kallstrom's extensive investigative experience, coupled 
with a keen sense of responsibility and a commitment in the 
public sector to assisting people in times of crisis, are in 
keeping with the highest standards and principles of 
Americanism.
    Please welcome our 1997 VFW Americanism Award recipient, 
James K. Kallstrom. (Applause)
    I would like to read the citation, please.
    ``Americanism Award, Gold Medal and Citation presented to 
James K. Kallstrom in special recognition of his distinguished 
service to the nation as FBI Assistant Director in charge of 
the New York Division and Chief Investigator into the crash of 
TWA Flight 800. He balances his investigative responsibilities 
and the need for public information with keen insight and 
judgment, clearly defining the progress of the investigation 
and the responsibilities of the agencies involved for the 
American public, thereby exhibiting a clear sense of civic 
responsibility.
    ``In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 19th day of August, 1997. Approved by the Council 
of Administration.'' This has been signed by James E. Nier, 
Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General.
    Along with this is a $1,500 honorarium. Mr. Kallstrom has 
requested the honorarium that accompanies this award be donated 
to the U.S. Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation.

                      RESPONSE--JAMES K. KALLSTROM

    MR. JAMES KALLSTROM: Well, good morning, ladies and 
gentlemen. Thank you for this very, very high honor. It is a 
tremendous tribute to me and my family. I would like to 
introduce Susan, who is standing here, Crystal and Erica. As we 
all know, we can do nothing without our team and without our 
family, who certainly is the principal part of that team.
    Thanks to Jim Nier, the National Council and Ken Steadman, 
and to his very, very competent staff. It has been my pleasure 
dealing with them. Thanks mostly to all of you out there and 
the thousands and thousands of great Americans from the VFW 
that couldn't be here. You are a wonderful, wonderful 
organization.
    It has been a tremendous pleasure for my family and myself 
to be here with you these last few days, to be with the 
backbone of America, to be with what America is all about. I 
want you to know how much I appreciate that. You know, we live 
in a very different world than we lived in just ten years ago.
    That is just one decade ago, since the fall of the Soviet 
Union. We see chaos around the world. General Shalikashvili 
talked about it last night. We see acts of terrorism. In the 
United States, we have seen the World Trade Center, the 
conspiracy by the Blind Sheik and his co-conspirators to blow 
up the FBI building and the tunnels in the United Nations.
    We have seen the fellow named Ramzi Ahmed Yousef and his 
co-conspirators fly into the Philippines to down eleven 
American flag carrying jumper jets as they transmitted the 
Pacific rim back to the United States. So in a lot of ways the 
new order, supposedly the new world order, is actually a much 
more challenging time for us in the defense of this country, 
for us in law enforcement.
    It will be more important in the future, not less 
important. It will be more important for the leadership, for 
the teamwork, for professionalism, for integrity and, yes, for 
character. Character does count. All of you represent that so 
well and I thank you for that.
    It was an honor for me leading the investigation of TWA 
Flight 800, I was one man thrust into the spotlight to try to 
explain that tremendous tragedy. Whatever the result eventually 
is, believe me, it was a tragedy to be with the families of 230 
people, people who have lost their children, their wives, their 
husbands, their parents. That is an immense tragedy.
    For us in law enforcement, it galvanizes the reason why we 
have come to work in one. We don't ever want something like 
that to ever, ever happen again. I can tell you briefly about 
the wonderful team, and it was a lot more than the FBI and the 
NTSB.
    The Coast Guard played an incredible professional and 
heroic role. That evening, ten miles off the coast of a little 
town called Moriches, Long Island, young Guardsmen and Coast 
Guardswomen, 18, 19, 20 years old, patrolled in their boats and 
went to the scene diving into 18 to 20 feet high waves on the 
ocean looking for survivors. They were heroes in every sense of 
the word.
    The Navy did an incredible job picking up from the bottom 
of the ocean under very, very difficult situations the 130 feet 
of water, three or four feet of visibility, the once proud 
jumbo jet with 160,000 pieces with miles and miles of cable 
dangling in some eerie tragic scenario.
    They put their lives on the line. How dare Pierre Salinger 
to say the Navy was responsible for this. What a fool. The Navy 
was the heroes of this operation. Every day in my job, 28 years 
in the FBI, proceeded by close to four years in the Marine 
Corps, every day I use what I learned in the military.
    There is nothing more important in my view than national 
service. You know, in a lot of ways with DOD, what the military 
does and what law enforcement does is sort of blending 
together. You know in this age of nuclear proliferation, it is 
an unfortunate age, this age of chemical warfare, biological 
warfare, and we have seen this.
    We saw what was going on in Iraq after Desert Storm. We saw 
so-called religious cults in Japan put gas into the Tokyo 
subway system and have enough base chemical to make enough gas 
to kill almost everybody in the world. This is a different time 
and law enforcement and the military now play almost an entire 
role of defending not only our national security but our public 
safety.
    So in a lot of ways you are friends, you are associates, 
you are comrades in law enforcement. We are in the same band of 
brothers with all of you and all of us that proudly have served 
in the United States military.
    So on behalf of all the people in the FBI, all of the 
wonderful dedicated members of the law enforcement teams, the 
federal agencies, all the wonderful dedicated law enforcement 
team of the state and local agencies, I humbly accept this 
award on their behalf.
    I thank you all very, very much for the brotherhood, the 
sisterhood, the warmth, the patriotism. I think your sign up 
there says it all. It says it all about you: ``We'd do anything 
for this Country.'' You are a wonderful important part of this 
country. You are the backbone of this country. So be proud. Do 
what you do and do it well. God bless all of you and thank you 
very, very much. (Applause)

   INTRODUCTION OF THE HONORABLE HERSHEL GOBER--ACTING SECRETARY OF 
                            VETERANS AFFAIRS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: For your information, Mr. 
Kallstrom is a former Marine, a Vietnam veteran, and we are 
going to see that he will become a Life Member in our great 
organization.
    Ladies and gentlemen, I am most pleased to introduce to you 
a man who truly understands what veterans service means.
    This month President Clinton nominated Hershel W. Gober to 
be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Gober 
has served as VA's Deputy Secretary since February 4, 1993, and 
as Acting Secretary upon the resignation of former Secretary 
Jesse Brown on July 1.
    Mr. Gober is well known in the veterans community and 
brings a wealth of experience from his job as the Chief 
Operating Officer of the federal government's second largest 
department.
    Prior to coming to the VA, Mr. Gober served as Director of 
the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1992, he 
received the National Association of State Directors of 
Veterans Affairs' Annual Melvin T. Dixon Award in recognition 
of his work as the nation's most effective State Director.
    A veteran who retired from the military after a career with 
the Marine Corps and the Army, Secretary-Designate Gober served 
two tours of duty in Vietnam. He received numerous military 
decorations, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
    With a commitment to serving all veterans and with his 
clear message that our veterans will not be forgotten, I am 
pleased to introduce a friend and VFW Life Member of Post 4515, 
Monticello, Arkansas, the Secretary-Designate of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, Hershel W. Gober.
    Let's give him a warm VFW welcome. (Applause)

                  ADDRESS--THE HONORABLE HERSHEL GOBER

    VA SECRETARY-DESIGNATE GOBER: Thank you very much, 
Commander-in-Chief Nier. Adjutant General Rivers, Auxiliary 
President, Distinguished Officers of the VFW, Comrades, Honored 
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
    Commander-in-Chief Nier, if you will permit me, I am from 
Arkansas and we in Arkansas all have an old saying, ``We always 
dance with them what brung us.'' So the Arkansas delegation, 
where are you? Also where is the New Hampshire delegation?
    I thank everybody that supported me and have been so great, 
but these folks here, ``they brung me.'' I will always be loyal 
to them and always appreciate their support as well as that of 
submitting more so many others out there who have been 
supportive over these past few years.
    I want you to know without your support of you as 
individuals and of this great organization that I would not be 
standing here in front of you today. For that, I am profoundly 
grateful and always will be. Thank you.
    You know, I am glad to be away from Washington, because it 
is good to get out here where the real people are and, in fact, 
people that can understand when I talk to them and they know 
what the real issues are affecting this country. But there are 
a lot of people in Washington that, as General Shalikashvili 
said last night, he talked about the Pentagon, but he could 
really talk about Washington.
    There are people there who think they are so indispensible. 
Of course, those of us that remember when Truman removed 
McArthur, we know nobody is indispensible. If anybody ever was, 
we thought it was General McArthur. I will run into these 
people who think they are so important, and my daddy always 
told me, ``Son, take your job very seriously, but do not take 
yourself too seriously.''
    I am really reminded of a story of an event that occurred 
back in Arkansas. I live in a small place called Monticello, 
and I live outside there in a place called Possum Valley. It 
has got one sign and on both sides it says, ``Entering Possum 
Valley,'' and you drive right through it.
    It goes back to the days when they were founding the place, 
there were a lot of possums there, and that is what they ended 
up eating, so they called it Possum Valley. I was driving 
through the country there, and I drove by this farm and on this 
farm was a pig out in the yard, and it had a wooden leg on one 
of his hind quarters. That made me curious.
    So I stopped and I asked the farmer, I said, ``Pardon me, 
sir, but why does your pig have a wooden leg?'' He said, 
``Well, son, that is a very courageous pig.'' He said, ``My 
wife and I were asleep one night when a fire started, but that 
pig rushed upstairs and woke us up. The whole house burned 
down, but we were able to get out.''
    I said, ``Well, that is how the pig got the wooden leg, the 
leg burned off in the fire?'' He said, ``Nope, in fact, the pig 
got out just fine. As a matter of fact, he even went back 
upstairs and got the kids out of the house, too.'' I said, 
``Well, why does your pig have a wooden leg?'' He said, ``Boy, 
with a pig like that, you don't eat it all at one time.'' So I 
guess no one is really indispensible.
    You know, I like to think about the time the VFW, and I am 
the Past Department Adjutant from the State of Arkansas and I 
know the importance of Adjutants. It is like the time when the 
Chaplain, the Adjutant General and the Executive Director of 
the VFW, they were all out fishing.
    They were in this boat on this lake and the Chaplain 
suddenly remembered that he left his fishing gear in the car. 
So not wanting to disturb anyone else, he just stepped out of 
the boat and walked across the water and went to the car and 
got his fishing gear, and went back and got in the boat and 
started fishing.
    Well, the Executive Director suddenly remembered that he 
got hungry and left his lunch in the car, so he stepped out of 
the boat and walked out to the car and got his lunch, and came 
back and sat on the boat. Well, the Adjutant General, not 
wanting to be outdone and realizing he had to take a walk, 
stepped over the boat and went straight to the bottom.
    The Chaplain started laughing, and he turned to the 
Executive Director and he said, ``Do you think we should have 
told him about the rocks?'' The Executive Director said, ``What 
rocks?'' (Laughter)
    I am pleased to visit with you here. I will try to be 
brief. You know, it has been four and one-half years since 
Jesse Brown and I arrived at the VA as a team. We arrived with 
an agenda. Our agenda was to give the Department of Veterans 
Affairs back to the people that it is supposed to serve in this 
country.
    We formed a partnership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
and the other veterans organizations, and in this past four and 
one-half years we have seen unprecedented changes in the way 
that benefits are delivered to the veterans of this country. We 
owe a great deal to Secretary Brown for his leadership and for 
doing the right thing for veterans.
    I want to pledge to you, as Jimmy Durante used to say, 
``You ain't seen nothing yet.'' We are going to move on and 
make sure that veterans are never forgotten in this debate in 
this country about how to spend its money or who we owe 
something to.
    The veterans groups in this country have a seat at the 
table on policy development. We don't make decisions in the 
back room at night. We have meetings and we sit down and we 
talk to the veterans leaders, and we get their input and we 
make these decisions together.
    I will be honest with you, over the past four and one-half 
years, with some of the problems we have had with the budget 
and a lot of the attacks on the department, it has not been 
easy. The VFW has stood right there in the forefront. They have 
assumed a position of leadership.
    Without the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, we 
could not have made the progress that we have made. I am proud 
of what we have done. We have expanded benefits for veterans 
exposed to Agent Orange, radiation, mustard gas and for former 
prisoners of war.
    We have effective programs for women veterans that we have 
neglected for so long. We have stronger outreach efforts, post-
traumatic stress disorders, and veterans suffering from PTSD, 
and homeless vets.
    The Persian Gulf vets are receiving medical care and 
compensation. You know, we made a decision that we are not 
going to let the Persian Gulf illness become another Agent 
Orange and wait 20 to 25 years to take care of the veterans. 
That is why two years ago we pushed legislation that was passed 
by Congress and signed by the President that lets us compensate 
these men and women who served their country for undiagnosed 
illnesses.
    That is the first time in history it has ever happened. We 
are extremely proud of that. Our backlogs, we have worked on 
our backlog but we have not made enough progress.
    In my speech here, the speech writers say I intend to 
reduce all the processing time for most claims, I intend to cut 
it in half in three and one-half years. My speech writers 
evidently have not gotten my message, because I intend to cut 
it by 90 percent in three and one-half years.
    Now, having said that, it is going to be very difficult. 
You know the medical system is off and running and is headed in 
the right direction, but we have not made enough progress on 
it, and I am going to be working with the people in the VA and 
working with the veterans service organizations to find ways 
that we can reduce the processing time.
    On health care, I know there is a lot of concern within 
this audience and within veterans. Veterans, you know, are so 
afraid they are going to lose another entitlement. You and I 
both know, we have watched it happen over the years and we have 
watched the erosion, any time that you try to do something 
different it scares us veterans.
    That is okay. That is the way it should be. We should be 
watching. But I want to assure you that in the mergers and the 
integrations, the thing that we are doing is not going to 
decrease the care you get, it is going to increase the care you 
get. You have got my pledge on that.
    We are not going to decrease the care that any veteran is 
receiving now; we are going to increase the care. I am not in 
the business of closing, I am in the business of opening up 
outpatient clinics, more access points for veterans so they 
don't have to drive 200 miles, so they don't have to sit in a 
waiting room and wait for hours and hours and hours, so they 
don't have to wait for 45 minutes or two hours to get a 
prescription. I want to tackle those things.
    Those are the things that you care about. It is very 
simple. My job is easy. I have three areas that I am concerned 
with. One of them is quality health care. The other one is 
delivery of benefits and the other is burial. That is my 
mission.
    I have no other mission, except to make sure that veterans 
receive the care that they are entitled to. I pledge to you 
that we will continue to work on this and I don't want you to 
be upset. Don't listen to the rumors. Don't listen to the 
gossip.
    If you want an answer, you come to the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars. They can give you the answer, because they know what we 
are doing with our system. They are well aware of what we have 
got to do to make it to survive. Make no mistake about it.
    If we had not started making some of the changes we are 
making right now about three and one-half years ago, we would 
be in the business of closing hospitals, we would be in the 
business of downsizing, because we wouldn't have had the money 
to operate.
    Thankfully, we began downsizing. We have cut our staff in 
Washington. We have cut our administrative people. The things 
that we are consolidating and merging, there is no reason to 
have two laundries in one town when you have got one that could 
do it.
    It is not necessary to have two supply operations when one 
can accommodate both. I want to take the money we would save 
from doing those things and put back in the hospitals to take 
care of veterans. Let people take care of veterans. I want to 
open up outpatient clinics.
    I want to do the things that the VA should be doing. If you 
will work with us on this, like I say, the best way to kill a 
rumor about something is going to close or this is going to 
happen, or that is going to happen, is to contact us. You can 
also contact your VFW. The know all about what is going on, 
because we work very closely.
    Also, I want to pledge to you that we are going to begin 
writing our letters in common sense language. You know, about 
three years ago I was visiting one of our facilities. I was 
walking through it and I stopped by the office where the 
service officers are located.
    There were two couples in there. I stepped in and I said, 
``Can we help you?'' This one guy said, ``All I want is 
somebody to tell me what this letter says.'' The other guy 
said, ``I would like you to tell me what mine says.'' There 
were two very confused veterans in that room.
    So I said that I could read a little bit. I was in the 
Marine Corps. Then when I learned how to read and write, I was 
in the Army. Now, I wouldn't advise any of you other folks that 
are not former Marines to say those kinds of things. It could 
be hazardous to your health.
    Anyway, I said, ``Let me see if I can read this for you.'' 
I picked the letter up and I read it. There were two confused 
guys in that room but when I finished reading it there were 
three confused guys. So what I want them to do is to write a 
letter to the veteran that says if you want your benefits, here 
is what you have to give us.
    I want them to write a letter that says you have an 
appointment with Dr. Jones at 10:00 o'clock at building so and 
so, and bring this with you and bring that with you. You know, 
this is just plain old simple ordinary language. We, in the 
military, used to have an acronym for that, and one was KISS: 
``Keep it simple, stupid.''
    That is the way I want us to do it. I don't want you to 
write and talk about Title 38, CFR, and all kinds of stuff. 
They don't care about that. The veterans want to know what do I 
need to do and where do I need to go and when do I need to do 
it? Tell me simply what I need to do. Don't give me some legal 
jargon. So we are going to do that and we will call it writing 
for real people. Veterans are real people.
    I am skipping about half of my speech. That is what I am 
doing actually. I knew you would appreciate that. You know, our 
budget this year, when the budget talks first started, and I 
know there is still a lot of concern among this organization, 
because this organization has been out there on the forefront 
trying to make sure that veterans receive their fair share of 
the budget.
    They have done a great job in doing that. When we first 
heard about it, it was going to reduce our VA discretionary 
care, which is the medical care across the country, by $273 
million. But the appropriators put it back in, and they give us 
a little bit more.
    Now, it is going to be tight, but we think we can operate 
because we said we want to bring in additional dollars. We have 
always said, you know, veterans will give. The veterans have 
always said, ``Sure, we will take our part of the cuts if you 
cut everybody else.''
    So often they wanted to single out the veterans and we 
didn't like that, and we have always said, as was said last 
night by General Shalikashvili, we want the budget balanced, 
but we don't want it balanced on the back of our men and women 
in the military or the veterans. We certainly don't think that 
the veterans deserve that. We fought for that as this 
organization has.
    One thing we are proud about is we get to keep the medical 
care cost of recovery. That is the insurance checks that we 
collected in our hospitals out there, about $630 million last 
year. Now that we get to keep it, I think we will collect more.
    That means that your hospital out there, when it collects 
this money from a third-party reimbursement, insurance 
companies, et cetera, that money is going to stay there in your 
hospital and they are going to use it to put in things like 
more outpatient clinics, to treat more veterans in the 
hospitals.
    We have eligibility reform now. All we need is money, and 
we can do what we have always wanted to do, which is to let 
every veteran that wants to come to the VA hospital to be 
treated there. Give them that option. So, with the medical care 
cost of recovery we will be able to do that.
    The way this thing works is that up until this legislation 
passed, we collected this money and then we gave it to the 
Treasury. In other words, we were collecting money for the 
Treasury, passed it right through and not getting to keep 
anything except the administrative costs, which were about 18 
percent of the collections.
    It is kind of like the two old boys down in Arkansas that 
went into business. They were buying pumpkins. They were paying 
50 cents apiece for the pumpkins and they were putting them in 
a pickup truck and hauling them all the way to Little Rock, a 
hundreds miles, and they were selling them for fifty cents 
apiece.
    After a couple of weeks, old Bob told Bill, ``You know, I 
have been thinking about this. Something is wrong. We are not 
making any money.'' He said, ``We buy them for fifty cents and 
we are selling them for fifty cents.'' Bill said, ``Yeah, but I 
got this thing figured out. Next week we are going to get us a 
bigger truck.''
    Now, that is kind of where we were with the veterans 
medical care cost of adjustment. We were collecting money but 
not getting to keep it. But now we are getting to keep it.
    Another thing we are going to continue fighting for you is 
Medicare. You should be able to take our Medicare to any 
hospital you want to, including the VA. Right now the only 
people in America who are being discriminated against, when it 
comes to using this Medicare money anywhere they want to take 
it, is the military retirees and veterans.
    Of course, military retirees are veterans. That is not 
right. If anybody in this country deserves a right to take 
their Medicare dollars to a VA hospital that they are perfectly 
happy with, or to a military hospital they are happy with, they 
should be allowed to do that. It makes common sense.
    In Little Rock, for example, the VA Hospital in Little Rock 
is connected to the University of Arkansas Medical Center. When 
a veteran gets to be 65 years old, they are out of the VA 
Hospital, they can't bring their Medicare money to us.
    That veteran has got a VA Hospital there that he is very 
happy with or she is very happy with. They can't spend their 
money there, but yet they can walk right across a little 
connecting corridor, the same building, to the University of 
Arkansas Medical Center, and they can take Medicare.
    Somebody tell me what is the reason on that? It doesn't 
make sense, and we are going to continue fighting for it. We 
have got some friends in Congress that are on our side on this, 
too.
    With our budget, we are going to be able to treat 3.1 
million veterans, which is an increase of over 135,000 this 
year. You know, people say that the VA is folding down. Folks, 
at this very moment as we talk, we are treating more patients, 
more veterans than we have ever treated before in our history.
    We are doing it in more cities, we are doing it more 
economically, and the quality of the care is better than it has 
ever been. Now, having said that, I know that you are sitting 
out there, many of you have VA Hospitals that you swear by, 
that you think they are the greatest in the world and you love 
the people and you love the doctors.
    Some of you out there may have problems. I will be the 
first to tell you that, yes, there are still places where there 
are problems, but we are honing in on those problems. The new 
performance measures that we have put in, the way we are 
monitoring these hospitals and the way we are monitoring the 
care that we do, surveys we are doing, working with our 
shareholders and people that use our facilities, we are 
narrowing it down.
    We are focusing in on the places where we do have these 
problems and we will be glad to address them. I am concerned 
about waiting time performances. I stopped by a pharmacy in 
Washington, D.C., about two weeks ago to pick up a 
prescription. It was just for my allergies.
    I never had to take this until I went to Washington, D.C. I 
have got it figured out. It is all that stuff in the air up 
there that makes you have allergies. I stopped by to get a 
prescription. I walked in, and I am the only person in the 
pharmacy.
    I walked up to the counter, and the guy kept shuffling his 
papers, and he finally looked up and he said, ``Can I help 
you?'' I felt like saying, ``Yeah, I would like to have my 
shoes shined.'' What am I doing at the pharmacy? I want a 
prescription. I gave him my prescription.
    He looked at it and said, ``When do you want to pick it 
up?'' I am looking around and there is no one. ``I would like 
to get it right now.'' ``Oh, no, it will be an hour.'' I said, 
``Well, you have got one less prescription to fill.'' I took it 
away and I went somewhere else.
    Customer service, if you want my business you are going to 
have to treat me right. That is what we want to do in our VA 
Hospitals. Our people have to realize, and I tell them when a 
veteran walks in this hospital, remember, that is a member of 
my Board of Directors and your Board of Directors.
    I have 26.5 million members on the Board of Directors 
because I work for every one of you. Every one of you out there 
are my boss. I know that. I want our people to understand that 
because, you see, when we really get rolling here and we are 
collecting this money and we are treating more veterans, the 
only way we can do that is make sure that they are satisfied, 
because you don't have to come to me. You can go somewhere 
else.
    I want you to want to come to the VA. I don't want any of 
those people out there disrespectful to you. I don't want them 
to do that. I want to move them in other jobs and I want them 
to go someplace else where they will not be in contact with 
veterans.
    I want them to understand when that older veteran walks in, 
that veteran that is bent over and stooped, he is gray, I don't 
want them to see that older veteran. I want them to look deep 
in the eyes of that veteran and I want them to see that 19-
year-old Navy guy who drove the landing craft ashore at Omaha 
Beach. I want them to see that 19-year-old Ranger who stormed 
the shores in Normandy. I want them to see the Marine who was 
in Iwo Jima.
    I want them to see the nurse that cared for those young men 
that fell and not see that older woman there. I don't want them 
to see those bent bodies. I want them to see that Marine that 
made the march out of Chosen. I want them to see when that 
wheelchair pulls up there, I want them to see that young Marine 
or that young soldier who walked through the jungles of 
Vietnam.
    I want them to see that these are not just a bunch of old 
people. These are the people that made this country what it is. 
These are the people that gave us the freedom and gave me the 
freedom to stand in front of this great audience today and have 
this great job I have got, and the opportunity to serve you.
    I especially want them to understand what the World War II 
veteran means. I grew up with you guys and you will always be 
my heroes. When I was small, when the war started, my dad 
closed up the farm in Arkansas, my two brothers enlisted in the 
military.
    They were shipping out in Oakland, San Francisco. We closed 
up and my dad moved out there and went to work in the shipyard, 
and my sister went to work in the shipyard. We stayed there 
until the war was won. I remember so many of you, I remember 
when you were young.
    I think one of the most touching things that I ever heard 
was when the President went to Normandy, D-Day, and one of the 
greatest lines that sticks in my mind, and I will have to 
paraphrase it, but he said, you know, their backs are stooped, 
their body is frail and the gait is a little slower than they 
used to be, and their ranks are fastly thinning, but when they 
were young they saved the world.
    I want you to know that I will never forget that, the fact 
that I can stand here on this stage and speak the English 
language. That is not what the people that were fighting 
planned for us in World War II. They already put out the money 
that they were going to spend in the United States. 
Unfortunately you guys wouldn't cash your checks. I am forever 
profoundly grateful for that.
    For those of my brothers who served in Korea, you know, we 
are going to have a great celebration of the anniversary of 
that war. You will no longer be forgotten. My brothers and 
sisters who served in Vietnam, thank you for being so vocal 
because the fact you were so vocal and wouldn't go away has 
served all those that came before you and all those that came 
after you in a very good manner. We wouldn't go away, we 
Vietnam veterans.
    I remember some of my buddies in World War II used to call 
us whiners and criers. But let me tell you what we whiners and 
criers did. We have made America recognize that there is such a 
thing as post-traumatic stress disorder. We are not only 
treating in our medical centers Vietnam veterans, we are 
treating World War II and we are treating Korean veterans, and 
we are treating other veterans.
    We also wouldn't go away on the Agent Orange issue. We kept 
pushing, we kept pushing. Finally, we recognized it was 
something wrong with spraying that stuff on us over there. We 
are serving the Persian Gulf veterans well, also. Those 
veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, I want to assure you 
we will not rest until we know what is wrong with you and we 
can answer your questions.
    In closing, I want to tell you that it is a great honor to 
stand here in this hall. I was in Las Vegas on Sunday and I 
spoke to the Disabled American Veterans. I was in this great 
big hall. It was the anniversary of the death of Elvis on 
Saturday, but that was on Sunday.
    I make this last remark, and I would like to say this to my 
friends from Arkansas and my other friends out there, ``I 
finally made it to the big room.'' Thank you very much.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Mr. Gober. I want to 
tell you before you leave, Mr. Secretary-Designate, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars will be in the forefront to make sure 
that Congress doesn't vote against veterans. You know where we 
stand on Medicare expansion.
    SECRETARY-DESIGNATE GOBER: Thank you very much.

   PRESENTATION OF THE J. EDGAR HOOVER AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I am pleased to present the J. 
Edgar Hoover Award for outstanding service in the field of law 
enforcement to an outstanding police officer from the City of 
New Orleans. Officer Philibert has been honored by the New 
Orleans City Council and other civic organizations for his 
service and dedication to duty.
    These police officers are truly representative of the 
dedicated men and women who serve our communities and the 
nation in the field of law enforcement.
    He received the city's Medal of Lifesaving for responding 
to a call for assistance last July. A van traveling at a high 
rate of speed had collided with five other vehicles. Seeing 
that three of the vehicles were engulfed in flames and with 
people scrambling out of two of them, Officer Philibert could 
see hands waving in the third car which was now filled with 
thick black smoke.
    Crawling up on the hood of one of the cars, he could see a 
man and a woman with the flames rapidly spreading toward the 
couple. As he got close, the intense heat shattered the 
windows.
    Despite great danger to himself, Officer Philibert grabbed 
the woman's arms in an attempt to pull her out. He realized her 
skin was already badly burned and that she was still strapped 
in her seat belt. Although in a bad state, the woman was still 
conscious enough that Officer Philibert finally made her 
understand that she had to release her seat belt. With other 
officers pulling him, he managed to pull the woman out through 
the passenger window by her hair.
    Suffering burns to his hands, arms and face, Officer 
Philibert turned back to rescue the man who had managed to free 
himself and was partially out of the vehicle. Unfortunately, 
the fuel tank ruptured and exploded, engulfing the man in 
flames and making any rescue attempt futile.
    Officer Philibert's dedication to duty, coupled with his 
heroic deeds, have earned him the respect of his colleagues and 
are in keeping with the finest traditions of the law 
enforcement profession.
    Please give a warm VFW welcome to our 1997 VFW J. Edgar 
Hoover Award recipient, Police Officer Russell Philibert of the 
New Orleans Police Department. (Applause)
    I would like to read the citation. ``J. Edgar Hoover Award, 
Gold Medal and Citation, awarded to Officer Russell Philibert 
in special recognition of his outstanding service, 
professionalism, bravery and knowledge in the field of law 
enforcement which has earned for him the respect of his peers 
and the admiration of the citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana.
    ``In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 19th day of August, 1997. Approved by the National 
Council of Administration.''
    This has been signed by me, James E. Nier, Commander-in-
Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General. Congratulations. 
Along with that is an honorarium for $1,500.

                     REMARKS--MR. RUSSELL PHILIBERT

    MR. PHILIBERT: I just want to express to you veterans that 
I appreciate the award, especially for myself and the New 
Orleans Police Department, and the 6th District where I work. 
The knowledge of the police work is passed down to all of us by 
the veteran police officers. I will continue to protect the 
services of New Orleans and America. Thank you.
    I would like to give special thanks to Ms. Ruth Aslin, the 
police officer who is our coordinator, and for her efforts with 
the police work and the investigation. I didn't have time to 
put the paperwork together to make this trip. I had a great 
journey to Salt Lake City. I would like to thank the Louisiana 
crowd, Lafayette. Thanks for all your support, Lafayette. Thank 
you. (Applause)

 PRESENTATION OF VFW EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Annually, the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars presents its Emergency Services Award to an individual for 
outstanding contributions to the community in the field of 
Emergency Services.
    This year we are pleased to present this year's award to a 
man who has dedicated his life to serving the community.
    Sergeant John Taylor, Director, Search and Rescue, 
Snohomish County, in the State of Washington, manages and 
coordinates the efforts of 180 volunteers and all search and 
rescue in an area that includes the Puget Sound and the Cascade 
Mountains with glacier peaks rising to 10,000 feet.
    Throughout a distinguished career which included numerous 
dramatic rescues, Sergeant Taylor has established a world-
renowned reputation for his expertise and received in 1996 the 
Washington Sate Department of Transportation Search and Rescue 
Award.
    Since 1990, Sergeant Taylor has been responsible for 551 
missions searching for more than 1,000 individuals.
    Sergeant Taylor joined the Snohomish County Sheriff's 
Office in 1968, the day after which he left the Army after 
service in Vietnam, which included duty as a door gunner on 
Huey helicopters.
    Sergeant Taylor's deeds, dedication and experience in the 
field of search and rescue over the past 24 years exemplify the 
deeds and sacrifices of those of the emergency services who 
serve our communities across the nation.
    Please give a warm VFW welcome to Sergeant John L. Taylor, 
the 1997 recipient of the VFW Emergency Services Award.
    Once again I would like to read the citation, my fellow 
comrades.
    ``Emergency Services Award, Gold Medal and Citation 
presented to Sergeant John L. Taylor in special recognition of 
his distinguished career as Director, Search and Rescue, 
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and in sincere appreciation 
for his selfless and dedicated service directing over 551 
missions, utilizing 61,554 personnel hours in rescue activities 
for Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains, which resulted in the 
search for or rescuing of 1,159 individuals.
    ``In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 19th day of August, 1997. Approved by the National 
Council of Administration.''
    This has been signed by myself, James E. Nier, Commander-
in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General.
    Congratulations, Sergeant Taylor.

                   RESPONSE--SERGEANT JOHN L. TAYLOR

    COMRADE JOHN TAYLOR: Well, here I am. I can't believe this. 
It is hard sometimes to accept something like this when you are 
doing it because that is something you really want to do. That 
is what I have been doing all my life. Well, pretty much what I 
wanted to do.
    I first got involved in the search and rescue when I was 17 
years old. I helped a woman that had a broken leg and I felt 
good about it. So I told myself I have got to find a job where 
I can get paid to do this. I did. I have been working at it 
ever since.
    I have worked as a volunteer for many years, and then I 
worked as a Deputy Sheriff, and then eventually became in 
charge of operations for the Sheriff's Office. I not only help 
the people of Snohomish County, I go all over. Any place where 
they can use any assistance in setting up programs or things of 
that nature, I will do it.
    I really believe in what I am doing. I am very proud to be 
a Vietnam veteran. I am a Life Member of VFW Post 2100 in 
Everett, Washington. I really respect and appreciate the VFW as 
a whole, all the good things they do, especially for the young 
people.
    You know, to me, I work with young people, too. When I can 
get a high school age person, instead of wanting to go play 
video games, who wants to go up and rescue people, I think he 
is going to be a better citizen. It is really gratifying to me 
to be involved in that. That is what you all are, too.
    Again, I want to thank you for this award. Thank you once 
again. (Applause)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Along with this award and citation 
comes an honorarium in the amount of $1,500. Would you like to 
introduce your folks that you have brought with you today?
    COMRADE JOHN TAYLOR: I have the Assistant Director for 
Emergency Services for Snohomish County, Maxine Henderson. She 
is a Veterans of Foreign Wars member. I have Rhonda Anderson 
and Ron Stint from our honor guard. They wanted to make sure I 
got here.

PRESENTATION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S SPECIAL AWARD TO MR. WILSON SMITH, 
                AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: One of our very own VFW comrades 
comes before us now to receive the VFW Commander-in-Chief's 
Special Award. Wilson K. Smith, Jr., served in the United 
States Army, 101st Airborne. He came home from Vietnam with a 
Silver Star and a Bronze Star. Back from the war, he began a 
project that has taken almost 30 years to complete. It is a 
memorial to the 85 African-American heroes who have received 
the Medal of Honor.
    Dedicated in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1991, this beautiful 
memorial recognizes the heroic duty of African-Americans from 
the Civil War to the Vietnam War. In January of this year, a 
replica of the memorial was placed in the Pentagon in 
Washington, D.C., to take its place beside other memorials 
honoring those who have served our country.
    A man who has truly gone above and beyond in honoring his 
fellow servicemen, please welcome one of our very own VFW 
members from VFW Post 2765, Wilmington, Delaware, Wilson K. 
Smith, Jr. (Applause)
    I would like to read this special award. ``Commander-in-
Chief's Special Award presented to Wilson Smith, Jr.
    ``The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States salutes 
you for the vision of the African-American Medal of Honor 
Memorial and commends you for the tenacity and dedication to 
see it to its fruition.
    ``August 19, 1997, James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief.'' 
(Applause)

                  REMARKS BY COMRADE WILSON SMITH, JR.

    COMRADE WILSON SMITH: I am very proud of this award, and I 
thank you all for having me here. This award is not for me, it 
is for the 85 African-Americans who proved themselves in this 
country that they love it, and it was worth dying for. I am 
here today because the VFW realizes what I was trying to do and 
brought me here to show that we, the Vietnam veterans, will 
take care of our own. God bless the VFW and the United States 
of America. (Applause)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I wish to tell you that your VFW 
donated $5,000 to make that memorial in the Pentagon become a 
reality. We thank you.

   INTRODUCTION OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL CLAUDE M. KICKLIGHTER, DEPUTY 
          UNDERSECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Ladies and gentlemen, in three 
years we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the 
Korean War. In an effort to recognize our Korean War veterans, 
their families and to provide the American public with a clear 
understanding and appreciation of the lessons and history of 
the Korean War, we are fortunate to have with us Lieutenant 
General Claude M. Kicklighter, the Deputy Undersecretary of the 
Army for International Security Affairs and formerly the 
Executive Director of the 50th Anniversary of World War II 
Commemorative Committee.
    General Kicklighter and the Committee did a marvelous job. 
With preparations underway, it is fitting that we prepare to 
honor and recognize those who set the stage for America's 
determination at the start of the Cold War and whose service 
and sacrifices eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet 
Union and the end of the Cold War.
    I am confident that under General Kicklighter's leadership 
and with the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, this 
commemoration of the Korean War and its veterans will be a 
memorable one.
    Please join me in a warm VFW welcome for a good friend of 
the VFW and a valued Life Member, Retired Army Lieutenant 
General Claude M. Kicklighter. (Applause)
    General Kicklighter.

           REMARKS--LIEUTENANT GENERAL CLAUDE M. KICKLIGHTER

    LIEUTENANT GENERAL KICKLIGHTER: Commander-in-Chief Nier, 
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon, former Commanders-in-
Chief, National Officers, Fellow Veterans, Ladies and 
Gentlemen:
    I am extremely humbled and honored to be with this group 
again. This is a group of great Americans who have served their 
nation in time of war. Thank you also for the opportunity to 
participate in the 98th Annual Convention here in this 
beautiful Salt Lake City.
    This morning I want to briefly talk to you about two 
subjects. First, I want to thank the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
and all the Departments and Posts that did so much to assist 
our nation, a grateful nation, as we commemorated the 50th 
anniversary of World War II.
    Then, secondly, I would like to provide a quick overview 
for the planning of the forthcoming commemoration of the 50th 
anniversary of the Korean War. First, thank you for the work 
that this great organization, the VFW, did to make the 50th 
anniversary of World War II so meaningful.
    I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that no 
organization in our nation worked as hard as the VFW and 
contributed as much as you did.
    From December 7th, 1991, the 50th anniversary of the attack 
on Pearl Harbor, through Veterans Day, 1995, when our nation 
was engaged in a monumental effort to honor and thank our World 
War II veterans and their families, especially the families 
that lost loved ones in that war, the Gold Star mothers and the 
Gold Star wives and the Gold Star children.
    This group, above all others, knows that freedom is not 
free. Our nation also remembered those who served on the home 
front; overnight America to the arsenal of democracy, not only 
supported our forces but also supported our allies and were 
able to keep them in the force as well.
    To help carry out this important mission, our nation turned 
to the VFW and other veterans organizations, states and 
communities all across our nation and from around the world to 
assist in this monumental effort. Their response was 
overwhelming.
    We asked communities and organizations to join our nation 
in an effort to thank and honor our veterans. When we closed 
the commemoration, there were 7,780 World War commemorative 
communities that were engaged in this mission.
    More than 1,000 of those commemorative communities were 
Departments, Post and Auxiliaries of the VFW, and that did not 
include the commemorative communities that were recruited by 
the VFW organizations in the areas where they lived. You were 
the leaders in recruiting the support for this mission.
    Your effort had a major impact on the outcome. Another 
important factor was the VFW magazine, which highlighted World 
War II as seen through the eyes of the VFW veterans. These 
articles were informative, emotional, educational and put a 
human face on the realities of war.
    The VFW was the driving force in arranging ceremonies 
throughout America and throughout the world to remember our 
veterans. During this period, we also emphasized the importance 
of education, the importance of learning from this history.
    If we learn and if we prepare and remain strong, maybe the 
legacy to these children and grandchildren of these veterans of 
World War II will become known as the last world war. In 
support of education, with the VFW, we have provided materials 
to more than 20,000 schools, and one of the most important 
parts of that program is the VFW helped put veterans into the 
classroom, a true highlight of the educational program with 
veterans going into the school sharing their experiences.
    The VFW also published two very important and popular 
educational materials. One was, ``Through My Eyes'', a pamphlet 
written from the views of the children who grew up in World War 
II, and the second was a speaker's guide to help all of us 
prepare to speak about World War II in our community.
    Throughout this period, there were hundreds of major 
television programs about that war and as much as anything this 
had a tremendous impact on young Americans about what the 
legacy of this generation was. Together we worked to tell the 
story of women and minorities, a story that had not been 
properly told.
    They have had a major impact on that war, even though they 
had overcome very difficult obstacles to serve and to fight for 
survival of this nation. During the commemorative period, we 
have remembered those that faced in the major battle of the war 
by holding hundreds of commemorative events at home and around 
the world, many which were on the battlefields of that war.
    The VFW was there every step of the way. Your efforts under 
the leadership of your Commanders-in-Chief throughout the 
commemorative period played a major role, starting with Bob 
Wallace in 1991-'92, who organized and helped us get off the 
ground. He was followed by Jack Carney, in '92-'93, who kept 
that momentum and kept the VFW leading our nation in this very 
important mission. Then George Cramer, in '93-'94, did a great 
job in helping us continue this effort. Then as we came to a 
close, Gunner Kent was very instrumental in leading the VFW to 
stay engaged and to help our nation. Then Paul Spera, in '95-
'96, not only as the Commander-in-Chief, but the Vice 
Commander-in-Chief helped us bring this to a very emotional 
conclusion.
    I think we are very lucky to have the VFW and I am proud to 
be a Life Member, that we have such excellent leaders at the 
National Headquarters. During this time, Howard Vander Clute, 
Mike Gormally, Larry Rivers, Ken Steadman, Bill Smith and so 
many others were with us day by day as we planned and helped 
our nation form this mission.
    Throughout this five-year period, the VFW set the example 
for remembering our veterans and their families. As the 
commemoration came to a close, we commemorated VJ Day in 
September, '95, and in October, '95, the United States Senate 
and House of Representatives came together in a joint meeting 
of Congress and resolved that Congress would never forget those 
who served our nation, and they asked all Americans to join 
together in the week of 4-11-95 to bring to a close the 
commemoration of the 50th anniversary of World War II.
    It was a very moving event in our Congress. The House 
chamber was filled with overflow. The joint meeting was co-
chaired by the Speaker and the Vice-President. In response to 
the joint meeting, the closing week of November 11th was filled 
with emotion, patriotism and special events all across America.
    Our nation officially closed the 50th anniversary on 
Veterans Day November 11, 1995, in Washington, D.C. The site, 
where the World War II Memorial is to be built, was dedicated 
by the President. What a beautiful and appropriate site that 
is. On that same day, there were many parades all across the 
nation, the largest being conducted in New York City.
    United our nation is a grateful nation to remember our 
World War II veterans and their families. They fought the most 
destructive war in history, a war that we were not prepared 
for. They fought and won that war and literally saved the 
world. Then they came home and took off their uniforms and 
built this great America.
    One more time I would like to ask the World War II veterans 
to stand and let us thank you and salute you. Will you, please, 
stand. (Applause)
    To be honest, there was no proper way that our nation could 
thank this generation. What a special generation.
    In 1950, just five years after the end of World War II, 
young Americans were again asked to fight another but different 
kind of war, the Korea War. In 1945, the U.S. had been the most 
powerful armed forces the world had ever seen. When that war 
ended, we dismantled the armed forces in a wholesale manner.
    In June, 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea, we were 
unprepared to fight, and again we had to buy time to prepare to 
fight, and we lost that time in loss of young Americans. We 
should never let that happen again. It is now time to prepare 
and thank and honor our Korean war veterans and their families 
as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of that war.
    The commemorations will start in June, 2000. We will 
highlight the historical importance of the contributions of our 
Korean War veterans. Most Americans and many Korean veterans 
don't fully understand what was accomplished by that war. We 
must correct those misperceptions as we commemorate the Korean 
War.
    The commemorative event will inform future generations this 
nation's heroes fought in Korea. Many were wounded and many 
died there. Our veterans left a proud legacy in places like 
Inchon, Chosin Reservoir, and hundreds of other places will 
forever live in the minds and hearts of the veterans who served 
there.
    In June, 1953, the war stopped. The fighting stopped, but 
the war was not officially ended. We have our armistice and we 
have our demilitarized zone. Today armed forces still face one 
another across the fortified border. The passage of time has 
revealed the legacy of the Korean War veterans and what it 
means to our nation, and we are just beginning to comprehend 
what was accomplished there 50 years ago.
    Today we see a strong democratic, prosperous independent 
nation, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the 
product of unsurpassed selfless service, courage, valor and the 
determination of our veterans, and by the South Korean veterans 
and by the veterans of 20 other nations who fought with us side 
by side under the United Nations flag.
    From dark clouds of this war came an optimism for a lasting 
peace, a hope that the freedom of the South Korean people could 
be protected against Communist aggression. That hope, still 
very much alive, was bought by a very high price of blood of 
our veterans, Korean veterans. Today our troops still stand 
guard at the 38th parallel. When the guns fell silent over that 
war torn Korea, the cost was high. The loss of lives and 
wounded were higher. Many questions were asked why were we 
involved in that war? Four decades later, an independent 
economical, prosperous and democratic nation of more than 46 
million people stand free as a result of that sacrifice.
    That nation stands as hope and as a model for the emerging 
democracies of the world, and as an example that many are 
trying to follow. Contrast this with North Korea, a nation 
under the Communist rule of tyranny, nationwide starvation an 
uncertain future, heavily armed camps, and the economy in 
shambles. What a contrast for the world to see: democracy and 
Communism in action.
    Truly, this was a victory for peace and freedom and 
democracy and for hope for not only the people of South Korea 
but the people all over the world. Although our work is 
unfinished and we continue to work for a lasting peace and the 
possibility of a peaceful reunification of Korea, our Korean 
War veterans kept the torch of freedom burning in a nation 
under siege for armed aggression from the North, supported by 
the Soviet Union and the Russians.
    Freedom for South Korea was not free. 35,000 Americans gave 
their life, some of the most brutal fighting that we have ever 
been in. Another 100,000 were wounded and the losses of South 
Korean armed forces and Korean people were staggering.
    Civilian losses were awesome; mostly women and children who 
got overrun by that war. Today, nearly 50 years later, there 
are still many of our veterans and others that are unaccounted 
for. Today our nation has another important mission, to plan 
and execute the commemoration for the 50th anniversary of the 
Korean War.
    The VFW will again play a major role in this effort, along 
with the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, led by our good friend Gunner Kent, who is already 
working with us, and other types of service organizations will 
assist our nation in properly thanking and honoring those 
veterans from Korea.
    We want to take all that we have learned from commemorating 
the 50th anniversary of World War II and invest that knowledge 
and experience as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Korea. 
With your help, we will organize America to ensure that every 
Korean veteran knows that a grateful nation has not forgotten 
his service 50 years ago.
    We want to again request the communities and the schools to 
join in this effort all across our land. Together we must now 
tell the story correctly, proudly and properly. We want to make 
sure that we show our veterans that we have not forgotten them.
    At this time I would also like to show you the first 
example of the Korean commemorative flag that we are proposing. 
You are one of the first groups that will see this. I hope we 
can get this up on the screen. As you see this flag, it says, 
``The Korean War, Freedom is not Free.''
    You see the 22 gold stars around the center of that flag. 
We want to hear from you. That is the U.S. and Korea, and our 
20 allies. The blue color that you see is the color of the U.N. 
flag. This is your flag. We want this flag to be all across our 
nation in all of our communities and all of our VFW Posts. So 
if you have any thoughts about this, we would like for you to 
contact us.
    I would like to also show you the official logo for that 
war. I hope that you will be able to use this, and I would tell 
you that many other additional commemorative products and 
educational materials are already being developed and we will 
be able to provide these very soon to the organizations as you 
help get our nation organized.
    Even though we have got over two years before June, 2000, 
we need to begin this coming year to get this commemoration 
organized and off the ground. In the coming months, we will be 
working with your National Headquarters, and in September we 
will provide the National Headquarters a copy of the draft 
commemorative plan for them to review and provide comments.
    In October, we will invite the National Commander and a 
delegation to come to the Pentagon in Washington where we will 
thoroughly review and go through making sure that we have got 
the kind of commemorative program that our veterans deserve. 
The VFW will be instrumental in helping us build that program 
throughout this next year.
    The commemoration officially begins in June, 2000, 50 years 
from the time that the war began, and it will end on Veterans 
Day, November 11, 2003. There are planned many events each year 
throughout our nation, and many of those events will be in 
other nations, our allies.
    There will be a lot of events in Korea. We are also working 
already with the Korean government and the Korean veterans 
association. We very much want to make this a very special 
event. We will be working and have been working with the 20 
nations that were our allies in that war, and we will keep you 
informed as we go through this process.
    If you have not visited Korea, I would commend to you to 
visit Korea. You will see a miracle. You will see a miracle 
that happened because of the service and sacrifice of our 
veterans. We will always remember our veterans for giving us 
this strong and free, beautiful America that we are privileged 
to wake up in every morning.
    We will also remember all those that gave all their 
tomorrows that we can live in this great land. When you are 
giving all of your tomorrows at 18 and 19 years old is a very 
high price to pay. It has been said any nation that forgets its 
veterans ceases to be a great nation.
    The VFW will always ensure that America never forgets its 
veterans. I want to thank the VFW, my organization, for the 
wonderful job you did in assisting our nation in honoring our 
World War II veterans. I want to thank you for what I know you 
will do again as we lead our nation in thanking our Korean War 
veterans.
    I also want to thank you for all you do every day in taking 
care of those who served our armed forces and what you-all do 
in America for our veterans and all the youth in America. You 
are what makes America the great nation that is today. Thank 
you very much. God bless the VFW, our veterans and their 
families, and God bless America. (Applause)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, General. As he is 
departing, obviously, he will have our support for this effort.

INTRODUCTION OF BRIGADIER GENERAL WILMA L. VAUGHT, PRESIDENT, WOMEN IN 
         MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, INC.

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Ladies and gentlemen, in 1986, 
Congress authorized the construction of a memorial in 
Washington, D.C., that would be a lasting tribute to the women 
who have served or are serving in our nation's armed forces. 
This October, two years after ground-breaking for that memorial 
took place, the opening dedication will take place at the gates 
of Arlington National Cemetery.
    When one considers that almost two million women have 
served the U.S. military throughout history, from the American 
Revolution through Operation Desert Storm, it is most fitting 
that such a memorial receive the backing and support of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    This morning we are pleased to have with us the 
distinguished President of the Women in Military Service for 
America Foundation, Retired Air Force Brigadier General Wilma 
Vaught.
    Please join me in a very warm VFW welcome for a fellow VFW 
member and the President of the Women's Memorial, Brigadier 
General Wilma Vaught.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)

                REMARKS--BRIGADIER GENERAL WILMA VAUGHT

    BRIGADIER GENERAL VAUGHT: Please sit down. Don't encourage 
me to give my 20-minute speech. What a pleasure it is to be 
back with you today. You know, the Convention in 1986 was the 
year the legislation was passed authorizing us to have this 
memorial in Washington, D.C.
    It was in March, 1987, that I missed the meeting of the 
Board of Directors that was being formed to carry out this 
process. I was elected President. I want to tell you I have not 
missed a meeting of the Board of Directors since. Don't miss 
meetings.
    When you give money, you sometimes wonder what is going to 
happen to it. The VFW has now given us some $99,657. So I am 
pleased to report to you that your money has gone to something 
good. The next time you go into Arlington National Cemetery and 
you look at that wall that has been standing there for sixty 
some years, you are going to be glad to made a donation for 
this memorial, because truly the main gate in Arlington is 
going to be a thing for all of us as Americans to be proud of 
instead of the way it has been looking for the last 20 or 30 
years.
    We have planned a fantastic series of events for 
dedication. We are going to have a gala on Thursday, the 16th 
of October, followed by a big reunion on the 17th, and then the 
dedication at noon on the 18th. That evening we are going to do 
a candlelight march and service of remembrance.
    The candlelight march will start at the Lincoln Memorial 
and walk to the main gate in Arlington. I hope that we will see 
some VFW units will participate in that. We are expecting about 
30,000 people at the dedication and about 10,000 for the march.
    Then the next day, at the amphitheater, we will have a time 
to give thanks. That dedication is just one month and 29 days 
from today, and as I think about one month and 29 days, I 
wonder whether I should be here or back there still working to 
get ready. I probably should be back there doing something to 
get ready.
    But we will be ready, and I want you to encourage the women 
who belonged to our Post to come to this dedication. This 
memorial is for them. It is a fact thing. They should be there 
to be a part of it. Many of the Posts have registered its 
women.
    I hope, as you search in the community for other women that 
should be registered for the memorial, that this helps you get 
additional members in the VFW, because I just don't think we 
have as many women in the VFW as we should have. So I hope to 
see that go up.
    I just want you to know from the standpoint of the 
foundation, I am committed that every woman veteran who can 
make it to Washington, D.C., for the memorial will be able to 
take in everything that she wants to take in regardless of 
whatever disability she may have.
    We are the only organization that has ever made such a 
commitment. We did it for the ground-breaking and we are going 
to do it again. We will have wheelchairs, or whatever it takes 
so that they can participate in their memorial.
    I wish I could say the memorial is all finished. It is 
about 90 percent finished. There is a huge reflecting pool in 
front, about 80 feet across. Yesterday morning when I stopped 
before I left, it was full of water. So it is getting there. 
But it is not on, it is not going to be all finished even at 
the dedication.
    Not all the exhibits will be in, because we are still 
raising money to pay for those. Please don't stop giving. We 
still need you. We have about 250,000 of the 1.8 million women 
that served our country registered. I need your help in getting 
the rest of them.
    I hope you will stop by our booth over here in the Exhibit 
Hall and pick up one of our registration forms for the women in 
your community in case they are not registered. Also while you 
are there, we will try to sell you one of our commemorative 
coins--that is the only place you can buy them--or sell you a 
necklace for your wife or whatever adulteress relationship you 
are in, or whoever you want to buy one for we will sell you 
one. What more can I say?
    I hope, Mr. Moon, that you will make it all the way over 
from Ohio on October 18th to the dedication. Jim, you come up 
from Texas. We will welcome you all. I hope you will be there 
for it.
    I would be remiss if I did not close with a quotation from 
one of our women that this memorial is going on. This is from 
one of our Army women veterans who said, ``I spent four years 
in the Army. Although now I am married and a mother, I still 
want to be remembered as a soldier.''
    In this memorial we are going to remember every soldier, 
sailor, airmen, Marine and Coast Guard person. General 
Kicklighter had World War II veterans to stand up, and I 
thought most of the audience was standing up. I want to have 
the women veterans to stand up, and we will probably have to 
search to find them.
    Where are you women veterans? Yes, you are here. Thank you 
for coming and be there on October 18th. Thank you. (Applause)

  INTRODUCTION OF JAN C. SCRUGGS, PRESIDENT VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL 
                                  FUND

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The most visited memorial in our 
nation's capital is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. While each 
year millions of visitors have experienced the healing power of 
that memorial, millions have not had the opportunity.
    Millions don't have the resources to make the journey. Some 
find the war's legacy too painful to confront, particularly as 
strangers in an unfamiliar city.
    One way of reaching out across America to help not only 
Vietnam veterans but veterans of all wars, from World War I to 
Desert Storm, is through the efforts of the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial Fund and its support of the Wall that Heals.
    A half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 
Washington, D.C., travels across America, speaking not of the 
loss, but of the lives of 58,202 men and women, our parents, or 
neighbors and friends.
    This traveling memorial transcends the war in Vietnam and 
serves to help our nation renew its relationship with veterans 
of all wars.
    We are fortunate to have with us this morning, the 
President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Jan Scruggs, 
who in 1979 had a vision to create a national memorial with the 
names of all Americans who gave their lives in the Vietnam War.
    Ladies and gentlemen, please help me give a very warm VFW 
welcome to Jan Scruggs. (Applause)

   REMARKS--JAN C. SCRUGGS, PRESIDENT, VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND

    COMRADE JAN SCRUGGS: I greatly appreciate the kind 
introduction and I, as many of you, am really looking forward 
to October when we see the women's memorial dedicated. This is 
just going to be a really great thing.
    From the plains of Nebraska to the coast of Maine, from 
California's beautiful fertile valleys to the deck of the 
carrier of Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina, the wall 
that heals, the half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial has traveled throughout the country. Wherever this 
memorial has been, the volunteers and the great patriots of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars have been there to help the public 
better understand this memorial.
    We have really gone out of our way to make this an event 
for communities that involves the veterans of all the different 
military conflicts. We really want to see the people from the 
Desert Storm era get involved as well, and we think this is 
sort of working.
    But to help you all better understand the importance of 
this replica and the Wall that Heals, I am wondering if I could 
just show you a video that I think will be helpful.
    (Whereupon, the video was presented at this time.)
    This has been a really great program which I think has 
allowed the VFW to get recognition from communities and really 
get our message out there in the schools, and it is programs 
like this that really show the aging veterans that the VFW is 
an organization which is not just looking towards the past, 
reliving the past, it is an organization that is really looking 
to the future, that is creating programs in the future, that is 
reaching out to the nation's veterans.
    The VFW has a future because of the leadership that is part 
of this organization. It has got a very important future as an 
advocate for military veterans, and for this reason I am 
certainly more than proud to be a Life Member of this 
organization.
    I would like to leave with you today with one final 
thought. I know every time I come to a Convention politicians 
from Washington routinely come here and they routinely say the 
things that the crowd wants to hear. They are good at that. But 
I will say this, that you should not really believe for a 
moment that the veterans' lobby in Washington, D.C., is an 
influential lobby.
    I will tell you some lobbies that are influential, the 
chemical companies, the automobile manufacturers, the 
pharmaceutical industry, the medical industry, the doctors. 
These are groups that have a very strong and powerful voice in 
Washington, D.C. It is really only through the efforts of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars that we have anything, that we have a 
little bit of push and shove that we can bring the members out 
and talk to the members of Congress and keep them from taking 
our benefits away. I hope you will all bear that in mind.
    I wish I was a bearer of better tidings. But the VFW has a 
future, and the future is to continue to advocate for our 
nation's veterans of all military conflicts. Thank you all very 
much.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL BY-LAWS, MANUAL OF PROCEDURE AND RITUAL 
                               (Cont'd.)

