[House Document 108-157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-157
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PROCEEDINGS OF

85th NATIONAL

CONVENTION of the

                AMERICAN
                LEGION

                
                

                          St. Louis, Missouri

                           August 26-28, 2003

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108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-157


 
   PROCEEDINGS OF THE 85TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION


                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                          THE AMERICAN LEGION

                              transmitting

 THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF THE AMERICAN LEGION 
  PROCEEDINGS OF THE 85TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN 
 LEGION, HELD IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI FROM AUGUST 26, 27, AND 28, 2003 
 AND A REPORT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR PRECEDING 
                THE CONVENTION, PURSUANT TO 36 U.S.C. 49




 February 4, 2004.--Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                       The American Legion,
                                  Washington, DC, February 4, 2004.
Hon. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In compliance with current public law we 
herewith transmit for printing as a House document a financial 
statement and independent audit of The American Legion, 
proceedings of our 85th annual National Convention held in St. 
Louis, Missouri from August 26, 27, and 28, 2003 and a report 
on our organization's activities for the year preceding the 
convention.
            Sincerely,
                                        Steve A. Robertson,
                         Director, National Legislative Commission.


                            C O N T E N T S

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                                                                   Page
National Conventions and Officers of The American Legion, 1919-
  2003...........................................................    IX

Tuesday Session--August 26, 2003
Call to Order--National Commander Ron Conley.....................     1
Invocation--National Chaplain Rev. Norris A. Keirn...............     1
Remarks--National Commander Ron Conley...........................     2
Address--Elsie Bailey, National President, American Legion 
  Auxiliary......................................................     2
Presentations:
    Spirit of Service Awards.....................................     5
    The American Legion Youth Champions..........................     7
Addresses:
    MG Michael D. Rochelle, Commanding General, U.S. Army 
      Recruiting Command.........................................    10
    Honorable Bob Holden, Governor of the State of Missouri......    11
    Honorable Francis G. Slay, Mayor of St. Louis, MO............    13
    Clark E. Pointer, Commander, Department of Missouri..........    13
    James F Mareschal, President, American Legion Nat'l 
      Convention Corporation of Missouri.........................    14
Special Presentation--To Tom Lowe, President, First American 
  Financial Services.............................................    14
Addresses:
    Honorable Robert R. Simmons, U.S. House of Representatives...    15
    MG John Herring (USA Ret.), Secretary, American Battle 
      Monuments Commission.......................................    17
National Commander's Convention Report...........................    18
Address: Honorable Christopher Bond, United States Senate........    25
Reading of Convention Call--National Adjutant Robert Spanogle....    27
Presentation--Plaque of Appreciation to Charlotte, NC for hosting 
  84th Convention................................................    29
Address--Neal Warnken, National Commander, Sons of The American 
  Legion.........................................................    29
Greetings:
    Raymond Musgrave, President General, National Society, Sons 
      of the American Revolution.................................    30
    Bob Cassels, Dominion President, Army, Navy and Air Force 
      Veterans in Canada.........................................    30
    Jack Frost, Dominion Vice President, Royal Canadian Legion...    32
Reports of Committees:
    Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section I..................    33
    Legislation and Rules........................................    35
    Finance......................................................    36
Address--Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States    37

Wednesday Session--August 27, 2003
Call to Order--National Commander Ron Conley.....................    43
Addresses:
    Vice Admiral James Metzger, Asst. to the Chairman, Joint 
      Chiefs of Staff............................................    44
    Honorable Christopher Smith, U.S. House of Representatives...    47
    Honorable Jim Marshall, U.S. House of Representatives........    51
    Honorable Timothy Murphy, U.S. House of Representatives......    55
Awards:
    Garland E. Murphy, Jr. Award.................................    58
    Child Welfare Foundation Legacy Award........................    58
Addresses:