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, yesterday we finished 
the debate on three resolutions as part of the Committee on 
National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual. At this time 
I will ask the Chairman of that Committee, Past Commander-in-
Chief Jack Carney, to come forward and give some updates.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: Thank you, Commander-in-
Chief. Just to be fair, with your permission, I would like to 
once again state the recommended rejections by our Committee, 
so everyone knows what were rejected by the Committee and so 
stated yesterday. I will go through it again.
    The Committee recommends for rejection B-4, B-5, B-9, B-10, 
B-12, B-14, B-15, B-16, B-17, B-18, B-19, B-20, B-21, and 
yesterday, after the roll call, B-22, 23 and 26 were rejected. 
B-24, B-25, B-27, B-28, B-29, B-30, B-31 and B-32 were rejected 
by the Committee.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I understand that we were asked 
to set aside B-25.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is correct, Mr. Chairman. B-
25 was asked to be set aside yesterday.
    Microphone No. 1.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Howard Vander Clute, Post 
6467, New Jersey, and a Past Commander-in-Chief. I move the 
adoption of B-25.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE RALPH CORNO (Post 1302--New Jersey): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Ralph Corno, a delegate from Post 1302, 
State Commander of New Jersey, seconds that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. There is a motion 
on the floor and duly seconded to adopt B-25. We will now 
debate B-25.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): As you know, B-8 was defeated. Although it was 
recommended for adoption, it was defeated by the body 
yesterday. Essentially, that disenfranchised the Department of 
New Jersey as having a Council representative on the National 
Council of Administration.
    B-25, the principal provision is to lower the number of 
members within the Department from 70,000 to 65,000 to qualify 
for a Council District and thus representation on the National 
Council of Administration. I would add, sir, that one of the 
principal reasons that our Department and our Conference, even 
though it disenfranchised us, in being opposed to it, it would 
not give an opportunity to some of the smaller Departments in 
the Eastern Conference. We have a concern for them.
    Commander-in-Chief, we know that B-25 is flawed, as was B-
8, which you allowed to be heard on the floor and voted on, and 
we appreciate that. We appreciate the fact that you are 
allowing us, even though this is flawed, to be heard this 
morning.
    However, in view of the fact that it is flawed, and let me 
refer to the flaw. The first part of that section of the By-
Laws, Section 617, states the number of members required, 
70,000, and we are asking it to be reduced to 65,000 in our by-
law amendment. This is sponsored by New Jersey alone.
    Now, in the last part of that, the penalty clauses in that 
By-Law still continue to say 70,000. It is a flawed by-law. I 
ask the delegates to consider this since it will be yours to 
decide that in the Demeter's Manual, which may prevail in this 
case should you decide it does, it clearly says a by-law is 
repealed, and this would be the old by-law, ``by a new by-law 
which is so inconsistent therewith that both cannot stand.''
    The inconsistency is now obvious to you, 65,000 and 70,000. 
``The adoption of a new by-law covering the same grounds as the 
former one and intended for the same purpose,'' which this by-
law is. It is intended for the same purpose, impliably appeals 
and supersedes the earlier by-law.
    That is the existing one, ``So that any penalties''--and 
here is our problem--``So any penalties imposed by the earlier 
or other provisions therein be omitted from the latter by-law 
no longer applies.'' So, essentially, if it is approved, as I 
see it, it would wipe out the last paragraph of Section 617.
    Now, also I would like to quote from the interpretation of 
the by-law amendment. It says, ``The primary object in the 
interpretation of by-laws is to ascertain and give effect of 
the intention of the framers thereof.'' Our intent was to 
reduce the figure to 65,000.
    Having said all of that, also in the Manual of Procedure 
under 617 it is blank. The Council of Administration has the 
authority to amend the Manual of Procedure and can amend 617 at 
their first meeting to include the penalty clauses and thus 
make the by-law complete.
    At the next Convention we can come back with a by-law that 
everything is covered in the by-law itself. So, Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I think the way it stands now, New Jersey 
does not have representation. We think and we feel, and many of 
us in the Eastern Conference feel we need more representation 
on the National Council of Administration, and we are asking 
this delegation here this morning to find it in their hearts to 
find representation on the National Council of Administration 
for New Jersey. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE GEORGE PALMATEER (Post 4171--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am George Palmateer from Post 4171, 
Colorado. I stand to speak in favor of this amendment. I 
believe this could happen to any Department at any time where 
there is a dynamic change in the procedures of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars.
    I also feel we are creating another Council with four 
states involved, and there is already one, which I think is 
unfair. I, therefore, speak in favor of the amendment.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, George. There is no one 
at Microphone No. 3. There is nobody at Microphone No. 2, 
either. Any further debate. Hearing none, the motion is to 
adopt B-25. Those in favor of the motion will signify by saying 
``aye''; those opposed by the same sign ``no''. The Chair rules 
that the motion to adopt fails because it is less than two-
thirds vote.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I call for a roll call 
vote. New Jersey calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is one.
    COMRADE RON RUSKO (Post 9460--Connecticut): Ron Rusko, Post 
9460, Stratford, Connecticut, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is two. It takes ten 
Departments, comrades.
    COMRADE ALMON LONG (Department of Pennsylvania): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Department A votes to go along with New 
Jersey.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is three.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE LYNN HALL (Department of Kansas): Commander-in-
Chief, Hall, Department of Kansas, requests a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is four.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE JOSEPH BRAND (Department of Montana): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Joe Brand, Department of Montana, asks for 
a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is five.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE GREG WOODRING (Department of Arizona): Arizona 
requests a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is six.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE GERARD MISERANDINO (Department of the District of 
Columbia): Miserandino, Post 2979, Department of D.C. 
Commander, calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE VIRGIL MULLINS (Department of New Hampshire): 
Virgil Mullins, Post 2618, Department of New Hampshire, 
requests a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE PHILIP SCHIFFMAN (Department of New York): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Philip Schiffman, Post 8691, State 
Commander of New York, requests a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is nine.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PETER KRENITSKY (Department of Pennsylvania): 
Pennsylvania calls for a roll call vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: That is ten. We will have a roll 
call vote. I will ask the Credentials Committee to come forward 
and see if there are any changes in the numbers.
    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): Commander-in-
Chief, as Chairman of the National Credentials Committee, there 
is one change. The total delegate strength now is 12,011, 
bringing the grand total to 12,129. Commander-in-Chief, that is 
the report.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We will take a ten-minute break to 
have the roll call vote and caucus. I will hit the gavel at 
11:25.

                               (RECESS.)

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The ten minutes are up, comrades. 
The lights are coming up. It will take a little while. Will the 
Department Commanders please do as we did yesterday, line up at 
Microphones 1, 2 and 3 in alphabetical order.
    COMRADE AL LOEHR (Post 4847--Minnesota): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, I have a question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE AL LOEHR (Post 7826--Minnesota): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Al Loehr, Post 7826, East St. Cloud. My question, 
Commander-in-Chief, is this. How can we legitimately vote on a 
flawed resolution under the direction of our parliamentary 
rules?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Just a minute. I will try to get 
you the answer. Is the Parliamentarian here, Larry Maher? Give 
us a couple of minutes, Al. We will get our Parliamentarian 
back. Thank you.
    Al, I am going to try to explain this the best I can. It is 
my opinion the by-law is flawed. I am going to rule that to 
express democracy, we voted on one yesterday, that we will vote 
on this one.
    COMRADE AL LOEHR (Post 7826--Minnesota): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Let's have the roll call, please.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: My fellow delegates, let me give 
you a recap of the strength. There are 12,011 total delegates, 
53 Department Commanders, 27 Past Commanders-in-Chief, 38 
National Officers. We ask the State Commanders to line up in 
the right order.
    (As the Adjutant General called the roll, the following 
votes were cast:)

OFFICERS                                              YES      NO 
  Commander-in-Chief Nier                                       X 
  Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon                           X 
  Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Pouliot                        X 
  Adjutant General Rivers                                       X 
  Quartermaster General Ridgley--(Voted with Post) 
  Judge Advocate General Leonard Herrst                         X 
  Surgeon General Robert Reif                                   X 
  National Chaplain William J. Bleiler                 X 
  National Chief of Staff Bill E. Lark                          X 
  Inspector General Charles Stephens                            X

DISTRICTS                                             YES      NO 
  District No. 1--Arthur Roy                           X 
  District No. 2--William J. Madera                    X 
  District No. 3--Armondo C. Azzinaro 
  District No. 4--Bruce A. Withers                     X 
  District No. 5 --John L. Dahman                      X 
  District No. 6--Scottie E. King                               X 
  District No. 7--Roy C. Womble                        X 
  District No. 8--Oliver W. Dial                                X 
  District No. 9--George M. Pullie                              X 
  District No. 10--Leslie F. Thone                              X 
  District No. 11--Bernard J. Boyle                    X 
  District No. 12 --William F. Cerny, Jr.              X 
  District No. 13--Jack L. Armagost                    X 
  District No. 14--Earl E. Chase--(Voted with Post) 
  District No. 15--James A. Ferguson 
  District No. 16 --Dannie Cooper                      X 
  District No. 17--Gary L. Clark                       X 
  District No. 19--J. Hollis Smith                              X 
  District A --Armon J. Long                           X 
  District B --Russell R. Rieke                        X 
  District C --Ralph U. DeMarco                        X 
  District D --George W. Marks                                  X 
  District E --Gordon W. Kirk                                   X 
  District F --Wayne A. Buck                           X 
  District G --Raymond C. Sisk                         X 
  District H --Ferrell Warden                                   X 
  District I --George J. Lisicki                       X 
  District J --Eugene R. Manfrey                                X

DISTRICTS                                             YES      NO 
  Alabama                                                      216 
  Alaska                                               84 
  Arizona                                             204 
  Arkansas                                                     157 
  California                                          500      132 
  Colorado                                            230        6 
  Connecticut                                         226 
  Delaware                                            121 
  District of Columbia                                 40 
  Department of Europe                                 38 
  Florida                                                      459 
  Georgia                                              22      159 
  Hawaii                                               40 
  Idaho                                                84 
  Illinois                                            465      236 
  Indiana                                             364 
  Iowa                                                139 
  Kansas                                              257       21 
  Kentucky                                            138 
  Latin America/Caribbean                              27 
  Louisiana                                                    188 
  Maine                                               110 
  Maryland                                            347 
  Massachusetts                                       373 
  Michigan                                            163      320 
  Minnesota                                           272      131 
  Mississippi                                                  142 
  Missouri                                            301 
  Montana                                              92 
  Nebraska                                            188 
  Nevada                                               53       21 
  New Hampshire                                       115 
  New Jersey                                          361 
  New Mexico                                          121 
  New York                                            325 
  North Carolina                                               249 
  North Dakota                                        120 
  Ohio                                                732 
  Oklahoma                                             26      140 
  Oregon                                              125 
  Pacific Areas                                        75 
  Pennsylvania                                        559 
  Rhode Island                                         60 
  South Carolina                                                96 
  South Dakota                                        178 
  Tennessee                                           144 
  Texas                                                        546 
  Utah                                                 73 
  Vermont                                             102 
  Virginia                                            216 
  Washington                                          175 
  West Virginia                                                218 
  Wisconsin                                           208 
  Wyoming                                               1       53

PAST COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF                              YES      NO 
  Billy Ray Cameron                                             X 
  John M. Carney                                                X 
  Ted C. Connell                                                X 
  George R. Cramer                                     X 
  James R. Currieo                                     X 
  Arthur J. Fellwock                                   X 
  Walter G. Hogan                                      X 
  Cooper T. Holt                                       X 
  Richard W. Homan                                              X 
  Allen F. Kent                                        X 
  James L. Kimery                                               X 
  John W. Mahan                                                 X 
  Clifford G. Olson, Jr.                               X 
  Eric Sandstrom                                       X 
  Joseph A. Scerra                                     X 
  R. D. Smith, Jr.                                     X 
  Ray Soden                                            X 
  Paul A. Spera                                        X 
  Norman G. Staab                                      X 
  John Staum--(Voted with Post) 
  Howard Vander Clute, Jr.                             X 
  Thomas C. Walker                                     X 

     ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, that completes 
the roll call. Commander-in-Chief, the total delegate strength 
is 12,155. A two-thirds vote would be 8,103.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It will take us just a few minutes 
for the Convention Committee to make the tally.
    COMRADE GEORGE MEAD (Post 9400--Arizona): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, a point of order. Isn't it two-thirds of 
the votes cast, not two-thirds of what you said?
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: That is correct, two-thirds of the 
total votes cast.

                      WINNERS OF INSURANCE DRAWING

    ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER GENERAL MAHER: If we have a moment 
here, I would like to announce the winners of the insurance 
drawings.
    For the $25 is Daryl Mobley, Post 3630--Nevada.
    The $50 winner is Richard Hafner, Post 5896--Missouri. I 
didn't cheat. This is a gentleman from Missouri that is a 
winner.
    The $100 winner is John N. Fabbro, Post 4208, Florida.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, while we are getting the 
tally, this is an important announcement I am about to make. 
Due to the longevity of the debate on the by-laws yesterday and 
today, we are going to have to change the time of the All-
American Commander's Breakfast to 7:00 a.m. instead of 7:30, 
and we will start the business session tomorrow morning at 8:00 
a.m. instead of 9:00.
    Please bear with us. We have to do that to get all the by-
laws in. We want to have the debate and we want to have 
deliberations, so in order to do that and not move workshops or 
cancel them, please bear with us and make note of that 7:00 
a.m. for the All-American Breakfast and at 8:00 o'clock a.m. 
the business session will start tomorrow morning. That will be 
8:00 o'clock sharp.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Wayne Thompson, Post 5601, Department of 
Colorado. A point of information. Are you going to conduct any 
further business today?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: No, we are not. We have to be out 
of here by noon so they can set up for the Patriotic Rally 
tonight, plus the workshops start at 1:00 o'clock. That is why 
we made the decision to start early tomorrow.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, the roll count 
has been completed. There was a total of 12,157 votes cast: 
7,746 yes; 4,411 no. Two-thirds of 12,157 would be 8,104. The 
yes votes were 7,746. It failed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The Chair rules that B-25 is 
rejected for lack of a two-thirds vote.
    I will ask the National Chaplain to please come forward for 
the Benediction.
    (Whereupon, National Chaplain Bleiler gave the Benediction 
at this time.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Sergeant-at-Arms, prepare the room 
to Salute the Colors.
    (Whereupon, the Salute to the Colors was had.)
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the 
Closing Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We are recessed until 8:00 o'clock 
tomorrow morning.
    (Whereupon, the meeting was duly recessed at 12:15 o'clock 
p.m.)
                                ------                                

    THIRD BUSINESS SESSION WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 20, 1997

    (The Third Business Session of the 98th National Convention 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in 
the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, was 
called to order at 8:00 o'clock a.m., with Commander-in-Chief 
James E. Nier presiding.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I call this Business Session to 
order. I will ask the National Chaplain to please come forward 
with the Opening Prayer, please
    (Whereupon, the National Sergeant-at-Arms led the 
Convention in the Salute to the Colors and the Pledge of 
Allegiance and National Chaplain William Bleiler gave the 
Opening Prayer from the Ritual.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I will ask the Chairman of the 
Credentials Committee to please come forward with his report.

                    REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Richard Trombla, Chairman of the 
Credentials Committee, Department of Kansas. This is a 
temporary report.
    This Committee had, as of 4:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon, 
total delegates, 12,567; Department Commanders, 54; Past 
Commanders-in-Chief, 27; total National Officers, 38. That 
makes a grand total of 12,686 as of 4:00 o'clock yesterday 
afternoon. Commander-in-Chief, this is a temporary report.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I would like to make one 
administrative announcement before we move into the 
resolutions. The buses will continue to run until 11:00 p.m. 
this evening. That is a change in the schedule. The buses will 
continue to run until 11:00 p.m. this evening.
    At this time I will ask to come forward the Chairman of the 
Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual 
for the continuation of his Committee Report. Comrade Carney.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL BY-LAWS, MANUAL OF PROCEDURE AND RITUAL 
                               (Cont'd.)

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief and Delegates, this morning I will once again for the 
benefit of each and every one of us read those that were 
rejected by the Committee. The Committee recommends rejection 
of the following: B-4, B-5, B-9, B-10, B-12, B-14, B-15, B-16, 
B-17, B-18, B-19, B-20, B-21, B-24, B-27, B-28, B-29, B-30, B-
31 and B-32.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the delegates have already 
rejected B-22, B-23, B-25 and B-26.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAUL SPERA (Post 144--
Massachusetts): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Paul Spera, a 
delegate from Boston, Massachusetts. I move for the adoption of 
B-15.
    COMRADE JOHN THORNTON (Post 7686--New Mexico): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: There has been a motion duly made 
and seconded to adopt B-15. B-15 is now open for debate.
    Microphone No. 2.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAUL SPERA (Post 144--
Massachusetts): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, on Monday afternoon 
we had debate on B-13, and in the midst of that debate I went 
to the microphone and indicated my opposition to B-13 and that 
we had intended in its place to bring up B-15.
    I stated on Monday, and I will repeat it again today, I 
know there are people in this room who will disagree, but I 
believe that for the financial future of our Departments and 
our National Organization we must at some point in time raise 
the rates on Life Membership.
    We must raise the rates in order to raise the pay-outs to 
those entities.
    Today, $3.50 per member is the by-law that is in effect. 
Because of finances, we have been able to pay out $5. This 
year, because the interest rates have dropped, we are only 
going to be able to pay out $4.50.
    You can almost bet that over the next few years that that 
rate will lower to $4 and eventually down to the $3.50 for all 
Life Members. That is going to place an unfair burden on the 
Departments in the National Organization. B-15 is the result of 
a lot of work that was done, not by a handful of individuals 
but by the entire Eastern Conference.
    Last year following the Convention, we decided that what we 
would do as a conference was to take a look at the Life 
Membership, take a look at the rates, take a look at the pay-
outs, to ask the Department Quartermasters to come in and give 
us information.
    More importantly, to go back to the Posts where it all 
happens, go back to those people that the Life Membership 
Program is for. You know, the Life Membership is not about 
money on the Post level, the Life Membership Program on the 
Post level is about stabilizing that membership, about being 
able to sell a member a Life Membership, and never have to be 
concerned with collecting their dues again.
    That is the importance of a Life Membership Program for the 
Posts. So for them, a pay-out, whether it is $3.50, $4.50 or 
$5.50, that is not what is important to them. So when we 
deliberate, when we met at our first meeting in October and 
again in the Washington Conference, and finally in our meeting 
in April, what we tried to accomplish, and we think we did with 
B-15, we tried to accomplish something that took care of 
everyone.
    The top rate on B-15 is $245. Most of the people that I 
spoke to personally, Post Quartermasters, Membership Chairmen, 
Post Commanders, indicated that they felt they could still sell 
Life Memberships in the price range that B-15 covers. The 
Department Quartermasters that I spoke to indicated that the 
$5.50 pay-out that B-15 allows at least improves their position 
by $2 for every member that is sold in the future.
    Now, this is not going to do anything for the 1.1 million 
members that we already have as Life Members. This change will 
only take place for every future Life Member that is sold. I 
hope that everyone in this room understands that what we are 
trying to accomplish is to take care of the Post members in the 
first place and yet come up with enough income to make life a 
little easier for your Departments and for the National 
Organization, because it may fail financially, then the Life 
Membership Program means nothing.
    I urge every one of you to consider B-15 and assist us in 
getting it passed. Thank you very much, Comrade Commander-in-
Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Past Commander-in-
Chief.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE GLEN GARDNER (Post 3359--Texas): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Glen Gardner, Jr., a delegate from VFW Post 3359, 
Garland, Texas. I stand in support of this by-law change which 
would allow stability and an increase in the amount of fees 
that are received back from the Life Members.
    I agree with our Past Commander-in-Chief that this amount 
of increase will not deter the Life Members, but we, from the 
Department level especially must look at what we are going to 
be able to do in the future to generate the funds that are 
necessary on the Department level and on a National level to 
carry on the programs in this great organization. I would 
encourage the delegates to support this by-law change. Thank 
you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE RICHARD PIGNONE (Post 3173--California): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Richard Pignone, Post 3173, California. I 
rise as a delegate in opposition to any increase in our Life 
Membership program, be it B-13, B-15, or any other one. Last 
year we had the resounding vote of ``no'' on a Life Membership 
increase.
    I am also a recruiter. Last year I supported the program 
for shotguns. Out of the 18 shotguns that I had last year, 
because of where the price stood, the fees, I was able to sign 
up 15 Life Members out of 18. I think that is pretty good. I 
think that is adding to our program.
    It has given us more money, steady money. The Life Member 
starts everybody off with a big step, be it a Post Commander, 
District Commander, Department Commander or the National 
Commander. Having a base of membership, such as the Life 
Program, adds to our organization.
    It is very hard to go out with an increase of $45 or $200 
for the young fellow or the young lady to join our 
organization. I, as a recruiter, had a hard time when it was 
$200 to get them to pay. They don't have the money. The higher 
you go in the Life Membership increase, it is very hard to 
bring in a veteran.
    They will go maybe for the annual membership. But, my 
comrades, we already had a resounding ``no'' the other day. We 
had the most Life Membership increase last year than we ever 
had. What we are lacking is on the annual membership. That is 
where we should be aiming our contract, not at the Life 
Members.
    With that, Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I thank you very 
much and I thank everyone for listening to me. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, Department of 
Colorado. I would express concerns about the percentage of 
increase in the various categories. The Departments of Colorado 
and Nebraska submitted By-Law Amendment B-17, which basically 
took information that came to us from the National Office and 
we proposed an increase, a more modest increase, and in the 
event this amendment fails, the motion before us, I intend to 
move for the adoption of B-17. So I actually ask for a ``no'' 
vote on this, sir. Thank you, Comrade Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New 
Jersey): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Howard Vander Clute, a 
delegate from Post 6467, Bergenfield, New Jersey, and a Past 
Commander-in-Chief. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I am in favor 
of this by-law.
    I think that one of the arguments that was made this 
morning quite articulately by the new Council member from 
California, was that we signed up so many Life Members last 
year as a result of the fact that the fee that was proposed by 
National had been defeated at the National Convention.
    We were very successful. We went over a million Life 
Members. I think we had the biggest increase in our Life 
Membership in the entire history of our organization. This By-
Law B-15, I don't know if you are all aware, has a provision in 
it that will not become effective until January 1st, 1998.
    The biggest influx of Life Members comes during the period 
of September, October, November and December. Those are the 
times for collecting annual dues and those are the times that 
the members have an opportunity to opt for Life Membership.
    We will do very well once again, and yet we will have 
addressed the integrity of the Life Member Fund. It gives us 
two opportunities. I stand in favor of B-15. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE GEORGE PALMATEER (Post 4171--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, George Palmateer, Post 4171, Colorado. I 
speak in favor of B-15. I like the idea of my Post being 
guaranteed $5.50 rather than $3.50. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE ROY HEATH (Post 10047--Nevada): Commander-in-Chief, 
Roy Heath, Post 10047, Las Vegas, Nevada, State Quartermaster 
for Nevada. We cannot continue to lose money in a small state 
like Nevada and operate our programs. That is the grassroots of 
this organization for our programs.
    Last year, when we defeated this, I went back to Las Vegas 
and talked to people. I had one comrade that was 45 years old, 
and he belongs to the American Legion Post, and it would cost 
him $540 to belong to the American Legion Post for the Life 
Membership.
    We need to raise it, and I speak in favor of this. We 
cannot continue to lose money and run our programs. Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE STEVE JACOBS (Post 5944--California): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Steve Jacobs, Senior Vice Commander 
from the Department of California, Post 5944. Comrades, I came 
to the microphone last year opposing any increase and the 
reason was because of the amount of the increase.
    This year I come in favor of this motion, because it is a 
reasonable increase and will do the Departments good. I believe 
we need to vote in favor of this increase. It will not hurt our 
Life Membership. I am totally in favor of this resolution. 
Thank you, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE CHARLIE SHORT (Post 832--Maine): Commander-in-
Chief, Charlie Short from Post 832, Maine. I stand in support 
of B-15. B-15 will be a separate plan from the existing plan. 
The existing plan, as we know it right now, is not on the 
financial distress, but we can no longer live on 1970 actuarial 
tables.
    There is nothing else in the world that we can live on in 
1970 pay-outs. You don't pay for anything in 1970 prices. But 
from 1970 to 1997, there has been at least a 25-percent 
increase in the life expectancy of our total population, 
comrades. We must accept the responsibility in looking at this 
plan and devising a reasonable fee structure, not attempting to 
live in 1970 values.
    I urgently request that you consider this plan. This is the 
start. This accepts our responsibilities to be active and we 
need to pass this plan. Thank you, comrades. Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief, for the opportunity to speak.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JOE RIDGLEY (Post 8220--Missouri): Commander-in-
Chief, I am Joe Ridgley, a delegate from Post 8220, Missouri. I 
just want to say before the question comes up, this by-law 
amendment was talked--I was asked about preparing the fees and 
asking the professional actuary to work the fees on B-15. I did 
that.
    I want you to know that the fees that are in the by-law are 
good fees for that pay-out. I think that we have debated this 
for two years and something needs to be done. I believe if you 
ask any Quartermaster who is in charge of the financial affairs 
of their state, they can tell you the same thing.
    The National for the financial integrity, there is not a 
question of fees, it is a question of the pay-outs that they 
receive back just like we receive dues from annual members. We 
have to start someplace. Let's get on with it. We have debated 
it long enough. I move the question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The question has been moved. Is 
there a second?
    COMRADE WILLIAM LONG (Post 6473--Mississippi): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We have a motion that has been 
duly seconded to move the question. All those in favor will 
signify by saying ``aye''; all those opposed by the same sign. 
The motion carries.
    The motion is to adopt B-15. Those in favor of the motion 
will signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. 
The motion carries and B-15 is adopted.
    Are there any other resolutions to be set aside?
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Thank you, 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief. I am Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, 
Department of Colorado. I move for the adoption of B-31. I 
would request that the proposed amendment be read to the 
members here.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Will you repeat that, Wayne, 
please?
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): I move 
adoption of B-31, which concerns limitations of actions.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Do I hear a second?
    COMRADE FRANK HARRIS (Post 5231--Colorado): I second that 
motion, Comrade Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It has been moved that B-31 be 
adopted. B-31 is now open for debate.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief. I am Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, Department 
of Colorado. I would like to have this read. I can do it myself 
or maybe the Chairman can read this. It is very short.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: Do you want me to read 
the comments?
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Read the 
proposal. Do you want me to read it?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: What are you asking for again, 
Wayne?
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): I would like 
to make sure that all the members here assembled know what the 
amendment is. If you would have it read, please.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: This is submitted by 
the Department of Colorado. It is B-31. Article IX--Discipline.
    ``Amend Article IX--Discipline, National By-Laws, by adding 
as a new section the following:
    ``Section 908--Limitations of Actions--Two Years.
    ``An action initiated accusing any member of committing an 
offense as set forth in Section 902 shall be commenced within 
two years after the cause of action accrues, not thereafter.''
    The comments of our Committee is that this proposal 
purports to establish a statute of limitations for offenses set 
forth in Section 902. In theory, a statute of limitations is an 
acceptable idea, but a two-year period may be too short, and 
there is no allowance made for the possibility that the offense 
hasn't been or couldn't be discovered.
    Having such a short period of time, and not having an 
exception where the offense has been or could be discovered in 
a two-year period, actively encourages offenses to cover up 
their theft or fraud. The longer they can hide it, the less 
likely they are to be punished. That was the Committee's 
comments.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Do you 
have any further comments, Wayne?
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Yes, sir. 
Thank you, Commander-in-Chief. The reason for this proposed 
amendment, comrades, is that in my experience over many, many 
years as the State Judge Advocate and prior to that the Deputy 
Judge Advocate of the Department of Colorado, we have issues 
that are raised that go back many, many years.
    We have to make inquiries and investigations, we have to 
decide if we want to take action or not. It is very disruptive. 
It creates animosity and enmity among us and divides us. We 
have some responsibility to treat our comrades fair and with 
justice.
    They have a right to be charged when we find out about the 
offense. They have a right to be disciplined on a timely basis, 
and the Department of Colorado, we brought the proposed bylaw 
amendment because we think strong about it. We waste many 
hours, days and weeks trying to resolve issues that go back 
forever.
    It is not appropriate. As an example, this two-year statute 
of limitation being appropriate, the Colorado Military Justice 
Code that we utilize and relates to the National Guard in our 
state provides for a statute of limitations of two years.
    Specifically, I would like to refer that to you at this 
time. ``A person charged with any offense under the code is not 
likely to be tried by court-martial or punished under Section 
283.114, if it was committed more than two years before the 
sworn charges and specifications by an officer exercising some 
court-martial jurisdiction over the command or punishment, 
under Section 283.114.''
    So if it is good for our comrades in the Guard in our 
state, it should be good for all of us. If we have an issue 
concerning a comrade, then that comrade should be charged on a 
timely basis and prosecuted, and either found guilty or not 
guilty. It has been too long.
    If we leave this issue open, it festers and creates 
dissention and problems within the VFW. I move adoption of this 
by-law. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE RON RUSKO (Post 9460--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Ron Rusko, Post 9460, Stratford, 
Connecticut. I rise in opposition to this by-law amendment. I 
think the National By-Law Committee did the right thing in 
asking this Convention to reject this by-law.
    What this does, it says that anyone who might have been a 
rapist, murderer, a thief, or someone that committed incest, 
and it says if you can keep that quiet, as a member of the VFW 
for two years, you are home free. They could never bring you up 
on charges.
    Obviously, we have a great organization. I think it is a 
very clean organization. I would like to see it stay that way 
and I hope that you, this delegation, will reject this by-law. 
Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE LYNN HALL (Post 6240--Kansas): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Lynn Hall, Post 6240, Department of Kansas State 
Commander. As a Past Judge Advocate and as a Judge of a 
District Court of Kansas, I rise in favor of this proposal, 
basically, because as an example several years ago I sat in 
front of a court-martial convened at National on a comrade who 
was charged with an offense six years before he was a member of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    At the time the comrade was charged, he was Senior Vice 
Commander of the Department on his way in as commander. The 
time element in there seemed unfair and unfitting because if he 
has a felony count in civil court or criminal court that is 
seven years.
    Perhaps I may be inclined to kind of agree two years is not 
sufficient, but I do concur that we do need a time limitation 
on this. After conversation with the member of the By-Laws 
Committee last night, I am hopeful should this resolution not 
pass, that the By-Laws Committee will come to this Convention 
next year with one that provides some statute of limitation. It 
never occurred to me that a Quartermaster could hide his 
actions for two years and get by with it. I rise in favor of 
the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Lynn.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE GLEN GARDNER (Post 3359--Texas): I stand in 
opposition to the passage of this by-law. As the Chairman of 
the By-Laws Committee stated, the disciplinary action of our 
by-laws is a very serious portion of our by-laws. It should be 
taken that way.
    We should have the opportunity, should we find that a 
member of this great organization has committed an offense 
under this by-law, whether, two, three or four years ago, to go 
after that individual and do what needs to be done in the best 
interest of this organization to serve. I do not believe that a 
two-year time limit put on this would serve this organization 
well, and I hope the delegates will vote ``no'' on this 
proposal.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JOHN CANFIELD (Post 1999--California): I speak in 
support of the Committee's recommendation to reject the 
resolution. Comrades, two years time, a limitation of two years 
is not enough, because it takes time to know whether an offense 
actually occurs, and if it is a serious offense, then let's 
give our organization the necessary number of years to correct 
or investigate this situation. I urge support of the 
Committee's recommendation to reject.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE LARRY ZIEBARTH (Post 6843--Minnesota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Larry Ziebarth, Post 6843, Princeton, 
Minnesota. We had a comrade in our Post that over a four-year 
period of time embezzled $281,000. We spend two and one-half 
years getting in court with him. By setting a time limit of two 
years, it is just not enough time. I rise to oppose this 
resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WALTER DAVIS (Post 10694--California): Commander-
in-Chief, I am Walter Davis, Post 10694, Department of 
California. I say let the Department of Colorado come back next 
year with a two-year limitation, but after discovery or after 
reasonable diligence should have discovered the offense. Thank 
you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE ART SHULL (Post 2843--North Carolina): I move for 
the question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: There is a motion to move the 
question.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JAMES CARLISLE (Post 10097--Florida): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The motion to move the question 
has been duly seconded. Those in favor of moving the question 
will signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. 
The motion carries. The motion is to adopt B-31. Those in favor 
of adopting B-31 will signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed 
by the sign of ``no''. The Chair rules that B-31 is rejected.
    Any other resolutions to be set aside? Seeing no one at the 
microphones, we will move into the Manual.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: In the Manual of 
Procedure, Commander-in-Chief, the Committee felt that Proposed 
Amendments M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, M-5, M-7 and M-8 were 
housekeeping in nature and dealt with the preparation and 
submission of budgets, financial reports and inspection forms. 
I move they be adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN STAUM: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, John Staum, Post 9625, Grand Rapids, Minnesota. I second 
that recommendation.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The motion is to adopt. Those in 
favor of the adoption will signify by saying ``aye''; those 
opposed by the sign of ``no''. The motion carries and they are 
adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, the Committee recommends the rejection of M-6, M-9, M-
10, M-11 and M-12.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DOMINIC ROMANO (Post 7330--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I would like to move the adoption of M-11.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Which one do you want to set 
aside?
    COMRADE DOMINIC ROMANO (Post 7330--Connecticut): M-11, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: M-11 will be set aside.
    COMRADE DOMINIC ROMANO (Post 7330--Connecticut): I move for 
its adoption.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You are moving for its adoption?
    COMRADE DOMINIC ROMANO (Post 7330--Connecticut): Yes.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Now, I need a second.
    COMRADE RON RUSKO (Post 9460--Connecticut): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Now, M-11, having been duly 
seconded, is open for debate.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DOMINIC ROMANO (Post 733--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, during the Second World War the United 
States and Great Britain awarded, the American Campaign Medal 
to every service personnel who went overseas for 30 days, and 
that medal was awarded from December 7, 1941, to March 2, 1946.
    I would just like to bring to your attention the simple 
fact that this is a medal that was given or awarded for 
overseas duty and it was awarded for non-overseas duty. I have 
brought it up since 1980 and, of course, it has not been 
successful.
    The NDSM is a very similar method. It is awarded since the 
Korean War to service personnel who served overseas as well as 
those who never left the Continental United States. Many 
comments were made at that time, were we going to have a Boy 
Scout group?
    Why do you want non-combatants in the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars? Very simply, Comrade Commander-in-Chief, we have had non-
combatants in the Veterans of Foreign Wars since December 8, 
1941. I take Hawaii for an example. Millions and millions of 
service personnel went to Hawaii, and if you want to ask me 
about it, I was one of them that went to Hawaii. I was awarded 
the American Campaign Medal.
    Was it hazardous? No. Was it combatant? No. Was it 
important? It was very important at that particular time 
because that was the supply depot for the Pacific. That is 
where we started off in Midway and went all the way to Japan.
    In England, the same thing happened. You gentlemen were 
loading up the bombs and things so we could bomb Germany and 
eventually take over Europe. These were mostly non-combatants 
that served in England. There have been many, many instances 
where we have been accepting non-combatants in the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars.
    We accepted the occupation of Japan in '52. We accepted 
Germany up to 1955. These were mostly non-combatant. So we have 
set a precedent, my comrades. All I can say to you is that I 
think that the time has come that we should give more 
consideration to the National Combat Service Medal.
    If we listened the other day when the head of the Veterans 
Administration came to our Convention, he brought up the fact 
that World War II veterans are 75 years of age or more. The 
Korean veterans are 65 or more. The Vietnam veterans are 55 or 
more.
    It doesn't take a very brilliant man to figure out what is 
going to happen. I happen to be a World War II veteran. I know 
that within the next ten years our ranks will be decimated. We 
have over one million World War II veterans in the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars.
    I would say we are going to lose about a half million, 
maybe three quarters of a million between now and then. We have 
to give consideration of making our organization stronger. If 
you remember the head of our Joint Chief of Staff the other 
evening made the comment he was so proud of our service 
personnel in Bosnia.
    He also made the comment that 27 areas of the country, of 
the whole world, there are veterans there or service personnel 
serving there. He was proud of all of them. Many of those are 
not eligible to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    Do they have any combat? They would not give them the Armed 
Forces Expeditionary Medal, but each and every one has the 
National Defense Service Medal. We have never given 
consideration to our service personnel in Eastern Europe who 
were under the guns of atomic warhead, the submarines that we 
had in the magazine, where we chased the Russians all over the 
seas.
    Our savior in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, because I don't 
believe in a last man organization there will always be 
conflicts, there will always be veterans and not necessarily 
will be veterans that will join our organization. As far as I 
am concerned, we should reach out to these veterans.
    There are over ten million who have earned the National 
Defense Service Medal with overseas duties, and we can either 
do it now or we are going to do it later, but we are going to 
eventually do it. I ask that you accept M-11.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Dominic. Before we 
continue the debate, I am going to ask the Chairman to read M-
11 so all the delegates understand what we are talking about 
here.
    Mr. Chairman.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: Thank you, Commander-
in-Chief. I apologize for not reading the proposal submitted by 
the Department of Connecticut. It is Section 101--Eligibility
    ``Amend Section 101, Manual of Procedure, by adding at the 
end of the section, a new eligibility category as follows:
    ``National Defense Service Medal--27 June, 1950 to a date 
to be determined (30 consecutive days or 60 days not 
consecutive duty outside the continental limits of the United 
States).''
    Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE FRANK MARTIN (Post 4750--Oregon): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Frank Martin, Post 4750, Department of 
Oregon. I speak in opposition to this proposal. As an active 
military member of the United States Air Force, I was awarded 
the NDSM in the service of Korea, but at the same during the 
cold war, Desert Shield operation, and sometime afterwards, 
approximately 8,927 people went through basic training at 
Lackland Air Force Base were granted that same medal.
    You can figure approximately 45 to 55 percent of them went 
overseas later, but not before the award of the medal. There is 
no way in this proposal that you can verify that these people 
who have the NDSM have 30 consecutive days overseas service. I 
speak in opposition to this proposal. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DONALD LINSCOTT (Post 1603--Maine): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Don Linscott, Post 1603, Ogden, Maine. I 
also rise, as I have done so for the last 18 years, in 
opposition to this particular recommendation. I really hate to 
disagree with my fellow comrade Dominic. We seem to agree on 
most everything else.
    However, the foundation of our organization is built out of 
all kinds of pretty little things that history tells us 
fascinating tales and the knights in the crusades and the 
reason we joined it because nobody can better understand our 
language than fellow veterans. As I have always said before, 
most of us belong to the American Legion. I dare say most of us 
are here and stronger in the VFW because of the individual 
pride in the Association that we have. If you want to change 
the name of the organization to the Veterans of Foreign 
Service, so be it, but as long as we carry the title the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, be proud of it 
and forget about taking members in strictly to strengthen the 
organization.
    Back in 1952 when I took my obligation, I was told there 
could be no more award, and that we would reach that day when 
nobody else is eligible for the VFW, because at that time, 
gentlemen, there would be a long world peace and that above all 
is what we are striving for. I hope you will all join me in 
rejection of this motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DONALD O'CONNOR (Post 9066--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Donald O'Connor, Department of Connecticut, 
Post 9066, Franklin, Connecticut. I urge every comrade in this 
room to vote in favor of M-11.
    In 1948, I joined the Navy. After boot camp, I was sent to 
New London, Connecticut, to train for submarine aircraft. After 
I reported aboard the US Senate, after the US Conchita was 
sunk. Another sub, the US Stang came alongside and saved 
everyone aboard, but they lost several of their own crew, but 
no medals.
    In later years, we lost two more submarines, the Pressure 
and the Scorpion. These men did not want to die, but they were 
out there doing their job. I was on another submarine that went 
through the Kiel Canal in Germany in 1951, and we all receive 
the European Occupation Medal, which you all know made me 
eligible to join the VFW.
    In later years, I served aboard the fleet ballistic missile 
submarines, which within a minute could have lost missiles on 
targets that to this day I don't know what they were. My 
service, the silent service was constantly out there and as 
were many other armed forces, and they still are.
    Comrades, there were no medals given except one, the 
National Defense Ribbon. Comrades, given my service and many 
others in the history of this organization, and many will serve 
this organization in the manner they served this great country 
of ours. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE GLEN GARDNER (Post 3359--Texas): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Glen Gardner, Post 3359, Garland, Texas. I stand in 
opposition to this by-law change. I think there are a lot of 
eligible veterans out there that have not been signed up yet. 
Do I think that our great organization will die away? No.
    I think that honest debate should take place in the years 
to come on how we maintain this great organization not only for 
the communities that we serve, but for the families that we 
will still be serving in the armed services in the years to 
come. However, I have a problem with the National Defense 
Service Medal in the fact that I believe what will happen is 
most will not look any further on the 214, other than the medal 
section, and they will see the National Defense Service Medal 
and they will sign someone up.
    Then someone will come back later and say, ``Well, it 
happens every once in a while.'' Now, with the American Theater 
Ribbon, he didn't serve overseas. That is a problem I have with 
it. I believe that it should be an honest debate about opening 
the eligibility ranks up, but this is not the way to do it. I 
encourage the delegates to vote ``no'' on this proposal.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE CHARLES THROWER (Post 3838--Missouri): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Charles Thrower, Post 3838, Department of 
Missouri. I rise in opposition to this resolution for one 
reason. We are the elite veterans organization in this country. 
I would like to see it stay that way. We don't want to change 
the name of this organization. We are the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars. I move the question. Thank you, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You are moving the question?
    COMRADE CHARLES THROWER (Post 3838--Missouri): Yes, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you.
    Microphone No. 1.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT (Post 9972--Arizona): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Gunner Kent, a delegate from Post 
9972, Sierra Vista, Arizona. We fight this every year. I am 
glad to second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It has been moved and seconded to 
move the question. Those in favor of moving the question will 
signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. The 
motion carries. We will move the question. The motion is to 
adopt M-11. Those in favor of adopting M-11 will signify by 
saying ``aye''; those opposed by the sign of ``no''. The Chair 
rules that M-11 is rejected.
    Any others to be set aside?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, a point of clarification. M-13 was announced as being 
approved, and it was approved. Under the Ritual, the Committee 
recommends adoption of R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, R-8, R-9, 
R-10 and R-12. Commander-in-Chief, I move adoption of those.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN STAUM (Post 9625--Minnesota): 
I will second that recommendation.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion to adopt 
R-2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. Seeing no one at the 
microphones, those in favor of adopting these procedures will 
signify by saying ``aye''. Those opposed by the sign of ``no''. 
The motion carries. They are adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, the Committee recommends rejection of R-1, R-11, R-13, 
R-14, and R-15.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Seeing no one at the microphones, 
they are rejected.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JACK CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, since the By-Laws Committee just went into the Guinness 
Book of Records, having been here for four straight days, we 
certainly thank you, Commander-in-Chief, for allowing us to be 
your Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Let's give them a hand. I think 
they have done a wonderful job. (Applause) The Committee is 
discharged. Chairman Jack Carney, thanks for a wonderful job 
and Vice-Chairman John Staum, thank you.
    I will now call on the Chairman of the Committee on Finance 
and Internal Organization, Past Commander-in-Chief Ted C. 
Connell, for his Committee Report.

        REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TED CONNELL: Thank you, sir. My Co-
Chairman is John W. Mahan, Past Commander-in-Chief. John, will 
you come forward. Will the Committee on Finance and Internal 
Organization please stand within the audience. Thank you very 
much. We asked that they be here and they are. All who are not 
here, please turn in your check that you received for expenses. 
(Laughter)
    I will follow the procedures of this Convention and tell 
you which of the resolutions that we adopted first. I will go 
to the rejections and the set asides. Our Committee agreed to 
adopt Resolutions 204 and 206.
    Sir, I move the adoption of those two resolutions.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN MAHAN: I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion to adopt 
Resolutions 204 and 206. Seeing no one at the microphones, 
those in favor of adoption of 204 and 206 will signify by 
saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. They are 
adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TED CONNELL: We have no amendments 
to any resolutions, but under due consideration we bring to you 
the rejection of the following resolutions: Resolution 201, we 
voted to reject. No. 202, reject; 203, reject; 205, reject in 
favor of 206, which you just adopted.
    Resolution 207, reject; 208, reject; 209, reject; 210, 
reject; 211, reject.
    Commander-in-Chief, I move that the Committee's report be 
adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN MAHAN: I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Seeing no one at the microphones, 
they are automatically rejected.
    Past Commander-in-Chief Ted Connell, Chairman, and Past 
Commander-in-Chief John Mahan, Vice-Chairman, your Committee is 
discharged with my thanks. Thank you for a job well come.
    We will now have Past Commander-in-Chief Walter G. Hogan 
come forward for his Report on General Resolutions.

               REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON GENERAL RESOLUTIONS

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALTER HOGAN: Thank you, Commander-
in-Chief. We have been charged with General Resolutions Nos. 
301 through 317. As called for under the procedures, I will 
read those that have been accepted.
    The following resolutions were accepted by the Committee: 
No. 302, No. 303, No. 304, No. 306, No. 309, No. 311, No. 313, 
No. 314, No. 315, No. 316 and No. 317. No. 315 is concerned 
with the commemorative stamp recognizing the 100th Anniversary 
of the Spanish American War of 1898. That is No. 315.
    (Whereupon, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Moon assumed the 
chair at this time.)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: We will set aside 
Nos.315, 316 and 317 at the present time, so they can review 
the matter real quickly. How do you feel about the others?
    Back to you, Comrade Hogan.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOGAN: Comrade Commander, I move 
the adoption of those recommended, with the exception of 315, 
316 and 317, which we set aside.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Is there a second to 
the motion?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN MAHAN: I second it. SENIOR 
VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Any discussion on the motion?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PAUL CROTEAU (Post 8203--Florida): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Paul Croteau, Post 8203, North Port, 
Florida. I ask to be set aside Resolution No. 312 for 
explanation and reconsideration.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Comrade, I can't 
understand anything that you are saying. Please speak more 
distinctly into the microphone.
    COMRADE PAUL CROTEAU (Post 8203--Florida): I am Paul 
Croteau, Post 8203, North Port, Florida. I ask to set aside 
Resolution No. 312 for explanation and reconsideration.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: It is not under 
consideration, sir. Your motion is out of order.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALTER HOGAN: The motion is to 
adopt 302, 303, 304, 306, 309, 311, 313 and 314.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Do we have a second to 
that motion to adopt? Did we have it before? I am not sure.
    COMRADE GENE MANFREY (Post 6827--Florida): I would like to 
second the motion.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: We have a motion that 
has been duly made and seconded. Those in favor of the adoption 
of the resolutions just read, will signify by saying ``aye''; 
those opposed by the same sign. They are adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALTER HOGAN: They tell me I will 
have to read 315, 316 and 317 in their entirety.
    Resolution 315 deals with a commemorative stamp recognizing 
the 100th Anniversary of the Spanish-American War of 1898.
    ``WHEREAS, the 100th Anniversary of the Spanish-American 
War will take place in 1998; and
    ``WHEREAS, the Spanish-American War marked the United 
States'' emergence as a world power, a status it holds to this 
day; and
    ``WHEREAS, 72,339 Americans served in the U.S. armed forces 
overseas during the war, and 345 were killed in action, 1,577 
wounded in action and 2,621 died of disease; and
    ``WHEREAS, the men who founded the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States in 1899 were Spanish-American War 
veterans; and
    ``WHEREAS, the U.S. government should recognize this 
historic anniversary with a well-publicized and far-reaching 
gesture;
    ``NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States that we petition the 
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee in support of any existing 
efforts to create a commemorative stamp honoring the 100th 
Anniversary of the Spanish-American War.''
    I move its adoption.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Is there a second?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAUL SPERA (Post 144--
Massachusetts): I second it.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Any discussion on the 
motion? You have heard the motion that has been seconded. All 
those in favor will signify by ``aye''; all those opposed will 
signify by saying ``no''. The motion carries.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALTER HOGAN: No. 316 deals with 
the World War II National Memorial.
    ``WHEREAS, World War II was one of the great defining 
events in this country's history when the people of the United 
States met this threat with an extraordinary display of unity, 
courage and resolve; and
    ``WHEREAS, before the war ended, more than 16 million 
Americans served in uniform and some 400,000 made the supreme 
sacrifice in defense of freedom; and
    ``WHEREAS, Congress in 1993 authorized such a memorial and 
on Veterans Day 1995, President Clinton dedicated the site by 
sprinkling soil from 14 overseas World War II cemeteries where 
approximately 160,000 Americas are remembered;
    ``NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States strongly and enthusiastically 
support the World War II Memorial site location between the 
Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial on the National 
Mall referred to as the Rainbow Pool site; and
    ``BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we encourage swift approval of 
the revised design concept so that the memorial can be 
dedicated early in the next century.''
    I move for its adoption.
    COMRADE LARRY SCUDDER (Post 1273--South Dakota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Larry Scudder, Department of South Dakota, 
Post 1273, a member of this Committee. I second the motion.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: It has been moved and 
seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing no one at the 
microphones, I call for the vote. All those in favor will 
signify by saying ``aye''; all those opposed will signify by 
saying ``no''. The motion carries.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALTER HOGAN: The last one is 
Resolution 317 which provides for the maintenance and upkeep of 
the USS Maine Memorial in Key West, Florida, by the Department 
of the Navy.
    ``WHEREAS, the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana's harbor 
in 1898 sparked the Spanish-American War; and
    ``WHEREAS, a memorial recognizing this event is located in 
Key West, Florida, and is the property of the U.S. Navy; and
    ``WHEREAS, in recent times this memorial has not been 
maintained properly;
    ``NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States that we go on record as being 
supportive of the continued maintenance of the USS Maine 
Memorial in Key Largo, Florida, by the Department of the U.S. 
Navy.''
    I move for its adoption.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: You have heard the 
motion. Is there a second?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE DEAN WHITE (Post 27--Department of Europe): I 
second it.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: We have a motion and a 
second. Is there any discussion? I see no one at the 
microphones. Hearing no discussion, I will call for the vote. 
All those in favor will signify by saying ``aye''; all those 
opposed will signify by saying ``no''. The motion carries.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALTER HOGAN: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, that concludes the report of this Committee. I would 
like to thank the Vice-Chairman of this Committee, Past 
National Commander-in-Chief R. D. ``Bulldog'' Smith, Past 
National Commander-in-Chief Bob Currieo, and Past Commander-in-
Chief Paul Spera.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, Department of 
Colorado. Unless I missed something, I didn't hear the 
Committee read the list of rejected proposed resolutions.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: The Chairman said he 
thought he read the list of rejections. We will now go to the 
list of rejections that were brought forth.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALTER HOGAN: Comrade Commander, 
the Committee recommends rejection of Resolutions 301, 305, 
307, 308, 310 and 312.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: The recommendation is 
those resolutions read be rejected. Seeing no one at the 
microphones, the recommendation set forth by the Chairman will 
stand. Those resolutions are rejected.

PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF CONGRATULATIONS--50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                        UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: At this time it is a 
great honor to introduce the Air Force's 50th Anniversary Award 
recipient.
    Born on September 18, 1947, the United States Air Force has 
been flying high ever since. For 50 years, it has played a 
major role in preserving our freedom and democracy. From the 
Berlin airlift to the air war of Operation Desert Storm, it has 
fulfilled the hopes and dreams of its founders, and today, from 
military satellites high above our heads, it is leading the 
technological revolution in warfare that will ensure America's 
position as the greatest military power in the world.
    At our VFW National Convention in 1948, just one year after 
its founding, the Air Force Chief of Staff, Hoyt S. Vandenburg 
said, ``The Air Force is flexed for war, yet it is never 
forgetful of its role as a keeper of peace.''
    Today as they celebrate their 50th anniversary, the men and 
women of the United States Air Force can take great pride in 
what they have accomplished. They were always ready for war if 
war came, and they have kept the peace.
    We are honored today to have with us another great leader 
of the United States Air Force, General Eugene E. Habiger, 
Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force 
Base, Nebraska. He has the responsibility for all Air Force and 
Navy strategic nuclear forces.
    He began his military career as an Army Infantryman and 
then switched over to the Air Force. He logged many hours of 
combat time in Vietnam as a B-52 pilot flying the arc light 
missions.
    Here to accept the VFW Certificate of Congratulations to 
the men and women of the United States Air Force is General 
Habiger.
    Veterans of Foreign Wars Certificate of Congratulations 
presented to United State Air Force.
    ``In special recognition of its venerable status as a 
highly respected branch of the Armed Forces of the United 
States and in commemoration of its 50th Anniversary we salute 
the men and women of the U.S. Air Force who through their 
patriotism, dedication and service have created the most 
successful Air Force in history, preserving peace and defending 
democracy around the world through air superiority.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.''
    This has been signed by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, 
and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General.

                    RESPONSE--GENERAL EUGENE HABIGER

    GENERAL HABIGER: Thanks very much, John. It is indeed, 
ladies and gentlemen, a privilege and an honor to stand before 
you today, to be among so many heroes, patriots, and each and 
every one of you gave a very significant part of your lives so 
that America can be free.
    For me to come here and accept this award on behalf of the 
men and women of the United States Air Force, this is a big 
deal. I will tell you as I was in the back listening to you go 
through your by-laws, I had no idea that you were such a rowdy 
group. I am impressed. I applaud you for that.
    I would also tell you that I looked through John and your 
Commander-in-Chief's biographies, and we came in the Army the 
same year, 1959. He stayed in for over 22 years, and after two 
years of wallowing at Fort Benning, Georgia, he decided to get 
out and go the better life.
    Ladies and gentlemen, this recognition is a big, big deal, 
as I said. We are young compared to our colleagues in the Army, 
Navy and Marine Corps. We are young compared to your 
organization which can trace its troops back 100 years. Our Air 
Force molded its legacy in the fire of battle in World War II.
    We have proven ourselves time and time again in places like 
Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Bosnia, and very much instrumental 
with all the other services to help win the longest war this 
country has ever fought, the cold war. Your support is 
invaluable. I want to underscore invaluable.
    Twenty years ago, two out of every three members of 
Congress had a military background. Today, two out of three 
members of Congress do not have a military background. 
Organizations like yours put the issues that are very important 
in our national defense on everybody's periscope. What you do 
with your scholarship programs, your Speak for Democracy 
program is truly memorable. Our young people today need this.
    Ladies and gentlemen, beginning three years ago the 
services started to teach young people coming into the military 
core values. We had to teach the young people coming in the 
military about integrity, loyalty, work ethics, and we should 
not be teaching those young people that are coming into the 
military.
    Hopefully, with the kinds of programs that you have 
developed we will not have to do that for many years to come. 
You hold up what is most dear to us, freedom and equality. You, 
better than any other group, understand the brutality of war, 
just what the professional arms means in terms of integrity, 
loyalty, loyalty goes up the chain of command and down the 
chain of command.
    You understand why we need a credible, strong and realistic 
military force, both today and tomorrow. You, ladies and 
gentlemen, have made my life as a senior leader much easier. I 
salute you for that. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind as 
the Air Force celebrates its 100th birthday 50 years from now, 
the senior Air Force leader, probably not me, will stand before 
you and again say this is a big, big deal. Thank you very much. 
(Applause)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Thank you, again, 
General. We appreciate the contributions that each and every 
member of the United States Air Force does each and every day 
to preserve our freedom.

    PRESENTATION BY MARCH OF DIMES REPRESENTATIVE TO DEPARTMENTS OF 
                       MARYLAND AND NORTH DAKOTA

    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Service to veterans, 
service to our communities and service to our nation are what 
the VFW is all about, and that is why these next presentations 
mean so much to all of us. This morning we are going to 
recognize two of our VFW Departments and two VFW Posts for the 
outstanding contributions they made to the March of Dimes this 
past year.
    Here to make the presentations is Stanley R. Brewer, a 
March of Dimes volunteer since 1970. During that time he has 
served in several positions on the greater Salt Lake City 
Chapter of the March of Dimes, and today serves on its 
Executive Committee.
    In addition to his work with the March of Dimes, Mr. Brewer 
is also active in many civic programs, including church work 
and the Boy Scouts of America. His professional affiliations 
include: Senior Vice-President in Charge of Operations at the 
Associated Food Stores, Incorporated, here in Salt Lake City, 
President of the EMC Land Group, and a member of the Board of 
the Wesco Company.
    Please join me in giving a warm VFW welcome to Mr. Stanley 
R. Brewer of the March of Dimes. (Applause)
    MR. STANLEY BREWER: Thank you, John. It is good to be with 
you this morning. I spent yesterday in Atlanta, Georgia, with a 
company that was trying to define their mission statement, and 
we spent most of the day to come up with a few words provided 
in that statement for a publication.
    I walk in here today and I look at what hangs over that 
door on the right. ``We'd Do Anything For This Country.'' That 
is short, that is succinct, and I compliment you for it. It is 
well said. I might add you have done everything for your 
country and in working with the VFW I realize that you are 
still committed to do great and wonderful things.
    I serve on the Board of Trustees for the March of Dimes and 
with me on that Board is P. X. Kelly. General Kelly would have 
been the logical person to make these awards today, but could 
not get away from Washington. I want you to know that as a Salt 
Laker you are very welcome here. We appreciate your coming.
    When your people were looking at this as a potential 
Convention site, we apologized and said that the sidewalks are 
rolled up at 10:00 o'clock, and your leadership said, ``I hope 
there is not a ceremony because most of our people are in bed 
by that time.''
    I am proud to be here with you today and the VFW has been a 
dedicated supporter of the March of Dimes since its inception 
by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938. Henry Ford once said, 
``You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.'' 
And that's true.
    Thanks to your support and the support of the millions of 
volunteers, we have built a reputation to build on success. 
Through the combined efforts of scientists, staff and 
volunteers like you, the March of Dimes has accomplished many 
life-saving breakthroughs for babies, breakthroughs like polio 
vaccine, like the intensive care units in thousands of 
hospitals around the nation for babies, like the surfactant 
therapy that helps premature babies that was brought about by 
the March of Dimes funded researchers, efforts of nitrous oxide 
that saved the lives of babies with lung disorders.
    Despite those remarkable breakthroughs, and the fact that 
the infant mortality rate is the lowest it has ever been in our 
history, there are 150,000 babies born with birth defects each 
year. A low birth rate baby is born every two moments.
    Together we must continue to work so that these babies, so 
that every baby gets a chance for a healthy start in life. 
Thanks, veterans, for standing with us on the front lines and 
helping to do battle with birth defects and other disorders 
that jeopardize the lives and health of American babies.
    You are our partners and our allies in this fight to save 
babies lives. Your longstanding dedication to the cause of 
healthier babies is both moving and appreciated as much so as 
your service to our country on foreign shores. Perhaps Jonas 
Salk, the father of the polio vaccine said it best, when he 
said, ``The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do 
more.''
    We thank you for six decades of work well done, for walking 
and raising money, in walk-a-thon events across the country, 
for sending your people as color guards to kick off March of 
Dimes meetings around the nation, and for all of your time and 
effort in support of the March of Dimes mission.
    We hope that you will accept the opportunity to do more and 
help the March of Dimes find vital research funds. Whether we 
look it to our proud past and the milestones achieved, to the 
challenges we face today, or to those that we are prepared for 
in the future, one thing is clear. We can count on the veterans 
as our dependable citizen soldiers in the fight to save babies 
lives. Thank you.
    I am very pleased to take the opportunity to introduce 
special people and award them and thank them for what they have 
done. Vetta Loveland is the national liaison between the VFW 
and the March of Dimes. There are two categories of awards. One 
is raising money for the financial support for the March of 
Dimes.
    We have this year back for the second time in a row, and 
one of several appearances, one of the leading fund-raisers in 
the nation, the Maryland VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary. We have 
Thomas Bunting, the State Commander, and Mary Kobal, their 
Auxiliary President, to receive the award. Mary and Thomas, we 
cannot thank you enough for the work and efforts that you did 
to raise more money than any other state in that regard.
    Our second place in this competition is North Dakota, the 
North Dakota VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary. Representing them 
here is Richard Belling and the Auxiliary President Phyllis 
Kinsvogel. Thank you, Richard and Phyllis.
    The second award offered is that for outstanding support of 
the March of Dimes mission. These are the people that will let 
people know what has to be done, let them know what they must 
do to provide for healthy babies.
    The first place for outstanding support for the March of 
Dimes mission was the Salisbury Maryland Post 194 and their 
Ladies Auxiliary. With us, we have Jack Lewis, the Commander, 
and Leigh Riddles, the Auxiliary President. I will have to 
hesitate here for a moment. Thanks to Jack and Leigh.
    The last, but certainly not the least, Post No. 5228, 
Smiths, Alabama, is number two in outstanding support for the 
March of Dimes mission, and their Ladies Auxiliary. I am sorry. 
I don't have their names. Are they with us today? They are. We 
have the Post Chairman, Bob Wise, and from the Ladies Auxiliary 
Louise Wise. He said Casey Miner and Mike Stockard are the 
people that really made it happen. Thanks for being with us 
today. We love you.

   PRESENTATION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S SPECIAL AWARD TO MACH 1, INC.

    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: In recent years, our 
VFW Calendar Program has grown by leaps and bounds, and much of 
that success is due to the fine artwork incorporated into those 
calendars. However, fine artwork costs money and if we had had 
to pay for all that artwork, the returns from that program 
would have been somewhat less, and we would not have been able 
to serve our veterans in the manner they deserve.
    The same applies to our VFW Operation Uplink Program, 
through which we give telephone cards to active duty personnel 
overseas. The artwork for that card was also given to us free 
of charge, and that is why I am so happy to make this next 
presentation.
    Please join me in honoring MACH 1, Inc., a company known 
for its military artwork and its generosity toward America's 
veterans.
    Here to accept the award is the founder and chief executive 
officer, Paul P. Farsai.
    ``Commander-in-Chief's Special Award presented to MACH 1, 
Inc., in recognition of their continued support of the VFW and 
VFW Foundation Projects.'' This has been dated August 20, 1997, 
by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars.

                       RESPONSE--MR. PAUL FARSAI

    MR. PAUL FARSAI: Good morning. Thank you very much for such 
a wonderful award. We were very surprised that we were going to 
receive this. We are very honored to be here. Our contribution 
is a drop in the ocean. You are the ones that have done it for 
this country and what we have done is very minor.
    We have devoted ourselves for the last 11 years promoting 
the image, a very, very positive image of the armed forces. We 
have been recognized by Senators and Congressmen, and the 
Department of Defense for our contribution in creating a 
positive image for the armed forces. We were honored to provide 
their 40th Anniversary Book called ``Summer'', and last year we 
were honored for the book for the 50th Anniversary of the Blue 
Angels called ``Blue Angels.'' Our products are displayed in 
every exchange worldwide and every museum worldwide. We thank 
you very much. And, again, I said our contribution is very 
minor.
    The last thing I would like to read to you, and I did not 
plan to refer to this, it came to my head, I prepared a few 
words for this beautiful ceremony for MACH 1. These are from 
the most wonderful people in the country. I brought a copy of 
our mission statement that MACH 1 has. I would like to read it 
to you.
    ``MACH 1, Incorporated, is a publishing company dedicated 
to serving God and country. We strive to maintain this for our 
employees, our customers and our suppliers in our country. We 
are committed to using our imaging and creativity to promote 
the word of God and the strength of our nation. It would be 
innovative in our approach to follow the principals of dignity 
and be a model of excellence.''
    Again, on behalf of the corporation, I thank you very much 
for honoring us, to have us here. You have done it all. We are 
just a small company helping you accomplish what you want.

   PRESENTATION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S SPECIAL AWARD TO MR. THOMAS 
                                KINKADE

    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Christmas is a 
wonderful time of year, but what would it be like without 
Christmas cards, those cheerful, heartwarming messages of love, 
affection and friendship that bring us all together even when 
we are miles apart.
    It was in that spirit that the VFW began its Christmas Card 
Program several years ago. Since then it has grown and through 
it our Departments have raised the funds to support our 
Veterans Service Program.
    The key to success in this program is the quality of the 
cards we offer, and that quality is based on the artwork which 
is so much a part of the message the card carries.
    We have been very fortunate for the past two years in 
having the artwork of a nationally recognized artist appear on 
our holiday cards. Today it gives me great pleasure to present 
our next VFW award to Thomas Kinkade, who has donated his work 
to the VFW Christmas Card Program.
    Through his unique style of painting, Mr. Kinkade has 
become known as the painter of light, and his work has also 
appeared in movies and books, and he is recognized as America's 
most collected living artist.
    It is a great honor for me to present this VFW 
distinguished award to an artist whose spiritual faith has been 
the inspiration for his work. At this time I would like to 
present to you Thomas Kinkade.

                      RESPONSE--MR. THOMAS KINKADE

    MR. THOMAS KINKADE: Thank you. I first want to say that for 
a group this size and with this many dedicated Americans, to 
bring an artist from California to the stage is a very brave 
thing to do. I don't know what it is, but I have been around 
artists all my life.
    There is a word for artists. That word is weird. Artists as 
a rule are people who have not as a general thing contributed 
to others, instead have created art for their own benefit. I 
will tell you it is really a shame because as I think of the 
role of an artist in our culture, it is very akin to the role 
of a veteran.
    An artist is a protector and a preserver of a way of life. 
Think of the power a painting can have to touch a life. I mean 
a movie is created and we go see the movie and for 90 minutes 
it affects our life. A book is created, and you read the book 
and it affects your life for a couple of hours, and then we put 
the book back on the shelf.
    A song, we listen to it and it could inspire us, but at a 
certain point the song is over and you forget about that music. 
A painting is there forever. It is an heirloom that is in the 
home, it is passed down from generation to generation. In fact, 
I often have people come to my shows and tell me, ``Gee, I need 
to get three paintings because I have three children. I want to 
pass them on.''
    That is why I love all those Mormon collectors. They just 
keep having kids, you know, and they keep buying paintings 
every year, and Catholics, too. It is wonderful. Art can affect 
lives, it can touch lives in a deep way. Think back, if you 
will, some of you World War II veterans, to the impact that the 
paintings, for example, of Norman Rockwell had during World War 
II.
    You know in the beginning stages of the war some of you 
remember there was great dissolution that set in in our 
country. There was almost a sense that, gee, why have we 
embarked on this great battle? Is this worth the effort? At 
that time, Franklin Roosevelt delivered his famous four freedom 
speech.
    He outlined four basic freedoms that the war was being 
mainly fought for: freedom from fear, freedom from want, 
freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Yet when he 
delivered that speech, there was a sense that those concepts 
were so lofty and so high and so unintelligible to the average 
person that people would ask themselves, ``Well, gee, what does 
that really mean to me?''
    Then Norman Rockwell had the inspiration to paint his 
famous four freedom paintings. They brought those lofty 
concepts down to the place where every person could understand 
them. Freedom from what? A family gathered around the table at 
Thanksgiving celebrating the abundance that we have in this 
beautiful country of ours, freedom of religion, people 
gathering around worshipping in their own way, each to the 
dictates of their own conscience.
    Freedom of speech, a man stands up at the town meeting and 
expresses his beliefs, even though perhaps he is saying 
something that may not be shared by everybody in the audience, 
but still he has that freedom in this country.
    Then freedom from fear, my favorite. I have four daughters 
and I think of this freedom every night as I tuck them in. 
Norman Rockwell's painting portrayed a man tucking his children 
into bed. Underneath the arm of the man was a newspaper, and 
the headline reads, ``Terror in Europe as Bombs Fall.'' Yet the 
man tucks his children into bed knowing they are safe and free 
from fear.
    Well, art can present ideas to people and it can remind us 
of blessings we have in this country. That has been my goal as 
a man and as a Christian and an American. I have tried from the 
beginning of my career to share God's life with people.
    I was never in a war, I was not born at a time and a place 
that allowed that experience, but I will tell you I have gained 
knowledge of the wartime realities through my association with 
my father. My father was a World War II veteran. He landed on 
Omaha Beach. He was part of the campaign to liberate Europe.
    Last year I had the opportunity to go with my father back 
to Europe and revisit the scenes of his wartime experiences. In 
fact, we wrote a book about it, and the book is called 
``Chasing the Horizon.'' It will be out this fall. It is a 
document of two brothers, my brother and myself, who took our 
father to Europe to relive his wartime adventures.
    I will tell you, you have never lived until you have 
traveled through Europe with a 77-year-old war veteran. That is 
an experience of traveling through time and seeing things with 
fresh eyes. I believe that my association with this 
organization was God inspired, and I am thrilled to have had 
the chance to be a part of the people who like myself are 
attempting with their lives to touch others.
    Norman Rockwell or myself do the easy part. We paint 
paintings. That is easy. But you in this room have laid your 
lives down every day to preserve those same freedoms that we 
all believe in. I have been called a painter of light and I 
attempt to share light with my paintings. But you men and women 
are the people who have kept the light burning in America.
    From the bottom of this American's heart, thank you so much 
for sharing the light. God bless you guys. (Applause)
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: I will ask at this 
time the Sergeant-at-Arms to assist me in bringing Thomas 
Kinkade's father, William, up to the podium. So what I have is 
a dual presentation that we are making.
    The Commander-in-Chief's Award is presented in recognition 
of his continued support of the VFW Department cooperative 
programs. This is dated August 20, 1997. It has been signed by 
James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief. On behalf of the 2.1 million 
members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I want to present to 
your father this Life Membership in the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars for his great contributions to our country. (Applause)
    Normally, the Commander-in-Chief would be here for these 
remarks, but he is with the Ladies Auxiliary at the present 
time. So I guess you might say I am in somewhat of a self-
serving position right now.
    I ask you to please welcome James Chancellor, a Vietnam 
veteran and a VFW member of Post 6498, who is here to present a 
military service ring he designed and created in recognition of 
those who have served in our armed forces of the United States. 
Mr. Jim Chancellor.

                PRESENTATION BY COMRADE JAMES CHANCELLOR

    COMRADE JAMES CHANCELLOR: Fellow friends, thank you very 
much for allowing me to speak with you this morning before 
making the presentation of our Vietnam veterans ring. Last year 
I talked to you about unity and the spirit of a warrior, how I 
felt we were all the same, and it didn't matter what country we 
fought in or what war, I feel we were all the time. I feel that 
way today.
    Today, I would like to talk to you about responsibility and 
the possibility of ending these great wars. The responsibility 
I talked about is that of our government. I think they need to 
stand tall, search out the truth and answer the questions.
    Let me give you an example. In 1970, when I returned home 
from Vietnam, the steel mills in North Indiana were thriving. A 
lot of the veterans chose the work force instead of educational 
benefits. They worked hard and worked their way up to the 
middle management positions.
    Then there came downsizing and the loss of thousands of 
jobs. Unfortunately, at that time their GI benefits had 
expired. I believe any man, any woman, any veteran who has 
fought for this country during his lifetime deserves 
educational benefits. Anyone should be able to go to the state 
sponsored schools any time they want to. This is the 
responsibility of the government that I am talking about.
    I also want to talk to you a little bit about health 
benefits. I think any veteran that has offered his life for 
this country, he has lifetime medical benefits, not just 
service-connected benefits, but benefits for all veterans. I 
think preventative medicine is the best type of medicine and 
the least expensive. I think that health benefits should also 
be extended lifetime to all veterans.
    Another part of the responsibility I am talking about is 
answering all the questions. Our government and its elected 
officials need to stand up and they need to take the heat if 
there is any. They need to answer the questions. If there was 
nerve gas done on the World War II veterans, they need to tell 
us.
    If they know the effects of Agent Orange on our Vietnam 
veterans, they need to tell us. If they know why our Persian 
Gulf veterans are still suffering, they need to come to us and 
tell us. They need to tell us the truth and answer all the 
questions, and then an organization like our Veterans of 
Foreign Wars and our government working together can answer the 
questions.
    Now, I would like to talk to you just a second about the 
VFW. The Veterans of Foreign Wars has fought endless and 
tireless fights, and I shudder to think what this country would 
be without our efforts. It is a great organization and I am 
very proud to be associated with it.
    With every great organization comes great leadership. That 
leads me to the presentation of this Vietnam veterans ring, 
which is part of the VFW collection. Our now Commander will 
serve us well. He is a decorated Vietnam Marine veteran. His 
leader is follow or get the hell out of the way attitude has 
brought him here to us today.
    It gives me great pleasure to present this ring to our 
incoming new Commander-in-Chief John Moon.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Jim, in behalf of 
myself and the entire organization, we thank you for your 
continued efforts on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and 
each and every veteran in this country. I shall definitely wear 
this ring with great pride and honor. Thank you very much.

     PRESENTATION OF THE JAMES C. GATES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: The James C. Gates 
Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to an 
individual or organization that has made extraordinary 
contributions in advancing veterans' employment opportunities. 
This year we are deeply honored to present this distinguished 
award to Kenneth E. Madison, Sr.
    Mr. Madison served in the U.S. Army for 28 years and is a 
graduate of the State University of New York. Since his 
retirement from the Army, Mr. Madison has served veterans as a 
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist in the Copperas 
Cove, Texas, Workforce Commission Office.
    In an area of Texas where unemployment hovers at eight 
percent, Mr. Madison has exceeded the requirements and 
standards expected as a specialist. With a focus on placing 
veterans into the work force, Mr. Madison has averaged a 
remarkable 67 placements a month, which is triple the state 
average for Disabled Veterans Outreach Programs. Mr. Madison's 
outstanding efforts have gained him a positive reputation. 
Monthly, an average of 274 veterans seek his service.
    Mr. Madison meets regularly with area employers to promote 
the unemployment of area veterans. He has assisted in mass 
staffings of Wal-Mart and the Race Trac Service Station, and 
set up on-site interviews for veterans with several warehouses 
outside of the immediate area. Mr. Madison has participated in 
Job Fairs, Chamber of Commerce events, and Transition 
Assistance Programs at Fort Hood.
    In the past year, Mr. Madison has placed hundreds of 
veterans into well-paying and meaningful jobs. One of the most 
productive Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists in 
Texas and the nation, Mr. Madison has significantly changed the 
way the Copperas Cove office serves the employment and training 
needs of its local veterans.
    Please join me today in recognizing our 1996 James C. Gates 
Distinguished Service Award recipient, Kenneth E. Madison, Sr.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. James C. 
Gates Distinguished Service Award presented to Kenneth E. 
Madison, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Texas 
Workforce Commission, Killeen, Texas.
    ``In recognition of extraordinary achievement and 
exceptional leadership in advancing employment opportunities 
for our nation's veterans and distinguished service in 
supporting the goals and objectives of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.'' It has been signed by 
James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General. With this award goes a $1,000 check.
    MR. KENNETH E. MADISON: Thank you. (Applause)
    (Whereupon, Commander-in-Chief Nier assumed the Chair.)

                  VISIT OF LADIES AUXILIARY DELEGATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I am deeply honored to bring to 
this podium the lady that I have had the pleasure and 
opportunity of serving with this year. She has been my 
counterpart for the ladies. Please give a very warm VFW welcome 
to our National President from the great state of Illinois, 
Eileen Tanner.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    LADIES AUXILIARY PRESIDENT EILEEN TANNER: Commander-in-
Chief Nier, National Officers, VFW Members, thank you for this 
opportunity to greet you once more as the National President of 
the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    This has been a great year for the Ladies Auxiliary. We 
have topped $3 million in our Cancer Aid Research Fund for the 
ninth year in a row. We continue our gold medal sponsorship of 
the National Wheelchair Games and we volunteered 2.6 million 
hours in VA Medical Centers and other hospitals around the 
country.
    As you know, Operation Uplink was my special project this 
year. I am pleased to report that the Ladies Auxiliary members 
donated over $93,000 to this outstanding program. I want to 
thank you for your efforts to make Operation Uplink such a 
success, and for your cooperation on the many other joint 
projects that we do each year. We can all be very proud of the 
results that we have achieved together.
    I also want to extend my sincere thanks to all of you for 
your assistance to me personally during this past year. I know 
that many of you were very involved in making my official 
visits so enjoyable. I particularly want to thank you, Jim, for 
everything that you did to make this year so pleasant. It has 
been an honor to serve you. I mean that from the bottom of my 
heart.
    Now, as a token of my appreciation, I would like to present 
you the American Flag and Convention Banner at this special 
gathering. It has been a good year and a fun Convention. I am 
ready to enjoy a little break then I will be and getting back 
to work with my Local Auxiliary which is 9759 in Love Park, 
Illinois.
    Thank you, Jim, for the opportunity to speak before the 
delegates. (Applause)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: With our National President is her 
Chief of Staff Jane Ziebarth. I would also like to bring to the 
podium at this time the lady that has been beside me for these 
past three years, my lovely wife, Kimie. (Applause)
    MRS. JAMES NIER: I would like to say thank you very much 
for the last three years. You guys have been so nice to me. 
Thank you. You have been so nice to Jim and I, both.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: As the ladies are being escorted 
down our middle aisle, I would ask my fellow comrades to give 
these lovely ladies a VFW round of applause. One final time for 
our National President. Let's hear it. (Applause)

       PRESENTATION OF NATIONAL LARGE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: This year we are pleased to 
recognize the James River Corporation/Consumer Products 
Business of Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the Large Employer of the 
Year.
    The James River Corporation/Consumer Products Business of 
Green Bay, a timber products company, produces national brand 
name paper towels, napkins, and tissues for retail and 
commercial use with a work force of 23,000 located throughout 
North America and Europe.
    The James River Corporation/Consumer Products business of 
Green Bay maintains an exemplary policy of hiring and retaining 
veterans. Out of 970 employees, there are 390 veterans of whom 
11 are disabled veterans. The company's regulations and 
policies include preference for veterans in recruiting, 
placement, and promotion.
    During Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the company 
went far beyond their legal obligations by providing its active 
and reservist employees one week of base pay for every two 
weeks of military service. An active and ardent supporter of 
the National Guard and Reserve, they compensated employees for 
loss of wages while attending their annual active duty 
training. Moreover, the company supports military retirees by 
crediting military service toward company retirement.
    The James River Corporation/Consumer Products Business of 
Green Bay is to be commended for its progressive policy of 
hiring and retaining veterans. The company justly merits honor 
and recognition by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    Here with us to receive the award on behalf of the company 
is Thomas A. Remondini, Local Veterans Employment 
Representative of the Green Bay office of the Jobs, Employment 
and Training Services Division, State of Wisconsin.
    Comrades, this citation reads, ``Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States, National Large Employer of the Year Award 
presented to James River Corporation, Green Bay Mill, Green 
Bay, Wisconsin.
    ``In recognition and grateful appreciation for meritorious 
service in effecting a very comprehensive policy toward the 
recruitment, employment and promotion of veterans.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.'' It has been signed by 
James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.
    It is with a great deal of honor and pride I present this 
award to you, sir. There is an honorarium for $1,000. 
(Applause)

                     RESPONSE--MR. THOMAS REMONDINI

    COMRADE THOMAS REMONDINI: Commander-in-Chief, the James 
River Corporation/Consumer Products Business of Green Bay, 
Wisconsin, thank you for this award. I was also requested by 
James River Corporation to ask you to wear this tie that 
represents the Green Bay Packers, because they had heard that 
the Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is from 
Texas. But I found out this morning he is not a Dallas Cowboy 
fan. The James River Corporation didn't have all the 
information correctly.
    I would also like to thank the Employment Committee from 
the State of Wisconsin for honoring us as a recipient of the 
Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars Award. I want to thank the 
National Office of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States in selecting our company and, most importantly, their 
continued support of the employment and training programs for 
making it possible for veterans to receive employment services 
that are justly due to them for the services that you render to 
this country at the time of war or at the time of peace.
    If it was not for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the two 
million plus membership, and the 670,000 plus Ladies Auxiliary, 
we would not have the preference that the veterans are justly 
due to them. If it was not for these organizations and the 
people that are members of the organizations, we would not have 
the laws that protect the rights of veterans in their jobs and 
in the retraining and the re-employment rights of veterans.
    In closing, I want everyone to know that the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States continues to live up to their 
motto by remembering the dead by serving the living. I, too, am 
a veteran and I am, too, a member of my Post from the Village 
of Howard, veterans of Vietnam, serving in the Republic of 
Vietnam.
    I want to thank you and also James Erwin, I would like to 
thank you also very much. This check for $1,000 has already 
been earmarked for the homeless shelter in the City of Green 
Bay, Wisconsin. (Applause)

   PRESENTATION OF NATIONAL SMALL EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO UNC 
                           AVIATION SERVICES

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: This year we are greatly honored 
to present the prestigious VFW National Small Employer of the 
Year Award to UNC Aviation Services of Milton, Florida, a 
company whose policies and achievements in hiring, promoting 
and training of veterans is noteworthy.
    UNC Aviation Services is an independent operating 
subsidiary of UNC, Incorporated, and has the exclusive mission 
of providing aircraft maintenance and training services. The 
company has an established record of working with the 
Department of Defense, several other federal agencies, and 26 
foreign governments for the past 25 years.
    Working closely with the Job Service of Florida, UNC has 
filled the vast majority of its positions with veterans. 
Seventy-five percent of the company's 195 employees are 
veterans, to include 16 disabled veterans. An excellent 
employer, UNC Aviation Services is to be commended for making 
use of local veterans employment representatives and the 
Disabled Veteran Outreach Program to hire both recently 
separated veterans and military retirees.
    The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is 
pleased to confer the National Small Employer of the Year Award 
to UNC Aviation Services. Here to accept the award is Paul D. 
Stelzner, the company's personnel manager.
    The citation reads as follows: Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States, National Small Employer of the Year Award 
presented to UNC Aviation Services, Milton, Florida.
    ``In recognition and grateful appreciation for meritorious 
service in effecting a very comprehensive policy toward the 
recruitment, employment and promotion of veterans.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.'' This has been signed 
by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.
    Thank you so much, sir, for all you do for this country's 
veterans. Along with this is an honorarium for $1,000.

                      RESPONSE--MR. PAUL STELZNER

    MR. PAUL STELZNER: It is a great honor and privilege to 
accept this prestigious award for all our employees. Ladies and 
gentlemen, we have one of the finest group of veterans working 
for us. Since 1981, until today's date, they have provided the 
company 1.1 million hours of maintenance free accidents, and 
that is a record that has not been accomplished anywhere 
before. They are dedicated workers. Thank you very much.

  PRESENTATION OF THE NATIONAL LOCAL OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT 
                             SERVICE AWARD

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We are honored to recognize the 
Goldsboro Job Service Office of Goldsboro, North Carolina, for 
our National Local Office of the Public Employment Service 
Award.
    The Goldsboro Job Service Office of the North Carolina 
Employment Security Commission has excelled in the provision of 
services to veterans and employees alike.
    From July of 1995 to June of 1996, the Goldsboro Office 
provided job placement, counseling, and other services to over 
2,300 veterans. In an area dominated by seasonal, low-paying 
agricultural jobs, 47 percent of the veterans received at least 
one referral to a job, 21 percent were directly placed and 28 
percent were provided substantial service that led to 
employment.
    In working with local veterans, which included many 
disabled veterans, the Goldsboro Job Service Office exhibited 
keen insight and understanding of the job market by placing 
these veterans in a variety of jobs across the state and 
nation.
    During the program year, the Goldsboro Office tirelessly 
promoted the hiring of veterans through employer visits, 
promotional telephone contacts with employers, direct mailings, 
news media, and speaking engagements at veterans and civic 
organizations. Their staff participated in job fairs and open 
houses.
    Of special note is the office's participation in the 
Retiree's Appreciation Day at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, 
and in the base's Transition Assistance Programs, where the 
staff gave classes and briefings to separating military 
personnel.
    These accomplishments clearly identify the Goldsboro Job 
Service Office as one that has excelled in service to veterans 
and one that justly merits recognition by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.
    Here to accept the award is Billy W. Patterson, Lead Local 
Veterans Employment Representative. (Applause)
    The citation reads as follows:
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, National 
Local Office of the Public Employment Service Award presented 
to Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, Goldsboro 
Job Service Office, Goldsboro, North Carolina.
    ``In recognition and appreciation for meritorious, 
professional and employment service rendered to veterans.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.''
    This has been signed by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, 
and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General. (Applause)
    With it goes an honorarium for $1,000.

                    RESPONSE--MR. BILLY W. PATTERSON

    MR. BILLY PATTERSON: On behalf of the staff of the 
Goldsboro Employment Security Division and the Department of 
North Carolina VFW, I gladly accept this award and thank you 
for the opportunity to be here at your Convention. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I would like to call forward the 
National Contest Chairman, Bob Brady, to announce our Parade 
Winners.

                             PARADE WINNERS

    COMRADE ROBERT BRADY: The results of the Senior Ladies VFW 
Color Guard Competition and the Senior Men's Color Guard 
Competition, the winners of the men's competitions, 
representing VFW Posts 6933 and 9460 of Darien, Connecticut, 
the Silent Sixteen.
    Come forward for your award, please. The winner of the 
Senior Ladies VFW/Auxiliary Color Guard Competition, 
representing District No. 6, the Department of Arkansas, 
Fairfield Bay, Arkansas.
    The next award is to the winner of our Junior ROTC Color 
Guard Competitions. Please come forward Griffin High School. 
Griffin High School represents the Army.
    The Junior Open Field Contest VFW rules is also Griffin 
High School, Griffin, Georgia.
    The Junior Armed Drill Team, Griffin, High School, Griffin, 
Georgia.
    Now, the Junior ROTC Unarmed Drill Team is Stebbins High 
School, Riverside, Ohio.
    The Junior Individual Rifle Contest, the male winner is 
Travis Jenkins, Northside High School, Warner Robins, Georgia. 
The female winner is Jennifer Grant, Griffin High School, 
Griffin, Georgia.
    You can see that Griffin cleaned up. They have an excellent 
unit. They were competing against 40 other groups and won the 
majority of the awards.
    The next unit coming in represents the United States Air 
Force ROTC Program. They are the winner of the Junior ROTC, 
Riverside, Ohio. The Department of Ohio is their sponsor.
    The next award will be to our National Ritualistic Team 
Champion representing Lieutenant Peter G. Zouck, VFW Post 521, 
Owings, Maryland. They are the 1996 Ritualistic Team Champion. 
There will be a National Ritualistic Team competition today at 
2:00 p.m. in Room 2 down on the first deck, starting at 2:00 
o'clock.
    Now, the announcement in regard to the winners of the 
parade during last evening's Patriotic Rally. The best Senior 
Color Guard was the Department of Iowa. The second place winner 
was the Department of Michigan and the third place winner was 
Aurora Silver Rifles VFW Post 2629, Aurora, Ohio.
    The best appearing Senior Ladies Auxiliary Color Guard, the 
New Jersey Ladies Auxiliary Color Guard. For your information, 
the second place winner goes to the Arkansas Ladies Auxiliary 
Color Guard, and the third place winner to the Kansas Ladies 
Auxiliary Color Guard.
    That is the completion of our report. As I said, the 
Ritualistic Team competitions are at 2:00 o'clock this 
afternoon in this building.

 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION TO JACK A. MACK, 
                   QUARTERMASTER, DEPARTMENT OF UTAH

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Semper Fidelis is the United 
States Marine Corps motto. It means always faithful, and it 
also describes a comrade who is joining us here at the podium 
to receive the VFW Distinguished Service Medal.
    Jack Mack went ashore with the Marines on Guadalcanal in 
1942. It was an anniversary of sorts for Jack. He had joined 
the Marines just one year earlier, August, 1941. That's right, 
August. Jack joined up before the Japs attacked. He was ready 
for them when they arrived and he got even with them in 
Guadalcanal for the longest and bitterest fought wars, but we 
won and we went on to win the war.
    Jack Mack knows combat firsthand and he knows veterans 
affairs. For 38 years he has been serving the veterans of Utah 
and in turn the veterans of America. As the Adjutant/
Quartermaster of the Department of Utah, Jack has played a 
major role in everything that this organization has done and in 
every victory we have won for America's veterans.
    Please welcome a comrade who has always been ready to fight 
for our cause, Jack Mack, Post 3586, Salt Lake City, Utah. I 
would like to now read the citation. Joining us at the podium 
with Jack is Mrs. Mack. It is nice to have you.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
Distinguished Service Medal and this Citation awarded to Jack 
A. Mack.
    ``In sincere appreciation and grateful recognition of 38 
years of unselfish service to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States as a dedicated worker, able administrator and 
distinguished leader in fulfilling the duties and 
responsibilities of the office of State Adjutant and 
Quartermaster of the Department of Utah, evidencing his 
exceptional commitment to the programs and purposes of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.''
    That has been signed by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, 
and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant General.
    Jack, let me personally thank you for your many years of 
dedicated and devoted service to this great organization and we 
wish you continued success. Thank you so very, very much.

                        RESPONSE--MR. JACK MACK

    COMRADE JACK MACK: Thank you very much. It is our fifty-
second wedding anniversary on Monday, the 25th.

               OUTSTANDING VA HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AWARD

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I am pleased to recognize this 
year's recipient of the Outstanding VA Health Care Provider 
Award, Mrs. Dee Anna Robert, a registered nurse assigned to the 
home-based Primary Care Program at the Fresno VA Medical 
Center. Mrs. Robert, a specialist in geratology and wellness, 
also serves as a case manager for a number of chronically ill 
patients. With compassion, understanding and professionalism, 
she works closely with the veteran's family, creating a 
positive home-like environment for healing and improving one's 
medical condition.
    Mrs. Robert has also been responsible for introducing the 
Valor Nursing Initiative, which is a national VA scholarship 
program for nursing students. She currently serves as the 
preceptor for several student nurses from both the Fresno and 
Dominquez Hill campuses of the California State University.
    It is with great pride that I present this year's VFW 
Outstanding VA Health Care Provider of the Year Award to Mrs. 
Dee Anna Robert from the Fresno VA Medical Center. (Applause)
    I would like to read the citation at this time.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Outstanding 
VA Health Care Provider Award, 1996-1997, presented to Dee Anna 
Robert.
    ``In special recognition of your individual achievements in 
support of the programs and purposes of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States as the Outstanding VA Health Care 
Provider of the Year.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.'' This has been signed 
by me, James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.
    Mrs. Robert, it is with a great deal of pride and honor I 
present to you this prestigious award. Thank you so much.

                     RESPONSE--MRS. DEE ANNA ROBERT

    MRS. DEE ANNA ROBERT: I am truly honored. I really didn't 
do all this without the help of the Fresno VA. I am into 
wellness and, consequently, I work with elderly people who are 
stranded in their home because of multiple chronic illnesses. I 
assess the VA system and the Fresno VA is wonderful.
    I sit in there and say, ``What do I need to get for my 
veterans in their homes?'' Each department from the VA Medical 
Center tells me what I need to do and the patient is served. 
Thank you for honoring me. (Applause)

            OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AWARD

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: This year we are honored to 
present the VFW Outstanding Community Health Care Provider of 
the Year Award to Patrick K. Bohmer of Circle Pines, Minnesota.
    Mr. Bohmer is the Voluntary Services Coordinator at the 
Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He began his 
career in 1987, and in that time has turned the volunteer 
program at the Veterans Home into one of the most vibrant and 
productive programs in the state.
    Making himself available to all veteran organizations, he 
attends their State Conventions to answer questions and provide 
information about Veterans Home programs. As a result of a 
fund-raising effort, his program is self-sufficient.
    With an abundance of volunteers who work both day and night 
assisting veterans, Pat, through his leadership and the efforts 
of volunteers has created a variety of recreational and 
therapeutic programs. These activities include fishing trips, 
bingo games, craft activities, excursion trips to Minnesota 
Twins baseball and Viking football games, just to mention a 
few.
    Active in the VFW, Mr. Bohmer also serves as Vice-Chairman 
of the VFW National Homeless Committee. It is apparent that Pat 
is highly motivated and committed to helping veterans not only 
by both his choice of vocation but his personal involvement 
outside his place of employment.
    I am honored to present this year's VFW Outstanding 
Community Health Care Provider of the Year Award to Mr. Patrick 
T. Bohmer of Circle Pines, Minnesota. (Applause)
    The citation reads as follows:
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Outstanding 
Community Health Care Provider Award, 1996-1997, presented to 
Patrick T. Bohmer.
    ``In special recognition of your individual achievements in 
support of the programs and purposes of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States as the Outstanding Community Health 
Care Provider of the Year.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.'' This has been signed 
by me, James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.
    Mr. Bohmer, it is with a great deal of pride and honor I 
present you with this award and thank you for all you do for 
this nation's veterans.

                    RESPONSE--MR. PATRICK T. BOHMER

    COMRADE PATRICK BOHMER: Commander-in-Chief and delegates, I 
would just like to say thank you on behalf of the staff and 
residents of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis. There 
are probably thousands of other people that are much more 
deserving of this award than myself. You have humbled me by 
presenting me with this.
    I would just like to say, because the boss is sitting in 
the audience there, there is nothing too good for those 
veterans in the Minnesota Veterans Home. I would be remiss if I 
didn't ask you people if you have any extra dollars, quarters 
or dimes to donate to the Minnesota Veterans Home, feel free to 
do so. Thank you very much.

                      OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It is a great pleasure for me to 
present the VFW Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award. This 
is the fourth year that the VFW has presented an award 
recognizing an individual for their exemplary service as a VFW 
Health Care Volunteer.
    This year's recipient is Mary Gomeringer, who is a member 
of VFW Post 4876 Ladies Auxiliary in Altus, Oklahoma. She is a 
highly dedicated volunteer at the Veterans Center in Clinton, 
Oklahoma. She also contributes numerous hours to the VFW 
helping veterans in her community.
    Mary attends all functions at the Veterans Center assisting 
those who are unable to help themselves. She visits veterans 
who are bedridden and those who suffer from Alzheimer's 
disease. She spends numerous hours shopping for comfort items 
and gifts for hospitalized veterans during the Christmas 
holidays. She ensures that each veteran receives a special gift 
from Santa.
    Despite three major operations, Mary refuses to slow down 
her volunteer activities. In addition to her work at the 
Veterans Center, Mary also volunteers at three local nursing 
homes, visiting veterans who are residents.
    Through her efforts and her handmade gifts of an afghan 
blanket or stuffed animal, she has greatly improved the morale 
and the quality of life for those veterans she meets. I am 
proud to present this year's VFW Outstanding Volunteer of the 
Year Award to Mrs. Mary Gomeringer from Altus, Oklahoma. I 
would like to read the citation.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Outstanding 
Volunteer Award, 1996-1997, presented to Mary Gomeringer in 
special recognition of your individual achievements in support 
of the programs and purposes of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 20th day of August, 1997.'' This has been signed 
by me, James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.''
    Mrs. Gomeringer, it is with a great deal of pride and honor 
that I present this award to you and thank you for your many, 
many volunteer hours to our veterans. Thank you.

                     RESPONSE--MRS. MARY GOMERINGER

    MRS. MARY GOMERINGER: I would just like to thank the VFW 
for choosing me and some people, our Past Commander Bob Magill 
from Post 486 and Past State Commander, and most of all, my 
husband of 42 years, because without his help I couldn't do 
half of what I do. Thank you.

      REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: At this time I will call forward 
the Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Foreign 
Affairs, Past Commander-in-Chief Clifford G. Olson.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CLIFFORD OLSON: Commander-in-Chief 
Nier, I want to thank you for the appointment as Chairman of 
the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee. I would 
like to introduce my Co-Chairman, Past Commander-in-Chief 
Cooper T. Holt. Billy Ray Cameron is the Subcommittee Chairman 
on the POW/MIA, along with Past Commander-in-Chief George 
Cramer. I want to thank all of you. To the entire Committee, I 
truly want to thank you for your input.
    I know there are a couple of things that are very 
controversial and to your credit came out well. Very briefly, I 
will go through the numbers of the resolutions, and will give 
you our recommendations, and then I will expect a second to my 
motion. If I go too fast, you let me know.
    I might say this at the beginning. In most cases, those 
that we recommend to approve, as amended, the amendments were 
nothing more than accuracy, misspelled words, that sort of 
thing. It was nothing truly shattering on the amendments.
    No. 404, the Lessons of the Cold War, approved. All of 
these are approved.
    No. 405, Limit Foreign Ownership of U.S. Businesses and 
Properties.
    No. 406, Take Action of the Immigration Problem, approved 
as amended.
    No. 407, Time is Running Out for Castro, approved.
    No. 408, Punish Terrorists Now, approved as amended. That 
was just to bring it up to date.
    No. 409, Strategic Defense is a Strategic Priority, 
approved.
    No. 410, Honoring Those Who Serve.
    No. 411, Oppose Lifting the Defense Department Ban on 
Homosexuals in the Armed Forces.
    No. 412, Maintain an Effective U.S. Coast Guard.
    No. 413, Standing Firm for Freedom, approved as amended
    No. 414, National Strategy of Peace Through Strength, 
approved.
    No. 415, Halt the Erosion of Intelligence Services, 
approved.
    No. 416, Support for the Republic of Korea, approved as 
amended.
    No. 417, Support Withdrawal from the Former Yugoslavia, 
approved as amended. Again that is to bring it up to date.
    No. 419, Oppose U.S. Forces Under Foreign Command, 
approved.
    No. 420, Support for the Republic of China on Taiwan, 
approved as amended. That was for purposes of accuracy.
    No. 421, An Independent Commission to Study Women in the 
Military.
    No. 422, Retain the Selective Service System.
    No. 423, Monitor the Panama Canal Carefully.
    No. 424, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Service in 
Bosnia.
    No. 425, Support Legislation for a Special Service Medal 
for ``Atomic'' Veterans.
    No. 426, NATO Enlargement, approved as amended.
    No. 427 is a rejection. I will explain that later.
    No. 428, Keeping Faith with American Military.
    No. 431, Restore Congressional Control on United Nations 
World Heritage Sites, approved as amended.
    No. 433, Requesting the Naming of the Next United States 
Ship Carrier in Honor of Lyndon Baines Johnson, approved.
    No. 436, Require all Eighteen-Year-Old Citizens to Register 
for the Draft.
    No. 437, Medal Issuance with Combat Action Ribbon.
    No. 440, Oppose a Total Ban on Land Mines. I hear you, 
comrades. We have 440, 441 and 442 that you do not have copies 
of. We have a limited amount of copies of 441 and 442. The 
Sergeant-at-Arms might hand them out. There is limited copies.
    If you so desire, according to the Convention Rules, I will 
read 440 and 441. Both of those we have voted to approve. If I 
read them off now, we can include them in my total motion to 
accept.
    ``WHEREAS, recent legislation to ban the use of land mines 
by U.S. forces was introduced in the United States Senate and 
supported by a large number of Senators, to include those who 
are veterans of Vietnam; and
    ``WHEREAS, television spots to promote the ban as well as 
celebrities are making an emotional appeal for support, which 
coupled with the Congressional action are gaining momentum for 
passage of the ban on land mines; and
    ``WHEREAS, the reasons most often given in favor of the ban 
are that land mines caused many U.S. casualties; they continue 
to cause indiscriminate civilian casualties in many countries 
(mainly by dumb mines made and laid by other countries); and 
that land mines remain deadly for many years; and
    ``WHEREAS, often in the midst of this emotional appeal are 
the facts that: U.S. forces use `smart mines,' preset to 
automatically deactivate after time; with the reduction of U.S. 
forces, the need for self-destructing mines has increased as a 
`combat multiplier;' use of self-destructing mines provide 
battlefield commanders and troops the ability to protect 
themselves and limit enemy maneuvers; and
    ``WHEREAS, the Chairman, Vice Chairman and all members of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and all of the U.S. Field Commanders 
oppose the total ban until a replacement capability is 
developed or a comprehensive global treaty is in effect; and
    ``WHEREAS, our military leaders have proposed a ban on 
`dumb' land mines with only limited exceptions such as for 
Korea;
    ``NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States that while sharing concern 
for the growing humanitarian problems of land mines, we stand 
with our military leaders and for the continued security of our 
troops in opposing a total ban on land mines until such time as 
suitable replacement capability is developed and fielded or a 
comprehensive global ban can be completed; and
    ``BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we agree with and support 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff proposal to ban Tdumb' anti-personnel 
land mines without a self-destruct or deactivation capability 
and recommend it be made the cornerstone of a comprehensive 
global treaty.''
    That was submitted by the Commander-in-Chief and we voted 
to approve it on the Committee.
    Resolution 441, Storage for Fissile Nuclear Materials.
    ``WHEREAS, the United States, along with 25 other nations 
in the world that employ commercial nuclear power, have in 
excess of 150,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel that poses a 
national security risk as well as an international 
environmental risk; and
    ``WHEREAS, this amount of spent nuclear fuel will increase 
after the turn of the century as reactors reach the end of 
their useful life and are decommissioned; and
    ``WHEREAS, this international supply of spent nuclear fuel 
is largely stored now in temporary steel and concrete 
containers as well as cooling ponds at the various reactor 
sites; and
    ``WHEREAS, the only efficient way of dealing with spent 
nuclear fuel other than permanent containment is chemical 
processing which results in the creating of plutonium or other 
fissile materials such as enriched uranium; and
    ``WHEREAS, under the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 
signatory nations that have nuclear power and have their spent 
nuclear fuel reprocessed are entitled to the return of the 
resulting fissile materials such as the plutonium which is 
produced in that process; and
    ``WHEREAS, the Russian Federation has underway commercial 
agreements with Iran as well as Cuba for the construction of 
nuclear reactors; and
    ``WHEREAS, the Director of Central Intelligence and the 
Secretary of Defense reported to Congress in 1966 that if Iran 
obtains a nuclear reactor it could develop nuclear weapons 
within three years which fact has obvious implications for 
international terrorism; and
    ``WHEREAS, an American private venture group has developed 
a comprehensive commercial enterprise to mass produce cost-
effective, massive steel containers for permanent storage of 
international spent nuclear fuel and is seeking authorization 
to build a permanent above ground storage on an isolated, 
privately owned American atoll in the Pacific; and
    ``WHEREAS, the Russian Federation Ministry of Atomic Energy 
(MinAtom) has been offered a partnership in this American 
private venture in exchange for not commercially reprocessing 
spent nuclear fuel as well as not providing nuclear technology 
to nations whose interests are inimical to those of the United 
States and Russia as determined by their respective governments 
jointly; and
    ``WHEREAS, the Russian Federation will commit to this 
venture as a means of earning significant legitimate income to 
ally the dire economic dislocation that threatens democratic 
development in the former Soviet Union;
    ``NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States that we urge the Congress and 
the President to consider legislation that will permit the 
aforementioned American private venture to proceed in order to 
create an American-Russian partnership that will:
    ``1. Permit the monitored storage of spent fuel from all 
nuclear power countries in the world under American aegis at no 
cost to the taxpayers in an isolated and very benign manner on 
the Island of Wake;
    ``2. Permit the private American venture to complement, not 
compete with ongoing federal government efforts to create a 
permanent storage site in the continental United States;
    ``3. Foreclose reprocessing of absent nuclear as a 
commercial venture thereby stopping the proliferation of 
plutonium and other fissile materials and thus depriving 
international terrorism of a powerful weapon;
    ``4. Permit the Russian Federation to receive a legitimate 
income from a free enterprise venture that will give it 
necessary, responsible fiscal underpinning at a critical time 
in that nation's democratic process.''
    That was submitted by the Commander-in-Chief and it was 
voted to be approved by the National Security and Foreign 
Affairs Committee.
    I move, comrades, that those resolutions be adopted as 
recommended by the Committee.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BILLY RAY CAMERON: Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion for the 
adoption. It has been duly seconded Seeing no one at the 
microphones, those in favor of the adoption will signify by 
saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. They are 
adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CLIFFORD OLSON: The Committee on 
National Security and Foreign Affairs voted or decided on 
Resolution 427 that was rejected in favor of 428 which you just 
approved.
    No. 434, Ban Manufacture, Sale and Use of Depleted Uranium 
Weapons, that was voted to reject, and also 442, To Issue the 
Presidential Unit Citation to All U.S. Navy Armed Guard During 
World War II. That was voted to be rejected.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Seeing no one at the microphones, 
they are rejected.
    Comrade Past Commander-in-Chief Olson, you are relieved of 
your duties and thanks for a job well done.
    I have just been told that the Speaker of the House is on 
his way, so we are going to suspend the debate on the Committee 
resolutions. I would like for Jim Rowoldt to come forward to 
announce the Buddy Poppy winners.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE RON DORSEY (Post 856--Texas): I would like to have 
clarification on those that you just named for rejection, were 
just those two resolutions? That was not all of them, was it?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: If I understand it correctly, the 
Chair related 427 was rejected in favor of 428, and the other 
one was 434. The Committee is going to handle the others.

                  NATIONAL BUDDY POPPY CONTEST WINNERS

    COMRADE JIM ROWOLDT: Thank you, Comrade Commander-in-Chief. 
In the essence of time, I would like to ask the Commanders from 
the Department of California and also the Department of 
Minnesota to come forward, please. As many of you are aware, 
the One Million Club was established a few years ago to pay 
special recognition to those Departments whose buddy poppy 
sales and distribution equaled or exceeded one million.
    This year's recipients are the Department of California, 
who led the nation in sales of 1,143,500, followed by the 
Department of Minnesota with 1,01,000. I would ask that these 
Commanders come forward with the Commander-in-Chief to receive 
their special awards.
    To the Department of California, over One Million Club, 
1996-'97, presented to the Department of California Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.
    ``In special recognition and sincere appreciation of the 
Department's support for the Buddy Poppy Program as evidenced 
by ten consecutive years of over one million in sales.'' This 
has been signed by Commander-in-Chief James E. Nier and Larry 
W. Rivers, Adjutant General.
    To the Department of Minnesota, over One Million Club, 
1996-'97, presented to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States to the Department of Minnesota.
    ``In special recognition and sincere appreciation of the 
Department's support for the Buddy Poppy Program as evidenced 
by over one million in sales.'' This has been signed by James 
E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, Adjutant 
General.
    Very quickly, I would also like to thank all of those Posts 
and Auxiliaries that presented their Buddy Poppy displays this 
year. I would like to announce that the winners of Category 1, 
which is the public promotion of buddy poppy sales, window, 
booth parade displays, sales promotions, the first place was 
Caseyville Memorial Post and Auxiliary 1117, Caseyville, 
Illinois.
    Second place goes to Post 10188 and its Ladies Auxiliary, 
Tucson, Arizona.
    Third place goes to VFW Post 5221 and its Ladies Auxiliary, 
Calhan, Colorado.
    Category 2, for memorial or inspirational display, first 
place, Golden Post and Auxiliary 4171, Golden, Colorado.
    Second place goes to Elmer Goche Post and Auxiliary 3922, 
Wadena, Minnesota.
    Third place winner is the Robert V. Lindsey Post and 
Auxiliary 10041, Bethel, Alaska.
    Category 3, artistic or decorative use of Poppies, the 
first place winner is Deer Park Memorial Post and Auxiliary 
3067, Deer Park, Washington.
    Second place goes to Rogers Rye Post 2283, Russellville, 
Arkansas.
    Third place goes to Roscoe Post and Auxiliary 2995, Roscoe, 
Illinois.
    Category 4, Memorial or inspirational display used by 
Junior Girls Units and Sons of the VFW Units. The first place 
winner is McDonald Linn, Chicago Ridge Junior Girls Unit, VFW 
Post 2255 and Auxiliary, Chicago Ridge, Illinois.
    Second place goes to W. Carl Reed Junior Girls Unit, VFW 
Post and Auxiliary 9095, Little Rock, Arkansas.
    The third place winner for the Memorial Junior Girls Unit 
is Post 5691 and its Auxiliary, Collinsville, Illinois.
    We have eight honorable mentions. They are Post 9299 and 
its Ladies Auxiliary, Alvarado, Texas.
    Also Lyndonville Post and Auxiliary 10038, Lyndonville, 
Vermont.
    Category 2, Trenton Post and Auxiliary 7963, Trenton, 
Illinois. Also Robert E. Stoddard Post and Auxiliary 4343, 
Cheyenne, Wyoming.
    Category 3, Paul A. Johnston Post and Auxiliary 2918, 
Torrington, Wyoming. And Kingman North Post and Auxiliary 
10386, Kingman, Arizona.
    Finally, Category 4, St. Mihiel Post and Auxiliary 247, 
Omaha, Nebraska; and the Clarence Hoyt Post and Auxiliary 9217, 
Liberty, New York.
    Thanks to each and every one of you for continued support 
of the VFW Buddy Poppy Program. It is a service oriented 
program. Thank you all.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Delegates, the Commander-in-Chief 
and his officers are now greeting the Speaker of the House, so 
we will take about a two or three-minute break prior to the 
entrance of the Speaker.

  INTRODUCTION OF THE HONORABLE NEWT GINGRICH, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, 
                 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I am most pleased to introduce our 
next distinguished guest. Now serving his tenth term in 
Congress as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt 
Gingrich is one of the most talked about, written about 
political figures in the nation.
    Time magazine named him ``Man of the Year'' for 1995 
saying, ``Newt Gingrich belongs in the category of the 
exceptional. Today, because of Newt Gingrich, the question is 
not whether a balanced budget plan will come to pass, but 
when.''
    Comrades, as you are all well aware a balanced budget did 
pass and was signed into law early this month.
    Forbes magazine said, ``Never in American history has a 
Speaker of the House pushed through so much sweeping, 
substantive legislation as Newt Gingrich is doing.''
    Mr. Gingrich co-founded the Congressional Military Reform 
Caucus, the Conservative Opportunity Society and the 
Congressional Space Caucus, and has served as Co-Chairman of 
the House Republican Task Force on Health since the 102nd 
Congress.
    He is acknowledged as the chief architect of the Republican 
``Contract with America.''
    The son of a career soldier, Mr. Gingrich taught history 
and environmental studies at West Georgia College for eight 
years before being elected to Congress in 1978. We are pleased 
to have Mr. Gingrich with us this morning. Accompanying him 
today is Representative Merrill Cook from the Second District, 
Department of Utah. Please join me in a warm VFW welcome for 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)

                  ADDRESS--THE HONORABLE NEWT GINGRICH

    THE HONORABLE NEWT GINGRICH: Thank you, Jim, for that 
introduction, and I want to thank all of you for allowing me to 
be here. I want to congratulate you in advance, John Moon, for 
his promotion and plan that has no obligation to remember since 
my wife is also a Buckeye, although from the other side of the 
state. We do have a family tie.
    I might point out to all of you, as Jim was telling you, my 
commitment to and concern for veterans starts with my immediate 
family. When you are an Army brat, you grow up in places like 
Fort Riley and Fort Benning, and you spend part of your 
childhood at schools in places like Orlean, France, or 
Stuttgart, Germany.
    It is driven home to you again and again that America is 
free because young men and women risk their lives, leave their 
families, go to distant places, and that it is vital that we 
remember those who risk everything in order that we and our 
children can live in freedom.
    It is in that spirit that I wanted to come here and share 
with you some thoughts about national security, about veterans 
health, about veterans preference, and, frankly, about the kind 
of country we need to become to be worthy of the sacrifice that 
was made by so many over recent years.
    Let me start by saying that your good friend and mine, a 
World War II veteran named Bob Dole, asked me to thank you for 
the warm reception he has always gotten and asked me to report 
to you that we are going to complete the World War II Veterans 
Memorial. It is going to be built.
    It tells you a little of what is wrong with the politics 
and bureaucracy of Washington, D.C., that the bill to create a 
World War II Memorial was signed into law on May 25, 1993. That 
means that it has already been longer since the bill was signed 
than the entire Second World War for American forces, and we 
still have not gotten it finished.
    It tells you a little about why we have trouble stopping 
drugs and winning the war on drugs and why we have trouble 
reforming education to make sure our children get educated, 
particularly our poorest children in the poorest neighborhoods 
where so often they have the poorest schools.
    We can't even cut through the red tape and the politics 
just to get a memorial built. My dad passed away last fall. He 
was a veteran of World War II. As all of you know, there are 
other veterans passing away and we should cut through the tape 
and get this done and we should take a lesson about what is 
wrong with the way the federal government works.
    That is, is this that complicated and this difficult to do 
something this good and this simple and this straightforward? 
As the Speaker of the House, you have my commitment that I will 
be working with Senator Dole and with the President to make 
sure this gets done, gets done quickly and that we have the 
appropriate ceremony opening it in the right way for our World 
War II generation to recognize that they are being remembered 
and their dedication and their contribution was vital to the 
future of not just America but to defeating Nazi Germany and 
defeating Imperial Japan, was important for the future of the 
entire human race.
    We owe a debt of gratitude to those that spent those years 
saving freedom as we know it. Also, in the tradition of 
freedom, I have worked for many years now with Congressman 
Gerald Solomon on the simple issue of being prepared to 
recognize that our flag is unique, that it is a symbol that 
binds us and unites us, and that the flag is deserving of 
respect and protection.
    We passed, once again, the Constitutional Amendment to 
protect the flag in the House and it is now in the Senate where 
I believe they are two votes short. I want to commend you and 
thank you for all you have done in support of the flag of our 
country.
    I will ask each of you when you go back home, contact your 
United States Senators and ask them when it comes up for a vote 
in the Senate to give us the right to legally protect the flag 
within our constitutional system, because it is the symbol of 
America all over the world. (Applause)
    Let me also say that I am going to be joining your 
organization and writing a letter to the Postmaster General and 
to his Advisory Committee on behalf of a centennial stamp. It 
seems to me that it is useful to remind people of things like 
the issuance of stamps for historic events.
    Your centennial in 1999 is an important side of commitment 
and dedication by Americans serving their country. So I commend 
you for proposing that. The fact that you had one for your 75th 
Anniversary should not in any way stop us from recognizing your 
100th Anniversary.
    You notice when the country needs you, they don't cite 
procedure for why they have not got the draft, why they are not 
also going to ship you overseas and why they are not prepared 
to do things. So, you can also turn to the country and say, 
``Let's recognize the VFW for 100 years of serving veterans and 
serving patriotism.'' I will be working on that.
    Let me also say that the United States House has passed a 
very important bill. Your team in Washington worked on it very 
hard. That is HR 240 on veterans preferences. It is inexcusable 
that as we move into peace time, having won the Cold War, even 
the Pentagon is not enforcing veterans preference among 
government contractors. There is something wrong with that.
    So we passed unanimously out of the House the reassertion 
of the importance of veterans preference and the reassertion 
that contractors have to file they are following veterans 
preference. It is now in the Senate and with your help we will 
get it passed and sent to the President to reassert, unlike all 
these arguments about quotas, set asides and special 
privileges, veterans preference is an earned preference, earned 
at the risk of life and limb, earned by leaving your family and 
earned by serving your country. It is morally right that we 
insist that veterans be recognized in this way. (Applause)
    Let me just note for a second that in addition to veterans 
of past conquests, one of the things that made the VFW very 
important is you always have been committed because of your 
experience to making sure that our young men and women in 
uniform had the best equipment, the best training.
    Those of you who were veterans at the beginning of World 
War II will remember that on Wake Island in the Philippines, at 
Pearl Harbor, we suffered a lot because we weren't ready. Those 
of you who were veterans of Korea will remember Task Force 
Smith and the fact that young Americans under-trained, under-
equipped, frankly found themselves in hopeless situations 
against a military army in the opening weeks of that war.
    You will recognize that it is vital in peace time, as 
General Washington and later President Washington reminded us, 
``If you want peace, prepare for war.'' It is vital in peace 
that we provide the resources, the leadership and the training, 
that we buy the equipment so that if for any reason we are 
required to risk our children's lives in combat they will enter 
that combat with the best trained, the best equipped force in 
the world.
    I look at the difference between Task Force Smith, brave, 
patriotic, courageous young Americans. What happened in Desert 
Storm where we won decisively, convincingly and with an 
extraordinary great skill, while the Iraqis paid for their lack 
of preparation. We saved our lives by doing the right thing. I 
know that all of you will join me in insisting that we have the 
right defense budget, spent in the right way, to make sure that 
our men and women in uniform have every opportunity to serve 
their country and survive. That is what we owe them.
    If they will serve us by risking their lives, we should 
serve them by being prepared. Once you have served your 
country, and there is no question but we need to invest in 
resources and we need to do what is necessary for the defense. 
We have been very committed among House Republicans to make 
sure we spend money intelligently and we spend it as needed.
    Once you have served your country, there is also a question 
of what happens when you come home and you are a veteran? I 
have spent a great deal of time the last four or five years 
looking at health-care issues. I want to take a minute or two 
to talk about health care as it relates to veterans and the 
Veterans Administration.
    I want to propose a standard and a Commission to look at 
that standard that I hope you will agree through this 
Convention to work with us to get established. This is what I 
would like to propose. We should have a Commission on the 21st 
Century health care for veterans, that that Commission should 
look at all of the breakthroughs, the national general health 
with the genetic breakthroughs with research, the new 
biotechnologies, with the new computerizations, and we should 
say to ourselves how do we design and invest over the next ten 
years so that every Veterans Hospital and every veterans 
outpatient care center has access to the best consultants in 
the world, has access to the best technology in the world.
    I have met with an ophthalmologist from UCLA, who is a 
pioneer in doing very, very specialized eye surgery. He 
actually does operations in his laboratory at UCLA, in Los 
Angeles, on patients in Beijing, China. Because his technology 
is so precise that he can do a better job by satellite than the 
doctor in China without the modern technology can do standing 
over the patient.
    The Mayo Clinic now, one of the greatest health centers in 
the world, is investing more and more in providing telemedicine 
all across Minnesota and all of North and South Dakota, so if 
you have a car accident or a farming accident, say, with your 
tractor or combine, you have a unique spinal injury, you just 
don't go to the local doctor who may see one spinal case in 20 
years, you are electronically having all your information sent 
immediately to the finest specialists in the world through the 
Mayo system.
    That specialist may deal with 10 or 15 cases a week and is 
looking at all that information and talking to your local 
doctor and saying here is exactly the most modern therapy 
available right this minute. Suddenly, you are connecting 
people not just for the best doctor in your hospital, but to 
the worldwide capability to bring the most cutting edge of 
knowledge right to the point of contact for your particular 
needs.
    Now, there is no reason that we can't have for the veterans 
in this country a nationwide, even worldwide capability to 
connect you and your local Veterans Hospital where you and your 
local veterans outpatient clinic, not just the best person at 
the VA, but the best researcher in the world with your 
particular problem.
    As we are learning, for example, in looking at the Gulf War 
syndrome, sometimes a local doctor doesn't have a clue. Then 
you start talking to someone else who has done advanced 
research and they talk to someone else, and suddenly a whole 
lot of things come together that you didn't have with one 
veteran in one hospital talking to one doctor.
    What I would like to do, and one of the reasons I was so 
delighted when you gave me the opportunity to come here, I 
would like to announce today launching a 21st Century veterans 
health-care initiative, working directly with the VFW to create 
the kind of Commission that has the best medical researchers 
and the best medical systems in the world represented, so we 
can develop over the next two years an ability to think about 
how we bring to bear the best care.
    Let me give you an example. We have been doing a lot of 
study on preventative care. My mother-in-law is now in her 
eighties. She is a diabetic. Now, I became fascinated, because 
over 20 years she has monitored this. Some of you may have done 
the same thing.
    Let me ask the question, if you don't mind sharing this 
with your neighbors, how many happen to be diabetic? That means 
it is very common. Type 2, when you get older, is increasingly 
common. It is part diet and partly genetic. I was fascinated 
because she has really been trained to take care of herself and 
measures her blood sugar several times a day, and she gives 
herself insulin, and she exercises.
    So I began to talk to the Center for Disease Control in 
Atlanta, a great research institution. They reported to me, 
first of all, that diabetes leads to going blind, it leads to 
heart disease, it leads to losing your kidneys, and it can lead 
to where you have to have your feet amputated.
    One out of every four dollars spent in Medicare relates to 
diabetes. That is how prevalent it is. What is even more 
amazing, if you have the right preventative care and tested and 
find out as early as possible whether or not you have diabetes, 
and half the people that have diabetes don't know it. We have 
eight million diabetics today and our estimate is there are 
eight million more, including some of you, who have not been 
screened. We don't check for it automatically.
    So often you have diabetes for six or seven years before 
you learn about it. By the time you learn about it, you learn 
it because you have a heart problem or eye problem, or kidney 
problem. Here is what they told us. If we diagnose it early and 
if you learn how to take care of yourself, 90 percent of the 
people who go blind will not lose their eyesight.
    Now, how will that make a difference in your life? Nine out 
of ten are going to go blind next year don't go blind. Two out 
of every three will lose their kidneys and have to go on 
dialysis, but they don't have to lose their kidneys if they 
have the right care. Two out of three who have heart disease, 
and end up in Intensive Care, or may have to bypass or 
ultimately will have a heart transplant, may die because they 
have a heart attack without knowing about it. Two out of three 
could be saved. Two out of three had their feet amputated could 
be saved.
    What is it worth? It turns out, by the way, not only is 
your life better but we save the money, because if we don't 
have to send you for the dialysis, we don't have to pay for it. 
If you don't go blind, we don't have to give special 
supplemental Social Security income for going blind.
    If you don't lose your feet, you are not in the hospital 
getting fitted because you are now an amputee. If you don't 
have heart disease, you don't end up in the Intensive Care. It 
turns out you get better quality of life at lower cost by doing 
the right thing, and yet almost nowhere in America do we do the 
right thing.
    What I am suggesting, when I talked about the 21st health 
care, is not just science and research and all that, but it is 
also what do we already know that we are not applying that will 
improve the quality of life? One out of every ten of you will 
end up having diabetes.
    Therefore, it is very important that we have preventative 
care. We are moving ahead with preventative care on other 
issues, involving not only cancer and other things, because we 
believe that it is very important, as early as possible, to get 
the detection.
    Let me again ask for a show of hands. How many of you have 
been through some kind of early cancer where you caught it in 
time and you were able to have intervention? These are the 
kinds of preventative approaches and techniques that modern 
science made possible.
    We are not talking about some explosive cost, we are 
talking about the less expensive system because people are 
healthier because they do the right thing early instead of 
waiting for the emergency.
    So I come today to pledge to you my support working with 
the VFW to create the right kind of Commission to redevelop the 
best possible medicine in the 21st Century. Isn't that exactly 
parallel to what I said before about the national security?
    If you are young, you ought to have the best equipment and 
best training to go in combat and the best advantage. After you 
have served your country, after you get older, you should have 
the best health care, the best medicine and best technology 
because you have earned that because of the risk that you have 
taken for your country. (Applause)
    Let me also say that we are committed to industry 
resources. This year we added $600 million for veterans health 
care. We know that is not enough. We know the federal 
government by itself will never fully be enough and that is why 
we are working in finding new ways to provide for third-party 
payment to Veterans Hospitals.
    We will be launching a pilot project to develop a Medicare 
policy so there will be care at the VA Hospitals. If we had the 
best care at the lowest cost, we should be able to save 
Medicare money and also get resources for veterans' care by 
allowing the two systems to work together, and that would be 
better for every American.
    We will be working with you to develop a pilot project on 
how to make that successful and how to learn to increase the 
resources that are available in your local veterans medical 
system. We think that is the right way to do it.
    Let me in my closing remind you in a sense what a marvelous 
country this is and what you have achieved in your lifetime 
with the risk that you took and by being involved. You know, 
you are here as volunteers. You are here because you care 
enough to take the time to spend the money to work in your 
local organizations or the local VFW, to work in your state 
organizations, to come to your national.
    You are here because you know what freedom is really all 
about. It is being willing to work, and that if America has 
been good to you, you have an obligation to find fellow 
Americans to be good enough and most of you find yourselves 
visiting other veterans who are not in as good of health and 
may not have succeeded as well economically and may be a little 
lonely.
    You know when you visit them at times it changes their 
lives because you have offered them hope and you have offered 
them human connection that makes them feel better. I spent 
yesterday and the day before in San Diego and Los Angeles, huge 
cities on the edge of the Pacific.
    I saw just the extraordinary diversity of America. Those 
who are from those areas and have been there know what I am 
talking about. You see people with Asian background. That is a 
too narrow line. It is different in Cambodia, Vietnam, 
Pakistan, Indonesia, or the Philippines.
    You can lump them all together as Asians, but there is a 
lot of different cultures and a lot of different things. There 
are folks with the Latino background. It is also a little 
disconcerting for me to say Brazilians are Spanish, because 
they are not that Spanish.
    European descent, I happen to be German-Scotch-Irish. Many 
of you are of European descent and to find out that Newt is not 
exactly a Swede. The old reigning Italians are not Norwegians. 
This gets to be a much bigger category. African-Americans and 
West India have African descent for the American.
    Native Americans, I mention this to all of you because I 
think that sometimes we don't stop a minute and look around and 
smile. This is the most remarkable country in the history of 
the world. If you are serving in Bosnia and Serbia and you may 
hate each other, you may have three generations of families 
killing each other, but when you migrate to America you both 
end up in the same neighborhood and your kids both go to the 
same school, they both end up on the same football team or 
soccer team or baseball team.
    They don't fight over the families past hatred, they put on 
the same uniform and go out on the playing field and play as 
one team. They worry about beating the other team. Suddenly, 
magically, they just work together. As you know, there are 
great American stories of them suddenly deciding to marry each 
other and the families have to accept that.
    That is called love. It happens all the time. We somehow 
come together and I have always believed that what you 
represent, and maybe this is because of my dad's 27 years of 
serving in the Army, but what you represent is the patriotism 
to protect that freedom and the citizenship after you leave the 
military to continue to be active because you cared, not 
because you have to.
    You are not drafted into the VFW, not because it is your 
career, you are not paid. But you do it because in your heart 
you know that your children and your grandchildren are going to 
have a better country if you honor the veterans, if you remind 
them of the cause of freedom and if you remind them of when it 
counts.
    We can all pull together as one country and as one country 
get better. Congress should say to you that we honor those who 
serve America and that we agree with you they deserve the best 
possible medical care, and we agree with you that their 
children deserve the best possible equipment and best possible 
training so we can continue to protect freedom, so we can 
continue to show the world what a great country filled with 
good people can do, to give everybody of every background their 
creator and their chance for happiness.
    Thank you for all you do. We appreciate very much working 
with your leadership on these very important issues.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: My fellow comrades, we are going 
to continue through with the Business Session. We have a lot of 
work to do yet. So, please, bear with us. We will not be taking 
a break for lunch. We have got two more Committee Reports and 
the nominations. That will end our Business Session.
    I will ask to come forward President Betty Gibbs and the 
Executive Director Susan Shoultz.

                 VISIT OF NATIONAL HOME REPRESENTATIVES

    PRESIDENT BETTY GIBBS: National Commander-in-Chief, 
National Officers and Members, thank you, Commander Jim, for 
allowing us to come before this assembly to say a few words. I 
would like to extend from myself, for the Board of Trustees and 
the staff an invitation at any time to visit our National Home.
    At the National Home, our children receive more than a roof 
over their heads. They are given love, security, guidance and 
raised with traditional family values. We wish to thank all of 
you for the support that you have given us over the years.
    From all of us at the National Home, we do have this little 
remembrance from us, Commander. Will the trustees, please, 
stand who are here. I don't know if I can see you. From 
District 3, Allen Jones. From District 8, Ed Sanders. From 
District 9, Carol Weber, who is Vice-President. From District 
No. 11 is Charles Cloud, Jr.
    Now, I would like to introduce our Executive Director Susan 
Shoultz. I know she has a few words to say and she will 
introduce Chris Feltner, our Buddy Poppy Boy for this year.

             REMARKS BY DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS SUSIE SHOULTZ

    MRS. SUSAN SHOULTZ: To our Commander-in-Chief, Officers, 
and to you, the fine comrades of this organization: I am here 
to report to you that we have had another good year at the 
National Home. We have served 86 individuals over this past 
fiscal year.
    We have finished under budget in terms of expenses and over 
budget in terms of revenue this year. That is the second year 
in a row. So we are on a good trend here. The Board and I 
realize this is not the time to sit back and rest. This is the 
time to plan for the future, to address the issues that need to 
be addressed in order for us to continue the mission.
    That mission is caring for children and continuing as a 
living memorial to those like yourself who went when this 
country called. We want to continue to remember you and that is 
part of our mission as well. I want to thank you for the 
support that you have given to the Buddy Poppy Program, which 
obviously helps the children at the National Home.
    I would also like to thank all Departments, every Post, and 
each individual who has worked this past year to help provide 
for the children of the National Home. We are grateful for your 
hard work and your continued commitment to the National Home 
and the children.
    Now, of course, I have the opportunity to introduce to you 
one of our children, a young man who came to us three years 
ago. I will let Chris tell you all about himself. Chris is a 
fine example of how you are helping young people. I would like 
to present to you your Buddy Poppy Boy for 1997-98, Chris 
Feltner. (Applause)

                      REMARKS BY BUDDY POPPY CHILD

    MR. CHRIS FELTNER: Hi. My name is Chris Feltner. I come 
from Waterford, Michigan. I have been living at the VFW Home 
for three years. I am nine years old. I like science, math and 
social studies. I have one brother and one sister. Their names 
are Gregg and Renee.
    I also have a cousin, who is named Eric. He is turning 13, 
August 20th. I have a house parent whose name is Audrey. He is 
very nice and he takes good care of me. One of my friends at 
the VFW Home is Michael and he likes to camp as I do. I met a 
friend by the name of Chuck. He is a nice guy. He did Elvis lip 
singing and wore funky clothes, and has got Elvis sideburns. He 
did Elvis with me.
    My old house parent, Pat and my old house parent, Gary, and 
my brother and my sister, in the fall we rake leaves and jump 
in it with Sue, Audrey and Pat. Thank you. (Applause)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: He will be around to get any pins 
you might have. He is a smart young man. We will move on with 
our business now. I will ask to come forward the Chairman of 
the POW/MIA Committee, Past Commander-in-Chief Billy Ray 
Cameron.

               REPORT OF VFW POW/MIA SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BILLY RAY CAMERON: Thanks, 
Commander. Once again, I would like to thank Commander-in-Chief 
Nier for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of 
the Subcommittee on POW/MIA. My Vice-Chairman, George Cramer, 
did a great job and I would like to thank the Committee.
    We had a good, hard working Committee, and we worked 
diligently and went through these resolutions. So what I will 
do at this time is read the resolutions that the Committee 
approved, and then I will save for last the ones that were 
rejected. Some of these were approved with amendments. The only 
amendments made were to correct figures and dates, and things 
like that. There was nothing that changed the resolutions.
    The first resolution is 401, Support Public Awareness 
Projects. This resolution was approved by the Committee.
    The second resolution was No. 402, Seek Opportunities to 
Resolve the Korean War POW/MIA Issue. This was approved, as 
amended in the dates.
    The next resolution was No. 403, VFW Supports Kuwait's 
Demand for an Accounting of its MIAs. This resolution was 
approved by the Committee.
    The next one was Resolution 418, Assist Vietnam's Recovery 
of MIAs as a Sign of Good Faith. This one was approved.
    The next one that was approved was Resolution 432, 
Americans who are Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. This 
was approved by the Committee.
    Resolution No. 435 is approved by the Committee, support 
for the POW/MIA Flag to Fly Over Federal Post Offices and 
Federal Buildings. That was approved, as amended.
    The last resolution that was approved by the Committee was 
taken up this morning as we reconvened. That was Resolution 
443, Oppose Downsizing the Defense Department POW/MIA Office. 
That was approved.
    So, Commander, I make a motion we approve these 
resolutions.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF GEORGE CRAMER (Post 6869--
Illinois): I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion duly 
made and seconded to adopt those resolutions. Is there anyone 
at the microphones. I will call for the vote. Those in favor of 
adopting will signify by saying ``aye''; those opposed by the 
same sign. They are adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BILLY RAY CAMERON: The Committee 
decided to reject Resolution 429, De-Normalization of Ties with 
Vietnam.
    Also we rejected Resolution 430, Withhold Aid Until Full 
Accounting of POW/MIA's. That was rejected for Resolution 402, 
which we approved. This was rejected for Resolution No. 402.
    Resolution No. 438, House Resolution 409, was rejected by 
the Committee.
    No. 439 was rejected in favor of 435 which we approved. No. 
439 was POW Flags Be Flown on All Federal Buildings.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Is there anyone at Microphone No. 
1? Is there anyone at Microphone No. 2?
    Yes, Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE RON DORSEY (Post 856--Texas): Commander-in-Chief, 
Ron Dorsey, Post 856, Texas. On behalf of my 200 members I 
would like to make a motion that we accept Resolution 438.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: There is a motion to accept No. 
438.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE TONY BORGAS (Post 2866--Missouri): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We have a motion and a second to 
accept Resolution 438. We will now debate No. 438.
    COMRADE RON DORSEY (Post 856--Texas): Gentlemen, to accept 
this motion is a no brainer. All this resolution does is to 
reinstate those pertinent specifics that were clipped out of 
the original Missing In Action '96 by Senator John McCain. I 
will read to you briefly what will be reinstated by the support 
of this resolution.
    The requiring of new base files personally every three 
years for thirty years, and penalizing those which willfully 
withhold information and those that direct withholding 
information about the case. It reinstates the provision that if 
the recovered body is not identified by visual means, 
certification to exempt is required.
    It is broadening the definition of new information to the 
appointment of legal counsel for this purpose, when a renewed 
or new material is made. The establishment of a by-law for 
Korean unaccounted for, or when last known alive or expected of 
being alive.
    Gentlemen, all this resolution does is to reinstate those 
things. By reinstating these elements, you are supporting your 
POWs and their families. Not to do so is basically to support 
the politicians who really don't give a damn about us. So, if 
you are sincere about it, and I will tell you we asked the 
Committee members why they chose to reject this and they had no 
reason.
    This is another reason why you need to question your 
Committee members. You need to have members who are relatively 
informed. If you are sincere about supporting the POWs, I hope 
you are because they have got a fight, then you will accept 
this resolution as part of our policy. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Anyone else at any other mikes? 
There is no further debate.
    Yes, Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, Department of 
Colorado. This issue is really not well known to me or probably 
most of us. Can we have the Committee comments why they voted 
to reject, please?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BILLY RAY CAMERON: Yes. The 
resolution was very, very unclear. The wording was very 
unclear, and we had a letter from the Department Commander, 
which I will ask our Vice-Chairman to read, explaining exactly 
why we opposed it.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF GEORGE CRAMER: Thank you, Mr. 
Chairman. Commander-in-Chief and delegates to the 98th National 
Convention: I beg your indulgence because this letter is a 
little lengthy. It is from the general counsel of the 
Department of Defense and the Honorable Floyd Spence, Chairman 
of the Committee on National Security, with a copy to our 
Washington Office.
    It says: ``This is in response to your request for the 
views of the Department of Defense on HR 409, 105th Congress, a 
bill to amend Title X, United States Code, to restore the 
provisions of Chapter 76 of that title relating to missing 
persons as in effect before the amendment made by the National 
Defense authorization and for the fiscal year 1997.
    ``The Department of Defense proposes HR 409. The Department 
considers certain aspects of HR 409 as detrimental to the full 
accounting of missing persons. First, we do not support 
coverage of our civilian and contract employees. The Secretary 
of State was tasked to conduct a study to determine the impact 
of that provision and until this analysis is complete, it is 
premature to include these personal categories.
    ``Second, we do not support reinstating a requirement of 
the Unit Commander to make a preliminary status report within 
48 hours rather than the ten days as currently legislated. 
Field Commanders must be briefed to prosecute their wartime 
duties. Reducing a Commander's time from ten days to 48 hours 
is unrealistic in any given best scenario as a Commander's full 
attention is on the battle.
    ``Consistent with the legislation's intent to render a full 
accounting, sufficient time must be allowed for those most 
familiar with the missing person's status to ensure a thorough 
investigation. In this instance, thoroughness is more critical 
than speed. The extension of reporting requirements of 48 hours 
to ten days will allow a thorough and complete investigation.
    ``Third, the Department of Defense does not support the 
requirement for Unit Commanders to transmit preliminary status 
reports through a Theater Component Commander, TCC, rather than 
directly to a Service Secretary. We believe this requirement 
would tax the TCC and his staff and thus becoming a further 
combat distraction. In the event of a major conflict, this 
provision would severely detract the war effort.
    ``The Commander's report should be continued to be 
forwarded to the Service Secretary for action, with the TCC 
being provided advisory copies. Although we object to routing 
the Commander's report to the TCC, we would support a 
requirement to provide the TCC with advisory copies.
    ``Fourth, while the Department supports current law which 
requires the inquiry after the end of one year and thereafter 
upon the receipt of new information, it opposes the 
requirements to convene Status Review Boards every three years 
for thirty years even absent the availability of new 
information.
    ``This presupposes that the U. S. Government does not hold 
the interest of missing persons as a compelling factor for 
determination of their status and also implies that a proper 
evaluation is germane and new information would not be made. We 
believe this requirement would be financially and 
administratively burdensome on the Department and would cause 
unnecessary suffering and travel expenses to family members and 
would send an improper messages to the services that will not 
pursue cases unless there are formal hearing processes.
    ``Lastly, the Department disagrees with the provisions on 
penalties for wrongful withholding of information. Criminal 
provisions could be used as means for filing frivolous, false 
and spurious charges against innocent government employees who 
would then be obligated to undergo the stress and expense of 
defending themselves.
    ``With the emotional nature of this work, our personnel are 
often accused of withholding information from their case files 
of missing persons. Such allegations in the past consistently 
have been proven groundless. Attaching criminal liabilities to 
such charges would create a working environment where 
recruitment and retention of personnel would be severely 
affected.
    ``It also would require personnel to spend time and 
resources aggressively defending their conduct rather than 
working to resolve their differences. This would create an 
environment which would jeopardize analytical objectivity. The 
language of HR 409 also implies the lack of trust and 
professionalism with regard to Comrade Commander, the analyst, 
the service casualty officer and other personnel involved in 
the POW/MIA issue.
    ``The investigative and legal burden that this criminal 
provision is certain to impose will have a debilitating effect 
on the process of the POW/MIA issues. The Office of Management 
and Budget advises that from the standpoint of the 
administration's programs, there is no objection to the 
presentation of this report for consideration of the 
Committee.''
    That is why we rejected this resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Any further debate? Seeing no one 
at any microphones, the motion is to adopt No. 438. Those in 
favor of adopting No. 438 will signify by saying ``aye''; those 
opposed by the same sign. No. 438 is rejected.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BILLY RAY CAMERON: Let me again say 
thank you to the Commander-in-Chief. I want to tell everyone 
here today that the Veterans of Foreign Wars is still the lead 
organization in the POW/MIA issue. I had the privilege and 
opportunity to travel to Vietnam and it was not a vacation. It 
was a hard-working trip. You would have been proud of your 
Chief.
    When we gave the North Vietnamese the documents for 
location of over 1,600 graves, there was all kinds of TV and 
print media that covered this event. I think it spoke well for 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief, 
for giving me this opportunity. Thank you, George Cramer, my 
Co-Chairman.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE RUSSELL RIEKE (Post 5694--Illinois): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Russell Rieke, Post 5694, Department of 
Illinois. I need just a point of information from Billy Ray. 
You said Resolution No. 429 was rejected in favor of which 
resolution?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BILLY RAY CAMERON: No. 429 was 
rejected.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you very much, Past 
Commander-in-Chief Billy Ray. I thank you and your Vice-
Chairman, Past Commander-in-Chief George Cramer. Your Committee 
is relieved of its responsibilities. I thank you for a job well 
done. Let's give them a round of applause. (Applause)
    At this time I will call forward the Chairman of the 
Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions, Past Commander-in-
Chief Allen F. ``Gunner'' Kent.

          REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON VETERANS SERVICE RESOLUTIONS

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT: It is better late than 
never. Commander-in-Chief, I would like to report that the 
Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions convened at 1:00 p.m. 
Sunday, August 17, 1997. The instructions were read and roll 
call was taken and preliminary matters were discussed.
    The Committee was divided into three Subcommittees to help 
deliberate the 71 resolutions which were assigned to this 
Committee. The Subcommittees were established as follows: 
Subcommittee 1, Medical Programs and Veterans Benefits 
Entitlements was chaired by Daniel Crocker from Michigan, and 
the Vice-Chairman was Richard Branson from Georgia. The staff 
advisors were Dennis Cullinan and James Jewel.
    Subcommittee 2 was chaired by Gary Herbert from Alaska and 
the Vice-Chairman was Sam Rosenthal from Utah. The staff 
advisors were Sid Daniels and Bill Frazier.
    Subcommittee 3 was on Other Benefits, and that was chaired 
by Tom Hanson of Minnesota and the Vice-Chairman was George 
Householder from Ohio. The staff advisor was Bill Dozier and 
Jim Magill.
    Before proceeding to this report, comrades, I would like to 
take a moment to express the Committee's appreciation to Fred 
Juarbe, Jr., Director of National Veterans Service, Sid 
Daniels, Director of National Employment Service, and James 
Magill, Director of National Legislative Service for their 
valued technical guidance to the Committee.
    I would like to take this opportunity to thank Past 
Commander-in-Chief Norm Staab, from the great Department of 
Kansas, for serving as Vice-Chairman of this important 
Committee. A special note also of thanks to Jimmy Lee Wallace, 
Special Assistant to the National Veterans Service, who acted 
as secretary of the Committee and coordinated the results of 
our deliberations.
    Commander-in-Chief, with your permission, I will begin the 
Committee Report by presenting those resolutions the Committee 
recommends to be approved as written.
    Past Commander-in-Chief Staab will then proceed to report 
those resolutions that were approved as amended. Then I will 
conclude the report by presenting the resolutions the Committee 
recommends for rejection. If for any reason you or the 
delegates to this Convention would like a resolution set aside, 
please so indicate after I have completed each segment of the 
report.
    I will now proceed by reading the resolution numbers which 
the Committee recommends for approval as written:
    Resolutions Nos. 602, 605, 609, 611, 613, 615, 617, 618, 
619, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 630, 634, 641, 653, 660, 663, 
665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670 and 671.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the Committee recommends and I 
move that these be approved as written.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NORMAN STAAB (Post 6240--Kansas): I 
second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The motion has been duly made and 
seconded for adoption.
    Is there any discussion?
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE WILLIAM SAUNDERS (Post 579--Wyoming): Commander-in-
Chief, William Saunders, Post 579, Department of Wyoming. I 
move to set aside Resolution 660.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Resolution 660 will be set aside. 
Any other discussion on the motion to adopt? If not, those in 
favor of the motion will signify by saying ``aye''; those 
opposed by the same sign. The motion carries.
    We will come back to Resolution 660 at the end, Bill.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT: I would like to call on 
Past Commander-in-Chief Norman Staab, and he will read the 
resolutions that were approved, as amended.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NORMAN STAAB: Thank you, Commander-
in-Chief. Approved as amended, and most of these were really 
grammatical errors and they were just corrected. We have 
Resolutions 601, 603, 604, 606, 607, 608, 610, 612, 616, 620, 
633, 637, 640, 645, 658, 659, 661, 664. That is all of the 
resolutions that have been approved as amended.
    I move we accept these, as amended.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT: I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The motion has been moved and duly 
seconded to adopt these resolutions, as amended. Seeing no one 
at any of the microphones, those in favor of adopting these 
resolutions, as amended, will signify by saying ``aye''; all 
those opposed by the same sign. They are adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT: Finally, I present the 
last series of resolutions, which the Committee recommends 
rejection, or rejects in favor of another resolution. I will 
read the resolution number again. If a delegate would like any 
of these resolutions to be set aside, make a note of the 
resolution number and request such action after I have 
completed the report of the final group of resolutions.
    No. 614 was rejected in favor of 601.
    No. 626 was rejected in favor of 669.
    No. 627 was rejected. The action urged by this resolution 
is technically unsound. Also, this is a private organization 
and not a federal organization. Therefore, this is not a 
federal legislative issue.
    No. 628 was rejected in favor of 618.
    No. 629, Request Establishment of a New U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs Out-Patient Clinic in Northern Virginia, the 
action urged by this resolution has been accomplished.
    No. 631 was rejected in favor of 671.
    No. 632, Change Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act to 
Public Law 79301, rejected in favor of No. 620.
    No. 634, Oppose Abolishment of Veterans Employment and 
Training Service, was rejected in favor of No. 668.
    No. 636 was rejected in favor of No. 668.
    No. 638 was rejected in favor of 637.
    No. 639 was rejected. The action urged by this resolution 
may be increased veterans benefits.
    No. 642 was rejected in favor of 616.
    No. 643 was rejected in favor of 616.
    No. 644 was rejected in favor of 665.
    No. 646 was rejected in favor of 625.
    No. 647 was rejected in favor of 603 and 608.
    No. 648 was rejected in favor of 609.
    No. 649 was rejected in favor of 620.
    No. 650 was rejected in favor of 664.
    No. 651 was rejected in favor of 622.
    No. 652, the action urged by this resolution is not within 
the jurisdiction of a National Committee.
    No. 654 was rejected in favor of 668.
    No. 655, due to a situation change in this area, the 
Department of California no longer feels this is a priority 
issue.
    No. 656 was rejected in favor of 625.
    No. 657 was rejected in favor of 634.
    No. 662 was rejected. The action urged by this resolution 
is against long-standing VFW policy to support medical care for 
the allied veterans of the United States. Those are your 
rejections.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the list. Seeing no 
one at the microphones, those resolutions stand rejected.
    There was a motion to adopt Resolution No. 660, which was 
set aside. We will now debate 660.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE WILLIAM SAUNDERS (Post 5769--Wyoming): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I move that we reject Resolution 660 on the 
basis that it is a Veterans Affairs realignment and should have 
been--
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The motion is out of order.
    There is a motion already on the floor. You can speak in 
opposition. We are now debating No. 660. Bill, there is already 
a motion on the floor to adopt. You can speak in opposition. 
You can't move to reject it, but you can speak in opposition.
    COMRADE WILLIAM SAUNDERS (Post 579--Wyoming): I speak in 
opposition to that resolution simply for the fact that I sat on 
this Committee and in the original Committee Report we had 
moved to reject this specific resolution, and then resurrected 
it to bring it on the floor.
    I believe that this is a program that should have been 
handled by the Minnesota delegation of Veterans of Foreign Wars 
and the Director in that specific area, which happens to be 
Minneapolis.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Department of Colorado): 
In the Committee, I will make this very briefly, it concerns 
really dealing with the national resources, and I am speaking 
in opposition to the motion. I would like to focus on it just 
briefly.
    I ask you to reject Resolution 660. The issues contained in 
there concern the facilities in the Department of State of 
Minnesota, and we know that those comrades are still very 
sincere and very concerned about what is happening to the VA 
Medical Centers there.
    We hope they can accomplish what they would like to 
accomplish to serve our comrades and sisters at the Department 
level using local community support and the political resources 
of the Department of Minnesota.
    The question is can our National Office staff, with limited 
resources, take all of these issues throughout the United 
States? We have thousands of similar issues to deal with. We 
have many in our Department of Colorado, in the State of 
Colorado.
    If we want to increase our National Office staff by ten or 
twenty-fold, then, yes, we can work on these issues. But we 
cannot expect this very limited staff to try to resolve each 
and every one of these issues at the local level. I think it is 
a local issue.
    I think that the Department of Minnesota is going to be 
fully capable of dealing with it and I, therefore, ask that 
this motion be defeated. Thank you, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE AL LOEHR (Post 4847--Minnesota): First of all, 
Commander-in-Chief, I would like to set the record straight on 
this resolution. It is not a parochial issue. Our hospital at 
St. Paul cares for over 1,000 patients. We are noted for our 
psychiatric treatment.
    We are noted for our post-traumatic stress syndrome 
program. We are known for our gerontology program, our 
outpatient treatment, et cetera. We take veterans from all over 
the country in St. Cloud. Our opposition to this is the 
staffing question of the Director being brought in from 
Minneapolis to manage our facility two days a week and the 
remaining days of the week will be operated under the direction 
of a CEO of some sort.
    I believe that we are dedicated as a veterans organization 
to make sure that we represent the veterans that we have in 
this nation and that need our help and need it so badly. This 
idea of coming out and bringing forth the argument that because 
we support the issue that affects two hospitals that is 
completely two different missions.
    I just alluded to the programs that we have in St. Cloud. 
In Minneapolis, 80 miles away, we have a GMS hospital called 
General Medical Surgical. We don't do any surgery up in St. 
Cloud. We send them to Minneapolis. The question we have with 
this, and with the Department of Veterans Affairs, is simply 
this.
    We are concerned about the administrative structure that is 
being proposed in this integration movement. Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, I move for the best interest of all veterans that 
this resolution be approved.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: There is a motion already on the 
floor.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE RICHARD BRANSON (Post 5080--Georgia): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Richard Branson, a delegate from Post 5080, 
Department of Georgia. The basic question in here is whether we 
want full continuum care for veterans or whether we want to 
micro-manage where this care is going to be provided.
    The resolution that we have already passed was Resolution 
601, which was Reform of Eligibility for Access to VA Health 
Care, and we are requesting that legislation be enacted to 
mandate the full continuum care. I don't think that it is our 
place to tell how that care will be provided or where it will 
be provided, just so long as it is provided.
    I believe the secretary agreed on this very same point. I 
think that we should reject Resolution 660 in favor of 
Resolution 601.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DANIEL CROCKER (Post 796--Michigan): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief. My name is Dan Crocker, a delegate from 
Michigan, VFW Post 769, Port Huron, Michigan. I stand here with 
my colleague from Georgia in opposing this resolution.
    We stood here where you stand right now, and heard the 
Secretary-Designate make some promises to us yesterday, and 
those promises dealt with change within the VA. I have to 
question that in terms of the mission change. It is not a 
change of mission, it is a change from inpatient to outpatient.
    We have all seen it in our private sectors where we may go 
in the hospital for a gall bladder surgery as an outpatient. 
And years ago it was four or five days. Now it will be two days 
and you are up and walking in one day. In the VA, we have to 
look at it this way, the VA is getting out of the hospital-care 
business and getting into the health-care business. That is 
very important as we deal with this issue.
    Those promises that he made yesterday was to expand health 
care and not to diminish the quality of health care. How did he 
propose to do that? He did that with excess points. Throughout 
the nation, some of our states already have those outpatient 
clinics already in place and up and running.
    Michigan has four of them right now and other states across 
the nation are getting on line. So yesterday I had the 
opportunity to go to the VA workshop. During that workshop, 
this integration came about, and every one of those individuals 
that spoke on integration had nothing but positive remarks 
regarding integration of medical centers.
    Our Committee, when we met, our initial contact or our 
initial decision, as the comrade from Wyoming just said, we 
rejected in favor of 601 and we still look at that favorably.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE FRED JUARBE (Post 401--New Mexico): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Fred Juarbe, Jr., VFW Post 401, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The purpose of integration is to 
provide more accessible health care and better health care. The 
primary effort in integrating services is to do away with the 
top heavy positions, duplicated services and increased services 
that can be provided in the arena of health care to veterans 
facilities.
    If you have two Directors who are making in excess of 
$100,000, one in St. Cloud and one in Minneapolis, and you can 
remove one of those positions and dedicate some of those funds 
to direct clinical services to veterans, the purpose of the VFW 
is to provide greater service to veterans is accomplished.
    Our national office has established a technical assessment 
center asking all the comrades to provide input of the impact 
for major changes that are taking place within VA health care. 
We have asked them to provide that input so we can correct any 
problems, track any expense and bring this evidence to the 
Secretary of Health and the Under Secretary of Health and to 
Congress where additional resources are needed.
    We will be monitoring the impact and if done correctly by 
being able to provide visiting physicians from Minneapolis to 
conduct special clinics at St. Cloud, services will be improved 
to the veterans up there. Those are the things that we will be 
monitoring and we are convinced that opposing the integration 
of St. Cloud and Minneapolis or any other integration that can 
improve service to veterans and improve access to health care 
would be against everything we are doing.
    We want to allow the VA to streamline themselves, to 
monitor themselves and gear itself up to provide health care to 
all of our nation's veterans.
    With that, Commander-in-Chief, I urge that Resolution 660 
be rejected.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you. Seeing no one at any of 
the mikes. the motion is to adopt Resolution 660. All those in 
favor of adopting 660, please signify by saying ``aye''; all 
those opposed by the sign of ``no''. No. 660 is rejected.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT: Thank you very much, 
comrades. I would like to thank very much the Veterans Service 
Committee for hanging in there for three days. Will you stand 
up. I would like to thank you for your hard work on the 
Committee. Thank you very, very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Gunner. Past Commander-
in-Chief Gunner Kent and Vice-Chairman Norm Staab, your 
Committee is relieved of its duties and I thank you for a job 
well done. Thank you very much.
    Microphone No. 1, please.
    COMRADE KENNEDY (Post 3877--Minnesota): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Kennedy, Post 3877, Minnesota. I would like to move 
for reconsideration of No. 206. I seriously doubt if the 
members realized that if this goes through they will be 
stepping into a position to admit the Merchant Marines.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LARRY MAHER (Department of Missouri): Did 
the comrade vote with the majority on that?
    COMRADE KENNEDY (Post 3877--Minnesota): It was a unanimous 
vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE AL LOEHR (Post 4847--Minnesota): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: There is a motion to reconsider 
Resolution 206 that has been duly seconded.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE KENNEDY (Post 3877--Minnesota): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, with respect to the motion, it was a unanimous vote 
and, therefore, it can be brought back to the floor for 
reconsideration. I seriously doubt if the members would 
carefully read that resolution, which would put us in a 
position as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of approving the 
admission of the members of the Merchant Marines into our 
organization, that they would turn it down.
    This morning we turned down a resolution to reject members 
who were eligible for the National Defense Medal, and certainly 
I think that they were in a better position to be admitted than 
members of the Merchant Marines. Thank you kindly for your 
attention.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. You have heard the 
debate. Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE STAN LOWE (Post 9439--Wyoming): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, I speak in support of Resolution 206.
    COMRADE JOHN VRITJAK (Post 1612--Illinois): A point of 
order. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Jack Vritjak, Post 1612, 
Department of Illinois. I have a point of order. When the rules 
of the Committee were presented, I believe that if you look at 
Item No. 13 it stated that no motion or resolution passed at a 
previous meeting can be reconsidered at the following meeting 
without previously giving notice.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I don't believe that is correct. I 
believe it can be the same day. It was done today.
    COMRADE JOHN VRITJAK (Post 1612--Illinois): The resolution 
was presented yesterday, was it not?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: It was today.
    COMRADE JOHN VRITJAK (Post 1612--Illinois): I am sorry. I 
stand corrected.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Continue with your debate.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE STAN LOWE (Post 9439--Wyoming): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief. I am the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs 
Council in the State of Wyoming. I am not appearing here in any 
official role, but I want to share with the comrades something 
here today. The results of my study of this question about the 
service of the United States Merchant Marines.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LARRY MAHER (Department of Missouri): 
Comrade, the matter before the house is just the motion to 
reconsider at this time. You should confine your remarks to the 
motion to reconsider rather than on the merits of the 
underlying motion.
    COMRADE STAN LOWE (Post 9439--Wyoming): I am sorry. I will 
withhold my comments at this time.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Microphone No. 2.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT (Post 9972--Arizona): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, we are talking about a moot point, 
because whether this resolution is accepted or rejected, By-Law 
B-9 and M-9 were rejected, which cover the Merchant Marines. 
They can't get in if we do this resolution or not.
    COMRADE RON RUSKO (Post 9460--Connecticut): There is a 
point of order on what Gunner Kent just said. If you remember 
correctly, comrades, last year the same thing was done with 
Korea. There is a charter change. That is only done this year 
is a charter change.
    Once the Congress changes that charter, they would be 
accepted. If what Gunner said is true, then you would have to 
have voted the by-laws out for the members of Korea, because 
you were approving them the same last year and you didn't vote 
anything for them this year.
    The same thing will happen again. So this particular motion 
on this resolution has already been adopted, will actually 
allow the organization once the Congress has approved that.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LARRY MAHER (Department of Missouri): I am 
not arguing with you, Ron. Your point is well taken. Gunner's 
point is well taken. Just so we get this thing off on the right 
foot, the By-Laws and Manual of Procedure amendments that would 
have tried to admit members of the Merchant Marines under the 
by-laws failed.
    Resolution No. 206, it failed primarily because--let me 
back up. There is no provision in the charter that would permit 
members of the Merchant Marines to be in this organization. 
Resolution No. 206, which was passed this morning, although 
perhaps inadvertently, would require that the Commander-in-
Chief go to Congress and petition for a change in our national 
charter to permit the admission of Merchant Marines.
    Following that, assuming that was done, there is at least 
an argument, and I think it is a valid one, then the 
organization would have to consider whether it wanted to amend 
its by-laws to permit Merchant Marines to enter or not because 
I believe that we don't have to have by-laws that admit 
everyone that the national charter will permit. That is an 
argument for a different day.
    Aside from all that, the only issue on the floor right now 
is the motion to reconsider, and we probably ought to confine 
our remarks to the motion to reconsider. Once that is taken 
care of, then we will deal with the main motion.
    COMRADE RON RUSKO (Post 9460--Connecticut): Could I ask you 
just one question? Is it not true that the supreme power of 
this organization is vested in its charter?
    COMRADE LARRY MAHER (Department of Missouri): No, the 
supreme power of this organization is vested in this Convention 
which adopts by-laws. I don't really prefer to get into this 
discussion now, Ron, because of some technical reasons.
    It is possible that, for instance, and I will give you an 
example, we have in our by-laws a citizenship requirement for 
membership in this organization. That citizenship requirement 
is not in the national charter. It is not in the congressional 
charter. So we have a more restrictive by-law than our present 
congressional charter. That is the same argument that applies.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ALLEN KENT: Also, Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, regarding by-laws, I believe, and I may be 
mistaken, but I don't believe this resolution was read and I do 
not believe that the membership understands exactly what this 
resolution will do as far as admitting Merchant Marines.
    I have always been against the National Defense Medal, but 
yet we are going to let the Merchant Marines come in. We don't 
have any proof at all except that says they have been 
somewhere. Some of them may have been under fire, a lot of them 
have not been under fire.
    I think that we ought to look at this and I think the 
membership should hear this resolution and it should be read in 
its entirety so they understand clearly exactly who they are 
going to admit into this organization. Thank you, Commander.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrade at Microphone No. 1, do 
you want to discuss the motion to reconsider?
    COMRADE DALE VERNON (Post 3568--Alabama): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am a member of this Committee that 
considered this. I spoke in favor of it. I told them the people 
in Alabama would be amazed if I supported this, but I supported 
it for the following reasons.
    From early 1943 to October, 1945--
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: My fellow comrade, I hate to cut 
you off, but you are discussing the merits of the motion and 
the only motion we are considering right now is to reconsider.
    COMRADE DALE VERNON (Post 3568--Alabama): I wanted to tell 
them why they ought to admit the Merchant Marines.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: If we pass the motion to 
reconsider, then we will discuss the resolution.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF RAY SODEN: I move the previous 
question for reconsideration.
    COMRADE BUFORD MAPLES (Post 5985--California): I second 
that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: The motion on the floor, which has 
been duly seconded, is to reconsider the motion. Those in favor 
of reconsidering Resolution 206 will signify by saying ``aye''; 
those opposed by the same sign. We will not reconsider No. 206.
    All of the Committees have now reported. All resolutions 
have been considered. I thank all the Committees for an 
outstanding job and all the Committee members.

                INTRODUCTION OF PAST COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: At this time I will take this 
opportunity to introduce all of the Past Commanders-in-Chief 
that are registered with us at this Convention. If you are 
either here in the audience or on the stage, please rise and be 
properly recognized.
    They are Billy Ray Cameron; John Carney; Ted C. Connell; 
George Cramer; James R. Currieo; Arthur J. Fellwock; Robert A. 
Hansen; Wally G. Hogan; Cooper T. Holt; Richard W. Homan; Allen 
F. Kent; James L. Kimery; Clyde A. Lewis; John W. Mahan; Robert 
T. Merrill; Clifford T. Olson, Jr.; Eric Sandstrom; Joseph 
Scerra; R. D. ``Bulldog'' Smith; Ray R. Soden; Paul A. Spera; 
Norman G. Staab; John J. Stang; John S. Staum; Howard E. Vander 
Clute, Jr.; Thomas C. ``Pete'' Walker; Robert E. Wallace; and 
Larry W. Rivers. Let's give these Past Commanders-in-Chief of 
this great organization a round of applause. (Applause)
    Thanks, Past Commanders-in-Chief for your continued 
dedication and willingness to serve this great organization.

                   INTRODUCTION OF SERGEANTS-AT-ARMS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: At this time we see standing 
behind me our Sergeants-at-Arms. Let me express my appreciation 
to a group of men that we see annually at our National 
Convention. They come here to this Convention and they are up 
early in the morning and the first ones in the hall.
    They arrange for the seating and special occasion, and they 
keep order in the hall. They try to seat everybody and maintain 
that order that is necessary during the meeting itself. These 
folks don't get a lot of money to do this. It is obviously a 
labor of love for them. I am sure that everyone recognizes that 
they do an outstanding job for us. The Sergeants-at-Arms, and 
his assembled staff here, I would like to introduce them.
    The Sergeants-at-Arms, from the great state of 
Pennsylvania, George F. Sarver, Jr. The Assistant Sergeants-at-
Arms are from Post 4159, Michigan, Fred Von Hinken, Jr.; from 
Post 2083, Connecticut, Nicholas Polansky; from Post 1645, 
Massachusetts, Carl C. Aiello; from Post 6240, Kansas, Barry 
Hoffman; from Post 4206, Florida, Bill Miller; from Post 2275, 
California, Keith McDonald; Joe Schirmers from the State of 
Minnesota; from Post 1911, Dan Brown, the state of Ohio; from 
Post 9134, North Carolina, Gary Barringer.
    These are the gentlemen that every time something goes 
wrong we start screaming at them. If something goes right, we 
forget to say thank you to them. I want to publicly say thank 
you to each and every one of them, the members of this team.
    I am so proud of each one of you, and you handle yourselves 
as professionals. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve 
with each and every one of you. Thanks so much on behalf of all 
of us for what you do for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Let's 
give them a round of applause.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    ADJUTANT GENERAL LARRY RIVERS: In accordance with the 
provisions of Public Law No. 620, 90th Congress, approved 
October 22, 1968, I move the minutes of this 98th National 
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
be submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for 
printing as a House document.
    QUARTERMASTER GENERAL JOE L. RIDGLEY: I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion duly 
made and seconded. Any discussion on the motion? Hearing none, 
those in favor of the motion will signify by saying ``aye''; 
those opposed by the same sign. The motion is accepted.

                         NOMINATION OF OFFICERS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We will now go into the Nomination 
of Officers for the 1997-'98 VFW year. I now open the 
nominations. By the way, before I start these nominations, if 
you are going to make a nomination or a second, please come up 
on the dais. Please be prepared. Nominations are now open for 
the Commander-in-Chief for 1997-'98.
    I recognize Roger Taylor, State Commander of the Department 
of Ohio.

                    NOMINATION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

    COMRADE ROGER TAYLOR (Post 2873--Ohio): Commander-in-Chief, 
National Officers, Department Officers and Distinguished 
Delegates to this 98th National Convention of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States:
    I stand before you a proud man, a proud member of this 
great organization, a proud friend of a man who has served this 
organization with distinction at every level. I stand before 
you for the purpose of placing in nomination for the highest 
office of Commander-in-Chief the name of a great American and a 
former Marine. I speak of none other than our distinguished 
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief John E. Moon.
    John has served with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division 
in Vietnam. He has been awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with 
three Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnamese 
Cross of Gallantry and the Combat Ribbon and the National 
Defense Service Medal.
    While home on leave from Vietnam, he joined Post 5665, 
Sherwood, Ohio. Then a few years later, in 1975, he was 
attracted to Grover Hill, Ohio, by a young lady, and John 
joined Post No. 2873 in Grover Hill. Since being in Grover Hill 
Post 2873, he has served three times as Post Commander, twice 
being named to All State Post Commander, and has served 14 
terms as Post Adjutant.
    Simultaneous with his Post activities, John found time to 
serve the County Council and was District Commander in 1974-
'75. Demonstrating his leadership ability, he was then elected 
Commander of the Department of Ohio, the first Vietnam veteran 
to obtain this high office. John proved his leadership 
abilities and was named All American and Department Commander. 
He then went on to serve the organization on the national level 
as National Council Member, and served on the National Budget 
Committee as well as several other Committees.
    In civilian life, John has served four consecutive terms as 
Mayor of his small rural community. Under his guidance, the 
town implemented many initiatives which resulted in numerous 
improvements. He participated in many local, regional and state 
civic activities. John has earned a degree in Business 
Administration. Our candidate for Commander-in-Chief brings us 
a well-rounded education, both academically and through life 
experiences.
    Every step of the way during his Veterans of Foreign Wars 
career, John has been supported by his lovely wife, Susie, and 
his entire family. Susie is very active in the Ladies Auxiliary 
and served as the Department of Ohio President in 1990-'91.
    John has served this organization as Junior Vice Commander-
in-Chief and Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief the last two years, 
representing the Commander-in-Chief and the 2.1 million members 
of this great organization on assignments all around the world.
    John has the dedication, he has the knowledge and he has 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars in his heart. He will do what is 
right for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and this nation's 
veterans.
    It is a proud moment for me to place in nomination for the 
high office of Commander-in-Chief the name of a true American 
and a veteran's veteran, from Post No. 2873, Department of 
Ohio, John E. Moon.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I recognize John L. Dahman, 
National Council Member, of Post 1421, Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 
the purpose of a second.
    COMRADE JOHN DAHMAN (Post 1421--Indiana): Thank you very 
much, Commander-in-Chief. Commander-in-Chief, National 
Officers, Past Commanders-in-Chief, Department Commanders and 
Delegates to this 98th Annual Convention, it is with honor and 
pride that I stand before you today.
    I am going to tell you a little bit about John Moon. John 
and I became friends about ten years ago. You kind of wonder 
why a person from Indiana is seconding the nomination for a 
candidate out of Ohio. I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is 
up in the Northeast corner of the State of Indiana, about ten 
miles from the state line of Ohio.
    John lived in Grover Hill, Ohio. As you heard, he had been 
Mayor there for 16 years. Well, there isn't 2.1 million 
residents in the town of Grover Hill, but if they were here 
today they would tell you that John Moon is a great leader of 
his community and will be a great leader of our organization.
    I said ten years ago I first met John Moon, when he was 
campaigning for National Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, he was 
campaigning with Past Commander-in-Chief Cramer. John came over 
to Indiana, and he knew I was supporting George Cramer at the 
time, but that didn't stop him from becoming friends and 
continuing to come back to Indiana.
    He came to Indiana many, many times, not just for our 
conventions and our conferences, but he came over for our camp-
outs, our golf tournaments, our bowling tournaments. One time 
he came to Indiana just to see one of our Past Commanders in 
the hospital who he was a friend of in Indianapolis. It is a 
long way from Grover Hill to Indianapolis.
    Then John decided, when he was beaten by George Cramer, he 
supported him and backed him 100 percent. Then John came back 
out again, and he had Jim Goldsmith and Dwaine Wilson opposing 
him for National Junior Vice in the Big Ten. John represented 
himself with dignity, and when he won, he was a very proud 
winner, but he was also respectful to the two individuals that 
he ran against.
    We all know John, when he became National Junior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief, he was on an airline and he got up to get 
out of his seat and someone opened the overhead and a briefcase 
fell down on his back and his neck. That gave him quite a bit 
of trouble.
    He was in the hospital quite some time for minor 
operations, but that never stopped John from going out and 
working in the different Departments he was in. If you have 
ever met John, he is a very outspoken person. He is always 
energetic and he is always ready to go out and get involved 
with people.
    At this time it gives me a great honor to second the 
nominations for a great American and will be a great leader of 
our organization. I second the nomination of John Moon for 
National Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I recognize Al Loehr, Past State 
Commander, Post 4847, St. Cloud, Minnesota.
    COMRADE AL LOEHR (Post 4847--Minnesota): Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, Past Commanders-in-Chief, Members of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars:
    It certainly is a distinct honor and privilege to be here 
today to stand at this podium to second the endorsement of a 
man who has labored hard and is a true and dedicated 
individual, coming from modest beginnings to the high office of 
Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    I have known this man for many, many years. I have tested 
him and I found that one of the most important attributes he 
has is the wonderful demeanor he has, even though things get 
rather serious at times in our great organization. I look 
forward to hearing and seeing him run for the Senate in the 
halls of Congress and speaking to the President of the United 
States regarding the concerns and issues of our great 
organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    John Moon will go down in history as one of the great 
leaders of our organization. I am proud and honored to stand 
here today in front of all of you and express my total support 
to a great incoming Commander-in-Chief, John E. Moon, from 
Ohio.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Are there any other nominations 
for Commander-in-Chief? Once, twice and three times. The 
nominations will remain open until tomorrow morning.
    Nominations are now open for Senior Vice Commander-in-
Chief.

              NOMINATION OF SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN MAHAN (Post 1116--Montana): 
Commander-in-Chief, I am John Mahan, and it is my privilege as 
Past Commander-in-Chief some 39 years ago that I nominate my 
friend and associate from Helena, Montana, Thomas Pouliot, the 
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief now, to the Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief.
    Tom is from a family that all have been VFW members, the 
father, his mother in the Auxiliary, and he has ten brothers 
and sisters. That is the reason he has to be tough. If you are 
a child with eleven in the family, you better fight and win to 
succeed, which he has done.
    Tom entered the Navy. Upon his release from the Navy, he 
attended college. He graduated from San Jose State College in 
California, and then went to Montana and graduated from the law 
school with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. He was Post 
Commander of Post 1116, then District Commander, All-American 
State Commander.
    He has been Chairman of the Legislative Committee and a 
member of most Committees, and has worked throughout the years 
on the Voice of Democracy and the Loyalty Day programs. Tom was 
elected last year as Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief. In my 
opinion, he has done an outstanding job and will continue to do 
an outstanding job as Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, which I 
now nominate him for. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I must apologize. I didn't 
announce that the man that made his nomination was John W. 
Mahan, Past Commander of Post 1116, Helena, Montana.
    I will now recognize for a seconding speech Past Commander-
in-Chief Eric Sandstrom, Post 969, Tacoma, Washington.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ERIC SANDSTROM (Post 969--
Washington): Comrade Commander-in-Chief, a year ago I stood in 
front of this podium in Louisville, Kentucky, and said I was 
very, very solemn that a Marine would nominate a little swabby 
as Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief. Well, I have to admit that I 
was a little wrong. A swabby he will always be and that is 
fine. But little, no, I was wrong. In my mind and heart, he 
stands very, very tall.
    I also said a year ago that he had a cute wife. I was 
absolutely right. It is a great honor at this time for me, a 
Marine, to second the nomination of Tom Pouliot, who is a tall, 
tall swabby, as Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief of this great 
organization.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I recognize for a second George F. 
Riedel, Past State All-American Commander, Post 969, Tacoma, 
Washington.
    COMRADE GEORGE RIEDEL (Post 969--Washington): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Past National Commanders, Officers and 
Delegates to this 98th Annual Convention of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars:
    It gives me a great deal of pleasure, personal pleasure, to 
second the nomination of Tom Pouliot for the office of National 
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief. We have all enjoyed and 
certainly respect the counsel that Tom has provided to our 
Posts, our Districts and our Departments during this past year.
    We certainly look forward to his tenure as Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief. I must admit that I do empathize with Eric 
and the Marine Corps, as a retired member of the largest 
organization of fighting men in the United States, the U.S. 
Army, we, too, recognize the qualities of our super swabby. So 
let's put Tom where he belongs in the office of the National 
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Are there any other nominations 
for Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief? Once, twice and three 
times. Hearing none, the nominations will remain open until 
tomorrow.
    Nominations are now open for Junior Vice Commander-in-
Chief. I will recognize Past Commander-in-Chief Clifford G. 
Olson, Post 8699, Milton, Massachusetts.

              NOMINATION OF JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CLIFFORD OLSON: Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief. Comrades, I come before you today to place 
in nomination the name of a deserving and dedicated comrade, 
John W. Smart, to the high office of Junior Vice Commander-in-
chief. He enlisted in the Army, and I will not make any comment 
about who is the best or whatever by the previous speaker.
    He enlisted in the Army when he was still in high school 
and was immediately shipped to Vietnam. He served with the 
176th Assault Helicopter Company in Chu Lai, the American 
Division, earning the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam 
Service Medal with four Bronze Stars.
    At 19 years of age, while still serving in Vietnam, he 
joined the Fuller-Covey Post No. 2181 in Exeter, New Hampshire. 
Like the rest of us, John was still young when he returned from 
Vietnam, and he decided to do as many before him had done, he 
decided to enjoy life to the fullest. He did.
    While enjoying this life, he knew there was a debt to be 
paid. He knew he had a duty to perform, that debt and duty was 
one and the same. He knew he had to help others. He chose to 
help people in general by becoming a firefighter. He chose to 
help veterans in particular by becoming active in the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars.
    This comrade's history needs to be told, because there may 
be some who are unaware of his true dedication to helping 
others. He became active in Post 2181 and was elected Post 
Commander in 1976. He went on to be named Captain of the All-
State Team of Post Commanders.
    In 1979, he transferred to Post 483 in Nashua, New 
Hampshire. This dedicated comrade continued to work and make 
his mark on the system in the Department of New Hampshire. His 
knowledge and dedication to the purposes and ideals of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars did not go unnoticed. The members of 
the Department of New Hampshire saw fit to elect him to the 
office of State Commander, the first Vietnam veteran, and the 
youngest person ever to have been elected to that high office 
in New Hampshire.
    Under his leadership, the Department of New Hampshire 
excelled, and he was named an All-American Department 
Commander. This comrade has served well on many committees and 
in many capacities. He served as the National Chief of Staff 
and three times he was the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the 
Buddy Poppy Committee. He served on the National Youth 
Activities Committee. He was Chairman of the Eastern States 
Conference and administered various other assignments and 
positions.
    While carrying on these duties, he found time to serve as 
the Department Adjutant since 1985, and then he continued in 
the capacity of Quartermaster since 1990.
    Besides his activities in the Veterans of Foreign Wars on 
behalf of the nation's veterans, he continues to be concerned 
for his fellow citizens in New Hampshire. He was elected to 
serve as a State Representative, and while in that capacity 
served on the Committee for Public Protection and Veterans 
Affairs.
    He was selected by then Governor Sununu to serve on the 
Board of Managers of New Hampshire's Veterans Home and he 
continues to serve that home as the present Chairman of the 
Board of Managers.
    While serving veterans through his active role in the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars and his civic involvement as a State 
Representative, this dedicated comrade continued to work full-
time as a Nashua firefighter for over 20 years.
    I have shared with you his dedication to the veteran, I 
have spoken of his knowledge and of his devotion to duty, and I 
have mentioned everything except the only thing that outranks 
his desire to serve the VFW.
    I want to let you know he has a wife, two married children, 
John, Jr. and Cheryl, and three grandchildren, Chelsea, Taylor 
and Damon. I might also add that he has a tremendous amount of 
support from his entire family, and particularly his wife, 
Mary, who is extremely active being a Past State President and 
currently serving as the State Secretary.
    This comrade will be a credit to the great Eastern 
Conference. He is dedicated, knowledgeable and possesses the 
desire and indeed the ability to lead the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States into the next century.
    It is my distinct honor and a personal privilege to place 
in nomination for the high office of Junior Vice Commander-in-
Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for the year 1997-1998, 
an outstanding comrade and friend from the great State of New 
Hampshire, Post 483, John W. Smart.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I recognize for the purpose of a 
second John M. Packard, Past State Commander, Post 8546, Salem, 
New Hampshire.
    COMRADE JOHN PACKARD (Post 8546--New Hampshire): Chief and 
National Officers, and especially our past National Chiefs, it 
is a pleasure and honor for me to second the nomination of John 
Smart.
    I have nominated John for positions through the District 
and State Department.
    He has always been a credit to the state and well-
qualified. I salute him. It has been an honor as my adopted 
son. He is a young veteran, and anything under 80 is young.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I recognize for the purpose of a 
second Robert W. Madigan, Past State Commander, Post 483, 
Nashua, New Hampshire.
    COMRADE ROBERT MADIGAN (Post 483--New Hampshire): 
Commander-in-Chief, National Officers and Delegates to the 
National Convention:
    It is an honor for me to stand here today to second the 
nomination of John W. Smart for Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Are there any other nominations 
for Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief? Once, twice and three 
times. Hearing none, the nominations will remain open until 
tomorrow morning.
    Nominations are now open for Quartermaster General.
    I recognize for the purpose of a nomination William J. 
Radigan, State Adjutant-Quartermaster, Post 3061, Vermillion, 
South Dakota.

                  NOMINATION OF QUARTERMASTER GENERAL

    COMRADE WILLIAM RADIGAN (Post 3061--South Dakota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, National Officers, Comrades of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States:
    I appear before you today for the purpose of making a 
nomination for the office of Quartermaster General. I am joined 
here today by my comrades that have served in the same office 
that I do as the State Quartermaster-Adjutants in various 
states. I would like to introduce them at this time.
    They are Cleve Cox from the Department of North Carolina, 
Darrell Bencken from the Department of Kansas, and Dave Roath, 
from the Big Ten Conference. Also retired Bill McCarthy, my 
friend, from the Department of Massachusetts. We have with us 
also Stan King, the new Quartermaster-Adjutant for the 
Department of Massachusetts.
    Twenty-one years ago, a young Vietnam veteran with a degree 
in Business Administration from the University of Missouri 
applied for employment at the VFW National Headquarters. His 
application was reviewed and he was found to be the type of 
individual that they wanted to hire.
    He served for a year as manager to the Accounting 
Department at the National Headquarters. They recognized that 
this young man had potential and in 1976-'77 they appointed him 
as Director of the Life Membership Per Capita Tax Department. 
He served us well.
    In 1985, they had an opening where they needed a very 
competent individual to fill a position, and they chose the 
person I am going to nominate. He served for six years as 
Director of the VFW Emblem and Supply Department.
    In 1991, the organization needed an Assistant Quartermaster 
General. With all the experience and the things he had done, 
the way he had done them, they chose the person I am going to 
nominate.
    In 1995, all of us gathered at the National Convention took 
it upon ourselves to elect him as Quartermaster General. He has 
done a great job. So, this afternoon, I am honored and I feel 
it is a great privilege for me to nominate the individual that 
has been educated for his job, who has been trained in the 
operation of this organization by holding almost all of the 
leadership positions in the Quartermaster General's Office, who 
has served for four years as Assistant Quartermaster General 
and then now has served us for a number of years as 
Quartermaster General.
    The people like me, that come from small places, some of 
you have never heard of Vermillion, South Dakota, find it is a 
great honor to nominate such an individual for an office in the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. It is a great 
privilege for me this morning to nominate Joe Ridgley, Post 
8220, Belton, Missouri, for the office of Quartermaster 
General.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: For the purpose of a second, I 
recognize David L. Roath, State Adjutant-Quartermaster, Post 
5606, Kansas City, Missouri.
    COMRADE DAVID ROATH (Post 5606--Missouri): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief and Delegates to the 98th National 
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States:
    It is indeed an honor and privilege for me to stand before 
you today to second the nomination of an outstanding and 
dedicated comrade. This is a comrade who is presently serving 
us as our Quartermaster General for the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States.
    Joe has been faced with some controversy since assuming the 
office of Quartermaster General, but he has faced these 
controversies with one thing in mind, that was to do what is 
best for the organization. I know that Joe will continue to do 
what is in the best interest of our organization no matter what 
the controversy may be
    It is an added pleasure for me to second the nomination as 
Joe is a member of my Department, the Department of Missouri, 
where he is a Life Member of VFW Post 8220 in Belton, Missouri. 
I, along with the other Department Quartermasters of the Big 
Ten Conference, the Southern Conference, the Eastern Conference 
and the Western Conference, represented here today proudly 
second the nomination of Joe Ridgley as Quartermaster General 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Thank 
you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Are there any other nominations 
for the office of Quartermaster General? Once, twice, three 
times. Hearing none, the nominations will remain open until 
tomorrow.
    Are there any nominations for Judge Advocate General? I 
recognize for the purpose of a nomination Dominic Romano, State 
Quartermaster, Post 7330, Oakville, Connecticut.

                  NOMINATION OF JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL

    COMRADE DOMINIC ROMANO (Post 7330--Connecticut): My 
comrades, I stand before you very proudly to present one of 
Connecticut's finest for the position of Judge Advocate 
General, Brian J. Kennedy. Brian was born in Brooklyn, New 
York.
    He was educated and went to college there and as a 
sophomore he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served 
with distinction in the Marine Corps and eventually went to 
Vietnam. He received many decorations. One of them, of course, 
was the Vietnam Service Medal.
    Upon returning from his stint in the Marines, he went back 
to school to earn his law degree, and he then moved to 
Connecticut in 1980. He joined the Putnam Veterans of Foreign 
Wars Post. He served in every capacity in that Post, including 
Post Commander. He served the District through the chairs and 
also he became our District Commander. He served our Department 
as the State Inspector and, of course, as the Judge Advocate.
    It is with pride and pleasure I present to you from 
Connecticut for Judge Advocate General Brian Kennedy.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: For the purpose of a second, I 
recognize Donald O'Connor, State Commander, Post 9066, 
Franklin, Connecticut.
    COMRADE DONALD O'CONNOR (Post 9066--Connecticut): Thank 
you, Commander. When I wrote these notes of what I was going to 
say good morning, comrades, but I cannot do that. I have to say 
good afternoon. It is a great honor to stand before you at this 
podium. I never thought I would get this far, but here I am.
    I am not here for me but to second the nomination of Brian 
Kennedy for the high office of Judge Advocate General. I have 
known Brian Kennedy almost 20 years. He has been a member of my 
District, District No. 4. He has served with distinction 
throughout the years.
    His wife, Irene, has also served with distinction, and she 
is now serving as the Department Chaplain for the Ladies 
Auxiliary. This is a truly VFW family and Brian Kennedy will be 
a great asset to the Moon-Pouliot-Smart team. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Are there any other nominations 
for Judge Advocate General? Once, twice, three times. Hearing 
none, the nominations are closed. The nominations will remain 
open until tomorrow.
    Nominations are now open for Surgeon General. For the 
purpose of a nomination, I will recognize Wayne J. Thompson, 
Jr., State Judge Advocate, Post 5061, Denver, Colorado.

                     NOMINATION OF SURGEON GENERAL

    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 5061--Colorado): Good 
afternoon, comrades. My name is Wayne Thompson, Post 5061, 
State Judge Advocate, former Judge Adjutant General from the 
Department of Colorado. I appear here today to nominate our 
next Surgeon General, Henry F. Sexauer, for the 1997-'98 term.
    Hank is a Life Member of VFW Post No. 1, Denver, Colorado. 
He has been very, very active in the affairs of the Department 
of Colorado. Hank has an outstanding record of medical and 
health-care services.
    Hank enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps on August 29, 
1939, and served in the Panama Canal Zone, Southwest Pacific 
and in the Philippines. He was discharged on October 29, 1945. 
Hank then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force Reserves and 
continued as a member for 25 years.
    He was called back on active duty in January, 1973, to 
assist in the deactivation of the 136 Medical Units of the Air 
Force Reserves. Hank retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves 
in September, 1979, as Chief Master Sergeant E-9. Hank has a 
long extensive career in the medical field, including providing 
a full range of direct health-care services to patients.
    He serves as a hospital administrator for the U.S. Public 
Health Service, assigned to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. He has 
been a real health-care professional and has the mental, 
physical capacity, experience and dedication to make an 
outstanding Surgeon General.
    Hank is also fully committed to veterans and their 
families. I do hereby nominate Henry F. Sexauer as Surgeon 
General and ask for your vote. Thank you very much, comrades.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: For the purpose of a second, I 
recognize Frank Harris, State Commander, Post 5231, Mancos, 
Colorado.
    COMRADE FRANK HARRIS (Post 5231--Colorado): Thank you, 
Commander. Greetings to all of our National Officers, Past 
Officers and to our comrades out there. It is with great 
pleasure to second the nomination for Hank Sexauer to become 
our National Surgeon.
    This guy has been a leader from the day one, as Wayne just 
read off to you. He is a doer. He has got the same attitude he 
has when everybody was called to action many years ago in the 
Second World War, he felt he had a job to do then and he has 
done it.
    Hank has got that same attitude today. Never once has he 
dropped the ball when he has a job to do. He has always 
completed it. It is with great pleasure that myself and the 
Department of Colorado second the nomination for Hank Sexauer 
as your next National Surgeon General. Thank you very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Are there any other nominations 
for Surgeon General? Once, twice, three times. The nominations 
will remain open until tomorrow.
    The National Chaplain designee has requested that his 
nomination take place in the morning and the chair will 
respectfully recognize that request.
    If there is nothing further to come before this session, I 
will call on the National Sergeant-at-Arms to perform our 
Closing Ceremonies.
    (Whereupon, National Chaplain Bleiler gave the Benediction 
at this time.)
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the 
Closing Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: We will resume business at 9:00 
o'clock a.m. tomorrow morning.
    (Whereupon, the meeting was duly recessed at 1:30 o'clock 
p.m.)
                                ------                                


                        FOURTH BUSINESS SESSION

                   THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 21, 1997

    (The Fourth Business Session of the 98th National 
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, held in the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake 
City, Utah, was called to order at 9:00 o'clock a.m., with 
Commander-in-Chief James E. Nier presiding.)

                             CALL TO ORDER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I call this Business Session to 
order. I will ask the National Chaplain to please come forward 
and offer the Invocation.
    (Whereupon, National Chaplain William J. Bleiler gave the 
Opening Prayer.)

               SALUTE TO COLORS AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

    (Whereupon, the National Sergeant-at-Arms led the 
Convention in the Salute to the Colors and the Pledge of 
Allegiance at this time.)

                 FINAL REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: At this time I will call forward 
the Chairman of the Credentials Committee for his final report, 
Chairman Richard Trombla.
    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): Commander-in-
Chief, I am Richard Trombla, Chairman of the Credentials 
Committee from Department of Kansas, Post 1174. Comrades, this 
is a final report at this Convention with the total delegate 
strength.
    Total delegates, 12,724; Department Commanders, 54; Past 
Commanders-in-Chief, 27; National Officers, 38. That is for a 
grand total of 12,843.
    Commander-in-Chief, this is the final report of this 
Committee and we want to thank you for the privilege we have 
had working with you and we ask you to dismiss us at this time.

       INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS OF NATIONAL CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I would like to introduce the 
members of the Credentials Committee so they can be recognized, 
please.
    First, we have the Chairman, who just reported, Richard 
Trombla, from Kansas; from Delaware, we have Elwood B. 
Rickards; from Illinois, James Mascola; from Minnesota, James 
Kennedy; and from Missouri, James H. Willis. I thank all you 
gentlemen for an outstanding job. I think you deserve a round 
of applause. Let's give them a round of applause. (Applause)
    At this time I dismiss the Committee on Credentials and 
thank them once again for a job well done. Thank you, 
gentlemen.

PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
                             PAUL A. SPERA

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: ``Call to Duty'' was the theme of 
the comrade who will join us here in just a moment, and under 
his leadership during the 1995-1996 year we answered that call. 
As our Commander-in-Chief that year, Paul A. Spera met the 
challenges facing veterans and led us to victory after victory.
    From veterans health-care eligibility reform to a shut-down 
of the federal government that also threatened veterans, Chief 
Spera met each problem head-on, and led the way in answering 
the ``Call to Duty.''
    Paul joined the VFW in 1966, while he was still serving in 
Vietnam with the 39th Signal Battalion. Even then he was very 
good at getting a message across. Back in the States, he 
quickly became a very active member in VFW Post 144 in Boston, 
Massachusetts.
    Two terms as Post Commander, followed by a year as District 
2 Commander, and then in 1982-'83, Paul served as Department 
Commander, and he wasn't just a Department Commander, he was an 
All-American Department Commander.
    In August of 1995, at our National Convention in Phoenix, 
Arizona, he was elected VFW Commander-in-Chief. Almost 
immediately, he expressed VFW concern about our troops being 
sent to Bosnia, and that, as you know, is still a major concern 
of ours. Though skeptical of the policy sending them there, the 
VFW supports those troops 100 percent and toward that end Chief 
Spera made a personal visit to Bosnia, and while there handed 
out the first Operation Uplink phone cards.
    Personal and meaningful involvement in everything he did 
was the trademark of his year as Commander-in-Chief. Under his 
leadership, the VFW reached new milestones and set new records. 
And we are proud to say that we answered the ``Call to Duty.''
    Today it gives me great pleasure to welcome to this podium 
Past Commander-in-Chief Paul A. Spera of VFW Post 144 in the 
great Department of Massachusetts, and to present him with the 
VFW Distinguished Service Award.
    I would like to read the citation if I may.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
Distinguished Service Medal and this Citation awarded to Paul 
A. Spera, Commander-in-Chief, 1995-'96, in sincere appreciation 
and special recognition of his total dedication and commitment 
to the highest ideals to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, and his continuing efforts to supports its 
programs and purposes, to exceptional leadership during the 
1995-'96 administrative year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
demonstrated its ability and willingness to once again answer 
the `Call to Duty' for our nation's veterans.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 21st day of August, 1997.'' This has been signed 
by James E. Nier, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.
    Paul, it is with a great deal of honor and pride I present 
to you this citation and thank you for the wonderful job you 
did as the Commander-in-Chief of this great organization in 
1995-'96. (Applause)

          RESPONSE BY IMMEDIATE PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SPERA

    IMMEDIATE PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SPERA: Thank you very 
much, Commander-in-Chief Nier. To all of the national officers, 
and especially to all of you, my comrades, thank you very much 
for this very high honor. I especially want to thank you for 
all that you did during the 1995-'96 administrative year to 
make the ``Call to Duty'' year any success that it had, is due 
to the most part for what you did. I want to thank you for all 
of that.
    I especially want to thank you for welcoming me back out 
into the audience where I will spend the rest of my VFW career 
on the floor of the Convention with my comrades, back where I 
started. Thank you very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, if you will bear with me 
just a moment, I received a FedEx letter in the hotel yesterday 
from the Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. I would like 
to take just a moment to read it.
    ``Let me extend my enthusiastic greetings to the members of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States as you gather 
in Salt Lake City for your 1997 Annual Convention. As veterans 
of the United States Armed Forces, you have shown great 
patriotism through your military service to the country and in 
your support of those who continue to serve around the world 
today.
    ``You recognize that nothing is more fundamental to 
America's national security than the quality and readiness of 
America's men and women in uniform. As Secretary of State, I 
also know that our ability to exert political influence and act 
as a constructive force for peace abroad depends in part on the 
strength of our defenses and at times on the critical threat of 
force to back up our diplomacy.
    ``I commend the members of the VFW for the legacy of 
strength and leadership you have contributed to our nation for 
close to a century. Your support for normalization relations 
with Vietnam, for the chemical weapons convention and for our 
troops overseas, to efforts such as your Calling Card program, 
benefit not only your members but all Americans. You meet this 
year at a remarkable time in our nation's efforts abroad.
    ``With the end of the Cold War, we face both new dangers 
and also tremendous opportunities to improve America's security 
by reinforcing recent progress abroad toward democracy, 
stability and security. It is my understanding that your 
Convention will consider a resolution on the addition of new 
members to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The 
enlargement of NATO can help to strengthen history's most 
successful military alliance and help prevent a war that 
claimed so many lives in this century.
    ``It will bolster democratic stability and prosperity in 
Central Europe and erase the outdated Cold War dividing line 
that Stalin imposed on Europe a half century ago. The VFW 
support for this historic event would be an important 
contribution toward the success for the enlargement and a new 
era of peace in Europe. I salute your singular dedication to 
protecting America's national security, and I extend my best 
wishes for an enjoyable Convention and every future success. /
s/ Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State.''
    I will point out that we adopted the resolution to expand 
NATO, so I am sure she will be very pleased. Is there any other 
business to come before this Convention? Is there any other 
business to come before this Convention?
    If not I will call on the Adjutant General at this time who 
will read the nominations for the National Home Trustees.

                 NOMINATIONS FOR NATIONAL HOME TRUSTEES

    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief Nier, the 
nominations for the VFW National Home Trustees are as follows:
    Third National Home District, comprised of Pennsylvania, 
District of Columbia and Delaware, Benjamin Pernol, Jr., Post 
No. 3792, Middletown, Delaware.
    For Fourth National Home District, comprised of Ohio, West 
Virginia and Maryland, Lawrence Krugman, Post 1079, Elyria, 
Ohio, and Calla D. Frederick, Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post No. 
3081, Grafton, West Virginia.

                          ELECTION OF OFFICERS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, Larry. At this time we 
will proceed with the election of officers. Nominations are now 
open for the position of Commander-in-Chief. Yesterday, the 
name of John E. Moon, from the great state of Ohio, was placed 
in nomination. Are there any other nominations for the position 
of Commander-in-Chief? Once, twice and three times. The 
nominations are closed.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE GEORGE COX (Post 6772--Ohio): Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, George Cox, Department of Ohio, Senior Vice Commander 
from Post 6772, Ohio. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I move that 
the nominations be closed for the high office of Commander-in-
Chief and our Adjutant General cast one unanimous ballot for 
John E. Moon for Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE BILL HAWK (Post 9381--Ohio): I second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. You have heard the 
motion. Is has been duly seconded. Is there any discussion? 
There isn't any discussion, I hope. Those in favor will signify 
by saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. The motion 
carries.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief Nier, it is 
with a great deal of pleasure I cast one unanimous ballot for 
John E. Moon for the office of Commander-in-Chief of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF-ELECT MOON: Thank you very much. You 
know, one of the first thrills an individual experiences after 
the election of this high office of Commander-in-Chief is that 
traditional march in the convention hall. At the time that 
James Nier was elected Commander-in-Chief in Louisville, 
Kentucky, he was hospitalized and unable to lead the 
traditional march that we always have.
    At this time I would ask the great state of Texas and the 
Southern Conference to join in the center aisle with Commander-
in-Chief James Nier and his wife, Kimmy, and that the VFW Band 
strike up ``As the Caissons Go Rolling Along'' in honor of our 
Commander-in-Chief Jim and Kimmy. Please do that at this time.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Nominations are now open for 
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief. Yesterday the name of Thomas A. 
Pouliot, from the great state of Montana, was placed in 
nomination for the position of Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief. 
Are there any other nominations for Senior Vice Commander-in-
Chief? Once, twice, three times. Hearing none, the nominations 
are closed.
    I recognize Microphone No. 2.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN MAHAN (Post 1116--Montana): 
Commander-in-Chief Nier, I move that the Adjutant General of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States cast one 
unanimous ballot for Thomas Pouliot for Senior Vice Commander-
in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. I need a second to 
the motion.
    COMRADE WILLIAM SAUNDERS (Department of Wyoming): I second 
the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion and the 
second. It has been duly seconded. Any discussion on the 
motion? Hearing none, the motion passes.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, I am honored 
to cast one unanimous ballot for Thomas Pouliot for Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Nominations are now open for 
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief. Yesterday, the name of John W. 
Smart, from the great state of New Hampshire, was placed in 
nomination. Are there any other nominations for Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief? Once, twice, three times. The nominations 
are closed.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 1.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CLIFFORD OLSON (Post 8699--
Massachusetts): There being no further nominations, I move that 
the Adjutant General cast one favorable and unanimous ballot 
for John W. Smart from New Hampshire for the office of Junior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief for 1997-1998.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE VIRGIL MULLINS (Department of New Hampshire): I 
second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion as been 
duly made and seconded. Is there any discussion on the motion? 
Hearing none, those in favor of the motion will signify by 
saying ``aye''; those opposed by the same sign. The motion 
carries.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, I am honored 
to cast one unanimous vote for John Smart for Junior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Nominations are open for the 
position of Quartermaster General. Yesterday the name of Joe L. 
Ridgley, from the great state of Missouri, was placed in 
nomination. Are there any other nominations for the position of 
Quartermaster General? Once, twice, three times. Hearing none, 
the nominations are closed.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE CHARLES THROWER (Post 3838--Missouri): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Charles Thrower, VFW Post 3838, Cape 
Girardeau, Missouri. I move nominations for the office of 
Quartermaster General be closed and the Adjutant General be 
instructed to cast one unanimous ballot for the election of Joe 
L. Ridgley for the high office of Quartermaster General of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE TONY BORGAS (Post 2866--Missouri): I second that 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. You have heard the 
motion duly made and seconded. Any discussion on the motion? 
Hearing none, all those in favor will say ``aye''. The motion 
carries.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, I am proud to 
cast one unanimous ballot for Joe L. Ridgley for the office of 
Quartermaster General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Nominations are now open for Judge 
Advocate General.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE DOMINIC ROMANO (Post 7330--Connecticut): I move 
that nominations be closed and our Adjutant General cast one 
unanimous ballot electing Brian J. Kennedy as Judge Advocate 
General.
    COMRADE DONALD O'CONNOR (Post 9066--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Donald O'Connor, Post 9066, Franklin, 
Connecticut. It takes two sailors to get this Marine on the 
road. I second the nomination.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: You have heard the motion that has 
been duly seconded. Any discussion on the motion? Hearing none, 
the motion carries.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, I am honored 
to cast one unanimous ballot for Brian Kennedy for the office 
of Judge Advocate General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Nominations are now open for 
Surgeon General. Yesterday afternoon the name of Henry F. 
Sexauer was placed in nomination. Are there any other 
nominations for the position of Surgeon General? Once, twice, 
three times. Hearing none, nominations are closed.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE FRANK HARRIS (Post 5231--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Frank Harris, Department of Colorado, 
Post 5231. It is with pride that I move the nominations be 
closed and that the Adjutant General be instructed to cast a 
unanimous ballot for our candidate, Henry Sexauer, for National 
Surgeon General.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE LARRY MITCHELL (Post 8121--Colorado): I second the 
nomination.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. You have heard the 
motion that has been duly seconded. Any discussion on the 
motion? Hearing none, the motion carries.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, I am honored 
to cast one unanimous ballot for the election of Henry F. 
Sexauer for the office of Surgeon General of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Nominations are now open for the 
position of National Chaplain. I called to the podium for the 
purpose of making a nomination, Eugene H. George, Past State 
Commander, Post 9969, Del City, Oklahoma.
    COMRADE EUGENE GEORGE (Post 9969--Oklahoma): Comrades, 
Sunday morning we nominated and elected in the Southern 
Conference as the Chaplain for the incoming year. We went to 
the caucuses and made the introductions, and I see no sense in 
rehashing, carrying on another 25 or 30 minutes, so at this 
time, Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I hereby place the name in 
nomination for National Chaplain Dean Derieg from the State of 
Oklahoma.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: For the purpose of a second, I 
recognize Robert B. Thomas, Past State Commander, Post 1098, 
McAlester, Oklahoma.
    COMRADE ROBERT THOMAS (Post 1098--Oklahoma): Commander-in-
Chief and Comrades of the greatest veterans organization in the 
world, it is an honor and privilege to second the nomination 
for Dean Derieg. I have been fortunate to know Dean for well 
over ten years. I have been in Committee meetings with him.
    I have been in meetings where he was Commander, where he 
was a member. He is always a gentleman and he is always a VFW 
member. At this time I want to second the nomination for Dean 
Derieg for National Chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Are there any other nominations 
for the position of National Chaplain? Once, twice, three 
times. The nominations are closed.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE CHARLES HUCKABY (Department of Oklahoma): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I move the nominations cease and that the 
National Adjutant General cast one unanimous ballot for 
Reverend Dean Derieg for National Chaplain.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE HARLAN BJORGO (Department of Oklahoma): Commander-
in-Chief, I second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thank you, sir. You have heard the 
motion. It has been duly seconded. Any discussion on the 
motion? Hearing none, the motion carries.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Commander-in-Chief, I am honored 
to cast one unanimous ballot for Dean Derieg for National 
Chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

                 ANNOUNCEMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS-ELECT

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: At this time I will ask the 
Assistant Adjutant General to come forward, please, for the 
announcement of the National Council Members-Elect.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: Thank you, Commander-in-Chief. 
Sergeant-at-Arms, will you, please, escort the Commander-in-
Chief-Elect to the floor of the Convention for the presentation 
of caps to the National Council Members-Elect. The National 
Council Members-Elect are as follows:
    District No. 1, Robert W. Madigan.
    District No. 3, Raymond J. Boyle.
    District No. 5, James R. Mueller.
    District No. 7, Leroy Ford.
    District No. 9, William J. Hendren.
    District No. 11, William P. Shannon.
    District No. 13, Lewie B. Cooper.
    District No. 15, George H. Palmateer.
    District No. 17, Frank Risewick.
    District No. 19, Richard J. Fruge.
    District A, Charles R. Feltenberger.
    District B, Rick Frank.
    District C, T. William Bossidy.
    District F, Richard L. Lehner.
    District G, Richard R. Pignone.
    District J, James DePass.
    Let me announce the names of the returning members of the 
National Council of Administration. As your name is called, 
please stand and be recognized.
    District No. 2, William J. Madera.
    District No. 4, Bruce A. Withers.
    District No. 6, Scottie E. King.
    District No. 8, Oliver Wayne Dial.
    District 10, Leslie F. Thone.
    District 12, William F. Cerny.
    District 14, Earl E. Chase.
    District No. 16, Dannie Cooper.
    District D, George W. Marks.
    District E, Gordon W. Kirk.
    District No. H, Ferrell E. Warden.

        ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPOINTMENTS BY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF-ELECT

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: At this time I would like to call 
Commander-in-Chief-Elect of the Veterans of Foreign Wars John 
E. Moon to the podium for the announcement of his appointments 
for the ensuing year.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF-ELECT MOON: Thank you,Commander-in-
Chief.
    First, I would like to announce the appointment of Larry W. 
Rivers, VFW Post 1736, Department of Louisiana, as the Adjutant 
General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. I 
am deeply honored to do so. (Applause)
    I have asked James J. Thiel, VFW Post 717, Department of 
Indiana, to serve as my National Chief of Staff. I would also 
like to ask his wife to please step forward and present him 
with his official cap.
    For Inspector General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for 
1997-'98, I will appoint Daniel Bartholomew, VFW Post 3144, 
Department of Minnesota. And I would like you to come forward 
and present Dan with his official cap.
    Following the conclusion of this Convention, the National 
Sergeant-at-Arms for 1997-1998 will be Barry Hoffman from VFW 
Post 6240, Department of Kansas.

                   REMARKS BY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Comrades, sisters, ladies and 
gentlemen, the next item on the agenda is remarks by the 
Commander-in-Chief. I want to take this opportunity to say 
thank you to John Moon for allowing Kimmy and I to march around 
this great hall this morning, the opportunity that I didn't 
have a year ago. John, I am forever, ever grateful for that.
    I want to thank my Post, my District, my Department and the 
Southern Conference and the members of the Ladies Auxiliary for 
their support during my campaign, and certainly for the support 
during these last three years. My comments will be very brief 
because this is John Moon's day.
    There are some other folks I need to thank. I want to thank 
the Kansas City staff, I want to thank the Washington office 
staff for their continued support. No one ascends to this 
position and succeeds without being surrounded by good people.
    I have indeed been surrounded by some of the finest people, 
some of the finest staff members that we could possibly have in 
these two offices. I commend both of those offices, Larry and 
Ken Steadman, and all their staff for the outstanding job they 
have always done.
    I want to thank my wife, Kimmy, for always being with me 
and beside me when she was able to be. She has been an 
inspiration to me. It takes a very understanding wife in this 
great position, and I certainly have had one. Kimmy, I want to 
publicly express my thanks and love to you. Thank you. 
(Applause)
    I want to thank all of you for what you do for your Posts, 
your Districts, your Departments, your Auxiliaries. I want to 
thank you for what you do for America's veterans. I want to 
thank you for what you do for America. But most importantly, to 
me I want to thank you for being our friends.
    I cherish friendship. I love meeting new people, making new 
friends. We have done that around the country and, in fact, 
around the world this past year. I have fond memories. It has 
been a wonderful, wonderful rewarding experience, one that I 
shall never, ever forget.
    I am looking forward to serving on the Council of 
Administration, and I pledge to John Moon my total support for 
whatever he decides to do in his year. That is the way it has 
to be. I am looking forward, as I said, to traveling. John has 
already given me some assignments, and I am looking forward to 
that very much.
    I am not saying goodbye, my fellow comrades, I am saying 
until we have the opportunity to be together again. I thank 
you, and may God bless you and may God continue to bless this 
great nation in which we live. Thank you all very, very much.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I was just told I am officially a 
short-timer, but that is okay. I am not at all sad, folks. I am 
looking forward to spending some time with my wife and enjoying 
my own home for a while.
    At this point, we will proceed with the Installation of 
Officers. I would ask my Inspector General, who is acting as 
the National Chief of Staff, to please escort the Installing 
Officer to a position to my right.
    I present to you the Installing Officer, Past Commander-in-
Chief Walter G. Hogan.

                        INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: Having been duly authorized, I 
will now proceed with the Installation of the National 
Officers.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the term for which you and your 
subordinate officers were elected or appointed has now expired. 
It is my duty to ascertain the following. Have the officers for 
the ensuing year been duly elected?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: They have, sir.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: Have the books of the Adjutant 
General and the Quartermaster General been examined and 
approved by the National Council of Administration?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: They have, sir.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: Does the Adjutant General have on 
file proof of eligibility for all officers to be installed 
during this installation?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: He does, sir.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: I would remind any officer not 
having proof of eligibility on file and not being installed at 
this time, the by-laws prescribe you must within 60 days of 
election or appointment submit to the Adjutant General for his 
file a copy of your proof of eligibility.
    Are the funds in the hands of the Quartermaster General?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: They are, sir.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: And ready to be turned over to 
his successor when duly installed?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: They are, sir.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: Do you have the charter in your 
possession?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: I do, sir.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: You will now surrender the gavel 
to me. Past Commander-in-Chief James E. Nier, you have now been 
relieved of your duties as Commander-in-Chief of this 
organization. It is proper to remind you that in assuming the 
chair of Past Commander-in-Chief it will be your duty and 
privilege to counsel and otherwise assist your successor 
through the experiences that you have gained during your term 
of office. You will now station yourself at my right.
    Sergeant-at-Arms, as the Adjutant General reads the list of 
officers, you will present the officers-elect at the alter.
    ADJUTANT GENERAL RIVERS: They are as follows:
    Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Thomas E. Pouliot.
    Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, John W. Smart.
    Quartermaster General, Joe L. Ridgley.
    Judge Advocate General, Brian J. Kennedy.
    Surgeon General, Henry F. Sexauer.
    National Chaplain, Dean Derieg.
    National Chief of Staff, James Thiel.
    Inspector General, Daniel Bartholomew.
    District Council Members:
    District No. 1--Robert W. Madigan
    District No. 2--William J. Madera
    District No. 3--Raymond J. Boyle
    District No. 4--Bruce A. Withers
    District No. 5--James R. Mueller
    District No. 6--Scottie E. King
    District No. 7--Leroy Ford
    District No. 8--Oliver Wayne Dial
    District No. 9--William J. Hendren
    District No. 10--Leslie F. Thone
    District No. 11--William P. Shannon
    District No. 12--William F. Cerny, Jr.
    District No. 13--Lewie B. Cooper
    District No. 14--Earl E. Chase
    District No. 15--George H. Palmateer
    District No. 16--Dannie Cooper
    District No. 17--Frank Risewick
    District No. 19--Richard J. Fruge
    District A-- Charles R. Feltenberger
    District B--Rick Frank
    District C--T. William Bossidy
    District D--George W. Marks
    District E--Gordon W. Kirk
    District F--Richard L. Lehner
    District G--Richard R. Pignone
    District H--Ferrell E. Warden
    District J--James DePass
    Past Commander-in-Chief--James E. Nier
    Adjutant General--Larry W. Rivers
    Commander-in-Chief--John E. Moon
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: National Officers-Elect of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I will 
administer to you the Officers' Obligation.
    You will raise your right hand, touch the flag of our 
country with your left hand and repeat after me. Will everybody 
please rise.
    (Whereupon, the following Officers' Obligation was given at 
this time: ``I do hereby solemnly promise that I will 
faithfully discharge to the best of my ability the duties of 
the office to which I have been elected or appointed, according 
to the Congressional Charter, By-Laws and Ritual of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. I solemnly 
promise that at the close of the term to which I have been 
elected or appointed, or sooner if so ordered by proper 
authority, I will surrender immediately to only the duly 
authorized person or persons, all records, monies, or other 
properties of this organization in my possession or under my 
control. All this I freely promise, upon my honor, as a loyal 
citizen of our great Republic. So help me God.'')
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: As you were.
    Comrade Chaplain.
    NATIONAL CHAPLAIN BLEILER: Almighty God, our God and divine 
protector, give Thy blessings upon these, our comrades, who now 
become fellow officers. We beseech you, O Lord, who are ever 
present amongst us. Grant the wisdom unto them so that during 
their deliberations they continue to favor Thee, our glorious 
country and the veterans organization.
    May Thy strength sustain them, may Thy power preserve them, 
may Thy hand protect them in the faithful and fruitful 
performance of their duties. Amen.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: Comrade Sergeant-at-Arms, will 
you, please, escort the officers to their stations.
    National Officers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, you now occupy the position of honor to which 
your comrades have elected you. You learn well the 
responsibilities entrusted to you so you may intelligently 
discharge the duties you are to undertake.
    The Congressional Charter, By-Laws and Ritual of our 
organization prescribe in detail the duties of your respective 
offices. By virtue of the confidence placed in you for your 
election or appointment, we assume that you will acquaint 
yourselves thoroughly with your duties.
    National Council of Administration members, you will stand 
and face the dais. National Sergeant-at-Arms, you will escort 
the Commander-in-Chief to my station. Comrade Commander-in-
Chief-Elect John E. Moon, before administering your obligation, 
it is proper to remind you of certain duties.
    You will be personally responsible for the charter of this 
organization. At the end of your term of office, you will 
deliver it to the officer appointed to install your successor. 
It is your duty to see that all National Officers perform their 
duties to the best of their ability.
    You shall keep yourself informed on all proposed 
legislation which may affect the welfare of potential and 
actual comrades of this organization, and strive for adoption 
of only those measures which will be beneficial.
    You will be required to devote all of your time to the many 
duties of your office. You are expected to make a special study 
of the Congressional Charter, By-Laws and Ritual of this 
organization so that you may render firm and impartial 
decisions on important questions referred to you.
    As Commander-in-Chief, you will be regarded by your 
comrades and by the general public as typifying wise and 
vigorous leadership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States. May all of your efforts and accomplishments 
bring credit to your administration and to our organization.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief-Elect John E. Moon, are you 
willing and ready to assume your solemn obligation?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF-ELECT MOON: I am.
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: You will raise your right hand, 
touch the flag of our country with your left hand, give your 
name as I give mine, and repeat after me.
    (Whereupon, Commander-in-Chief-Elect Moon received the 
following obligation: ``In the presence of Almighty God and the 
officers and delegates of this order here assembled, I, John E. 
Moon, do hereby solemnly promise that I will faithfully 
discharge, to the best of my ability, the duties of the office 
of Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, to which I have been elected in accordance with 
the Ritual and By-Laws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States. I solemnly promise that at the close of the term 
to which I have been elected, or sooner if so ordered by proper 
authority, I will surrender immediately to only the duly 
authorized person or persons, the National Charter, all 
records, monies and other properties of this organization in my 
possession or under my control.''
    ``I do further solemnly promise that I will be fair and 
impartial in my actions towards all comrades, and I will always 
strive to promote the best interests of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States. So help me God.'')
    INSTALLING OFFICER HOGAN: As you were. Officers, you will 
assume your station. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I now place in 
your possession our Charter and I present you with this gavel, 
which is the emblem of your authority. Use it firmly, but with 
discretion.
    All National Officers, you will stretch forth your right 
hand and repeat after me: ``Comrade Commander-in-Chief John E. 
Moon, to you I pledge my sincere allegiance.'' As you were.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, officers and delegates of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I now proclaim 
the National Officers duly installed and this organization in 
working order for the ensuing year.
    Commander-in-Chief John Moon, I personally would like to 
thank you for the high honor of installing you as the 
Commander-in-Chief and I pledge to you my continued support in 
your year as Commander-in-Chief. God bless you and save 
journeys in your travels.

    PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO CURTIS M. JEWELL

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Thank you very much, Past 
Commander-in-Chief Wally Hogan. It is indeed a pleasure for me 
this morning to be standing here and to call to the podium a 
comrade who for many, many years has served our organization. 
If I could have the Sergeant-at-Arms to go to the center of the 
aisle and please escort Curt Jewell to the podium.
    Curtis Jewell joined the VFW in 1947, soon after returning 
from World War II, where he served as a crew member in the Air 
Transport Command in the China-Burma-India theater of 
operations, the guys who flew the ``hump'' carrying cargo into 
China.
    From his first position of the VFW, that of Post Commander, 
Curt showed an outstanding leadership ability. In just two and 
a half years, he took that Post's membership from 369 members 
to 1,036. Now, that takes leadership. That work won him an 
appointment as the Department of Ohio Chief of Staff.
    In 1955, he was elected Department Commander, the youngest 
person to ever hold that position in Ohio. Following that, he 
served for many years as the Department's Adjutant/
Quartermaster, and in 1965 he joined the staff at VFW National 
Headquarters as the Assistant Adjutant General for Programs. In 
1988, he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General for 
Administration. He retired from National in 1991.
    There were other appointments and positions, as well, and 
in all of them, Curt Jewell showed ``Courage Under Fire'' in 
serving his fellow veterans.
    It gives me a great deal of pleasure to present him with 
the VFW Distinguished Service Medal. Please welcome Comrade 
Curt Jewell, Post 1090, Warren, Ohio.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: ``Veterans of Foreign Wars 
Distinguished Service Medal and this Citation awarded to Curtis 
M. Jewell.
    ``In sincere appreciation and grateful recognition of over 
five decades of distinguished and loyal service to the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars as a dedicated employee, extraordinary 
professional and gifted administrator fulfilling the positions 
of Department of Ohio Commander, Department of Ohio Adjutant/
Quartermaster, Chairman of the Big Ten Conference, National 
Director of Public Relations, National Director of Community 
Activities, National Director of Program Activities and 
culminating in his elevation to the position of Assistant 
Adjutant General, a position he held for 24 years, the duties 
and responsibilities of which he performed faithfully with 
unparalleled expertise and integrity in support of the highest 
ideals and objectives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 21st day of August, 1997.'' That has been signed 
by John E. Moon, Commander-in-Chief, and Larry W. Rivers, 
Adjutant General.
    Curt, I am deeply honored to be able to present to you this 
distinguished award. (Applause)

                   RESPONSE--COMRADE CURTIS M. JEWELL

    COMRADE JEWELL: Commander-in-Chief John Moon, to all the 
Past Commanders-in-Chief of which I had the privilege of 
working for some 25 or 29 of them, all great men who served and 
contributed to this great organization.
    You know, I thought this morning that something was amiss. 
I want to tell you, John, one more lap around this hall, if 
this event had not taken place in the 20th century, I might not 
have been here to witness it myself. Three laps around this 
hall was just about all I could handle.
    Fifty years ago I joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States, in 1947. I have had the privilege since that 
time to serve the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as John has alluded 
to, and my fellow veterans. I have attempted to do it in all 
honesty, sincerity and integrity that I could muster.
    I can honestly say that in the more than 40 years that I 
served at the Post, at the Department and as an employee at 
National Headquarters, I never once looked back with regret or 
remorse for the association, the acquaintances that I have 
made. The friendships that were developed over these years have 
and will last a lifetime.
    It was an exhilarating experience to work for the great men 
who led this organization throughout the twenty odd years that 
I served those Commanders-in-Chief and worked with the 
comrades, my comrades at the national, state and local levels.
    I take great pride that in some of the programs which were 
developed during the course of those years, as an example, the 
good comrades down in Ohio, a program of 40 years standing, the 
selection of an outstanding high school athlete is still 
carried on thanks to Rich Howell and the Associated Press.
    There are others like organizing new Posts, seminars, the 
starting up of bringing in the Department Senior Vice 
Commanders three to four months before they assumed office as a 
Department Commander. It was my feeling, and fortunately it was 
one of Julian's good days when you could talk to him, I 
convinced him that it was much better to bring the men in and 
give them a running start on the great responsibility that they 
were going to assume once they became Department Commander, 
because they didn't have time to think about it then.
    And they are continuing those types of programs because we 
are living in a rapid society where you have to get up in the 
morning and start running or you are going to be left behind. I 
had the privilege of working through toward goals. I think 
there was a little over a million members when I joined the 
National Headquarters staff in 1962.
    Then came that glorious year when we passed the two million 
mark and we are still there and still going. The pride, the 
development, the achievements, some of which I have spoken of, 
are all in the past. All we have to look forward to is the 
future. The time is running out on a lot of them. It can be 
done.
    A fair example of that, and pardon me if I refer to the 
Commander of Ohio last year, seven times an All-American 
Commander; never once would he quit or say that something 
couldn't be done. I called him the morning after he had been 
announced and advised that he was an All-American to 
congratulate him, and his wife told me that he had already gone 
to work.
    Probably the truth of the matter is he was probably out 
working for the VFW. But, in any event, I don't want to get too 
carried away. It is difficult enough to even be here. I want to 
thank those, especially John Moon, who is most responsible for 
the recognition and honor that has been bestowed upon me here 
today.
    I say to you and I say it quickly. It is not a singular 
honor, and I accept it in behalf of all of you out there and 
all of the hundreds and thousands who preceded you that I have 
had the privilege of working with to make this organization the 
success that it has been these past 40 years that I have been 
associated with it.
    I appreciate the friends, service and cooperation, the 
hospitality that was extended wherever I went. I miss most the 
absence of those near and dear associates and friends who are 
not here today which I number without naming any for fear I 
would leave some one deserving individual recognition out. They 
are missed, but their contribution remains as it always will.
    I would be remiss, however, if I did not take a personal 
privilege and mention the name of one man who made it all 
possible, when 35 years ago I received a telephone call, and I 
was out in the field, not farming, not working, I was trying to 
conduct and make my livelihood as a salesman.
    I wasn't doing a very good job at that. They said, ``You 
have a call from Kansas City.'' So I went to the phone and I 
called them. That one man that made it all possible was Julian 
Dickinson. He offered me a job. I tried to get more money. He 
said, ``Take it or leave it. I can't do it. I will see you here 
Monday.''
    I said, ``Julian, it isn't possible. I owe something to my 
present employer.'' I said, ``I will be there in two weeks.'' 
So on March 15, 1962, I entered through the portals of the 
National Headquarters where I served, and I am still 
appreciative of that as ever.
    But without a calculator, my service ended March 15, 1991, 
29 years later. The only regret I have standing here, and it is 
with mixed emotion, because my wife could not be here. She 
didn't know and I didn't know, or I might not have been here 
myself.
    But she should be standing here beside me because of the 
sacrifices she made, and my son who grew up with his dad's 
activities running here and running there for the VFW. I have 
tried in so many ways to make it up to him. I wish both could 
be here to share this moment and this memory with me.
    I don't know whose water I am drinking, but I am going to 
help myself because I just have one more thing to say. I only 
hope and pray that this momentous occasion will not be lost or 
misplaced so that I will be able to share this with them and my 
grandchildren when I return home.
    Above all, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your 
friendship and above all your loyalty to the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars and to myself as a person, I will never, never 
forget you and this occasion. Thank you all.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)

    PRESENTATION OF PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF LAPEL PIN AND GOLD LIFE 
                            MEMBERSHIP CARD

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: If I could at this time have Past 
Commander-in-Chief James Nier come to the podium. Will Kimmy 
Nier please come to the podium also. Past Commander-in-Chief 
James Nier, I would like for this organization to pay its 
greatest respect to you, and I ask your wife to pin your Past 
Commander-in-Chief's pin on you at this time.
    Jim, also come forward again. It is with the deepest amount 
of honor and respect that I present to you your Gold Life 
Membership Card.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States certifies 
that James E. Nier is a Life Member of VFW Post 2819.'' Jim, 
congratulations.
    IMMEDIATE PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NIER: Thanks, John.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: And a little token, Jim. You are 
going to be on the team this year so I will have to give you 
this.
    If I could have the wives to please come forward and we can 
start the placement of the hats and the pins, then we will get 
into, unfortunately, my acceptance speech, which you guys know 
how long I talk. I have already forgotten my wife, Susie.
    (Whereupon, Commander-in-Chief Moon called on the wives at 
this time to place the caps on the newly-elected officers.)

             ACCEPTANCE ADDRESS BY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Thank you so much for the rousing 
reception given to me and my fellow VFW National Officers.
    To Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Tom Pouliot, Junior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief John Smart and all National and Department 
Officers, to all Past Commanders-in-Chief, and especially to 
you, my fellow VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members and friends, I 
say thank you for your support and your confidence you have 
placed in me.
    I humbly accept this high office and your trust in me. I 
pledge my total commitment to you and this great organization 
of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
    I am so grateful to many people. As I stand before you, I 
am mindful that no person can be elected to this high office 
without the support, confidence, guidance and trust of the many 
hard-working men and women who are leaders of the Post, 
District, Department and Conference from which they come.
    I am very thankful for Paul Spera giving me the opportunity 
to serve as Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief. Thank you, Paul. To 
an individual to my right, who I have learned so much from, who 
has been more than just a great friend, but just like a brother 
to me, Immediate Past Commander-in-Chief Jim Nier, who I owe a 
great deal of love, respect and honor. Jim, thank you very 
much.
    To all the Departments that make up the Big Ten Conference, 
thank you for the opportunity which you have given me. I am 
indebted to each and every one of you and I intend to pay you 
back by working to make sure that this organization continues 
to grow and prosper on behalf of all of our veterans.
    To my own Post, although it may be small, VFW Post 2873 and 
our great Ladies Auxiliary, I will always remember the 
confidence and support they have shown me through the years. To 
my District No. 1, and as I look out here to the great State of 
Ohio, each and every one of you have done so much to put me in 
this position, I will be eternally grateful.
    Another individual from the great State of Ohio who can't 
be here, who just underwent heart surgery and still is 
recuperating, who spent so many tireless hours and so many days 
away from his job to help me reach this high office, John 
Wasylik, Past Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars.
    A special thanks comes here because no one will ever be 
able to know the amount of support she has given me. That is to 
my wife Susie who has always been there fighting, fighting, 
fighting and fighting to see to it that I got into this 
position as Commander-in-Chief. To you, Susie, I love you very 
much
    I have to get a little break here to get my composure back. 
If I could introduce real quickly, I brought most of Grover 
Hill with me. Not quite all the family, my son couldn't be 
here. He is on jury duty in Florida, and my daughter just 
started back to school in Western Carolina University, so they 
will be joining me at the homecoming.
    Valerie and her friend Kevin, granddaughter Samantha and 
grandson, as I affectionately call him, ``Dutch.'' To my son 
Dave, daughter-in-law Dawn, my mother-in-law and very, very 
dear friend, Ronnie. Then there is the lady we call Aunt Faye, 
and my brother's fiance, Sue; my niece, Michelle, and her 
friend Gabe Yoder, my nephew, Gary. Will you all give them a 
hand, please. (Applause)
    I am holding my brother up for a minute. I have some 
friends back here, great friends. Norm and Bonnie Landers from 
the great state of Kentucky. There is one individual I 
introduced to you and his wife are relatives of the family, our 
cousins, but he said to someone when he came out here, ``How 
did you get here from Grover Hill?'' ``I am only the yard 
man.'' These are good friends of the family, the John Wilkins 
from Grover Hill.
    He may be my Post Quartermaster, he may be my State 
Commander, but above all he is my greatest friend, Roger 
Taylor, and his wife Chris. I have introduced one hero to you 
already, and that is my wife. She has really been there. 
Another hero is, my brother, Larry, that joined the VFW after 
much insistence, but he spent three years in Vietnam, and the 
three years he spent there he tried to keep me out of Vietnam, 
so he is a hero to me that he will never know how much I really 
think of him and how much I love him. (Applause)
    My remarks this morning will not set out John Moon's agenda 
for the 1997-'98 VFW year. There is no Moon agenda, only a VFW 
agenda, which has been set, not by me but by you, the 
membership. Having approved and passed a wide range of 
Resolutions, our members have now spoken.
    With our agenda set and our concerns expressed, I pledge as 
your Commander-in-Chief the total commitment of the Moon-
Pouliot-Smart-Ridgley-Rivers-Kennedy-Sexauer-Derieg team, an 
assembly of Veterans of Foreign Wars officers that you have 
chosen to be placed in this position, along with the Department 
Commanders, our ``Courage Under Fire'' Commanders, we do, in 
fact, pledge that we will work hard to carry out your mandates.
    We will work hard to make the VFW a positive force for this 
country and her veterans and we will work hard to ensure that 
the faith, trust and confidence that you have placed in the 
Moon-Pouliot-Smart team will pay dividends, not only for the 
VFW but for our nation, our communities and America's veterans.
    Our success or failure depends not so much on what I say 
here this morning but what we, all of us working together in 
partnership, do in the coming year.
    As we begin a new year, let me begin by reaffirming the 
partnership between the VFW and our great Ladies Auxiliary. To 
National President Connie Atkinson and her staff, I pledge full 
cooperation and support. The VFW is a stronger, better 
organization because of the Ladies Auxiliary. Your support and 
hard work have truly enriched the work and reputation of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
    During the coming year the Moon-Pouliot-Smart team will 
speak with courage and conviction for the VFW on a wide range 
of important issues. It is a different world today than it was 
five years ago or even three years ago. We are in a period of 
great change, a period of transition, not only nationally and 
globally, but also within the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    I look to my right again and I commend an individual who 
took a chance and took a shot to ensure that change could 
begin. Jim Nier, I thank you for getting us on this great 
change that we have for the future.
    Our VFW membership, while not on a steep decline, gradually 
changes each year. The challenge before us is to reach those 
millions of eligible veterans who know and support the VFW but 
have not had the opportunity to opt for membership in our great 
organization.
    The challenge before us is to make the VFW a force for 
change, a force for action. That means we must work hard to 
project the image of the VFW as a positive force, not only for 
veterans but for our communities and for our nation.
    And what better way to project that positive VFW image than 
through our continued co-sponsorship with the VA and the 
National Veterans Golden Age Games next May at Leesburg, 
Virginia.
    These games, which are designed to improve the quality of 
life of our older veterans, provide the opportunity to help our 
fellow veterans in our communities and at the same time improve 
our image.
    While the challenges we face today are taking place in a 
positive environment, we are at peace, we are economically 
prosperous, we cannot be complacent. We must change 
indifference into concern. We must change challenges into 
opportunities. We must change individualism into unity.
    Important decisions are being made daily affecting 
veterans. With thousands of homeless veterans walking the 
streets, with an aging veteran population and the need for 
long-time care ever increasing, with the ever elusive cause and 
cure for the disabilities confronting some of our Persian Gulf 
veterans, with health-care costs remaining high and Congress 
looking for ways to save money, it is clear that we have our 
work cut out for us.
    And speaking of saving some money, let me take a few 
moments to tell you of a Korean War veteran, a veteran who for 
over 30 years after that war worked as a farmer in his home 
state. He worked very hard, made a fair living, and asked for 
very little, only some VA care and compensation for his wounds 
suffered years ago during the Korean War.
    But one particular day, when he asked a VA employee 
familiar with his case for further assistance, the VA employee 
turned him down, citing unusual and extraordinary costs 
associated with his case. You see, this man, who for 30 plus 
years, farmed for a living, had lost both arms, one eye and 
part of his foot in Korea and the cost for his prosthetics was 
$14,000.
    He is a wonderful person, he is a vibrant man, he is a 
great individual, a dear friend of mine. He is my third hero. 
His love for people, whose love for life is expressed by the 
distinct clacking and beat of his prosthetic arms coming 
together in appreciation and excitement for friends, family and 
life. What his VA case employee wanted, was a less active man. 
What this VA employee was asking was for him to give up a piece 
of his life.
    But thanks to veterans organizations like the VFW, the 
situation was quickly assessed, the employee transferred and 
our Korean veteran did get his new arms.
    Our work is definitely cut out for us. It only takes one 
isolated incident such as I just mentioned to destroy a system 
designed to care for our veterans.
    This morning the biggest challenge before the VFW, you and 
me as veterans advocates, is to ensure not only the 
survivability of the VA system, but that it be the best 
provider of health care to you, the veterans of America, and 
the former defenders of our country.
    Today, the VA medical system is transforming itself from a 
hospital-based provider of inpatient services to an outpatient 
oriented practitioner of modern health care. What this means is 
higher quality care. It also means providing more timely care 
to a greater number of veterans at conveniently accessible 
locations. It is not going to be an easy job.
    Our critics point to a declining veteran population as 
reason not to spend more money on veterans' programs. With a 
rapidly aging veteran population that is unequally spread 
throughout the nation, the VA is attempting to redistribute its 
resources among its various medical Service Networks and place 
them where they will do the most good.
    Be assured that the VFW will carefully monitor the process. 
We will not tolerate any inequities nor will we tolerate any 
veterans suffering unduly as a consequence of this sharing 
concept. We will and shall alert Congress and the 
administration that the VFW will be constantly on guard to 
ensure that no veteran currently receiving VA health care be 
denied care as a result of this alignment.
    As the VA transforms itself to the more modern health care 
concepts and practices for the 21st Century, we must have the 
courage to face those who would thwart this needed change. Let 
there be no doubt that in the coming months, we will all be 
called to exercise ``Courage Under Fire'' as we take a leading 
role in ensuring that VA provides access to quality health care 
to all veterans who need or want it.
    To honor that commitment, I am pleased to announce today 
that the VFW Washington Office will open a new toll-free 
hotline on September 1, 1997, 1-800-VFW-1899.
    We will also distribute VFW posters as shown on the screen 
to all our departments and to the VA medical facilities 
advertising our VFW hotline and encouraging veterans to tell 
us, with complaints and compliments, how they are being treated 
and how the medical care is at that particular facility.
    This information will be fed to the National Veterans 
Service staff in our VFW Tactical Assessments Center located in 
the Washington Office. Our staff will take necessary corrective 
action with appropriate VA personnel and use your comments, 
suggestions and ideas to compile and develop a better picture 
of how well VA is doing in providing quality, timely health 
care to veterans.
    Rest assured that we will challenge those who would 
undermine the quality as well as the accessibility of veterans 
health care. Be equally assured that we will not be overwhelmed 
by the number and complexity of the issues that confront us. We 
welcome the challenge with ``Courage Under Fire'' and will 
proceed with the courage and conviction that we will do what is 
best for our nation's veterans. We are committed to the premise 
that the American people want fair and equitable treatment for 
the service and sacrifice made by our nation's veterans.
    When we were formed 98 years ago, we were formed for one 
purpose, to protect the rights and entitlements of every 
veteran who has honorably served. As overseas wartime veterans, 
we know what it means to take care of one another, and we know 
the importance of maintaining a strong national defense.
    History tells us, and the VFW has always backed a strong 
national defense as being in our national interest. Let me 
reaffirm my commitment to that premise. If we are to remain a 
great nation, if we are to remain a free people, then we must 
stand by our young men and women in uniform.
    We continue to be alarmed by the downsizing of our military 
forces, the multitude of missions they are expected to 
undertake, to include chasing war criminals in Bosnia. The VFW 
has always supported a strong national defense. But peace 
keeping missions and the resettlement of refugees may be taking 
the edge off the combat readiness of our forces.
    We are proud of the young men and women who are willing to 
fight and die for this great country. If we ask them to serve, 
to stand in harm's way, we must ensure that they have the very 
latest and best resources to do the job. Their courage, their 
commitment to maintaining our nation's freedom demands not only 
our respect and admiration but our support. We will pursue 
every opportunity to show our support and tell our military men 
and women the VFW story.
    And what better way to show our military that support than 
providing them with VFW telephone calling cards through 
Operation Uplink, a program jointly supported by the VFW and 
our Ladies Auxiliary.
    We must also be there for the men and women when they make 
that transition from the military to civilian life. America's 
veterans deserve to be full-fledged participants in today's 
strong economy, an economy which veterans help build and 
defend. Your VFW will work hard to protect and enhance 
employment and job opportunities because our young military men 
and women deserve to make the smoothest transition to civilian 
life.
    There are many, many other important issues. We are 
encouraged by the presence in Vietnam of Ambassador Pete 
Peterson, a former Congressman and POW, and his support for 
Joint Task Force--Full Accounting and their ongoing work to 
account for our missing.
    We are equally encouraged by the recent negotiations with 
North Korea which is leading to increased joint search and 
recovery for our missing men in that reclusive country. 
However, we must insist that our own government move quickly, 
seize every opportunity, and maintain its commitment and the 
current effort. The answers to our missing can only come by 
working with our governments to do more.
    We are always mindful of those families who have lost a 
loved one and seek closure and healing. We must not relent nor 
will we rest until we have the fullest possible accounting of 
the MIAs.
    As economic stability and growth bolster our NATO allies in 
Europe and as Eastern Europe competes for membership in NATO, 
we believe that a carefully paced, non-threatening enlargement 
of the NATO alliance will enhance the peace and stability in 
Europe.
    Throughout this century, our nation fought in World War I, 
World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf and many 
other conflicts and crises. Today, I proudly stand before an 
audience of those veterans who served and who through their 
``Courage Under Fire'' made great sacrifices to keep our nation 
free. You stood by our nation in perilous times and today we 
will stand by you, America's veterans, to provide a better 
world.
    This has been a tremendous Convention. Important decisions 
have been made. If I were to sum up our work at this 
Convention, I would say our delegates have instructed us, in no 
uncertain terms, to work hard to ensure our nation's security 
and to see that veterans are treated fairly. It is now up to 
each of us to carry out the mandates of our membership.
    Today, we begin a new year, a new journey. As we prepare to 
honor the VFW's centennial anniversary, as we prepare to begin 
a new millennium, we are beginning a trip into America's 
future, and the future of the VFW. But we are not going as 
sight-seers, we are going as builders.
    We are going to have a hand in shaping the world we live 
in. We are not going to accept what is given; we are going to 
build what we need. Working together, we will turn indifference 
into concern, and concern into action. Working together, we 
will strengthen our VFW programs to build an America that holds 
promise for young and old alike.
    I pledge to you my best efforts and the best efforts of the 
Moon-Pouliot-Smart team during our 1997-'98 VFW year. If we are 
to succeed, we must travel this difficult road together. But 
with your help and with ``Courage Under Fire'' we will succeed.
    Thank you very much.
    (Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged standing 
ovation.)
    COMRADE LAWRENCE LeFEBVRE (Post 552--Michigan): There being 
no further business to come before this Convention, and the 
officers having been duly elected and installed, I move that 
the 98th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States be closed sine die.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: We have a motion on the floor. Do 
we have a second?
    COMRADE GEORGE LANGE (Post 284--District of Columbia): I 
second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: The motion has been properly made 
and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, we will call for a 
vote. All those in favor will signify by saying ``aye''; all 
those opposed will signify by saying ``no''. The motion 
carries.
    The Council meeting will be starting at high noon today. 
That will be in the Ballroom at the Salt Palace Convention 
Center.
    At this time, Comrade Chaplain, come forward, please. 
Sergeant-at-Arms, prepare the room for the retirement of the 
Colors.
    (Whereupon, the Honor Guard retired the Colors at this 
time.)
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: National Chaplain, we will have 
your closing prayer.
    (Whereupon, National Chaplain Derieg gave the Closing 
Prayer from the Ritual.)
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the 
Closing Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MOON: Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and 
sisters, this now concludes the 98th National Convention.
    (Whereupon, the Convention was duly adjourned at 11:45 
o'clock a.m., sine die.)
                                ------                                


    AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL BY-LAWS AND MANUAL OF PROCEDURE AND 
RITUAL CONSIDERED BY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL BY-LAWS, MANUAL OF 
PROCEDURE AND RITUAL

B-1 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

                         SECTION 202--By-Laws.

    Amend Section 202, National By-Laws, by deleting in its 
entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``Posts may, by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the members 
present and voting at a regular or special meeting called for 
such purpose adopt By-Laws governing the Post provided each 
member has been notified and provided a copy of the proposed 
By-Laws at least seven (7) days in advance by first class mail 
and such By-Laws do not conflict with the Congressional 
Charter, By-Laws, Manual of Procedure, Ritual, or laws and 
usages of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States or 
the By-Laws of the Department having jurisdiction. By-Laws 
approved by a Post shall be forwarded as provided in the Manual 
of Procedure prior to becoming effective. Unless otherwise 
provided for in the Post By-Laws, Post By-Laws may be amended 
by a Post by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a 
stated meeting thereof provided, however, such amendments have 
been read at the preceding stated meeting and each member 
notified at least seven (7) days in advance by first class mail 
of the contents of the amendments and date on which proposed 
amendments are to be presented for adoption.'' (Approved)

B-2 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

                  SECTION 413 -ELIGIBILITY TO OFFICE.

    Amend Section 413, National By-Laws, by adding the 
following to the last sentence:
    ``, except as provided for in Section 514 of these By-
Laws.'' (Approved)

B-3 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

SECTION 521- COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION--COMPOSITION, POWERS AND DUTIES.

    Amend Section 521(c), National By-Laws, by deleting the 
last sentence in the first paragraph. (Approved)

B-4 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

                         ARTICLE V--DEPARTMENTS

    Amend Article V, National By-Laws, by adding the following 
after Section 521:
    ``SECTION 522--CONFERENCES (DIVISIONAL SOCIETIES).
    (a) Formation, Chartering.
    (1) For the purposes set forth in this Section only, 
Departments shall be organized into Conferences. There shall be 
four (4) Conferences: Eastern, Southern, Western and Big Ten.
    a. The Eastern Conference shall consist of the Departments 
of: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Europe, Maine, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
    b. The Southern Conference shall consist of the Departments 
of: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
    c. The Western Conference shall consist of the Departments 
of: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, 
Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, 
Pacific Areas, Latin America/Caribbean, Utah, Washington and 
Wyoming.
    d. The Big Ten Conference shall consist of the Departments 
of: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
    Upon the request of a newly chartered Department or a 
Provisional Department, and with the concurrence of the 
affected Conference, the National Council of Administration is 
authorized to assign a newly chartered Department or a 
Provisional Department to a Conference. The National Council of 
Administration may also authorize a transfer of a Department 
from one Conference to another Conference, provided that the 
Department and each of the affected Conferences give their 
written concurrence. Otherwise, a Department may only be 
organized into a different Conference by amendment to these By-
Laws.
    (2) Purposes of Conferences. Conferences are organized to 
permit the Departments organized therein to coordinate their 
respective efforts in attaining the objectives of this 
Organization, confer regarding matters of mutual interest and 
concern and select candidates for national offices. Commencing 
with election year 2000 each Conference, on a rotating basis 
(West--East--South--Big 10), shall provide a candidate or 
candidates for the office of Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief. 
Election of the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief shall be as 
prescribed in Section 609 of the Manual of Procedure. 
Conferences shall have no power or authority to direct or 
administer the affairs of the National Organization, 
Department, District, County Council or Post or otherwise 
recommend or establish rules and regulations governing them, 
except as specifically set forth in these By-Laws.
    (3) Charters. Charters of Conferences shall be authorized 
by the National Council of Administration, signed by the 
Commander-in-Chief and countersigned by the Adjutant General. 
No Conference shall be recognized or function as such unless 
acting under an unforfeited charter.
    (b) Governing Body; Composition.
    Each Conference shall be governed by its Conference 
Meetings. A Conference Meeting shall consist of delegates 
appointed or elected by Departments. Conference By-Laws shall 
prescribe the manner in which the number of delegates shall be 
established. Each Department shall determine the manner in 
which its delegates shall be selected and the manner in which 
the Department shall exercise its voting strength.
    (c) By-Laws.
    Each Conference shall adopt By-Laws governing the 
Conference, provided such By-Laws may not conflict with the 
Congressional Charter, By-Laws, Manual of Procedure, Ritual or 
laws and usages of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States. By-Laws in place and any amendments approved by a 
Conference shall be forwarded as provided in the Manual of 
Procedure.
    (d) Conference Meetings; Quorum; Caucuses.
    (1) Each Conference shall have at least one meeting each 
year called an Annual Meeting. Conferences may hold additional 
Meetings or call Special Meetings as prescribed by Conference 
By-Laws. The times for Conference Meetings shall be prescribed 
by Conference By-Laws.
    The minimum number of Departments to be represented and 
minimum number of delegates to constitute a quorum for the 
transaction of business at a Conference Meeting shall be 
prescribed in Conference By-Laws.
    (2) Each Conference shall conduct at least one Caucus 
Meeting during the National Convention. Conference By-Laws 
shall prescribe the manner in which the number of delegates 
shall be established. Each Department shall determine the 
manner in which its delegates shall be selected and the manner 
in which the Department shall exercise its voting strength.
    (e) Surrender or Forfeiture of Charter.
    Voluntary Surrender. A Conference may voluntarily surrender 
its charter only upon a vote at a Conference Meeting after due 
notice of such proposition is given, in writing, to every 
Department organized into the Conference and to the Commander-
in-Chief. If two-thirds (2/3) of the Departments vote to 
surrender the charter, the Conference Chairman shall, within 
thirty (30) days, request that the Commander-in-Chief cancel 
the charter. For purposes of this section, voting shall be by 
unit rule and each Department shall have but one vote.
    Disposition of Property. In case of surrender or forfeiture 
of a charter, all of the property of the Conference, including 
books of record and papers and money belonging to it, shall be 
immediately recovered by the Commander-in-Chief and turned over 
to the Quartermaster General in trust for disposition as 
directed by the National Council of Administration for the 
purposes set forth in the Congressional Charter.
    In case of surrender or forfeiture of a charter, the 
National Council of Administration in the case of trust funds 
or trust property, or both, shall carry out the intent and 
purposes of such trust to the extent of such funds or property, 
or both.
    (f) Suspension and Revocation of Charter.
    (1) Actions by the Commander-in-Chief---Suspension. The 
Commander-in-Chief may suspend the charter of a Conference for 
a period of up to sixty (60) days for the same reasons and in 
the same manner as a Department Charter may be suspended 
pursuant to Section 509.
    (2) Actions by the Commander-in-Chief---Revocation. The 
Commander-in-Chief may cancel or revoke the charter of a 
Conference for the same reasons as Department charters may be 
canceled or revoked pursuant to Section 509. Before the 
Commander-in-Chief may cancel or revoke the charter of a 
Conference, the Conference Chairman and the Commander of each 
Department in the Conference shall be notified in writing of 
the proposed cancellation or revocation and of the grounds 
therefor. Unless the Conference Chairman or at least five (5) 
Department Commanders of Departments in the Conference notify 
the Commander-in-Chief in writing within fifteen (15) days of 
the receipt of notice from the Commander-in-Chief that a 
hearing is desired, the cancellation or revocation of charter 
shall be effected. In the event that a hearing is requested, 
said hearing shall be held within thirty (30) days of the 
receipt of the notice that a hearing is desired, at a time and 
place and in a manner designated by the Commander-in-Chief, and 
shall be before the Commander-in-Chief. Representatives of the 
Conference shall be permitted to present evidence in its 
behalf. The Commander-in-Chief shall thereafter, and within 
thirty (30) days, decide the matter.
    If the Conference is not already under a suspension at the 
time that the notice of proposed cancellation or revocation is 
given, the Conference shall thereafter be under suspension as 
provided above, and the Commander-in-Chief shall appoint 
trustees who shall act in the manner herein provided for a 
suspended Conference.
    (3) Appeal to the National Council of Administration. In 
the event that the Commander-in-Chief should determine, after 
hearing, that the Conference charter should be revoked and 
canceled, the Conference or at least five (5) Department 
Commanders of Departments within the Conference, may appeal 
said revocation and cancellation to the National Council of 
Administration. Such an appeal shall be in the manner 
prescribed for an appeal to the National Council of 
Administration under Section 109 of these By-Laws and the 
Manual of Procedure.
    (4) Establishment of Trusteeship. Upon the imposition of 
any suspension of charter under this Section, the Commander-in-
Chief shall establish a trusteeship consisting of from three to 
fifteen trustees. Said trusteeship shall be conducted in the 
manner prescribed for Departments in suspension pursuant to 
Section 509.
    (5) In the event of cancellation or revocation of a 
Conference charter, disposition of its property and trust funds 
shall be as provided for surrender or forfeiture of charter in 
the manner prescribed for Departments under Section 508.
    (g) Conference Dues.
    Each Conference may assess dues pursuant to Conference By-
Laws. Dues shall be assessed against Departments in the 
Conference and not against members in the respective 
Departments. Conferences may, by Conference By-Laws, establish 
penalties for nonpayment of Conference dues or other financial 
obligations, including loss of voting privileges.
    (h) Solicitation: Fund-raising.
    Conferences shall not be permitted to solicit funds or 
donations nor shall Conferences be permitted to engage in any 
fund-raising activity other than activities incident to the 
conduct of Conference Meetings.
    (i) Eligibility to Office.
    Any member in good standing in a Post in a Department 
within the Conference shall be eligible to any Conference 
office, provided that no member shall hold two elective 
Conference offices at the same time. Conference officers, 
elected or appointed, may concurrently hold offices other than 
Conference offices.
    (j) Elected and Appointed Officers; Chairmen and 
Committees.
    (1) The elective officers of each Conference shall be the 
Conference Chairman, one or more Vice Chairmen, and the 
Treasurer. Conference By-Laws may provide for the election or 
appointment of a Conference Secretary, Chaplain and Sergeant-
at-Arms. There shall be no other elective or appointed 
Conference officers.
    (2) In accordance with Conference By-Laws, the Conference 
may elect or the Conference Chairman may appoint such chairmen 
and committees as may be required or otherwise necessary to 
carry out the responsibilities and functions of the Conference.
    (3) No officer, committee chairman or committee member 
shall be paid a salary or other compensation for his services, 
provided, however, the Conference may authorize the 
reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by 
such persons related to conducting Conference business.
    (4) Conference officers, elected and appointed, shall 
submit proof of eligibility to the Secretary. Conference 
officers shall not be installed or assume the duties of their 
office until proof of eligibility has been submitted and 
properly reviewed. Such proof of eligibility shall be open to 
and reviewed by the Conference Chairman, Secretary and 
Treasurer prior to installation to office. In the event an 
elected or appointed officer fails to submit proof of 
eligibility within sixty (60) days of election or appointment, 
any right of the officer to hold the office shall be forfeited 
and the office declared vacant.
    (k) Nomination, Election, Installation and Term of Office.
    Conference officers shall be nominated, elected or 
appointed, and installed in the manner prescribed in Conference 
By-Laws. The term of office of Conference officers shall be one 
(1) year.
    An officer elected and installed shall continue to hold 
office for the period for which elected and until his successor 
is installed, unless the position is declared vacant pursuant 
to provisions in Conference By-Laws. Appointed officers and 
committee members shall hold office during the pleasure of the 
appointing officer. An officer or committee member must remain 
in good standing in a Post in a Department in the Conference.
    (l) Officers, Duties and Obligations.
    The Conference officers, elective and appointive, shall 
have such duties and obligations as prescribed in these By-
Laws, the Ritual and Manual of Procedure and such other duties 
and obligations as may be prescribed in Conference By-Laws not 
inconsistent with these By-Laws.
    (m) Vacancies and Removal of Elective Officers.
    The manner of removal of elective officers and filling of 
vacancies shall be prescribed in the Conference By-Laws.
    (n) Voting.
    Each Conference shall adopt Conference By-Laws setting 
forth the manner of voting at Conference Meetings and in 
conducting elections.
    (o) Incorporation of Provisions Applicable to Departments.
    Except as otherwise provided herein, for purposes of the 
following By-Laws, and corresponding provisions of the Manual 
of Procedure, the regulations applicable to Departments shall 
apply to Conferences in like manner:
    Section 105
    Section 702
    Section 703
    Section 707
    Section 708
    Section 709
    Section 719
    Section 720
    Section 805
    (p) Miscellaneous Provisions.
    (1) A Department aggrieved by a decision of the Conference 
Chairman or Conference with respect to matters within the 
purview of the Conference shall have the right to appeal to the 
Commander-in-Chief.
    (2) Conferences may incorporate in the same manner and 
under the same terms as other units, pursuant to Section 708, 
provided that the Conference may select a state of 
incorporation. Conferences may organize corporations for the 
purpose of conducting meetings pursuant to Section 708.
    (3) A Conference shall be a unit for purposes other than 
Section 709 of these By-Laws, as provided in Section 720 of 
these By-Laws.
    (4) Conference Meetings shall be governed by the provisions 
of Section 1001 of the Manual of Procedure. Unless otherwise 
provided in Conference By-Laws, the Order of Business shall be 
as provided in Section 1002 of the Manual of Procedure.'' 
(Disapproved)

B-5 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

                  SECTION 607--ELIGIBILITY TO OFFICE.

    Amend Section 607, National By-Laws, by adding the 
following after the word ``office'' in the first sentence:
    ``, except as provided for in Section 522 of these By-Laws 
and the Manual of Procedure'' (Disapproved)

B-6 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend Section 610 (a) (12), National By-Laws, by deleting 
the words ``commissions or'' (Approved)

B-7 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

               SECTION 610--Officers, Powers and Duties.

    Amend Section 610 (d) (14), National By-Laws, by deleting 
the first paragraph in its entirety and inserting in lieu 
thereof the following:
    ``Annual Budget. Prepare a tentative budget for the 
financial operations of the ensuing year. Said budget shall set 
forth all anticipated income and estimated expense. Restricted 
funds shall be budgeted separately in every instance, and the 
budget shall be in balance. Final action must be taken on the 
adoption of the budget at the first stated meeting of the 
National Council of Administration, and, when adopted, the 
budget shall be the expenditure guide for the ensuing year.'' 
(Approved)

B-8 (Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)

 SECTION 617--REGIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS-HOW 
                                ELECTED.

    Amend Section 617, National By-Laws, by deleting the second 
sentence of the second paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof 
the following:
    ``The regional districts designated D, E, and H shall elect 
a National Council Member in even-numbered years for a two year 
term and Districts A, B, C, F, and J shall elect a National 
Council Member in odd-numbered years for a two year term.''
    Amend Section 617 further by making changes and additions 
to the enumeration of Departments comprising the National 
Council Districts as set forth below:
    ``3. Maryland, New Jersey
    4. District of Columbia, Delaware, Europe, Rhode Island'' 
(Approved)

B-9 (Proposed by Department of Wyoming)

                       SECTION 101--ELIGIBILITY.

    Amend Section 101, National By-Laws, by inserting after the 
words ``duty or retired'' in the first sentence the following:
    ``or as a merchant marine officer or seaman who served in 
oceangoing service during World War II'' (Disapproved)

B-10 (Proposed by Departments of Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, 
Montana, Nebraska, and Virginia)

         SECTION 102--APPLICATIONS--AFFILIATION OF NEW MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 102, National By Laws, by deleting the third 
(3) paragraph in its entirety. (Disapproved)

B-11 (Proposed by Department of Texas)

         SECTION 102--APPLICATIONS--AFFILIATION OF NEW MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 102, National By-Laws, by deleting the fourth 
paragraph in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the 
following:
    ``Department Members At Large. Anyone eligible for 
membership who is unable to join or does not desire membership 
in a post may become a Department Member At Large of the 
Department upon application to the Department Adjutant, proof 
of eligibility and payment of annual dues in amount to be 
determined by the Department Council of Administration. The 
Department Quartermaster shall transmit to the Quartermaster 
General ten dollars ($10.00) of dues collected for each Member 
At Large on a monthly consolidated report.'' (Approved)

B-12 (Proposed by Department of Delaware)

                       SECTION 111--LIFE MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 111, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``(a) Life Members: Any person who is a member in good 
standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
may become a life member by payment of the proper life 
membership fee to the Post Quartermaster. A member in good 
standing as a Member At Large may become a life member by 
paying the proper fee to the Adjutant General, or Department 
Adjutant in the case of Department Members At Large. Any person 
otherwise eligible for membership, but not previously a member, 
may become a life member upon election to membership in 
accordance with Section 103, payment of an admission fee in 
accordance with Section 104 and submission of a life membership 
application and payment of the proper life membership fee to 
the Post Quartermaster. A former member otherwise eligible for 
reinstatement to membership may become a life member upon 
reinstatement to membership in accordance with Section 106, 
payment of such reinstatement fee as may be assessed by the 
Post and submission of a life membership application and 
payment of the proper life membership fee to the Post 
Quartermaster.

    Life Membership fees shall be charged in accordance with 
the following fee schedule with changes in fees effective on 
January 1, 1998.

            ATTAINED AGE        LIFE MEMBER FEE 

             Through 30             $290.00 
                  31-40             $280.00 
                  41-50             $265.00 
                  51-60             $240.00 
                  61-70             $200.00 
                  71-80             $150.00 
              81 & over             $100.00 

    Fee to be determined using applicant's age at December 31 
of the current calendar year in which the application is 
submitted, regardless of actual birth date.
    Upon receipt of the required fee, the Post Quartermaster 
shall immediately forward payment, together with the life 
membership application of the individual, through the 
Department Quartermaster (if required by Department), to the 
Quartermaster General. The life membership shall become 
effective immediately upon the receipt of the fee by the 
Quartermaster General. The Quartermaster General shall deposit 
all sums received by him for life membership in a special fund 
called the ``Life Membership,'' and shall issue a suitable life 
membership card.
    A life member shall not be subject to further membership 
dues levies of any kind and shall have all the benefits and 
privileges of Post, Department and National membership 
ineligible for membership shall forfeit his life membership, in 
which case he shall be entitled to a proportionate refund of 
life membership fees paid. A member who shall be discharged 
from the organization by reason of disciplinary action shall 
forfeit his life membership. In such event no refund of fees 
paid will be made.
    Death of a life member following the issuance of the checks 
paying his per capita tax for the next calendar year to 
National Headquarters, his Department, and Post, shall not be a 
cause for a refund of said per capita tax for that calendar 
year.
    (b) Life Membership Committee: The Life Membership 
Committee shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, the Senior 
vice Commander-in Chief, the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Such 
committee shall also be known as the Board of Trustees of the 
Life Membership Fund. The Quartermaster General shall be 
treasurer of the Life Membership Committee and shall have 
custody of the Life Membership Fund.
    The Life Membership Committee shall administer the Life 
Membership Fund, investing and reinvesting funds to the best 
interest of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. 
An amount, as determined by Life Membership Committee after 
consultation with professionals in actuarial science, shall be 
paid in September of the current year for the following 
calendar year to Posts, Departments and National Headquarters 
on all life members recorded as of August 31 of the then 
current calendar year and in addition, the same amount shall be 
paid in January of the following year for persons who have 
become life members during the period September 1 to December 
31, as provided by in the following plans:
    (1) Plan A, B and C Life Members: To the extent funds are 
available in the Life Membership Fund for Plan A, B, and C life 
members, payments shall never be less than three dollars and 
fifty cents ($3.50) per capita tax to the National Headquarters 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, three 
dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the Department Headquarters, 
and three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the Post to which 
each life member belongs.
    (2) Plan D Life Members: To the extent funds are available 
in the Life Membership Fund for Plan D life members, payments 
shall never be less than seven dollars ($7.00) per capita tax 
to the National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States, seven dollars ($7.00) to the Department 
Headquarters, and seven dollars ($7.00) to the Post to which 
each life member belongs.'' (Disapproved)

B-13 (Proposed by Departments of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, 
Pacific Areas and West Virginia)

                       SECTION 111--LIFE MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 111, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``(a) Life Members: Any person who is a member in good 
standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
may become a life member by payment of the proper life 
membership fee to the Post Quartermaster. A member in good 
standing as a Member At Large may become a life member by 
paying the proper fee to the Adjutant General, or Department 
Adjutant in the case of Department Members At Large. Any person 
otherwise eligible for membership, but not previously a member, 
may become a life member upon election to membership in 
accordance with Section 103, payment of an admission fee in 
accordance with Section 104 and submission of a life membership 
application and payment of the proper life membership fee to 
the Post Quartermaster. A former member otherwise eligible for 
reinstatement to membership may become a life member upon 
reinstatement to membership in accordance with Section 106, 
payment of such reinstating fee as may be assessed by the Post 
and submission of a life membership application and payment of 
the proper life membership fee to the Post Quartermaster.
    Life Membership fees shall be charged in accordance with 
the following fee schedule with changes in fees effective on 
January 1 of the year indicated.

 ATTAINED AGE  LIFE MEMBER FEE  LIFE MEMBER FEE  LIFE MEMBER FEE 
                1998 (PLAN D)    2000 (PLAN E)    2004 (PLAN F) 

 Through 30        $220.00          $265.00          $310.00 
 31-40              210.00           255.00           295.00 
 41-50              195.00           235.00           275.00 
 51-60              175.00           210.00           245.00 
 61-70              150.00           180.00           210.00 
 71-80              115.00           135.00           160.00 
 81 & over           75.00            90.00           105.00 

    Fee to be determined using applicant's attained age at 
December 31 of the current calendar year in which the 
application is submitted, regardless of actual birth date.
    Upon receipt of the required fee, the Post Quartermaster 
shall immediately forward payment, together with the life 
membership application of the individual, through the 
Department Quartermaster, to the Quartermaster General. The 
life membership shall become effective immediately upon the 
receipt of the fee by the Quartermaster General. The 
Quartermaster General shall deposit all sums received by him 
for life memberships in a special fund called the ``Life 
Membership Fund,'' and shall issue a suitable life membership 
card.
    A life member shall not be subject to further membership 
dues levies of any kind and shall have all the benefits and 
privileges of Post, Department and National membership as long 
as he shall live; provided, however, a life member who shall 
subsequently be found ineligible for membership shall forfeit 
his life membership, in which case he shall be entitled to a 
proportionate refund of life membership fees paid. A member who 
shall be discharged from the organization by reason of 
disciplinary action shall forfeit his life membership. In such 
event no refund of fees paid will be made.
    Death of a life member following the issuance of the checks 
paying his capita tax for the next calendar year to National 
Headquarters, his Department, and Post, shall not be a cause 
for a refund of said per capita tax for that calendar year.
    (b) Life Membership Committee: The Life Membership 
Committee shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, the Senior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief, the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Such 
committee shall also be known as the Board of Trustees of the 
Life Membership Fund. The Quartermaster General shall be 
treasurer of the Life Membership Committee and shall have 
custody of the Life Membership Fund.
    The Life Membership Committee shall administer the Life 
Membership Fund, investing and reinvesting funds to the best 
interest of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. 
An amount, as determined by the Life Membership Committee after 
consultation with professionals licensed in actuarial science, 
shall be paid in September of the current year for the 
following calendar year to Posts, Departments and National 
Headquarters on all life members recorded as of August 31 of 
the then current calendar year and in addition, the same amount 
shall be paid in January of the following year for persons who 
have become life members during the period September 1 to 
December 31, as provided by in the following plans:
    (1) Plan A, B, and C Life Members: To the extent funds are 
available in the Life membership Fund for Plan A, B, and C life 
members, payments shall never be less than three dollars and 
fifty cents ($3.50) per capita tax to the National Headquarters 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, three 
dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the Department Headquarters, 
and three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the Post to which 
each life member belongs.
    (2) Plan D, E, and F Life Members: To the extent funds are 
available in the Life Membership Fund for Plan D, E, and F life 
members, payments shall never be less than the following 
schedule. Payments to be made in an equal per capita tax amount 
to the National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States, the Department Headquarters, and the Post to 
which each life member belongs.

  Plan D Life Members    Plan E Life Members    Plan F Life Members 
 after January 1, 1998  after January 1, 2000  after January 1, 2004 

        $5.00                  $6.00                  $7.00'' 

(Disapproved)

B-14 (Proposed by Department of Oregon)

                       SECTION 111--LIFE MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 111, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``(a) Life Members: Any person who is a member in good 
standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
may become a life member by payment of the proper life 
membership fee to the Post Quartermaster. A member in good 
standing as a Member At Large may become a life member by 
paying the proper fee to the Adjutant General, or Department 
Adjutant in the case of Department Members At Large. Any person 
otherwise eligible for membership, but not previously a member, 
may become a life member upon election to membership in 
accordance with Section 103, payment of an admission fee in 
accordance with section 104 and submission of a life membership 
application and payment of the proper life membership fee to 
the Post Quartermaster. A former member otherwise eligible for 
reinstatement to membership may become a life member upon 
reinstatement to membership in accordance with Section 106, 
payment of such reinstating fee as may be assessed by the Post 
and submission of a life membership application and payment of 
the proper life membership fee to the Post Quartermaster.
    Life Membership fees shall be charged in accordance with 
the following fee schedule with changes in fees effective on 
January 1 of the year indicated:

  ATTAINED AGE  LIFE MEMBER FEE  LIFE MEMBER FEE  LIFE MEMBER FEE 
                 1998 (PLAIN D)   2000 (PLAN E)    2004 (PLAN F) 

  Through 30         $220.00          $265.00           $310.00 
  31-40               210.00           255.00            295.00 
  41-50               195.00           235.00            275.00 
  51-60               175.00           210.00            245.00 
  61-70               150.00           180.00            210.00 
  71-80               115.00           135.00            160.00 
  81 & over            75.00            90.00            105.00 

    Fee to be determined using applicant's attained age at 
December 31 of the current calendar year in which the 
application is submitted, regardless of actual birth date.
    Life Membership fees shall be raised only by vote of the 
National Convention. There will be no exceptions to this 
requirement.
    Upon receipt of the required fee, the Post Quartermaster 
shall immediately forward payment, together with the life 
membership application of the individual, through the 
Department Quartermaster, to the Quartermaster General. The 
life membership shall become effective immediately upon the 
receipt of the fee by the Quartermaster General. The 
Quartermaster General shall deposit all sums received by him 
for life memberships in a special fund called the ``Life 
Membership Fund'', and shall issue a suitable life membership 
card.
    A life member shall not be subject to further membership 
dues levies of any kind and shall have all the benefits and 
privileges of Post, Department and National membership as long 
as he shall live; provided, however, a life member who shall 
subsequently be found ineligible for membership shall forfeit 
his life membership, in which case he shall be entitled to a 
proportionate refund of life membership fees paid. A member who 
shall be discharged from the organization by reason of 
disciplinary action shall forfeit his life membership. In such 
event no refund of fees paid will be made.
    Death of a life member following the issuance of the checks 
paying his capita tax for the next calendar year to National 
Headquarters, his Department, and Post, shall not be a cause 
for a refund of said per capita tax for that calendar year.
    (b) Life Membership Committee: The Life Membership 
Committee shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, the Senior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief, the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Such 
committee shall also be known as the Board of Trustees of the 
Life Membership Fund. The Quartermaster General shall be 
treasurer of the Life Membership Committee and shall have 
custody of the Life Membership Fund.
    The Life Membership Committee shall administer the Life 
Membership and, investing and reinvesting funds to the best 
interest of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. 
An amount, as determined by the Life Membership Committee after 
consultation with professionals licensed in actuarial science, 
shall be paid in September of the current year for the 
following calendar year to Posts, Departments and National 
Headquarters on all life members recorded as of August 31 of 
the then current calendar year and in addition, the same amount 
shall be paid in January of the following year for persons who 
have become life members during the period September 1 to 
December 31, as provided by in the following plans.
    (1) Plan A, B, and C Life Members: To the extent funds are 
available in the Life Membership Fund for Plan A, B, and C life 
members, payments shall never be less than three dollars and 
fifty cents ($3.50) per capita tax to the National Headquarters 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, three 
dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the Department Headquarters, 
and three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the Post to which 
each life member belongs.
    (2) Plan D, E, and F Life Members: To the extent funds are 
available in the Life Membership Fund for Plan D, E, and F life 
members, payments shall never be less than the following 
schedule. Payments to be made in an equal per capita tax amount 
to the National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States, the Department Headquarters, and the Post to 
which each life member belongs.

  Plan D Life Members    Plan E Life Members    Plan F Life Members 
 after January 1, 1998  after January 1, 2000  after January 1, 2004 

         $5.00                  $6.00                  $7.00'' 

(Disapproved)

B-15 (Proposed by Department of Connecticut)

                       SECTION 111--LIFE MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 111, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``(a) Life Members: Any person who is a member in good 
standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
may become a life member by payment of the applicable life 
membership fee to the Post Quartermaster. A member in good 
standing as a Member-at-Large may become a life member by 
paying the applicable fee to the Adjutant General or Department 
Adjutant in the case of Department Members-at-Large. Any person 
otherwise eligible for membership, but not previously a member, 
may become a life member upon election to membership in 
accordance with Section 103, payment of an admission fee in 
accordance with Section 104 and submission of a life membership 
application and payment of the applicable life membership fee 
to the Post Quartermaster. A former member otherwise eligible 
for reinstatement to membership may become a life member upon 
reinstatement to membership in accordance with Section 106, 
payment of such reinstating fee as may be assessed by the Post 
and submission of a life membership application and the payment 
of the applicable life membership fee to the Post 
Quartermaster.
    (b) Life Membership Fees: Life Membership fees shall be 
charged in accordance with the following Plan D fee schedule 
effective January 1, 1998:

         ATTAINED AGE      PLAN D LIFE MEMBERSHIP FEE

          Through 30                $245.00 
          31 to 40                   235.00 
          41 to 50                   215.00 
          51 to 60                   195.00 
          61 to 70                   165.00 
          71 to 80                   125.00 
          81 and over                 85.00 

    The applicable fee from the life membership fee schedule 
set forth herein will be determined using the applicant's 
attained age as of December 31st of the current calendar year 
in which the application is submitted regardless of actual date 
of birth.
    Upon receipt of the applicable fee, the Post Quartermaster 
shall immediately forward payment together with the life 
membership application of the individual to the Quartermaster 
General (or, if required by the Department, through the 
Department Quartermaster to the Quartermaster General). The 
life membership shall become effective immediately upon the 
receipt of the fee by the Quartermaster General. The 
Quartermaster General shall deposit all sums received for life 
membership in a special fund called the Life Membership Fund 
and shall issue a suitable life membership card.
    A life member shall not be subject to further membership 
dues levies or life membership fees of any kind and shall have 
all the benefits and privileges of Post, Department and 
National membership as long as the member shall live; provided, 
however, a life member who shall subsequently be found 
ineligible for membership shall forfeit such life membership, 
in which case such life member shall be entitled to a 
proportionate refund of life membership fees paid. A life 
member who shall be discharged from the organization by reason 
of disciplinary action shall forfeit such life membership. In 
such event, no refund of fees paid will be made.
    (c) Life Membership Committee: The Life Membership 
Committee shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, the Senior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief, the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Such 
committee shall also be known as the Board of Trustees of the 
Life Membership Fund. The Quartermaster General shall be 
treasurer of the Life Membership Committee and shall have 
custody of the Life Membership Fund. The Life Membership 
Committee shall administer the Life Membership Fund, investing 
and reinvesting funds, to be the best interest of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States.
    (d) Per Capita Tax:
    (1) Plan D: An amount, as determined by the Life Membership 
Committee after consultation with professionals licensed in 
actuarial science, shall be paid in September of the current 
year for the following calendar year to Posts, Departments and 
National Headquarters on all life members recorded as of August 
31 of the then current calendar year and, in addition, the same 
amount shall be paid in January of the following year for 
persons who have become life members during the period 
September 1 to December 31, provided, however, that to the 
extent funds are available in the Life Membership Fund, 
payments shall never be less than five dollars and fifty cents 
($5.50) per capita tax to National Headquarters of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States, five dollars and fifty 
cents ($5.50) to the Department Headquarters, and five dollars 
and fifty cents ($5.50) to the Post to which each life member 
belongs.
    (2) All Prior Plans: An amount, as determined by the Life 
Membership Committee after consultation with professionals 
licensed in actuarial science shall be paid in September of the 
current year for the following calendar year to Posts, 
Departments and National Headquarters on all life members 
recorded as of August 31 of the then current calendar year, 
provided, however, that to the extent funds are available in 
the Life Membership Fund, payments shall never be less than 
three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) per capita tax to 
National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the 
Department Headquarters, and three dollars and fifty cents 
($3.50) to the Post to which each life member belongs.
    Death of a life member following issuance of the checks 
paying the member's per capita tax for the next calendar year 
to National Headquarters, Department and Post shall not be 
cause for a refund of such per capita tax for that calendar 
year.'' (Approved)

B-16 (Proposed by Departments of District of Columbia and 
Massachusetts)

                       SECTION 111--LIFE MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 111, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``(a) Life Members: Any person who is a member in good 
standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
may become a life member by payment of the proper life 
membership fee to the Post Quartermaster. A member in good 
standing as a Member At Large may become a life member by 
paying the applicable fee to the Adjutant General or Department 
Adjutant in the case of Department Members At Large. Any person 
otherwise eligible for membership, but not previously a member, 
may become a life member upon election to membership in 
accordance with Section 103, payment of an admission fee in 
accordance with Section 104 and submission of a life membership 
application and payment of the applicable life membership fee 
to the Post Quartermaster. A former member otherwise eligible 
for reinstatement to membership may become a life member upon 
reinstatement to membership in accordance with Section 106, 
payment of such reinstating fee as may be assessed by the Post 
and submission of a life membership application and payment of 
the applicable life membership fee to the Post Quartermaster.
    (b) Life Membership Fees: Life membership fees shall be 
charged in accordance with the following Plan D fee schedule 
effective September 1, 1997: 

        ATTAINED AGE        PLAN D LIFE MEMBERSHIP FEE

         Through 30                   $220.00 
         31 to 40                      210.00 
         41 to 50                      195.00 
         51 to 60                      175.00 
         61 to 70                      150.00 
         71 to 80                      115.00 
         81 and over                    75.00 

    The applicable fee from the life membership fee schedule 
set forth herein will be determined using applicant's attained 
age as of December 31 of the current calendar year in which the 
application is submitted regardless of actual date of birth.
    Upon receipt of the applicable fee, the Post Quartermaster 
shall immediately forward payment together with the life 
membership application of the individual to the Quartermaster 
General (or, if required by the Department, through the 
Department Quartermaster to the Quartermaster General). The 
life membership shall become effective immediately upon the 
receipt of the fee by the Quartermaster General. The 
Quartermaster General shall deposit all sums received for life 
memberships in a special fund called the Life Membership Fund 
and shall issue a suitable life membership card.
    A life member shall not be subject to further membership 
dues levies or life membership fees of any kind and shall have 
all the benefits and privileges of Post, Department and 
National membership as long as the member shall live; provided, 
however, a life member who shall subsequently be found 
ineligible for membership shall forfeit such life membership, 
in which case such life member shall be entitled to a 
proportionate refund of life membership fees paid. A life 
member who shall be discharged from the organization by reason 
of disciplinary action shall forfeit such life membership. In 
such event, no refund of fees paid will be made.

The following life membership fee schedules are provided for 
incorporation in this proposed amendment in lieu of the fee 
schedule for a $5.00 payout to provide for a $5.50, $6.00 or 
$7.00 payout:

  ATTAINED AGE        L/M FEE         L/M FEE         L/M FEE 
                  ($5.50 Payout)  ($6.00 Payout)  ($7.00 Payout) 

   Through 30         $245.00         $265.00         $310.00 
     31--40            235.00          255.00          295.00 
     41--50            215.00          235.00          275.00 
     51--60            195.00          210.00          245.00 
     61--70            165.00          180.00          210.00 
     71--80            125.00          135.00          160.00 
    81 & over           85.00           90.00          105.00 

    (c) Life Membership Committee: The Life Membership 
Committee shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, the Senior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief, the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Such 
committee shall also be known as the Board of Trustees of the 
Life Membership Fund. The Quartermaster General shall be 
treasurer of the Life Membership Committee and shall have 
custody of the Life Membership Fund. The Life Membership 
Committee shall administer the Life Membership Fund, investing 
and reinvesting funds, to the best interest of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.
    (d) Per Capita Tax:
    (1) Plan D: An amount, as determined by the Life Membership 
Committee after consultation with professionals licensed in 
actuarial science, shall be paid in September of the current 
year for the following calendar year to Posts, Departments and 
National Headquarters on all life members recorded as of August 
31 of the then current calendar year and, in addition, the same 
amount shall be paid in January of the following year for 
persons who have become life members during the period 
September 1 to December 31, provided, however, that to the 
extent funds are available in the Life Membership Fund, 
payments shall never be less than five dollars ($5.00) per 
capita tax to National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States, five dollars ($5.00) to the 
Department Headquarters, and five dollars ($5.00) to the Post 
to which life member belongs.
    (2) All Prior Plans: An amount, as determined by the Life 
Membership Committee after consultation with professionals 
licensed in actuarial science, shall be paid in September of 
the current year for the following calendar year to Posts, 
Departments and National Headquarters on all life members 
recorded as of August 31 of the then current calendar year, 
provided, however, that to the extent funds are available in 
the Life Membership Fund, payments shall never be less than 
three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) per capita tax to 
National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the 
Department Headquarters, and three dollars and fifty cents 
($3.50) to the Post to which each life member belongs.
    Death of a life member following issuance of the checks 
paying the member's per capita tax for the next calendar year 
to National Headquarters, Department and Post shall not be 
cause for a refund of such per capita tax for that calendar 
year.
    (e) Effective Date: Notwithstanding the provisions of 
paragraph 2 of Section 1301 of the National By-Laws, this 
amendment shall become effective on September 1, 1997.'' 
(Disapproved)

B-17 (Proposed by Departments of Colorado and Nebraska)

                 SECTION 111--LIFE MEMBERS. 

     Amend Section 111, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

    ``(a) Life Members: Any person who is a member in good 
standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
may become a life member by payment of the proper life 
membership fee to the Post Quartermaster. A member in good 
standing as a Member At Large may become a life member by 
paying the applicable fee to the Adjutant General or Department 
Adjutant in the case of Department Members at Large. Any person 
otherwise eligible for membership, but not previously a member, 
may become a life member upon election to membership in 
accordance with Section 103, payment of an admission fee in 
accordance with Section 104 and submission of a life membership 
application and payment of the applicable life membership fee 
to the Post Quartermaster. A former member otherwise eligible 
for reinstatement to membership may become a life member upon 
reinstatement to membership in accordance with Section 106, 
payment of such reinstating fee as may be assessed by the Post 
and submission of a life membership application and payment of 
the applicable life membership fee to the Post Quartermaster.
    (b) Life Membership Fees: Life membership fees shall be 
charged in accordance with the following Plan D fee schedule 
effective September 1, 1997:

       ATTAINED AGE        PLAN D LIFE MEMBERSHIP FEE

        Through 30                 $220.00 
        31 to 40                    210.00 
        41 to 50                    195.00 
        51 to 60                    175.00 
        61 to 70                    150.00 
        71 to 80                    115.00 
        81 and over                  75.00 

    The applicable fee from the life membership fee schedule 
set forth herein will be determined using the applicant's 
attained age as of December 31st of the current calendar year 
in which the application is submitted regardless of actual date 
of birth.
    Upon receipt of the applicable fee, the Post Quartermaster 
shall immediately forward payment together with the life 
membership application of the individual to the Quartermaster 
General (or, if required by the Department, through the 
Department Quartermaster to the Quartermaster General). The 
life membership shall become effective immediately upon the 
receipt of the fee by the Quartermaster General. The 
Quartermaster General shall deposit all sums received for life 
memberships in a special fund called the Life Membership Fund 
and shall issue a suitable life membership card.
    A life member shall not be subject to further membership 
dues levies or life membership fees of any kind and shall have 
all the benefits and privileges of Post, Department and 
National membership as long as the member shall live; provided, 
however, a life member who shall subsequently be found 
ineligible for membership shall forfeit such life membership, 
in which case such life member shall be entitled to a 
proportionate refund of life membership fees paid. A life 
member who shall be discharged from the organization by reason 
of disciplinary action shall forfeit such life membership. In 
such event, no refund of fees paid will be made.
    (c) Life Membership Committee: The Life Membership 
Committee shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, the Senior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief, the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Such 
committee shall also be known as the Board of Trustees of the 
Life Membership Fund. The Quartermaster General shall be 
treasurer of the Life Membership Committee and shall have 
custody of the Life Membership Fund. The Life Membership 
Committee shall administer the Life Membership Fund, investing 
and reinvesting funds, to the best interest of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.
    (d) Per Capita Tax:
    (1) Plan D: An amount, as determined by the Life Membership 
Committee after consultation with professionals licensed in 
actuarial science, shall be paid in September of the current 
year for the following calendar year to Posts, Departments and 
National Headquarters on all life members recorded as of August 
31 of the then current calendar year and, in addition, the same 
amount shall be paid in January of the following year for 
persons who have become life members during the period 
September 1 to December 31, provided, however, that to the 
extent funds are available in the Life Membership Fund, 
payments shall never be less than five dollars ($5.00) per 
capita tax to National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States, five dollars ($5.00) to the 
Department Headquarters, and five dollars ($5.00) to the Post 
to which each life member belongs.
    (2) All Prior Plans: An amount, as determined by the Life 
Membership Committee after consultation with professionals 
licensed in actuarial science, shall be paid in September of 
the current year for the following calendar year to Posts, 
Departments and National Headquarters on all life members 
recorded as of August 31 of the then current calendar year, 
provided, however, that to the extent funds are available in 
the Life Membership Fund, payments shall never be less than 
three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) per capita tax to 
National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the 
Department Headquarters, and three dollars and fifty cents 
($3.50) to the Post to which each life member belongs.

Death of a life member following issuance of the checks paying 
the member's per capita tax for the next calendar year to 
National Headquarters, Department and Post shall not be cause 
for a refund of such per capita tax for that calendar year.
    (e) Effective Date: Notwithstanding the provisions of 
paragraph 2 of Section 1301 of the National By-Laws, this 
amendment shall become effective on September 1, 1997.'' 
(Disapproved)

B-18 (Proposed by Department of New Jersey)

                       SECTION 111--LIFE MEMBERS.

    Amend Section 111, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``(a) Life Members: Any person who is a member in good 
standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
may become a life member by payment of the applicable life 
membership fee to the Post Quartermaster. A member in good 
standing as a Member-At-Large may become a life member by 
paying the applicable fee to the Adjutant General or Department 
Adjutant in the case of Department Members at Large. Any person 
otherwise eligible for membership, but not previously a member, 
may become a life member upon election to membership in 
accordance with Section 103, payment of an admission fee in 
accordance with Section 104 and submission of a life membership 
application and payment of the applicable life membership fee 
to Post Quartermaster. A former member otherwise eligible for 
reinstatement to membership may become a life member upon 
reinstatement to membership in accordance with Section 106, 
payment of such reinstating fee as may be assessed by the Post 
and submission of a life membership application and payment of 
the applicable life membership fee to the Post Quartermaster.
    (b) Life Membership Fees: Life membership fees shall be 
charged in accordance with the following Plan D fee schedule 
effective January 1, 1998:

            ATTAINED AGE             L/M FEE 
                                 ($5.50 Payout) 

             Through 30               $245.00 
             31--40                    235.00 
             41--50                    215.00 
             51--60                    195.00 
             61--70                    165.00 
             71--80                    125.00 
             81 & over                  85.00 

    The applicable fee from the life membership fee schedule 
set forth herein will be determined using applicant's attained 
age as of December 31 of the current calendar year in which the 
application is submitted regardless of actual date of birth.
    Upon receipt of the applicable fee, the Post Quartermaster 
shall immediately forward payment together with the life 
membership application of the individual to the Quartermaster 
General (or, if required by the Department, through the 
Department Quartermaster to the Quartermaster General). The 
life membership shall become effective immediately upon the 
receipt of the fee by the Quartermaster General. The 
Quartermaster General shall deposit all sums received for life 
memberships in a special fund called the Life Membership Fund 
and shall issue a suitable life membership card.
    A life member shall not be subject to further membership 
dues levies or life membership fees of any kind and shall have 
all the benefits and privileges of Post, Department and 
National membership as long as the member shall live; provided, 
however, a life member who shall subsequently be found 
ineligible for membership shall forfeit such life membership, 
in which case such life member shall be entitled to a 
proportionate refund of life membership fees paid. A life 
member who shall be discharged from the organization by reason 
of disciplinary action shall forfeit such life membership. In 
such event, no refund of fees paid will be made.
    (c) Life Membership Committee: The Life Membership 
Committee shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, the Senior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief, the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General. Such 
committee shall also be known as the Board of Trustees of the 
Life Membership Fund. The Quartermaster General shall be 
treasurer of the Life Membership Committee and shall have 
custody of the Life Membership Fund. The Life Membership 
Committee shall administer the Life Membership Fund, investing 
and reinvesting funds, to the best interest of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.
    (d) Per Capita Tax:
    (1) Plan D: An amount, as determined by the Life Membership 
Committee after consultation with professionals licensed in 
actuarial science, shall be paid in September of the current 
year for the following calendar year to Posts, Departments and 
National Headquarters on all life members recorded as of August 
31 of the then current calendar year and, in addition, the same 
amount shall be paid in January of the following year for 
persons who have become life members during the period 
September 1 to December 31, provided, however, that to the 
extent funds are available in the Life Membership Fund, 
payments shall never be less than five dollars ($5.00) per 
capita tax to National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States, five dollars ($5.00) to the 
Department Headquarters, and five dollars ($5.00) to the Post 
to which each life member belongs.
    (2) All Prior Plans: An amount, as determined by the Life 
Membership Committee after consultation with professionals 
licensed in actuarial science, shall be paid in September of 
the current year for the following calendar year to Posts, 
Departments and National Headquarters on all life members 
recorded as of August 31 of the then current calendar year, 
provided, however, that to the extent funds are available in 
the Life Membership Fund, payments shall never be less than 
three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) per capita tax to 
National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) to the 
Department Headquarters, and three dollars and fifty cents 
($3.50) to the Post to which each life member belongs.
    Death of a life member following issuance of the checks 
paying the member's per capita tax for the next calendar year 
to National Headquarters, Department and Post shall not be 
cause for a refund of such per capita tax for that calendar 
year.
    (e) Effective Date: Notwithstanding the provisions of 
paragraph 2 of Section 1301 of the National By-Laws, this 
amendment shall become effective on September 1, 1997.'' 
(Disapproved)

B-19 (Proposed by Departments of Connecticut and New York)

               SECTION 610--OFFICERS, POWERS AND DUTIES.

    Amend Section 610 (a) (6), National By-Laws, by inserting 
after the words ``Adjutant General'' the following:
    ``Assistant Adjutants General'' (Disapproved)

B-20 (Proposed by Departments of Connecticut and New York)

               SECTION 610--OFFICERS, POWERS AND DUTIES.

    Amend Section 610 (f) (12), National By-Laws, by deleting 
in its entirety and renumbering the remainder of the section. 
(Disapproved)

B-21 (Proposed by Departments of Connecticut and New York)

               SECTION 610--OFFICERS, POWERS AND DUTIES. 

     Amend Section 610 (g), National By-Laws, by adding the 
following: 
     ``Assistant Adjutants General shall be full-time 
salaried officers of the organization.'' (Disapproved)

B-22 (Proposed by Departments of Arizona, Colorado, 
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Indiana, Nebraska, New 
Jersey, New York, and Washington)

               SECTION 610--OFFICERS, POWERS AND DUTIES. 

     Amend Section 610 (d) (13), National By-Laws, by adding the 
following: 
     ``provided, however, that said compensation shall not exceed 
$150,000 per annum.'' (Disapproved)

B-23 (Proposed by Departments of Arizona, Colorado, 
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Indiana, Nebraska, New 
Jersey, New York, and Washington)

               SECTION 610--OFFICERS, POWERS AND DUTIES. 

     Amend Section 610 (f) (10), National By-Laws, by adding the 
following: 
     ``provided, however, that said compensation shall not exceed 
$150,000 per annum.'' (Disapproved)

B-24 (Proposed by Department of Mississippi)

                   SECTION 615--NATIONAL COMMITTEES.

    Amend Section 615, National By-Laws, by deleting ``4. 
Political Action Committee'' in the first paragraph and 
renumber.
    Amend Section 615 further by deleting in its entirety sub-
section (d) and redesignate sub-section (e) sub-section (d). 
(Disapproved)

B-25 (Proposed by Department of New Jersey)

 SECTION 617--REGIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS--HOW 
                                ELECTED.

    Amend Section 617, National By-Laws, by deleting the words 
``in excess of 70,000 members'' in the first sentence of the 
second paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``in excess of 65,000 members'' (Disapproved)

B-26 (Proposed by Departments of Arizona, Colorado, 
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Indiana, New Jersey, New 
York and Washington)

 SECTION 618--NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION--COMPOSITION, POWERS 
                              AND DUTIES.

    Amend Section 618 (c), National By-Laws, by adding to the 
second paragraph the following:
    ``provided, however, that the salaries of the Quartermaster 
General and the Adjutant General respectively shall not exceed 
$150,000 per annum.'' (Disapproved)

B-27 (Proposed by Department of Washington)

                         SECTION 702--POLITICS.

    Amend Section 702, National By-Laws, by deleting the last 
paragraph in its entirety. (Disapproved)

B-28 (Proposed by Department of Mississippi)

                         SECTION 702--POLITICS.

    Amend Section 702, National By-Laws, by deleting in its 
entirety the last paragraph. (Disapproved)

B-29 (Proposed by Department of New Mexico)

                 SECTION 714--CONTROL OF MAILING LISTS.

    Amend Section 714, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``The names and address of the members of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States shall be considered 
confidential and shall not be made available for commercial or 
political use.
    Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting 
the VFW, its National Organization or any subordinate Unit from 
soliciting or authorizing solicitation of its membership to 
benefit the purposes of the organization or soliciting its 
membership in support of the activities of a political action 
committee duly authorized and organized by the VFW.
    Mailing lists provided by the National Headquarters of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States for the use of 
subordinate units in contacting VFW members, shall contain the 
name, and current mailing address of all members of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, including 
members-at-large as set forth in By-Laws' Article I, Section 
102, Members-At-Large, having a mailing address within the 
boundaries of the State, Territory, Foreign Possession or 
Country, making up such Department, and shall remain under the 
control of the Commander-in-Chief and shall be used only for 
such purposes as he may authorize.'' (Disapproved)

B-30 (Proposed by Department of Colorado)

                 SECTION 714--CONTROL OF MAILING LISTS.

    Amend Section 714, National By-Laws, by deleting all 
therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
    ``The names and address of the members of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States shall be considered 
confidential and shall not be made available for commercial or 
political use.
    Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting 
the VFW, its National Organization or any subordinate Unit from 
soliciting or authorizing solicitation of its membership in 
support of the activities of a Political Action Committee duly 
authorized and organized by the VFW.
    Mailing lists provided by the National Headquarters of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States for the use of 
subordinate units in contacting VFW members, shall contain the 
name, and current mailing address of all members of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, including 
members-at-large as set forth in By-Laws' Article I, Section 
102, Members-At-Large, having a mailing address within the 
boundaries of the State, Territory, Foreign Possession or 
Country, making up such Department, and shall remain under the 
control of the Commander-in-Chief and shall be used only for 
such purposes as he may authorize.'' (Disapproved)

B-31 (Proposed by Department of Colorado)

                     ARTICLE IX--DISCIPLINE.

    Amend Article IX--Discipline, National By-Laws, by adding 
as a new section the following:
    ``Section 908--Limitation of Actions--two years.
    An action initiated accusing any member of committing an 
offense as set forth in Section 902 shall be commenced within 
two years after the cause of action accrues, and not 
thereafter.'' (Disapproved)

B-32 (Proposed by Department of Alabama)

                       SECTION 1301--AMENDMENTS.

    Amend Section 1301, National By-Laws, by deleting the 
words, ``fifteen days'' in the first paragraph and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following: 
     ``thirty-five days'' (Disapproved)

             PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE MANUAL OF PROCEDURE

M-1 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

                  SECTION 209--CONSOLIDATION OF POSTS.

    Amend Section 209, Manual of Procedure, by deleting the 
second paragraph in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof 
the following:
    ``If such consolidation be so approved, the name, number 
and location to be assigned the consolidating Posts, must be 
approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members of any and 
all the Posts consolidating present at a meeting called for 
such purpose, after at least two (2) weeks notice in writing 
has been given to all the members of the Posts concerned of 
such meeting and purpose. Such facts shall be certified to the 
Department Commander. The Department Commander shall forward 
such certification to the Commander-in-Chief, who shall issue 
without charge a Certificate of Charter reciting the facts of 
such consolidation. The Certificate of Charter shall rank from 
the date of the senior Post's charter.'' (Approved)

M-2 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)

      SECTION 517--OFFICERS AND CHAIRMEN, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS.

    Amend Section 517 (a) (4) f 1, Manual of Procedure, by 
deleting all after the words, ``Commander-in-Chief ,''. 
(Approved)

M-3 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)

      SECTION 517--OFFICERS AND CHAIRMEN, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS.

    Amend Section 517 (a) (4) f 3, Manual of Procedure, by 
deleting the words, ``the Adjutant General and to''. (Approved)

M-4 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)

      SECTION 517--OFFICERS AND CHAIRMEN, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS.

    Amend Section 517 (a) (4) j, Manual of Procedure, by 
deleting the last sentence in its entirety. (Approved)

M-5 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)

      SECTION 517--OFFICERS AND CHAIRMEN, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS.

    Amend Section 517 (a) (9) a, Manual of Procedure, by 
deleting the words, ``Adjutant General, the'', in the first 
sentence of the second paragraph. (Disapproved)

M-6 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)

                         ARTICLE V--DEPARTMENTS

    Amend Article V, Manual of Procedure, by adding as a new 
Section the following:

           ``SECTION 522--CONFERENCES (DIVISIONAL SOCIETIES).

    (a) Formation, Chartering.
    For certain limited purposes, Departments may be organized 
into Conferences which shall have authority to act only in 
furtherance of those purposes. Unlike Posts and Departments, a 
Conference is not an organization of members, but an 
organization of the Departments making up the Conference. Each 
Department retains all of its power and authority and the 
corresponding duties and obligations, except to the limited 
extent that a Conference may act as provided in the By-Laws and 
Manual of Procedure.
    (b) Governing Body; Composition.
    (c) By-Laws.
    A Conference may adopt or amend By-Laws at an Annual 
Conference Meeting. Copies of By-Laws, including amendments, 
adopted by a Conference shall be forwarded to the Commander-in-
Chief. No By-Laws or amendments adopted by a Conference shall 
become effective until reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief or 
his designee for compliance with the Congressional Charter, By-
Laws, Manual of Procedure, Ritual or laws and usages of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
    For purposes of determining the two-thirds (2/3) vote 
necessary to adopt or amend Conference By-Laws, Department 
voting shall be governed by unit rule, notwithstanding other 
provisions in Conference By-Laws.
    (d) Conference Meetings; Quorum; Authorized Attendees; 
Caucuses.
    In the event Conference By-Laws provide for special 
meetings, the By-Laws shall also provide for notice in writing 
to Departments of the time and place of such meeting and the 
business to be transacted, such notice to be given in 
sufficient time to afford a reasonable opportunity for 
attendance. No business shall be transacted at any special 
meeting except that for which the meeting was called.
    (e) Surrender or Forfeiture of Charter.
    (f) Suspension and Revocation of Charter.
    (g) Conference Dues.
    (h) Solicitation; Fund-raising.
    With respect to fund-raising activities incident to the 
conduct of Conference Meetings, such activities may only be 
undertaken with a prior vote of a Conference Meeting. The 
Conference shall assure that solicitations, activities and 
projects do not violate any applicable governmental law, 
ordinance or regulation nor bring or tend to bring opprobrium 
or embarrassment upon the Conference, the Departments organized 
into it or the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. 
The name, seals, badges and emblems of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States shall not be used in connection with 
any solicitations, activities or projects not in compliance 
with the foregoing.
    Fund-raising organizations or individuals conducting 
solicitations, activities or projects for a profit incident to 
a Conference Meeting shall not be engaged or used by a 
Conference for such purpose unless pursuant to a written 
agreement.
    (i) Eligibility to Office.
    (j) Elected and Appointed Officers; Chairmen and 
Committees.
    (k) Nomination, Election, Installation and Term of Office.
    Conference officers shall be nominated and elected by 
ballot or roll call at the annual Conference Meeting in a 
manner which shall be prescribed in Conference By-Laws.
    Conference officers shall be installed before adjournment 
of the annual Conference Meeting. The installation shall be 
conducted by a member in good standing. The Conference Chairman 
shall select the installing officer.
    (l) Officers and Chairmen, Duties and Obligations.
    (1) Duties of Conference Chairman. Among the duties of a 
Conference Chairman, he shall:
    a. Preside at all meetings of the Conference, conducting 
such meetings in accordance with Article X of the By-Laws and 
Manual of Procedure and other applicable parliamentary 
procedures.
    b. Enforce strict observance of the laws and usages of this 
organization, including Conference By-Laws and the 
Congressional Charter, National By-Laws, Ritual and Manual of 
Procedure and all lawful orders from proper authorities.
    c. Insist that Conference business and activities are 
conducted in such a manner that they do not violate any 
applicable governmental law, ordinance or regulation nor bring 
or tend to bring opprobrium of embarrassment on the Conference 
or the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
    d. Decide all questions of law and usage governing the 
activities of the Conference, subject to an appeal pursuant to 
these By-Laws.
    e. Approve all expenditure vouchers for Conference funds 
drawn upon the Treasurer, before the same shall be paid, and 
countersign all checks for the disbursement of Conference 
funds, unless Conference By-Laws otherwise provide.
    f. Assure that the office of Conference Treasurer is bonded 
according to Section 703 of these By-Laws. The bond premium 
shall be paid from the funds of the Conference.
    g. Assure that all reports are correctly prepared and that 
all the business of the Conference is handled with dispatch.
    h. Enforce Conference and National Convention mandates and 
perform all other duties required of him by the Conference and 
Conference By-Laws, the National Convention and the National 
By-Laws, Ritual and Manual of Procedure and the laws and usages 
of the organization or orders from proper authority.
    Failure without just cause to perform these duties may 
result in removal from office.
    (2) Duty of Conference Vice Chairmen. The Conference Vice 
Chairmen shall assist the Conference Chairman in preserving 
order, preside in the absence of the Conference Chairman, 
provide such advice and assistance as may be required and 
perform such other duties as are usually incident to such 
office or may from time to time be required by the laws and 
usages of the organization or lawful orders from proper 
authority.
    (3) Duty of Conference Treasurer. Among the duties of a 
Conference Treasurer, he shall:
    a. Receipt and Custody of Funds and Other Property. Receive 
and properly account for all monies due and payable to the 
Conference, as the By-Laws provide, and give an official 
written receipt for all monies, other than checks, received by 
him. He shall be the official accountable officer of the 
Conference and the Treasurer of all Committees of the 
Conference handling funds and in his care shall be placed all 
securities, funds and accountable property of the Conference.
    b. Disbursement of Funds. Expend Conference funds only upon 
proper authorization of the Conference or in accordance with 
Conference By-Laws.
    c. Checks Countersigned. All checks for the expenditure of 
Conference funds shall be numbered in sequence, and in addition 
to the signature of the Treasurer, shall be countersigned by 
the Conference Chairman, unless otherwise provided in 
Conference By-Laws.
    d. Bond. Give good and sufficient security, in accordance 
with Section 703 and in an amount established in Conference By-
Laws for the faithful discharge of his duties, the cost of 
which shall be paid from Conference funds.
    e. Reports--Financial. Immediately following the close of 
the fiscal year, prepare in detail a final statement of all 
monies received and expended during the year, together with 
cash balances at the beginning and end of the year, a statement 
of funds and cash and bank balances, and a statement as to the 
financial worth of the Conference.
    f. Transfer of Records and Funds. He shall transfer to his 
successor in office, without delay, all books, records, papers, 
monies and other property of the Conference in his possession 
or under his control.
    g. General. Comply with, and perform all other duties 
required of him by the Conference, Conference By-Laws, 
Conference Chairman, National Convention and the National By-
Laws, Ritual and Manual of Procedure, the laws and usages of 
the organization and lawful orders from proper authority and 
perform such other duties as may be incident to his office.
    (4) Duty of Conference Secretary. Among the duties of a 
Conference Secretary, he shall:
    a. Correspondence. Be the official corresponding officer 
for the Conference. He shall attest to all official 
communications and reports with his signature and the seal of 
the Conference.
    b. Files. Maintain complete files for the following:
    1. Correspondence.
    2. Copies of the Proof of Eligibility submitted by officers 
pursuant to Section 522j.
    3. Such other files as may be directed by the Conference.
    c. Minutes. Assure that a complete record is made of the 
minutes of all meetings of the Conference and preserve and 
distribute copies of same as directed. He shall call the roll 
or, under his supervision, cause the same to be called at all 
official meetings and shall read to the body assembled, or 
cause to be read under his supervision, all official 
communications, resolutions, or other information pertinent to 
the meeting and consistent with the records of his office.
    d. Reports. As directed by the Conference Chairman or 
Conference Meeting, compile and render such reports and data as 
is consistent with the general duties of his office, insofar as 
his records will permit.
    e. Transfer of Records. He shall transfer to his successor 
in office, without delay, all books, records, papers and other 
property of the Conference in his possession or under his 
control.
    f. General. Comply with, and perform all other duties 
required of him by the Conference, Conference By-Laws, 
Conference Chairman, National Convention and the National By-
Laws, Ritual and Manual of Procedure, the laws and usages of 
the organization and lawful orders from proper authority and 
perform such other duties as may be incident to his office.
    (5) Duty of Conference Chaplain. The Conference Chaplain 
shall, during the Conference Meeting, see that fitting tribute 
is paid to our departed comrades. He shall perform such other 
duties as may be usually incident to his office or as may from 
time to time be required of him by the laws and usages of the 
organization or lawful orders from proper authority.
    (m) Vacancies and Removal of Elective Officers.
    (n) Voting.
    (o) Incorporation of Provisions Applicable to Departments.
    (p) Miscellaneous Provisions.
    (q) Candidates for National Office.
    Candidates for National Office shall not campaign outside 
their Conference before August 1 of the year preceding the 
election. Travel outside the candidates home conference for 
campaign purposes, by the candidate or others representing the 
candidate or acting on his behalf, shall be limited to regular 
meetings of the various Conferences, Department Conventions and 
the National Convention. (Disapproved)

M-7 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

    SECTION 708--Incorporation of Units--Permission to Incorporate.

    Amend Section 708, Manual of Procedure, by deleting the 
word ``Constitution'' in the first paragraph and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following, ``Congressional Charter''. 
(Approved)

M-8 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)

   SECTION 1101--FORMATION, CONTROL, AND DISBANDMENT OF AUXILIARIES.

    Amend Section 1101 (f) (1), Manual of Procedure, by 
deleting the third (3) paragraph in its entirety and inserting 
in lieu thereof the following:
    ``Budget. No less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting 
of the National Council of Administration of the Ladies 
Auxiliary at which the annual budget is adopted, the National 
Treasurer shall submit a proposed budget to the National 
President and each member of the National Council of 
Administration of the Ladies Auxiliary. Immediately following 
the adoption of the annual budget by the National Council of 
Administration of the Ladies Auxiliary, she shall submit a copy 
of the approved budget to the Commander-in-Chief.'' (Approved)

M-9 (Proposed by Department of Nebraska)

                       SECTION 101--ELIGIBILITY.

    Amend Section 101, Manual of Procedure, by adding at the 
end of the ``Eligibility Guide'' the following:
    ``Merchant Marines of the United States       7 Dec  1941 
     Service beyond the United States of America  2 Mar  1946 
     (territorial limits for 30 consecutive days or 
     60 nonconsecutive days).'' (Disapproved)

M-10 (Proposed by Departments of Nebraska and Wyoming)

                       SECTION 101--ELIGIBILITY.

    Amend Section 101, Manual of Procedure, by adding at the 
end of the ``Eligibility Guide'' the following:
     ``Merchant Marines of the United States      8 Sept   1939 
     Service beyond the United States of America 27 July   1954 
     (territorial limits for 30 consecutive days or 
     60 nonconsecutive days).'' (Disapproved)

M-11 (Proposed by Department of Connecticut)

                       SECTION 101--ELIGIBILITY.

    Amend Section 101, Manual of Procedure, by adding at the 
end of the section, a new eligibility category as follows:
     ``National Defense--              27 June 1950 
     Service Medal                     to a date to be 
     (30 consecutive days or           determined 
     60 days not consecutive duty 
     outside the continental 
     limits of the United States).'' (Disapproved)

M-12 (Proposed by Departments of Colorado and New Mexico)

                 SECTION 714--CONTROL OF MAILING LISTS.

    Amend Section 714, Manual of Procedure, by deleting the 
second paragraph in its entirety. (Disapproved)

M-13 (Proposed by Department of Minnesota)

 SECTION 803--MANUFACTURE AND USE OF SEALS, EMBLEMS, BADGES, INSIGNIA 
                             AND UNIFORMS.

    Amend Section 803, Manual of Procedure, by inserting the 
following at the end of the last paragraph of sub-heading 
``Optional Uniforms and Headgear'':
    ``That if organizational emblems are worn on VFW Color 
Guard Headgear, one of them must be the Cross of Malta.'' 
(Approved)

                   PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE RITUAL

R-1 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``ORDER OF BUSINESS (Post)'' on 
page 16, paragraph 2, by deleting the word ``government'' in 
the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof the word 
``constitution''. Disapproved)

R-2 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. Proposed 
by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTITUTING NEW POST'', sub-
heading Officers'' Obligation on page 46, by deleting the word 
``Constitution,'' in the third line. (Approved)

R-3 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF POST 
OFFICERS'', sub-heading Officers'' Obligation on page 50, by 
deleting the word ``Constitution,'' in the first sentence of 
paragraph 1. (Approved)

R-4 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF POST 
OFFICERS'' on page 51, sixth (6) paragraph by deleting the 
words ``Constitution, Ritual and the By-Laws'' and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following ``By-Laws and Ritual''. (Approved)

R-5 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 
(National and Department)'', sub-heading Officers'' Obligation 
on page 60, by deleting the word, ``Constitution,''. (Approved)

R-6 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 
(National and Department)'' on page 61, by deleting the 
following in the first line of the first paragraph, 
``Constitution, Ritual and the By-Laws'' and inserting in lieu 
thereof the words, ``By-Laws and Ritual''. (Approved)

R-7 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 
(National and Department)'' on page 61, by deleting the word 
``Constitution,'' in the second sentence of the sixth 
paragraph. (Approved)

R-8 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 
(National and Department),'' sub-heading Prayer on page 62, by 
deleting the following in the first line ``Constitution'' and 
inserting in lieu thereof the following, ``Congressional 
Charter''. (Approved)

R-9 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 
(National and Department),'' sub-heading Commander-in-Chief's 
Obligation on page 63, by deleting the following in the first 
sentence ``Constitution, Ritual and By-Laws'' and inserting in 
lieu thereof the words, ``By-Laws and Ritual''. (Approved)

R-10 (Recommended by National By-Laws Review Committee. 
Proposed by Commander-in-Chief)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS 
(National and Department),''sub-heading Prayer on page 63, by 
deleting the word ``Constitution,'' in the first line. 
(Approved)

R-11 (Proposed by Department of Ohio)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the heading ``Special Prayers'' on page 4 
by adding at the end of the section on page 8 the following:

          ``A Prayer for Our Founding Fathers

    Almighty Father, as we honor the founding fathers of our 
beloved Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of 
America, we wish to recall their motives.
    As dedicated citizens of our Great Republic, they answered 
the call to duty for the preservation of our national 
existence, to maintain our sovereignty and guarantee our 
continued general welfare and by this new refined dedication, 
showed how much they valued the United States of America.
    This new dedication showed how much they cared for their 
comrade buddies, their home and the people back home.
    You know, Oh Lord, Heavenly Father, with the blessings and 
happiness they deserve, grant that ``One Nation Under God'': 
may continue to prosper now and for the future ages.
    God Bless the Veterans.
    Amen.'' (Disapproved)

R-12 (Proposed by Department of Illinois)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States under the sub-caption ``Chaplain'' on page 17, by 
deleting the word ``departed'' in the first line of the prayer. 
(Approved)

R-13 (Proposed by Department of Kentucky)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars by 
inserting after PLATE 6 on page 80 the following: PLATE 6A 





(Disapproved)

R-14 (Proposed by Department of Kentucky)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars by 
deleting PLATE 7 on page 81 and inserting in lieu thereof the 
following: PLATE 7 





(Disapproved)

R-15 (Proposed by Department of Kentucky)
    Amend the Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars by 
deleting PLATE 8 on page 84 and inserting in lieu thereof the 
following: PLATE 8 





(Disapproved)


       RESOLUTIONS CONSIDERED BY COMMITTEE ON GENERAL RESOLUTIONS

No. 201 (Submitted by Department of Connecticut)

                      NO AGE LIMIT FOR SONS OF VFW

(Disapproved)

No. 202 (Submitted by Department of Iowa)

           IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

(Disapproved)

No. 203 (Submitted by Department of Pacific Areas)

  URGE ELIMINATION OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP FOR LADIES AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP

(Disapproved)

No. 204 (Submitted by Department of Colorado)

           PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY FOR NATIONAL MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the National Organization require recruited 
members-at-large to provide documented proof of eligibility; 
exactly as required by individual posts. (Approved)

No. 205 (Submitted by Departments of Connecticut and Nebraska)

          AMEND CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER, SECTION 5-- MEMBERSHIP

(Disapproved)

No. 206 (Submitted by Departments of Nebraska and Wyoming

        CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER AMENDMENT, SECTION 5-- MEMBERSHIP

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, petition Congress to amend their Congressional 
Charter to allow membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States, if they served thirty (30) consecutive days 
or sixty (60) non consecutive days out of the continental 
limits of the United States of America and have been issued 
discharges or DD 214 forms with proof of such service be 
allowed to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Congressional Charter, Section 
5-- Membership be amended to read:

                        (CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER)
                                 AN ACT
                         SECTION 5-- MEMBERSHIP

A person may not be a member of the corporation created by this 
Act unless that person--
        (1)served honorably as a member of the Armed Forces of 
        the United States in a foreign war, insurrection, or 
        expedition, which service has been recognized as 
        campaign-medal service and is governed by the 
        authorization of the award of a campaign badge by the 
        government of the United States; or
        (2)while a member of the Armed Forces of the United 
        States, served honorably on the Korean peninsula or in 
        its territorial waters for not less than 30 consecutive 
        days, or a total of 60 days, after June 30, 1949;
        (3)while a member serving in the Merchant Marines of 
        the United States who served honorably beyond the 
        United States territorial limits for 30 consecutive 
        days or 60 non consecutive days with honorable 
        discharges or DD 214 forms, from 7 December 1941 to 2 
        March 1946. (Approved)

No. 207 (Submitted by Department of Illinois)

         RESERVE ONE PAGE OF VFW MAGAZINE FOR VFW NATIONAL HOME

(Disapproved)

No. 208 (Submitted by Department of Texas)

                    NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL TOWER

(Disapproved)

No. 209 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

            SUBTRACT DECEASED FROM 100% MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

(Disapproved)

No. 210 (Submitted by Department of California)

                    PROHIBIT POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS

(Disapproved)

No. 211 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

               CONTINUATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

(Disapproved)

No. 301 (Submitted by Department of Colorado)

                              TERM LIMITS

(Disapproved)

No. 302 (Submitted by Department of Georgia)

           NAME LAKE CITY, FLORIDA VA HOSPITAL COLIN P. KELLY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we respectfully request that the Veterans 
Administration Hospital, located at Lake City, Florida be named 
in honor of the late Colin P. Kelly. (Approved)

No. 303 (Submitted by Department of Nebraska)

     MANDATE ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we reaffirm mandates of previous 
conventions to seek legislation mandating English as the 
official language of the United States; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we seek legislation to: 1) 
limit bilingual education to short term transitional programs 
only; and 2) effect a speedy return to voting ballots in 
English only; and 3) make more opportunities available to 
immigrants for learning and maintaining the English language a 
condition for naturalization; and 4) enact legal protections 
for the English language, at state and national levels through 
the designation of English as our official language. (Approved)

No. 304 (Submitted by Department of Nebraska)

       REQUEST FOR CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF THE FEDERAL FLAG CODE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we call upon our representatives in the 
Congress of the United States to have a complete review of the 
existing Federal Flag Code so that we secure consistent respect 
for the flag of the United States of America. (Approved)

No. 305 (Submitted by Department of Nebraska)

                            FLAG DESECRATION

(Disapproved)

No. 306 (Submitted by Department of Missouri)

        ENDORSE RESTORATION OF THE KANSAS CITY LIBERTY MEMORIAL

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we go on record as being supportive of the 
restoration, expansion, and continued operations of the World 
War I, Liberty Memorial, at Kansas City, Missouri. (Approved)

No. 307 (Submitted by Department of Wisconsin)

       MAKE OUR NATIONAL FLAG A NATIONAL MONUMENT WHEREVER FLOWN

(Disapproved)

No. 308 (Submitted by Department of Wisconsin)

 PROTECTION OF DESECRATION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Disapproved)

No. 309 (Submitted by Department of New Jersey)

AWARD THE MANUFACTURING OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR TO ANOTHER 
                                COMPANY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, to urge President Clinton and Congress to 
reverse a Pentagon decision to continue doing business with 
this company; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this contract be awarded to 
another company whose integrity is above reproach. (Approved)

No. 310 (Submitted by Department of New York)

           ERECT MEMORIAL ON TINIAN ISLAND (MARIANNA ISLANDS)

(Disapproved)

No. 311 (Submitted by Department of California)

                 ISSUANCE OF UNITED STATES POSTAL STAMP

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the United States Postal Service to 
issue a stamp featuring the likeness of Audie L. Murphy 
thereon, in commemoration of his heroic deeds and service to 
the United States of America. (Approved)

No. 312 (Submitted by Department of Florida)

       CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO FUND VETERANS EARNED ENTITLEMENTS

(Disapproved)

No. 313 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

   AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF THE ATOMIC BOMB STAMP OF AUGUST 6, 1945

(Approved)

No. 314 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                      OPPOSE SALE OF PERSHING HALL

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we oppose any change in present regulations 
covering this property that would permit its outright sale, and 
therefore violate the original purpose of the acquisition of 
the property, including its original objective, that of a 
memorial. (Approved)

No. 315 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 COMMEMORATIVE STAMP RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPANISH-
                          AMERICAN WAR OF 1898

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we petition the Citizens' Stamp Advisory 
Committee in support of any existing efforts to create a 
commemorative stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of the 
Spanish-American War.
(Approved)

No. 316 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                     WORLD WAR II NATIONAL MEMORIAL

    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States strongly and enthusiastically support the WWII 
memorial site location between the Washington Monument and the 
Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall referred to as the 
Rainbow Pool site; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we encourage swift approval of a 
revised design concept so that the memorial can be dedicated 
early in the next century. (Approved)

No. 317 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE USS MAINE MEMORIAL IN KEY 
              WEST, FLORIDA, BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States that we go on record as being supportive of the 
continued maintenance of the USS Maine Memorial in Key Largo, 
Florida, by the Department of the U. S. Navy. (Approved)

No. 401 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                   SUPPORT PUBLIC AWARENESS PROJECTS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the National Organization will:
    (a) ensure routine distribution to the field of pertinent, 
credible and responsible information on a routine basis and, as 
requested, to provide such information about other POW/MIA 
organizations as may be needed by the Departments;
    (b) encourage participation in the program by veterans 
groups of other friendly nations such as our NATO and Far 
Eastern allies;
    (c) encourage exchange of information among State POW/MIA 
Chairmen, to include publishing up-to-date lists of POW/MIA 
Chairmen; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that each Department exercise 
maximum initiative to maintain the vitality and thrust of the 
POW/MIA program at Department levels by encouraging such 
actions as:
    (a) display of the black POW/MIA flag, subordinate to the 
U.S. Flag, at any function at which it is proper to fly the 
U.S. Flag;
    (b) encourage support of information exchange at Post 
levels;
    (c) appoint an interested member at the Post level to act 
as the POW/MIA project officer; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Organization of 
the VFW supports the annually announced POW/MIA Recognition 
Day. (Approved)

No. 402 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

       SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO RESOLVE THE KOREAN WAR POW/MIA ISSUE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the VFW is encouraged by the recent U.S.-
North Korean Joint Operation to resolve the status of Americans 
still unaccounted for in Korea; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that with renewed vigor, the VFW 
urge the U.S. and Republic of Korea governments to increase 
their contact with the North Korean and Chinese governments, to 
pursue and expand the current joint effort to include the live 
POW issue and thus seek new opportunities to resolve this 
humanitarian issue as soon as possible; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the VFW, in keeping with 
United States laws and in consultation with the Korean and U.S. 
governments, continue its active efforts to resolve the issue 
of Korean War POW/MIAs. (Approved as Amended)

No. 403 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

       VFW SUPPORTS KUWAIT'S DEMAND FOR AN ACCOUNTING OF ITS MIAS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign of the United 
States, that we strongly urge the United Nations, the United 
States Government and other governments to take such action as 
necessary either unilaterally, through our allies, or the 
United Nations, that will force Iraq to account for those 
Kuwaiti citizens still missing. (Approved)

No. 404 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                      THE LESSONS OF THE COLD WAR

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the lessons of the Cold and Gulf Wars 
taught us that our peace, our freedom and our security can best 
be achieved by remaining united in common purpose with our many 
allies and friends whereby we share both the danger and 
security burden and by maintaining a national defense which in 
combination with our allies and friends, is equal to those 
continuing threats; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in contrast to the Korean and 
Vietnamese Wars, the lessons of the Gulf War are apparent: to 
ensure victory in future wars, the United States, led by 
resolute leadership and backed by unwavering public support, 
should quickly and decisively engage the full range of its 
military power until the threat to our security is eliminated. 
(Approved)

No. 405 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

       LIMIT FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF U.S. BUSINESSES AND PROPERTIES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress to enact legislation 
to limit foreign ownership of United States corporations, 
companies, businesses and property and industrial technologies 
and/or processes which could become vital or sensitive to the 
national defense of the U.S. and which will protect the economy 
of the United States. (Approved)

No. 406 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                 TAKE ACTION ON THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the President and the Congress in 
the strongest terms to heed these ominous warnings and focus 
their attention on the immigration problem; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we petition the President and 
the Congress to expand and strengthen the Customs and 
Immigration services and the U.S. Coast Guard, and enact such 
emergency measures as necessary to prevent smuggling of illegal 
aliens and stop, detain and deport potential terrorists or 
those with ties to terrorist groups; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, as appropriate and when well 
trained and supervised, military resources be employed to 
assist in stopping the flow of illegal aliens into the country. 
(Approved as Amended)

No. 407 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                     TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR CASTRO

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the U.S. Government to continue its 
present policy of no trade with Communist Cuba and no 
diplomatic recognition of that communist state and to increase 
the economic and political pressure on Castro; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the U.S. Government to 
use all measures, short of violence and/or invasion, to 
increase the pressure on Castro in conjunction with his 
isolation, to hasten the time until Castro's dictatorship is 
overthrown and Cuba can regain its freedom. (Approved)

No. 408 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                         PUNISH TERRORISTS NOW

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we continue to urge that the U.S. should 
take decisive action against all terrorists and bring to 
justice those responsible and to serve as a warning that all 
terrorists--no matter what country gives them refuge--will be 
hunted down and brought to justice; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we continue to urge decisive 
action in the war on terrorism by:
    (a) remaining on the offensive against terrorists rather 
than passively remaining on the defense;
    (b) instituting and pressing our allies to support a 
quarantine on those ``outlaw countries'' guilty of inciting, 
harboring or aiding and abetting terrorists;
    (c) holding all countries accountable for the security of 
American citizens traveling within their borders; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Congress should authorize 
and the President should declare a quarantine against the 
outlaw Qadhaffi regime of Libya and other terrorist states 
found to support and harbor terrorists; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that our civilian leaders and 
military commanders should take all necessary steps to ensure 
U.S. servicemen and women stationed abroad are adequately 
protected against the threat of terrorist attacks and that both 
foreign governments and U.S. authorities be held accountable 
for such lapses in security that endanger the lives of our 
servicemen and women. (Approved as Amended)

No. 409 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

               STRATEGIC DEFENSE IS A STRATEGIC PRIORITY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support both a deployable theater 
missile defense and a strategic missile defense before the end 
of this century as a priority defense requirement. (Approved)

No. 410 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                        HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the VFW calls on all elected and appointed 
officials to publicly recognize the major contributions and 
sacrifices made by those in military service; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that our elected and appointed 
officials acknowledge the professionalism of our servicemen and 
women by ending the erosion of entitlements and expanding the 
benefits of service and by so doing, show that this nation 
cares for those who have served and sacrificed. (Approved)

No. 411 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 OPPOSE LIFTING THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT BAN ON HOMOSEXUALS IN THE ARMED 
                                 FORCES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we unequivocally oppose the efforts of the 
President and homosexual organizations to force the military 
services to accept and/or retain homosexuals and urge that this 
matter be taken before the Supreme Court to seek final judicial 
reaffirmation of the homosexual exclusion policy; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the aforementioned Code should 
be rewritten in an effort to dismiss any possible question of 
the denial of civil rights based on moral, religious or ethical 
behavior, as it is not the intent to inflict that upon said 
persons, rather a just concern for the good order, discipline, 
stability and readiness of our Armed Forces and its operations. 
(Approved)

No. 412 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                 MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE U.S. COAST GUARD

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress and the Administration 
to provide the funding necessary for the Coast Guard to carry 
out its numerous duties, including but not limited to, drug 
interdiction and enforcement, military readiness, pollution 
control, maritime safety, search and rescue missions as well as 
their many other duties and missions. (Approved)

No. 413 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                STANDING FIRM FOR DEMOCRACY AND LIBERTY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we will always stand firm for liberty, and 
in furtherance of the ideals of liberty and democracy, we 
support a foreign policy that nourishes the newly won liberties 
in Europe and elsewhere, and we maintain our military strength 
against both the possibility of the reversal of Europe's 
liberties and the threats to other important regions of the 
world. (Approved as Amended)

No. 414 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

              NATIONAL STRATEGY OF PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we continue to support a national strategy 
of peace through strength, the general principles of which 
should be:
    (a) maintaining a strong economy at home and protecting our 
overseas resources of energy and vital raw materials;
    (b) maintaining an American military presence in Europe and 
Asia to stabilize the military balance in these regions and 
help our friends and allies to defend themselves from 
aggression;
    (c) maintaining such strategic, nuclear and conventional 
military forces (including Active, Reserve and National Guard 
components) trained and equipped with such high technology 
weapons and equipment and with sufficient bases and 
infrastructure which in the judgment of our military leaders 
are more than equal to the current threats and adequate to meet 
our current defense requirements;
    (d) helping formerly communist controlled countries in 
their process of converting to freely elected democratic 
governments;
    (e) maintaining effective security and intelligence 
capabilities to prevent strategic surprise from any quarter; 
and
    (f) employing the leadership necessary to inspire, focus 
and unite the national will and international unity to further 
our goal of peace and freedom. (Approved)

No. 415 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

               HALT THE EROSION OF INTELLIGENCE SERVICES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we reject deep reductions in our national 
intelligence agencies, instead supporting appropriate expansion 
and funding to ensure that we will have adequate warnings of 
future political, military, economic or technological changes 
that would increase the risks to our national security and 
vital national interests abroad and that Congress appropriate 
necessary funds to strengthen the intelligence services. 
(Approved)

No. 416 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                   SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Government of the United States 
to increase its military aid and assistance to the Republic of 
Korea by providing modern state of the art weapons and 
technology to safeguard her freedom, and promote the security 
in the Pacific and Asian regions; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the United States, in concert 
with its allies, bring pressure to bear on North Korea to 
comply with the nuclear safeguard accord of the International 
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to be a responsible country in the 
community of nations and to come to the table for peaceful 
dialogue directly between the South and North. (Approved as 
Amended)

No. 417 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

           SUPPORT THE WITHDRAWAL FROM THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that to prevent further endangerment to our 
troops, we support the view that unless unforeseen 
circumstances arise, the U.S. forces assigned to Operation 
Joint Guard should be gradually withdrawn from the former 
Yugoslavia while transferring remaining responsibilities to 
other NATO members. (Approved as Amended)

No. 418 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

       ASSIST VIETNAM'S RECOVERY OF MIAS AS A SIGN OF GOOD FAITH

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that at each level of the VFW--National, 
Department, District, County Council, Post--strenuous efforts 
be made to collect any information which might be of value in 
determining the fate of Vietnam's 300,000 MIAs and of 
assistance in the recovery of their remains; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge all levels of the VFW 
to solicit all Vietnam veteran members (and non-members) for 
any information or material that could be used to determine the 
fate of Vietnamese MIAs and their graves. Such information and 
material include battlefield souvenirs especially if they 
contain names or other identifying information; personal 
effects such as photos, letters, identification documents, 
taken from casualties; sketch maps, photos, overlays (annotated 
with dates and locations if possible) which would be of help in 
identifying Vietnamese grave sites; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that VFW National Headquarters 
publicize this effort and provide Departments with materials 
which might be used in further publicizing our efforts and that 
the VFW Washington Office act as the collecting point and 
repository of all such information obtained from our members 
and the public at large; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that on subsequent trips to the 
region by VFW National Officers, such information be turned 
over to Vietnamese authorities as an expression of our desire 
to assist them in recovering their MIAs and to encourage their 
greater effort in helping us reach the fullest possible 
accounting of our MIAs. (Approved)

No. 419 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

               OPPOSE U. S. FORCES UNDER FOREIGN COMMAND

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we oppose any plan or directive placing 
U.S. military forces under the command of foreign military 
officers including those who are operating exclusively under 
orders from the United Nations; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Congress be urged to examine 
Presidential Decision Directive 25 to determine if any 
Constitutional authority has been misused, and if so, to find 
an appropriate remedy. (Approved)

No. 420 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

              SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that while recognizing the settlement of the 
legitimacy question remains an issue between the two countries 
we support and urge the admission of the Republic of China on 
Taiwan to the United Nations and other international bodies so 
that those agencies can be useful in fostering a spirit of 
cooperation and assisting the resolution of the legitimacy 
question; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the President and the 
Congress of the United States to adhere strictly to the 
concepts of the Taiwan Relations Act by approving the sale to 
the Republic of China on Taiwan such state of the art military 
equipment, weapons and technology to include the previously 
approved sale of F-16 aircraft to the Republic of China on 
Taiwan as may be necessary to maintain adequate defense 
capabilities to provide for military balance and stability in 
the area; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the United States 
Government to employ the full range of its economic, diplomatic 
and military influence if it is necessary to contain the 
overtly aggressive posture of the Peoples Republic of China and 
to use this influence to further the peaceful settlement of 
remaining disputes. (Approved as Amended)

No. 421 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

        AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO STUDY WOMEN IN THE MILITARY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we go on record as opposing assignment of 
women within the Armed Forces to jobs that call for them to 
aggressively seek out, close with and kill or capture enemy 
forces; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Congress to 
establish an independent commission to examine all facets of 
the security, training, assignments and role of women in the 
military and to withhold approval of any further personnel 
changes until the commission has had time to make its 
recommendations. (Approved)

No. 422 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                      RETAIN THE SELECTIVE SERVICE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the VFW goes on record as supporting the 
ongoing existence of the Selective Service System in its stand-
by status and urges the United States Congress to provide the 
funds necessary to retain the Selective Service System. 
(Approved)

No. 423 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                   MONITOR THE PANAMA CANAL CAREFULLY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign of the United 
States, that we urge the President and the Congress to closely 
monitor conditions in the Republic of Panama, to be prepared to 
take whatever steps are necessary to protect the Canal and to 
ensure continued freedom of passage, and to carefully reexamine 
the conditions of Panama and the region before the scheduled 
turnover with a view to balancing the views, concerns and 
interests of Panama, its neighbors and the United States. 
(Approved)

No. 424 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

         ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN BOSNIA

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we call for award of the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal for service in the following Balkans 
operations (retroactive to June 1, 1992): Provide Comfort (air 
drops over Bosnia and medical teams in Croatia), Deny Flight 
(air missions flown from Italy and carriers in the Adriatic 
Sea), Able Sentry (Macedonia), Sharp Guard/Maritime Monitor 
(enforcement of embargo) and Joint Endeavor (Bosnia) and Joint 
Guard until terminated. (Approved)

No. 425 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

SUPPORT LEGISLATION FOR A SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR ``ATOMIC'' VETERANS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we go on record in support of legislation 
which would award a special service medal for ``Atomic'' 
veterans. (Approved)

No. 426 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                            NATO ENLARGEMENT

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support the enlargement of the NATO 
Alliance and the extension of the United States mutual defense 
commitment to the countries of Poland, Hungary and the Czech 
Republic as it is important to the security of that region, our 
own vital interests in the region as well as world peace; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this enlargement be 
accomplished in a non-threatening manner so as not to force 
other countries into an opposing alliance and that in order to 
project a peaceful image we urge consideration be given to 
adoption of a declared policy that U.S. forces and weapons will 
not be stationed, based or deployed (except for training) in 
the countries of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. 
(Approved as Amended)

No. 427 (Submitted by Department of Kentucky)

                     CONDEMN EL SALVADOR'S ACTIONS

(Disapproved)

No. 428 (Submitted by Department of Vermont)

                KEEPING FAITH WITH THE AMERICAN MILITARY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Department of Defense to 
provide written factual assurances to the Congress, the public 
and our Military that legal protections are in place to bring 
to trial those guilty of murder or assassination of members of 
our military; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Congress of the United States 
and the Administration find an agreeable solution to insure 
that the murderers in El Salvador are brought to trial and 
punished. (Approved as Amended)

No. 429 (Submitted by Department of New York)

                 DE-NORMALIZATION OF TIES WITH VIETNAM

(Disapproved)

No. 430 (Submitted by Department of Texas)

            WITHHOLD AID UNTIL FULL ACCOUNTING OF POW/MIA'S

(Disapproved)

No. 431 (Submitted by Department of Wisconsin)

  RESTORE CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL ON UNITED NATIONS WORLD HERITAGE SITES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress to review this action 
to restore congressional controls and to cancel all United 
Nations controls over territories of the United States, and 
that the Congress shall take immediate actions to restore its 
controls, and that the Congress shall assume its constitutional 
roles, as provided in Article IV, Section 3; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the leadership of the nation 
be reminded that at the cost of nearly 1,000,000 lives 
countless years of debilitated and diminished lives of the 
victims of battle, the missing and orphaned, have all endured 
to insure the freedom and independence of the people and their 
nation for over 220 years. If the need has arises, they are 
there, and as always, they are willing to pay the price again, 
again and again! (Approved as Amended)

No. 432 (Submitted by Department of Virginia)

        AMERICANS WHO ARE PRISONERS OF WAR OR MISSING IN ACTION

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, to urge the President of the United States of 
America and every member of the U.S. Congress to speak out on 
every occasion to expedite the return of those U.S. Servicemen 
who are still Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. (Approved)

No. 433 (Submitted by Department of California)

REQUESTING THE NAMING OF THE NEXT UNITED STATES SHIP (CARRIER) IN HONOR 
                        OF LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we request the United States Navy name the 
next commissioned Nuclear Carrier in honor of Lyndon Baines 
Johnson. (Approved)

No. 434 (Submitted by Department of California)

       BAN MANUFACTURE, SALE AND USE OF DEPLETED URANIUM WEAPONS

(Disapproved)

No. 435 (Submitted by Department of California)

  SUPPORT FOR THE POW/MIA FLAG TO FLY OVER FEDERAL POST OFFICE'S AND 
                           FEDERAL BUILDINGS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we go on record in support of flying the 
POW/MIA flag at post offices and federal buildings. (Approved 
as Amended)

No. 436 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

 REQUIRE ALL EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD CITIZENS TO REGISTER FOR MILITARY DRAFT

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we request the President of the United 
States and the Congress of the United States to support 
legislation that would require all United States citizens, both 
male and female, be required to register for the Military Draft 
upon reaching their 18th birthday. (Approved)

No. 437 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

                MEDAL ISSUANCE WITH COMBAT ACTION RIBBON

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we petition the Secretary of the Navy to 
issue a medal in conjunction with the Combat Action Ribbon, of 
such design as to indicate the arduous conditions under which 
it is earned. (Approved)

No. 438 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

                          HOUSE RESOLUTION 409

(Disapproved)

No. 439 (Submitted by Department of New Jersey)

             POW FLAGS TO BE FLOWN ON ALL FEDERAL BUILDINGS

(Disapproved)

No. 440 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                    OPPOSE A TOTAL BAN ON LAND MINES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States that while sharing concern for the growing 
humanitarian problems of land mines, we stand with our military 
leaders and for the continued security of our troops in 
opposing a total ban on land mines until such time as suitable 
replacement capability is developed and fielded or a 
comprehensive global ban can be completed; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we agree with and support the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff proposal to ban ''dumb'' anti-personnel 
land mines without a self-destruct or deactivation capability 
and recommend it be made the cornerstone of a comprehensive 
global treaty. (Approved)

No. 441 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                 STORAGE FOR FISSILE NUCLEAR MATERIALS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States that we urge the Congress and the President to 
consider legislation that will permit the aforementioned 
American private venture to proceed in order to create an 
American-Russian partnership that will:
    1. permit the monitored storage of spent fuel from all 
nuclear power countries in the world under American aegis at no 
cost to the American taxpayer in an isolated and very benign 
manner on the Island of Wake;
    2. permit the private American venture to complement, not 
compete with ongoing federal government efforts to create a 
permanent storage site in the continental United States;
    3. foreclose reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel as a 
commercial venture thereby stopping the proliferation of 
plutonium and other fissile materials and thus depriving 
international terrorism of a powerful weapon; and
    4. Permit the Russian federal to receive a legitimate 
income from a free enterprise venture that will give it 
necessary, responsible fiscal underpinning at a critical time 
in that nation's democratic process. (Approved)

No. 442 (Submitted by Department of Washington)

 ISSUE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION TO MEMBERS OF U. S. NAVY ARMED GUARD

(Disapproved)

No. 443 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

        OPPOSE DOWNSIZING THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT POW/MIA OFFICE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we believe the downsizing of the Defense 
Department's POW/MIA Office would have the following effects:
    It would slow the momentum of a POW/MIA effort that has 
taken years to develop.
    It would prevent us from taking full advantage of new 
opportunities that might become available to resolve this 
issue.
    It would send the wrong signal that the United States is 
downsizing its effort to recover our missing men to those 
countries where the search for our men still continues, or as 
in the case in Korea, where the search has just begun; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
goes on record as adamantly and unalterably opposed to any 
downsizing of the effort or of the resources put into the 
effort to reach the fullest possible accounting of our missing 
men. (Approved as Amended)

No. 601 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

           REFORM OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCESS TO VA HEALTH CARE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that Congress enact legislation affecting 
eligibility of VA health care by providing all veterans with 
mandated access to the full continuum of VA health care. 
(Approved as Amended)

No. 602 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

  ADEQUATELY FUND THE VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress in its annual 
appropriations, to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs 
construction to allow it to carry out a program of 
modernization or replacement of aging facilities, which 
includes a sound system for setting construction priorities, 
which in combination will ensure the continued provision of 
quality health care to our nation's veterans. (Approved)

No. 603 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

               THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS' BUDGET

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress of the United States 
to pass a budget and appropriations for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs which will fully fund and maintain the 
integrity of the benefits and entitlements programs and enhance 
Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. (Approved as 
Amended)

No. 604 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

      AMEND THE UNIFORMED SERVICES FORMER SPOUSES' PROTECTION ACT

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, seek to amend PL 97-252, ''The Former Spouses' 
Protection Act, '' to allow for the termination of court-
ordered payments to ex-military spouses upon remarriage; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
seek legislation that would prohibit forcing a service member 
from making payments to his former spouse on the date the 
service member first becomes eligible to receive retired pay if 
the service member elects to remain in the service; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
seek legislation that ensures any increase in retired pay 
resulting from increased service or promotion after a divorce 
is final becomes the sole property of the service member. 
(Approved as Amended)

No. 605 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

     CONCURRENT RECEIPT OF RETIREMENT PAY AND VETERANS DISABILITY 
                              COMPENSATION

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we strongly advocate legislation to be 
enacted to permit the concurrent receipt of longevity military 
retirement pay without reduction of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs disability compensation. (Approved)

No. 606 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

               AMENDED TAX RETURNS FOR MILITARY RETIREES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that Congress amend current law whereby a 
military retiree will be allowed to file amended tax returns 
involving receipt of VA disability compensation beyond the 
current three-year limitation. (Approved as Amended)

No. 607 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

   EXCLUDE GUARD AND RESERVE INCOME WHEN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR 
                      UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (UI)

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge Congress to enact legislation that 
standardizes Unemployment Insurance eligibility rules to the 
extent that Guard and Reserve income will be excluded for 
purposes of determining eligibility for Unemployment Insurance. 
(Approved as Amended)

No. 608 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 ESTABLISHMENT OF A WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON VETERANS BENEFITS POLICY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support legislation authorizing 
establishment of a White House Conference on Veterans Policy 
with the mission of improving veterans benefits. (Approved as 
Amended)

No. 609 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM (FEHBP) FOR MILITARY RETIREES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress to enact legislation 
requiring the Department of Defense to offer military retirees 
the full range of FEHBP under the same terms as do all other 
federal departments, agencies, and the post office. (Approved)

No. 610 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 FULL FUNDING FOR THE GUARD AND RESERVE MOBILIZATION INSURANCE PROGRAM 
                                 (MIP)

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge Congress and the Department of 
Defense to ensure full funding for the continuance of the 
Mobilization Insurance Program. 
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we 
urge the Department of Defense to honor in full, the claims 
submitted by those reservists and guardsmen who paid monthly 
premiums into the Mobilization Insurance Program. (Approved as 
Amended)

No. 611 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING (OJT) PROGRAM FOR RECENTLY 
                           SEPARATED VETERANS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Administration and Congress to 
take immediate action towards the creation of and 
implementation of a nationwide On-the-Job-Training Program, on 
a pilot basis, for recently separated service members. 
(Approved)

No. 612 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                       THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that legislation be enacted to allow the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to continue to collect and 
retain all third-party reimbursements without offset from its 
appropriation. (Approved as Amended)

No. 613 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                    ENTITLEMENT TO NURSING HOME CARE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge Congress to amend Public Law 104-
262 to mandate the provision of nursing home care for all 
veterans. (Approved)

No. 614 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

           REFORM OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCESS TO VA HEALTH CARE

(Disapproved)

No. 615 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

               VETERANS' PREFERENCE IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we strongly support veterans' preference in 
federal, state, and local employment, as provided by a grateful 
nation, and oppose any and all efforts to reduce this 
preference; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we continue to speak out 
forcefully and publicly on the issue of veterans' preference. 
(Approved)

No. 616 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                        DOD MEDICARE SUBVENTION

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we request Congress authorize Medicare 
Subvention to military treatment facilities. (Approved as 
Amended)

No. 617 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

    SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S VETERANS 
                 EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE (VETS)

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we hereby go on record to urge the Congress 
of the United States to appropriate sufficient funds to support 
the current VETS mission. (Approved)

No. 618 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES 
  (LVERS) AND DISABLED VETERANS' OUTREACH PROGRAM SPECIALISTS (DVOPS)

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we hereby go on record to urge the Congress 
of the United States to appropriate sufficient funds to support 
the number of LVERS and DVOPS positions as required by Title 
38. (Approved)

No. 619 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE CEMETERY AT FORMER CLARK 
              AIR BASE IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the United States Government, by 
legislative or administrative action, to seek a long term 
solution to the neglect of the Clark cemetery; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that until a long term solution is 
reached the Veterans of Foreign Wars seek support from all 
available sources to assist the VFW Posts in the Philippines 
with the annual cost of the repair and upkeep of the Clark 
Cemetery. (Approved)

No. 620 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

  BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO VETERANS AND SCOUTS WHO SERVED WITH THE U. S. 
                        ARMED FORCES DURING WWII

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support legislation to recognize 
veterans of the organized military forces of the Government of 
the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while such forces were in 
the service of the Armed Forces of the United States during 
World War II, as having been active service for purposes of 
equal benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
support additional legislation that directs the Secretary of 
Army to issue a certificate of service to every national of the 
Philippine Islands deemed by the Secretary to have performed 
any military service in aid of the Armed Forces of the United 
States during World War II. (Approved as Amended)

No. 621 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

             SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATION OF VETERANS PREFERENCE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we strongly urge Congress to enact 
legislation which provides that intentional violation of a 
provision of the Veterans' Preference Act is a ''prohibited 
personnel practice'' and therefore is subject to corrective and 
disciplinary action, and intervention by Office of the Special 
Counsel. (Approved)

No. 622 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                         VA MEDICARE SUBVENTION

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support the swift enactment into law of 
legislation authorizing VA to collect and retain Medicare 
dollars. (Approved)

No. 623 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 EXCLUSIVE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                              AFFAIRS (VA)

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress to establish separate 
appropriations subcommittees exclusive to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs in both the House and Senate. (Approved)

No. 624 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                    FUNDING OF SBA VETERANS PROGRAMS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars support the 
strengthening and funding of an effective veterans 
entrepreneurship program in the U. S. Small Business 
Administration. (Approved)

No. 625 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                 SUPPORT FOR PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we continue to urge the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to establish an open ended presumptive period 
until the medical and scientific community determines an 
appropriate time in which conditions associated with Gulf War 
service will manifest; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Department of 
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide 
health care for all veterans whose health has been adversely 
affected by the Persian Gulf War and to conduct all necessary 
tests to determine the causes of these illnesses; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, veterans of the Persian Gulf War be 
afforded the same rights and privileges guaranteed to all other 
veterans; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to act in accordance with 38 USC, 1117, and 
develop, at the earliest possible date, appropriate definitions 
or diagnoses of the illnesses associated with service in the 
Persian Gulf; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Departments of 
Defense, Health and Human Service and Veterans Affairs, and the 
Congress to fund appropriate research into the causes of these 
illnesses; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the VFW continue to closely 
monitor this issue, identify and research problems, and urge 
appropriate corrective action to assist Persian Gulf War 
veterans and their families. (Approved)

No. 626 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

        INCREASE IN RETIRED PAY FOR SILVER STAR MEDAL RECIPIENTS

(Disapproved)

No. 627 (Submitted by Department of Kentucky)

        AMEND TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY RETIREMENT FOR VETERANS

(Disapproved)

No. 628 (Submitted by Department of Wyoming)

           PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR LVER & DVOP PROGRAMS

(Disapproved)

No. 629 (Submitted by Department of Virginia)

REQUEST ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUT-
                  PATIENT CLINIC IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

(Disapproved)

No. 630 (Submitted by Department of Nebraska)

                         NORFOLK VETERANS HOME

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to allocate a total $10.5 million in Federal contribution in 
FY-97 thereby allowing new construction to begin at the 
earliest date before any events occur that could lead to these 
veterans losing their home. (Approved)

No. 631 (Submitted by Department of Pennsylvania)

LIMIT THE RIGHT OF BURIAL IN A NATIONAL CEMETERY OF A VETERAN CONVICTED 
                           OF A CAPITOL CRIME

(Disapproved)

No. 632 (Submitted by Department of District of Columbia)

          CHANGE SURPLUS APPROPRIATION RESCISSION ACT PL 79301

(Disapproved)

No. 633 (Submitted by Department of District of Columbia)

  RESTORE GRANT IN AID HOSPITAL PROGRAM TO THE FILIPINO WORLD WAR II 
                      VETERANS IN THE PHILIPPINES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we petition the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, the President and the Congress to restore the Grant In 
Aid Hospital Program under the management of the Manila 
Regional Office to assist in the medical treatment of surviving 
Philippine-based World War II veterans. (Approved as Amended)

No. 634 (Submitted by Department of Maryland)

 RETENTION OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES 
                                (USUHS)

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we petition the Congress of the United 
States of America to guarantee continuation of USUHS in 
perpetuity; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Veterans 
Affairs assign primary authority and responsibility for 
analysis of Persian Gulf War Syndrome to USUHS; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Veterans 
Affairs expand USUHS resources to insure the aforementioned. 
(Approved)

No. 635 (Submitted by Departments of Idaho, Florida, Kentucky 
and Texas)

     OPPOSE ABOLISHMENT OF VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE

(Disapproved)

No. 636 (Submitted by Department of Alabama)

 OBJECT TO THE ABOLISHMENT OF VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE

(Disapproved)

No. 637 (Submitted by Departments of Idaho, Nebraska, Oklahoma 
and Rhode Island)

 VA TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF COST OF CARING FOR VETERANS RESIDING IN 
                          STATE VETERANS HOMES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support VA per diem payments that equal 
33.33% of the national average cost of providing care in a 
State Veterans Home; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Congress approves full funding 
of the State Veterans Home construction grant priority one 
projects for fiscal year 1998; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to provide medications, without charge, to 
veterans who are eligible for Aid and Attendance payments and 
are receiving nursing care and related medical services in a 
State Veterans Home, as authorized under Title 38, Section 1712 
(d), United States Code, without jeopardizing or reducing VA 
per diem payments provided to said State Veterans Homes; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the President and 
Congress to pledge their full support to the State Veterans 
Home Program as it is the most cost-effective nursing care 
alternative used by VA. (Approved as Amended)

No. 638 (Submitted by Department of New Hampshire)

                          STATE VETERANS HOMES

(Disapproved)

No. 639 (Submitted by Department of Texas)

SAME DISABILITY RATING BY SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT 
                          OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

(Disapproved)

No. 640 (Submitted by Department of Texas)

 RETAIN EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICA'S VETERANS/DISABLED VETERANS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we oppose any such elimination of federal 
direction and control over the employment assistance 
entitlements earned by America's veterans/disabled veterans 
through their honorable service. (Approved as Amended)

No. 641 (Submitted by Department of Texas)

            FUNDING OF NATIONAL VETERANS' TRAINING INSTITUTE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we petition Congress to support full 
funding of the National Veterans' Training Institute as 
required by PL 100-232. (Approved)

No. 642 (Submitted by Department of California)

 SUPPORT HR 414 MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICARE ELIGIBLE MILITARY 
                                RETIREES

(Disapproved)

No. 643 (Submitted by Department of California)

 SUPPORT HR 192 ''UNIFORMED SERVICES MEDICARE SUBVENTION DEMONSTRATION 
                             PROJECT ACT''

(Disapproved)

No. 644 (Submitted by Department of California)

    SUPPORT HR 167 ''VETERANS TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1997''

(Disapproved)

No. 645 (Submitted by Department of California)

 RECOGNIZE THE PERFORMANCE OF HONOR GUARD FUNCTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE 
                NATIONAL GUARD AT FUNERALS FOR VETERANS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support legislation to recognize, as a 
Federal function, National Guard participation at veterans 
funerals. (Approved as Amended)

No. 646 (Submitted by Department of California)

SUPPORT HR 466 AND S. 211, THE ''PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS COMPENSATION 
                     ACT OF 1997'' COMPANION BILLS

(Disapproved)

No. 647 (Submitted by Department of California)

    SUPPORT H.R. 335, COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S VETERANS

(Disapproved)

No. 648 (Submitted by Department of California)

SUPPORT HR 76, AUTHORIZE MEDICARE ELIGIBLE MILITARY RETIREES THE OPTION 
       TO ENROLL IN THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM

(Disapproved)

No. 649 (Submitted by Department of California)

   SUPPORT S. 96 RECOGNIZING CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS WHO PERFORMED 
   MILITARY SERVICE WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES DURING WW II

(Disapproved)

No. 650 (Submitted by Department of California)

          SUPPORT H.R. 240 VETERANS PREFERENCE IN FEDERAL JOBS

(Disapproved)

No. 651 (Submitted by Department of California)

    SUPPORT H.R. 1362, MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICARE ELIGIBLE 
       VETERANS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT IN SELECTED VA HOSPITALS

(Disapproved)

No. 652 (Submitted by Department of California)

                 CALIFORNIA VETERANS BOARD APPOINTMENTS

(Disapproved)

No. 653 (Submitted by Department of California)

 PRESERVATION OF THE NATIONAL SOLDIER HOME LOCATED AT THE V.A. MEDICAL 
                        CENTER, WEST LOS ANGELES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we request the United States Congress to 
ensure adherence to the expressed wishes of the donors of said 
land, that the terms and consideration of the grant be adhered 
to, that the Pacific branch of the National Soldiers' Home for 
Disabled Veterans be maintained on said property, that an 
opportunity be offered to those who were displaced from said 
National Soldiers' Home to return thereto and that the 
admission requirements for entering the home revert back to the 
original status. (Approved)

No. 654 (Submitted by Department of California)

SUPPORT TO MOVE VETERANS BACK TO THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF U.S. CODE TITLE 
 38, CHAPTERS 41, 42 AND 43 OF VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE

(Disapproved)

No. 655 (Submitted by Department of California)

         FUNDING FOR VA MEDICAL CENTER AT TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE

(Disapproved)

No. 656 (Submitted by Department of California)

   SPECIAL HEALTH CARE FOR PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS 
                   EXPOSED TO MYCOPLASMIC INFECTIONS

(Disapproved)

No. 657 (Submitted by Department of California)

 RETENTION OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES 
                                (USUHS)

(Disapproved)

No. 658 (Submitted by Department of California)

      NATURALIZATION PROCESS FOR FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support legislation for the 
naturalization of World War II Filipino veterans. (Approved as 
Amended)

No. 659 (Submitted by Department of Washington)

        RETAIN 15-DAY PAID MILITARY LEAVE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress not to enact any 
legislative change to the current law, PL 90-588, to reduce or 
eliminate the 15 days of fully paid ''military leave'' to 
federal civil servants who are also reservists or national 
guard members, when on active duty for training, or on active 
duty limited to a two week period each year. (Approved as 
Amended)

No. 660 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

  OPPOSE THE INTEGRATION OF THE ST. CLOUD AND MINNEAPOLIS DVA MEDICAL 
                                CENTERS

(Disapproved)

No. 661 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

        EXEMPT ALL SERVICE- CONNECTED VETERANS FROM CO-PAYMENTS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we oppose charging 0% service-connected 
veterans co-payments for non-service connected medical care. 
(Approved as Amended)

No. 662 (Submitted by Department of Minnesota)

             VFW OPPOSES SHORTCUTS TO AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP

(Disapproved)

No. 663 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

   COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR VA BENEFICIARIES AND MILITARY RETIREES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge Congress to provide timely annual 
increases in an amount at least commensurate with the Consumer 
Price Index (CPI) for all Department of Veterans Affairs' 
beneficiaries and military retirees. (Approved)

No. 664 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN THE VETERANS' PREFERENCE ACT OF 1944 
                     AND ALL SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we vigorously support enactment of 
legislation that strengthens the Veterans' Preference Act of 
1944 and all subsequent amendments. (Approved as Amended)

No. 665 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 SUPPORT PRIORITY OF SERVICE FOR VETERANS TO ALL FEDERALLY FUNDED JOB 
                           TRAINING PROGRAMS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge the Congress to pass legislation 
which will mandate priority of service for all eligible 
veterans to all federally funded job training programs. 
(Approved)

No. 666 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

           IMPROVED VA HOSPITAL FACILITIES FOR WOMEN VETERANS

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that Congress provide funding to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs (VA) specifically for the purpose of 
improving the quality of hospital facilities and services 
available to women veterans at VA hospitals. (Approved)

No. 667 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

          SERVICE CONNECTION FOR THE RESIDUALS OF TOBACCO USE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we go on record opposing any form of 
legislation which would prohibit service connection for the 
residuals of tobacco addiction when such is established under 
the same standard for service connection as in any other 
disability which may be incurred as a result of military 
service in the line of duty. (Approved)

No. 668 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

       SUPPORT A STRONG VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support a viable and effective VETS 
which has the maximum resources and capability to continue 
fully serving veterans into the next century. (Approved)

No. 669 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

                        INCREASE IN RETIRED PAY

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we recommend the secretaries of the Armed 
Forces adopt a consistent policy that will allow the review of 
requests for the 10% increase in retired pay from enlisted 
military retirees who have been awarded the Silver Star, the 
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldier's Medal, the Navy and 
Marine Corps Medal, the Airman's Medal or the Coast Guard Medal 
. (Approved)

No. 670 (Submitted by Department of Colorado)

   SUPPORT LEGISLATION PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO 
              VIETNAM VETERANS' CHILDREN WITH SPINA BIFIDA

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we urge Congress to amend the Agent Orange 
Benefits Act of 1996 to provide Vietnam veterans' children with 
spina bifida with comprehensive health care coverage, attendant 
services, independent living services, up to 48 months of 
educational assistance, adaptive housing and transportation 
assistance; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Act be amended to include 
outreach and service coordination assistance to: (1) ensure 
that Vietnam veterans' children with spina bifida and their 
families are aware of their eligibility for VA benefits and 
services, and when needed, in fully accessing such benefits; 
(2) assist such children in protecting Supplemental Security 
Insurance and other federal and federally supported benefits 
and services from unwarranted reduction or termination due to 
the receipt of assistance under the Act; and (3) assist such 
children in accessing other specialized human services for 
persons with severe disabilities offered by federal, state, and 
local government agencies and other human services 
organizations. (Approved)


No. 671 (Submitted by Commander-in-Chief)

 DENY BURIAL IN FEDERAL FUNDED CEMETERIES TO INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF 
                         FEDERAL CAPITAL CRIMES

    BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States that we support legislation to preclude burial in 
a federal funded cemetery for person guilty of first-degree 
murder of federal officials in conjunction with the commission 
of other federal crimes. (Approved)


                     NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEES

     COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL BY-LAWS, MANUAL OF PROCEDURE AND RITUAL

       Chairman: John M. Carney, Past Commander-in-Chief, Florida 
    Vice Chairman: John S. Staum, Past Commander-in-Chief, Minnesota 

             (Ballroom G, Salt Palace Convention Center)

Department              Name                        Post No. 

Alabama                 Charles H. Ayers                6837 
Alabama                 Lester E. Kapelka               5850 
Alaska                  Leander P. Carr                 9978 
Arizona                 George K. Mead                  9400 
Arkansas                Bobby G. Julian                 6527 
California              Hisashi Isosaki                 8985 
California              Buford L. Maples                5985 
California              Richard R. Pignone              3173 
California              Denis F. Wells                  8327 
Colorado                Mike Bokan                      1771 
Colorado                John R. Lewis                   4051 
Connecticut             Edward L. Burnham               1724 
Connecticut             Ronald Rusakiewicz              9460 
Connecticut             Robert A. Stevens              10690 
Delaware                Paul R.Phillips, Jr             2863 
Dist. of Col.           Benjamin F. Willis              9755 
Europe                  Richard A. Reed                10810 
Florida                 Raymond D.Brennan, Jr          10131 
Florida                 James W. Carlisle              10097 
Florida                 Niel R. Ramsdell               11146 
Georgia                 John F. Gwizdak                 5080 
Hawaii                  Norbert K. Enos                 2875 
Illinois                Norman J. Busch                 5915 
Illinois                Eddie J. Griffith               1301 
Illinois                George R. Lobb                  3579 
Indiana                 James M. Leavitt                5782 
Indiana                 James J. Thiel                   717 
Iowa                    Muriel E. Allan                 3633 
Iowa                    Leslie G. Portwood               817 
Kansas                  Ronald W. Collins               1520 
Kentucky                Alexander J. Feher              5171 
Kentucky                Leroy Ford                      5480 
Latin Amer/Carib        Dannie Cooper                   3822 
Latin Amer/Carib        Marion H. Lasater               3876 
Maine                   Gerard T. Morin                 9935 
Maryland                John P. Matthews                6506 
Massachusetts           Theodore R. Eaton               2104 
Massachusetts           William J. Madera              C o A 
Massachusetts           William L. Mc Carthy             864 
Massachusetts           John T. Tynan                    561 
Michigan                Assad Allie                      147 
Michigan                William P. Bennett              7573 
Minnesota               Michael D. Brainard             6587 
Minnesota               Robert W. Reif             Surgeon General 
Mississippi             Lowell E. Gibson                3806 
Missouri                Paul E. Connors                   30 
Missouri                James R. Mueller                5077 
Montana                 William C. Mc Kinney             903 
Nebraska                Billy C. Smith                  7028 
Nebraska                Dwaine D. Wilson                1652 
Nevada                  Walter J. Dybeck, Jr           10047 
New Hampshire           John M. Packard                 8546 
New Jersey              John G. Mooney                   711 
New Jersey              Donald L. Scott                 7247 
New Mexico              Tyrone M. Benson                7686 
New York                Daniel J. Dwyer                  161 
New York                Elton C. Klein                   478 
North Carolina          Johnie M. Dyson                 9881 
North Dakota            Paul S. Aaberg                  6139 
Ohio                    Lawrence Krugman, Jr            1079 
Ohio                    Daniel N. Long                  1069 
Ohio                    Myron E. Young                  9571 
Oklahoma                Roderick V. Himber              4876 
Oregon                  Johnnie A. Baugh                1383 
Pacific Areas           Thomas I. Elliott               9467 
Pennsylvania            Thomas J. Dougherty             3474 
Pennsylvania            Allen Q. Jones                    21 
Pennsylvania            Frank J. Zenzer                  676 
Rhode Island            John Sivo                       2396 
South Carolina          Johnnie C. Robinson             2889 
South Dakota            Howard J. Hermanson              791 
Tennessee               Joe A. Murphy, Jr               1289 
Texas                   Glen M. Gardner, Jr             3359 
Texas                   Buddi C. Harlan                 4010 
Texas                   Robert J. Lyons                 8246 
Texas                   John E. Mc Kelvey               9078 
Texas                   Earnest G. Mudd                 8541 
Texas                   Ferrell E. Warden              C o A 
Texas                   William B. Warren               8564 
Utah                    Ernest T. Evans                 2579 
Vermont                 Thomas H. Meehan                1332 
Virginia                Charles B. Wilkerson            9808 
Washington              Donald E. Bracken               2289 
Washington              George F. Riedel, Jr             969 
Washington              John Uram                      10018 
West Virginia           Scottie E. King                C o A 
West Virginia           Eugene W. Walker                4484 
Wisconsin               Bernard J. Boyle                2823 
Wisconsin               William M. Klein                2112 
Wisconsin               Edward F. Stockel               7896 
Wisconsin               William J. Wenger               8216 
Wyoming                 Charles E. Fresorger             579 


            COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND INTERNAL ORGANIZATION 

       Chairman: Ted C. Connell, Past Commander-in-Chief, Texas 
    Vice Chairman: John W. Mahan, Past Commander-in-Chief, Montana 

            (Room 255A, Salt Palace Convention Center)    

Department              Name                         Post No. 

Alabama                 Travis W. Ledbetter             3016 
Alabama                 Telfair J. Mashburn             3568 
Alabama                 Charles R. Stephens       Inspector General 
Alaska                  Robert S. Green                 1685 
Alaska                  George A. Pikus                 7056 
Alaska                  Joseph B. Sadlier               4352 
Arizona                 Gary N. Harlan                 10188 
Arizona                 Vincent J. Mitchell             9972 
Arizona                 Vincent A. Rigo                 2135 
Arizona                 William J. Silva                 836 
Arkansas                Bobby D. Hoggard                4517 
Arkansas                Raymond J. Smorol               4513 
Arkansas                Charles O. Wright               8347 
California              Leonard W. Bartels              8547 
California              Richard L. Eubank                 85 
California              Gerald A. Leffin                3868 
California              Joseph F. Martin                9223 
Colorado                Raymond L. Ammerman             3631 
Colorado                James E. Mauck                  2601 
Colorado                Orlen L. Wolf                   4171 
Connecticut             Brian J. Kennedy                1523 
Connecticut             Natt A. Mc Intire               1672 
Connecticut             William B. Watson               3263 
Delaware                William G. Schaen                475 
Delaware                William W. Wailes                475 
Dist. of Col.           Kenneth J. Allen, Jr             341 
Europe                  Harold Hedges                   9334 
Europe                  Norman J. Hirschman            10658 
Florida                 Alex H. Damalas                10097 
Florida                 Ray L. Ford                    10554 
Florida                 Ronald G. Lee                   2473 
Florida                 Robert P. Loftus                4643 
Georgia                 Ray L. Christie                 5080 
Georgia                 Robert K. Nelson                3200 
Georgia                 William J. Wilson               7007 
Hawaii                  Leonard W. Lover                  94 
Hawaii                  James K. Woolsey                  94 
Idaho                   Leonard L. Celmer              11065 
Idaho                   J P. Montgomery                 3465 
Illinois                John H. Buettner                6368 
Illinois                Edward F. Jarnell, Jr           8081 
Illinois                Tom Morgan                      1592 
Illinois                Russell H. Villwock             3579 
Indiana                 John L. Barnes                  7119 
Indiana                 John L. Dahman                 C o A 
Indiana                 David G. Havely                 5864 
Indiana                 Glendon R. Hinshaw              1111 
Iowa                    Patrick J. Shanahan              788 
Iowa                    James L. Shelton Jr              941 
Kansas                  Wayne M. Bushell                1714 
Kansas                  Elmer L. Holman                 7521 
Kansas                  David W. Jones                    56 
Kansas                  Burt Kiewert                    7271 
Kentucky                Roger L. Adams                 10017 
Kentucky                Jeff A. Phillips                1170 
Latin Amer/Carib        James E. Cook                   3822 
Latin Amer/Carib        Walter F. Griggs                  40 
Louisiana               Stanley P. Breaux               3665 
Louisiana               James B. Robertson              8107 
Maine                   Joseph L. Duguay                8835 
Maine                   Donald W. Linscott, Jr          1603 
Maine                   Peter F. Miesburger             9389 
Maryland                John J. Gistedt                 2678 
Maryland                Thomas J. Hercek                 467 
Maryland                Robert L. Miedzinski            2632 
Massachusetts           Antone G. Andrews                697 
Massachusetts           Gordon L. Crosby                1526 
Massachusetts           William J. Curran               1526 
Massachusetts           Robert A. Malmberg              1526 
Massachusetts           Louis J. Robicheau               507 
Michigan                Cecil A. Mc Goon                2780 
Michigan                Donald V. Nettler               9507 
Michigan                Frank L. Skrumbellos            1008 
Michigan                Jack C. Stevens                 2358 
Michigan                Barry F. Walter                 4005 
Minnesota               Daniel Bartholomew              3144 
Minnesota               Harold Genrich                  1222 
Minnesota               Merlin O. Hanson                1639 
Mississippi             James W. Austin                 3036 
Mississippi             Frederick T. Barnes            10024 
Mississippi             Donald L. Verucchi              9573 
Missouri                Maxie W. Bryant                   35 
Missouri                C C. Kapono                     6278 
Missouri                Samuel L. Smithson              4294 
Missouri                Donald W. Watts                 5553 
Montana                 Bruce J. Frye, Jr               3596 
Montana                 John M. Hoyt                    3107 
Nebraska                John L. Iossi                   3704 
Nebraska                George A. Lee                   1652 
Nebraska                John F. Olson                   3704 
Nebraska                Earl Stiner, Jr                 3421 
Nevada                  Le Roy J. Heath                10047 
Nevada                  Gilbert R. Wagner               3848 
New Hampshire           Michael S. Annis                2860 
New Hampshire           Kevin P. Mc Keating, Jr          483 
New Hampshire           Robert T. St Onge               8214 
New Jersey              Carlbert Heard                  2294 
New Jersey              George J. Lisicki              C o A 
New Jersey              Harry W. Morecroft              6061 
New Jersey              John T. Sweeney                 1302 
New Mexico              Roland La France, Sr           10124 
New Mexico              Robert O. Perea                 2951 
New Mexico              Frank J. Rivali                 1793 
New York                Vincent A. De Martino           5253 
New York                James M. Longendyke             1386 
North Carolina          Michael T. Burris               2615 
North Carolina          William J. Hendren              2031 
North Carolina          George E. Walker                7315 
North Carolina          Raymond J. Yamrus               7318 
North Dakota            Kent L. Anderson                9068 
North Dakota            Robert L. Volk                  1868 
Ohio                    Clifford E. Bauer               3360 
Ohio                    Robert C. Cockrell              1082 
Ohio                    Ronald C. Dohnal                4441 
Ohio                    James T. Hampton                1662 
Ohio                    Keith E. Harman                 3035 
Ohio                    George W. Marks                C o A 
Ohio                    Shorty Wehr                     5356 
Oklahoma                Donald A. Firkins               9969 
Oklahoma                Clemens Kozak                   1199 
Oregon                  Charles D. Fuller                966 
Oregon                  James C. Hanley                 1833 
Oregon                  Doyle E. Souders                2807 
Pacific Areas           Paul T. Gasperson               9612 
Pennsylvania            John Adamecz, Jr                 245 
Pennsylvania            Charles R. Feltenberger         2435 
Pennsylvania            Donald J. Gobbel                  33 
Rhode Island            Benjamin Pezza                  4651 
Rhode Island            S Wolstencroft, Jr              8955 
South Carolina          Melvin L. Emore                  641 
South Carolina          Frasier S. Wall                10420 
South Dakota            William F. Cerny, Jr           C o A 
South Dakota            Daryl L. Halling                3164 
South Dakota            Fay J. Hendricks                6149 
South Dakota            Alvin Pistorius                 3342 
South Dakota            Lorne F. Ruzicka                3312 
Tennessee               William Berkley, Jr             1291 
Tennessee               William A. Mc Nairy             4577 
Tennessee               Roy C. Womble                   5019 
Texas                   Michael F. Day                  6386 
Texas                   Justo S. Guerra                 4146 
Texas                   James C. Henderson, Jr          6796 
Texas                   David H. Slider                 6441 
Texas                   Peter Stack                     4344 
Texas                   Emmett A. Stelzer               6797 
Texas                   John Velasquez                  4692 
Utah                    Roy S. Brown                    8307 
Utah                    Gary L. Clark                  C o A 
Utah                    Dennis L. Parizek               1481 
Utah                    Theodore B. Rimpau              1546 
Vermont                 Merritt A. Edwards              6689 
Vermont                 Ralph H. Elwell                 1332 
Virginia                James L. Booth                  2216 
Virginia                John L. Fanshaw, Jr             7819 
Virginia                Phillip L. Hewitt               9808 
Washington              Frank A. Kunz                   6268 
Washington              Charles T. O Donahue           10018 
West Virginia           Billy E. Javins                 8129 
West Virginia           Foster E. Matthews              2523 
West Virginia           Wesley J. Thomas                 573 
Wisconsin               Milo L. Cunningham              1318 
Wisconsin               John A. Miller                  9537 
Wyoming                 Harold E. Lowe                  4343 
Wyoming                 Kenneth E. Weber                2918 


                    COMMITTEE ON GENERAL RESOLUTIONS

    Chairman: Walter G. Hogan, Past Commander-in-Chief, Wisconsin 
Vice Chairman: Paul A. Spera, Past Commander-in-Chief, Massachusetts 
 Vice Chairman: James R. Currieo, Past Commander-in-Chief, Arizona 
 Vice Chairman: R. D. Smith, Jr., Past Commander-in-Chief, Georgia 

            (Ballroom D, Salt Palace Convention Center)    
Department              Name                     Post No. 

Alabama                 William J. Burgess           6020 
Alabama                 Oliver W. Dial              C o A 
Alabama                 Jack F. Ivy                  2702 
Alaska                  Robert R. Klotz              9785 
Alaska                  John W. Minnick              9365 
Alaska                  Jack S. O Neal               9569 
Alaska                  William Timmons              9978 
Arizona                 John I. Halstead, Sr         3632 
Arizona                 Donald E. Maynard            7968 
Arizona                 Lawrence E. Reinhardt        9972 
Arkansas                Martin O. Cowley             2259 
Arkansas                B J. Garrett                 8124 
Arkansas                Clarence L. Moore            5742 
Arkansas                William D. Taylor            7769 
California              Gerald D. Anderson           2835 
California              Benjamin Berroteran          4696 
California              Robert S. Hockenhull         2337 
California              Lyman L. Indermuehle         8547 
California              Steven D. Jacobs             5944 
California              Cornelius P. O Connor        2967 
California              Guilio P. Santa Maria        2835 
California              Jerald E. Thomas             9657 
Colorado                Theodore G. Argys            3820 
Colorado                Phillip Garcia               7945 
Colorado                Ronald J. Lattin             2461 
Colorado                Arthur F. Ledesma            3971 
Connecticut             Edward S. Banas             10004 
Connecticut             Francis C. Brought          10201 
Connecticut             Andrew F. Flanagan          10219 
Connecticut             Rodman M. Fulton             9965 
Connecticut             Laurence Pitcher             6933 
Delaware                Albert J. Imperial, Jr       7447 
Delaware                Walter J. Kula               3257 
Delaware                Charles E. Price             3792 
Dist. of Col.           John P. Breen                2979 
Dist. of Col.           Walter H. Brown              9755 
Dist. of Col.           Albert O. Burke              7358 
Europe                  George W. Eby               10692 
Europe                  Phillip F. Gatchell          9845 
Florida                 Lester W. Davis             10093 
Florida                 John F. Key, III             7256 
Florida                 Eugene R. Manfrey           C o A 
Florida                 Robert A. Mc Dade            9236 
Georgia                 Robert E. Bates              5376 
Georgia                 Ray E. Brooks                2785 
Georgia                 Dan Bullard, III              658 
Georgia                 Donald F. Ziegler            6447 
Hawaii                  Roy K. Machado               3027 
Hawaii                  Aloysius Spenser, Jr         3850 
Idaho                   Thomas E. Monson               63 
Idaho                   Robert A. Wayment           10328 
Illinois                Joseph L. Berg               5691 
Illinois                Willard Livingston           1308 
Illinois                Robert J. Mc Mahon           2298 
Illinois                Vincent J. Medina            5149 
Illinois                William R. Moran             2240 
Illinois                Ralph C. Wieter               805 
Illinois                Robert P. Witcher            7980 
Indiana                 Roger E. Baker               6841 
Indiana                 David R. Cole                1832 
Indiana                 R L. Johanningsmeier         1257 
Indiana                 Richard L. Jordan            2067 
Indiana                 Audie W. Rainbolt            1693 
Indiana                 Dwight O. Smith              6904 
Indiana                 Earl S. Walton                360 
Iowa                    Cecil A. Buschbom             839 
Iowa                    Roger D. Schwieso             941 
Iowa                    Daryl R. Shinker             2349 
Kansas                  James F. Graham              2715 
Kansas                  Richard A. Hill              7437 
Kansas                  Robert F. Petterson          6242 
Kansas                  Beul B. Ross                 1650 
Kansas                  Mckinley Smith               8773 
Kentucky                William J. Apple             1170 
Kentucky                Thomas I. Blain              5421 
Kentucky                Ronald M. Myers              1096 
Latin Amer/Carib        G A. Crowther               15039 
Latin Amer/Carib        Clifford P. England          3822 
Latin Amer/Carib        Edward R. Lesesne             100 
Louisiana               Ernest W. Bryant             7286 
Louisiana               Jack Coursey                 5951 
Louisiana               Richard J. Fruge             5153 
Louisiana               Joseph Guidry, Sr            3121 
Maine                   Thomas D. Andrus             9429 
Maine                   Philip M. Farrell           11299 
Maine                   Raymond R. Lupo              1761 
Maine                   Arthur J. Roy               C o A 
Maine                   Alan M. Winter               9150 
Maryland                Nicholas T. Bassetti         9083 
Maryland                Raymond J. Boyle             6027 
Maryland                Kenneth L. Britter           9862 
Maryland                Clayton A. Deaver            1858 
Maryland                Kenneth F. Perry, Sr         6027 
Maryland                Clinton Townsend             3626 
Maryland                Lawson E. Van Ormer          6027 
Massachusetts           Walter G. Gansenberg          834 
Massachusetts           Eugene F. Hakala             1812 
Massachusetts           Michael J. Imbracsio          639 
Massachusetts           Arthur D. Lettiere           1272 
Massachusetts           Arnold W. Paterson           8608 
Massachusetts           William T. Rehm               722 
Massachusetts           Cornelius F. Sharron         9566 
Michigan                James M. Galen               6802 
Michigan                Richard E. La Fave           5670 
Michigan                Richard L. Lehner            1735 
Michigan                Raymond G. O Neill            147 
Minnesota               Patrick T. Bohmer             246 
Minnesota               Calvin D. Ferber              612 
Minnesota               Francis J. Ginther            210 
Minnesota               Gordon W. Kirk              C o A 
Minnesota               Ted B. Theodorsen            6320 
Mississippi             Jerry W. Beaird              3806 
Mississippi             James E. Gordon              4100 
Mississippi             Bobby G. Sanders            10734 
Mississippi             J H. Smith                   1983 
Missouri                Charles A. Brewster          5553 
Missouri                Ralph H. Fiehler             4219 
Missouri                James F. Harrelson           4539 
Missouri                Melvin L. Page, Sr           2069 
Missouri                Clarence W. Reed             6337 
Missouri                Calvin C. Vogelsang          3838 
Montana                 Francis E. Croucher          1125 
Montana                 Duane R. Johnson             4099 
Montana                 Erich J. Maki                4198 
Montana                 Jean A. Nesheim              4925 
Montana                 Robert T. Schwegel           6786 
Nebraska                Jack L. Armagost            C o A 
Nebraska                Allan D. Diederich           8334 
Nebraska                Eugene L. Kuhn               3704 
Nebraska                Arnold L. Miller             2280 
Nebraska                James J. Pacas               4836 
Nebraska                Walter J. Witt               2243 
Nevada                  Sherwin F. Cihlar           10047 
Nevada                  Jon S. Grubbs                8250 
Nevada                  Daryl L. Mobley              3630 
Nevada                  Odis Ward                   10047 
New Hampshire           Frank E. Casey, Jr            816 
New Hampshire           John M. Lilly                1698 
New Hampshire           Robert W. Madigan             483 
New Hampshire           Steven R. Rousseau           8214 
New Jersey              Joseph T. Del Grippo          335 
New Jersey              Joseph G. Menza               493 
New Jersey              Greg Policastro               493 
New Jersey              John D. Reed, Sr             7859 
New Jersey              Adam J. Rosinski             4699 
New Jersey              George T. Van Allen          7504 
New Jersey              Donna L. Wertz               6590 
New Mexico              Earl C. Earnest              8703 
New Mexico              Joe F. Ford                   401 
New Mexico              Lawrence R. Frappier         3015 
New Mexico              Joe D. Salas                  401 
New York                Anthony M. Ferrarese           16 
New York                Robert A. Seagrave           2940 
New York                Vincent J. Siesta             546 
New York                Jack I. Simons               9217 
New York                Roy Spanower                 5558 
New York                Harry C. Wurth               5253 
North Carolina          Arthur W. Eller              1142 
North Carolina          Charles E. English           2573 
North Carolina          Harlan C. La Bar             2057 
North Carolina          Betty H. Rowland             9100 
North Dakota            Harry Renschler              1326 
North Dakota            Kasimir Schmaltz             6831 
Ohio                    James Comedy                 3383 
Ohio                    John M. Griffin              6772 
Ohio                    Frank Hofstetter, Jr         2947 
Ohio                    James M. Miller               451 
Ohio                    Gerald J. Ward               5713 
Ohio                    John D. Whirrett             3521 
Oklahoma                Doss E. Baker                8580 
Oklahoma                Howard W. Driskill           2745 
Oklahoma                Eugene H. George             9969 
Oklahoma                David L. Turpin             10282 
Oregon                  Harold E. Goin               2468 
Oregon                  Ronald A. Harlan              661 
Oregon                  Samuel F. Jeffers            3970 
Oregon                  Merlin K. Pepion             3440 
Pacific Areas           E R. Milward                 2485 
Pennsylvania            Glenn C. Dashner              464 
Pennsylvania            John De Dominicis             764 
Pennsylvania            Walter K. Debes                20 
Pennsylvania            Neale H. Deibler             6493 
Pennsylvania            John M. Gunn, Sr             2506 
Pennsylvania            Gary L. Moon                  631 
Pennsylvania            Ronald G. Tyler, Sr          1462 
Rhode Island            John J. Barone               8955 
Rhode Island            Henry H. Kramer               329 
Rhode Island            Anthony J. Scudieri         10011 
South Carolina          Bobby K. Bryant              9539 
South Carolina          Eugene Moore                  641 
South Carolina          Robert A. Olsen              3433 
South Carolina          Vernon D. Shumaker            641 
South Dakota            Delane E. Fickbohm           6149 
South Dakota            James E. Fortin               750 
South Dakota            Kenneth Jorgenson             750 
South Dakota            Walter F. Joynt              1273 
South Dakota            Larry L. Scudder             1273 
Tennessee               Ronald N. Cameron           11160 
Tennessee               Otha M J. Kerr               5266 
Tennessee               John H. Scott                4848 
Tennessee               W C. Swink                   4798 
Texas                   Charles L. Cannon, Jr        5076 
Texas                   Anthony J. Emmite            6378 
Texas                   Anthony W. Graf              1815 
Texas                   Clifford W. Kinson           9299 
Texas                   Robert G. Parrott, Jr        8790 
Texas                   George B. Sparkman           9181 
Texas                   Robert W. Speake             1922 
Texas                   Lavern H. Terbl              9168 
Texas                   Alexander Vernon             9191 
Utah                    Duane Hall                   5560 
Utah                    Thomas M. Kennedy            3586 
Utah                    Melvin T. Richeson           7442 
Vermont                 W T. Myette                  9653 
Vermont                 Richard M. Partington        5125 
Vermont                 John J. Zuba                 1034 
Virginia                Ernest B. Glynn              7327 
Virginia                Lawrence F. Mattera          5500 
Virginia                Paul T. Moore                4491 
Virginia                Clifford F. Williford        3160 
Washington              Charlie H. Adamson, Jr       2289 
Washington              Clayton R. Hoffman           2329 
Washington              Richard A. Petersen         10018 
Washington              Darrell M. Pilat             1263 
West Virginia           Robert A. Jackson            6450 
West Virginia           Robert B. Kesling             573 
West Virginia           John Oliverio                 629 
West Virginia           A A. Spagnuolo                573 
Wisconsin               George Pfielsticker           305 
Wisconsin               Joel P. Walker               1904 
Wyoming                 Richard F. Ament             6125 
Wyoming                 Herb J. Carstens              579 
Wyoming                 David Ferris                10375 
Wyoming                 Pete Quinnell                7756 


          COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

 Chairman: Clifford G. Olson, Jr., Past Commander-in-Chief, Massachusetts           
    Vice Chairman: Cooper T. Holt, Past Commander-in-Chief, Tennessee               

            (Ballroom F, Salt Palace Convention Center)

                      SUBCOMMITTEE ON POW/MIA 

  Chairman: Billy Ray Cameron, Past Commander-in-Chief, North Carolina 
   Vice Chairman: George R. Cramer, Past Commander-in-Chief, Illinois 

Department              Name                     Post No. 

Alabama                 Gerald S. Brock              2702 
Alabama                 Benjamin R. Minshew            49 
Alaska                  John P. Guinn               10041 
Alaska                  Harvey A. Johnson            9569 
Arizona                 George T. Diehl, Sr          3715 
Arizona                 Roland J. Fuerst             9972 
Arizona                 Dennis E. Kane               3632 
Arizona                 John M. Knowles              2364 
Arkansas                Harold N. Harris             2952 
Arkansas                Carthel B. Parrott           3543 
California              Robert C. Marr               7283 
California              Gene B. Patrick              7283 
California              Kenneth L. Stevens           9223 
California              Harry H. Tanabe              9879 
Colorado                George R. Gore               4265 
Colorado                George H. Palmateer          4171 
Colorado                John H. Sentena              4051 
Colorado                Harland E. Smith             1781 
Connecticut             Thomas C. Deere              6726 
Connecticut             Benjamin T. Lord, Jr         5095 
Connecticut             William H. Woodbury          1724 
Delaware                Edwin Moran                  7447 
Dist. of Col.           Philip L. Buchanan           4332 
Dist. of Col.           Lynn R. Hill                 7284 
Europe                  Sidney L. Jenkins           10436 
Europe                  Dean A. White                  27 
Florida                 Richard Fitzgerald           7721 
Florida                 Normand R. Gaouette          8681 
Florida                 Elijah L. Summerfield        6180 
Georgia                 William R. Johnson            658 
Georgia                 Leonard D. Ott               6330 
Georgia                 Johnnie M. Shiver            4830 
Hawaii                  Jesus Lagueras              10850 
Hawaii                  Donald J. Raven              2432 
Idaho                   Randall E. Russell           2136 
Idaho                   Henry P. Vanderhoef         10444 
Illinois                Daniel F. Campus              367 
Illinois                John W. Johnston             7190 
Illinois                Maurice H. Kerckhove         2153 
Indiana                 Leo W. Farnsley, III         3281 
Indiana                 Jerell O. Herston            5864 
Indiana                 George A. Magurany            802 
Iowa                    Larry J. Bender               788 
Iowa                    Robert S. Randall             839 
Kansas                  Richard G. Clutts            7271 
Kansas                  Lewie B. Cooper              1174 
Kansas                  Larry D. Dalton              1654 
Kansas                  Larry G. Graham              7521 
Kansas                  Denny L. Lawson              1186 
Kentucky                Robert E. Colasanti         10281 
Kentucky                Emmett C. Johnson            5662 
Kentucky                Francis L. Wimsatt           5421 
Latin Amer/Carib        Thomas L. Hobbs              6565 
Latin Amer/Carib        Aurora G. Toth                100 
Louisiana               Floyd J. Landeche            3665 
Louisiana               William M. Procter           1736 
Louisiana               James E. Westbrook           3784 
Louisiana               J N. Young                   8971 
Maine                   Rosemarie Lane               9459 
Maine                   Myron H. Pierce              9787 
Maine                   Erlon B. Rose                3335 
Maryland                Elwood S. Knight, Jr         7937 
Maryland                Alfred N. Simmons            8509 
Massachusetts           Roland F. Durrell            1272 
Massachusetts           John F. Leonard               639 
Massachusetts           Edward W. Parks              2188 
Massachusetts           Ronald A. Patalano            529 
Massachusetts           Norman P. Richard            6538 
Massachusetts           Tyler Thomas                  144 
Michigan                Dale Brubaker, Jr            3941 
Michigan                Wayne A. Buck               C o A 
Michigan                James N. Goldsmith           4139 
Michigan                Eric L. Halvorsen            5065 
Michigan                John J. Harrow, Jr           3724 
Michigan                Patrick H. Patterson         6756 
Minnesota               Joe J. Mach                   210 
Minnesota               James D. Vetter              4020 
Minnesota               Frank J. Volk                2717 
Minnesota               Larry G. Ziebarth            6843 
Mississippi             Albert O. Cummings           4272 
Mississippi             Paul R. Sims                 4488 
Missouri                Jack P. Adams                3404 
Missouri                Glenn E. Davis               4294 
Missouri                Eugene L. Hoeltge            5077 
Montana                 Earl E. Chase               C o A 
Montana                 Donald C. Enquist            1087 
Montana                 Charles C. Mc Cahon          1755 
Montana                 Wade S. Smith                3831 
Nebraska                Kenneth R. Collins           7029 
Nebraska                John R. Liebsack             2503 
Nevada                  Bernard J. Juran, III        3819 
Nevada                  Michael H. Musgrove          2350 
New Hampshire           Donald R. Caron              7015 
New Hampshire           Jerry A. Parenti             8546 
New Jersey              Richard C. Bradshaw          4589 
New Jersey              Fredrick Di Pietro           8840 
New Jersey              Donald E. Marshall, Jr       9503 
New Jersey              Joseph E. Scott, Jr          1333 
New Mexico              Felix J. Coca                2951 
New Mexico              William E. Festing, Jr       3277 
New York                Robert E. Barnhart            686 
New York                T W. Bossidy                 7466 
New York                Frank P. Cappa                455 
New York                Arthur E. Koch, III          6780 
New York                Samuel C. Pilato              307 
North Carolina          Alvin F. Edwards             5352 
North Carolina          Steve M. Jones               9337 
North Carolina          A G. Parker                  8719 
North Dakota            Joseph Shoman                7564 
Ohio                    Russell D. Doan              5108 
Ohio                    George M. Rinkowski          5530 
Ohio                    Terry A. Roan                3124 
Ohio                    Joseph P. Seibert            6428 
Oklahoma                Orville Lettkeman            4465 
Oklahoma                Anna M. Love                 3649 
Oregon                  Raymond K. Buhrmaster        2807 
Oregon                  Alfred L. Foust              4273 
Oregon                  Raymond Kennedy              3473 
Pacific Areas           Richard A. Keeley            9612 
Pennsylvania            William C. Allen             7213 
Pennsylvania            John A. Biedrzycki            418 
Pennsylvania            Michael J. Bullister, Jr      456 
Pennsylvania            Donald A. Lehman             8298 
Pennsylvania            Almon J. Long               C o A 
Pennsylvania            Anthony J. Longo             5205 
Pennsylvania            Norman F. Rettig, Jr          249 
Rhode Island            Armondo C. Azzinaro         C o A 
Rhode Island            Ernest P. Degrave            2274 
Rhode Island            Joseph F. Maiorano           4651 
South Carolina          William J. Jolin             6087 
South Carolina          Bill E. Lark            Chief of Staff 
South Carolina          John D. Patty                9539 
South Carolina          George M. Pullie            C o A 
South Dakota            Ordean A. Amundsen           3061 
South Dakota            Rick W. Barg                  628 
South Dakota            Stanley E. Seymour           5860 
Tennessee               Bobby C. Collins             1990 
Tennessee               Eldrie Duff                  4728 
Texas                   Doyle D. Dey                 8967 
Texas                   Gustavo Gomez                6388 
Texas                   Edward J. Krenek             8787 
Texas                   William B. Moody             2034 
Texas                   Charles S. Pearson           1533 
Texas                   Chuck E. Sinclair            8905 
Texas                   Paul L. Smith                3990 
Utah                    Frank A. Montella           10745 
Utah                    Virgil E. Rieske             4918 
Vermont                 Robert E. Dean               2571 
Vermont                 Larry W. Sweeney             9653 
Virginia                George E. Mc Cracken          609 
Virginia                Kenneth A. Ward              7327 
Washington              John E. Bradburn             7089 
Washington              James W. King, Jr            3067 
Washington              Chester F. Shenkel           2329 
West Virginia           Gail L. Harper               3466 
West Virginia           Leonard L. Miller            2102 
West Virginia           Alfred W. Zelinsky           4595 
Wisconsin               Roy J. Friedel               1904 
Wisconsin               Matthias Mayer, Jr           6498 
Wisconsin               Curtis J. Taylor, Jr         1318 
Wyoming                 John J. Rudell, Jr           9439 
Wyoming                 Gary P. Shinneman            4343 


               COMMITTEE ON VETERANS SERVICE RESOLUTIONS 

   Chairman: Allen F. ''Gunner'' Kent, Past Commander-in-Chief, Arizona 
     Vice Chairman: Norman G. Staab, Past Commander-in-Chief, Kansas 

              (Room 151G. Salt Palace Convention Center)    

Department              Name                     Post No. 

Alabama                 Peter Frauenhoffer           5658 
Alaska                  Gerald J. Dorsher            5559 
Alaska                  Gary L. Kurpius             10221 
Arizona                 Lyman F. Chapman             1760 
Arizona                 Richard T. Fulmer            9401 
Arizona                 Billie E. Stuart              549 
Arkansas                Melvin F. Baines             1316 
Arkansas                James E. Ford, Jr            3031 
Arkansas                Gareth P. Mc Natt            3031 
Arkansas                Leslie F. Thone              3141 
California              Paul T. Bannai               1961 
California              Fred J. Birdsell             7907 
California              Leonard R. Herrst    Judge Advocate General 
California              Hughes P. Rue                9657 
California              Raymond C. Sisk             C o A 
California              Philemon J. Velasquez        5059 
California              Jerry A. Williams            7636 
California              Leondas V. Wright, Sr        4647 
Colorado                Darrell D. Elliott           1771 
Colorado                Wayne J. Thompson, Jr        5061 
Colorado                Warren E. Wellensiek         4171 
Connecticut             Ronald Christopher           5095 
Connecticut             Glenn N. Tewksbury          10362 
Connecticut             Scott Vanderheyden           6933 
Delaware                Clarence Burris, Jr          8801 
Delaware                Benjamin Pernol, Jr          3792 
Dist. of Col.           Remigio A. Cabacar           5471 
Dist. of Col.           David F. Wood                1085 
Europe                  Peter J. Mascetti           10658 
Europe                  Bruce A. Withers            C o A 
Florida                 Clifford J. Carter           6827 
Florida                 James De Pass               10068 
Georgia                 Richard Branson              5080 
Georgia                 Sammy L. Cates               5290 
Georgia                 William E. Patterson         4346 
Hawaii                  Frederick A. Wong            8616 
Idaho                   Donald G. Riegel              889 
Idaho                   William P. Shaw             11065 
Illinois                Rick Frank                   1461 
Illinois                Walter C. Luksta             9115 
Illinois                Terry L. Mc Kinney            886 
Illinois                Russell R. Rieke             5694 
Illinois                Edward A. Trennert           2255 
Indiana                 Everett D. Foreman           5864 
Indiana                 William N. Hedge             5782 
Indiana                 Robert L. Jenkins            6919 
Indiana                 Michael V. Smith             2999 
Indiana                 James D. Voelker             1114 
Iowa                    Dowd J. Brandt               9662 
Iowa                    Clinton L. Hoferman          6172 
Iowa                    William P. Shannon            733 
Kansas                  Jefferson D. Lawson          6654 
Kansas                  Tom G. Sanko                 1714 
Kansas                  Roy V. Williams              8773 
Kentucky                William R. Coffey            5421 
Kentucky                William P. Marcum, Jr        2921 
Latin Amer/Carib        Ruth D. Thomas               3835 
Louisiana               Wilferd L. Johnson           2130 
Louisiana               Eugene J. Louque             5852 
Maine                   Joseph H. Gallant, Jr         832 
Maine                   Timothy P. Getz              3335 
Maine                   Donald R. Libby, Jr           832 
Maryland                William E. Berry             6694 
Maryland                Joseph F. Rosetta            9619 
Massachusetts           James J. Busa                1272 
Massachusetts           Joseph E. Caouette           1105 
Massachusetts           Gardner Mc Williams          2425 
Massachusetts           Anthony B. Piscopo            529 
Massachusetts           William J. Riley              864 
Massachusetts           Robert M. Van Kirk           2394 
Michigan                Daniel J. Crocker             796 
Michigan                Walter L. Gooden             2645 
Michigan                Edmund R. Gucwa              6896 
Michigan                Martin M. Mieras, Jr         3023 
Minnesota               David L. Adams               1782 
Minnesota               Thomas L. Hanson             1639 
Minnesota               Richard A. Zierdt            6587 
Mississippi             Lester J. Dreesen            5573 
Mississippi             Cleo D. Dunhurst             6285 
Mississippi             Thomas A. Williams           9573 
Missouri                Dennis F. Flynn              2866 
Missouri                Clifford E. Johnson           479 
Missouri                Paul G. Jones                2866 
Missouri                William D. Merideth          5366 
Montana                 James J. Bertrand            1579 
Montana                 Edmond G. Frazer             2484 
Nebraska                John W. De Camp               131 
Nebraska                Lewis A. Fittje              8334 
Nebraska                Anthony J. Gallardo           131 
Nevada                  Frank A. Hoke                3726 
Nevada                  Albert J. Mc Mindes         10047 
Nevada                  Frank R. Risewick           10047 
New Hampshire           Robert L. Mc Dermott         1631 
New Hampshire           Reginald R. Wright           8942 
New Jersey              Samuel J. Bardach             132 
New Jersey              William A. Goode              809 
New Jersey              John M. Kirwan               8867 
New Jersey              John G. Mooney                711 
New Mexico              Michael L. Alford            3271 
New Mexico              Manuel G. Evaro              4384 
New Mexico              James H. Ferguson           C o A 
New York                Ralph U. De Marco           C o A 
New York                Melvin Garrett               6396 
New York                William E. Mc Garr           6196 
New York                Karl R. Rohde                1374 
New York                Harold C. Steiger             161 
North Carolina          Amon F. Harris               6018 
North Carolina          Cecil E. Sanders              891 
North Carolina          James O. Ward                3074 
North Dakota            Reynold L. Buchholz          6831 
North Dakota            Robert G. Rudd               7564 
Ohio                    Gary B. Bentfeld             2799 
Ohio                    Clifford M. Christensen      7340 
Ohio                    George M. Householder        2595 
Ohio                    John R. Johnson              8850 
Ohio                    John Mc Donald                451 
Ohio                    Gerald E. Mc Millen          8586 
Oklahoma                Charles R. Horne             9969 
Oklahoma                James H. Mitchell            3916 
Oregon                  Robert L. George             3973 
Oregon                  Edwin L. Williams           10644 
Pacific Areas           Kenneth W. Schaefer          2485 
Pennsylvania            Carmen A. De Santi            129 
Pennsylvania            Robert E. Durovey            7842 
Pennsylvania            Anthony Filardi              1394 
Pennsylvania            George W. Mullen             4480 
Pennsylvania            Joseph M. Salvo              5267 
Rhode Island            John A. Bucci               10011 
Rhode Island            Pasco A. De Palo              329 
South Carolina          Frazer S. Hammarlund        10420 
South Carolina          Teofilo Rivas                 641 
South Dakota            Darrell K. Foell             3342 
South Dakota            William A. Hollmann          7319 
South Dakota            Earl R. Schultz                17 
Tennessee               Larry L. Dalton              1289 
Tennessee               Ramsey P. Locke              5066 
Tennessee               David H. Wilson              4848 
Texas                   C W. Buchanan                3892 
Texas                   R E. Lord                   10351 
Texas                   Manuel O. Rivas              8782 
Utah                    Sanford Rosenthal            3586 
Vermont                 Denis B. Backus              2571 
Vermont                 Bradley F. Reynolds           798 
Virginia                John E. Saunders             4809 
Virginia                Rodney L. Smith               176 
Virginia                Ralph D. Stephens             392 
Washington              George C. Berthiaume          969 
Washington              Dennis J. Greenwalt         11446 
Washington              Charles E. Vitiritti, Jr     9430 
West Virginia           James M. Burkhart            1212 
West Virginia           Eugene E. Patrick            3856 
Wisconsin               Ralph O. Heese               1691 
Wisconsin               Arthur H. Schultz             305 
Wisconsin               James R. Weber               2260 
Wisconsin               Bruce E. Wiese               8057 
Wyoming                 A L. Ellefson                7756 
Wyoming                 William H. Saunders           579 


                       COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS 

              Chairman: Richard Trombla, Post 1174, Kansas 

Department              Name                     Post No. 

California              Edwin L. Myers               9814 
Delaware                Elwood B. Rickards           7234 
Illinois                James L. Mascola             3580 
Minnesota               James H. Kennedy             3877 
Missouri                James H. Willis               534 


                    COMMITTEE ON CONVENTION RULES 

     Chairman: Clyde A. Lewis, Past Commander-in-Chief, New York 
 Vice Chairman: James L. Kimery, Past Commander-in-Chief, New Mexico 
    Vice Chairman: Ray R. Soden, Past Commander-in-Chief, Illinois 

           (Room 151E, Salt Palace Convention Center) 321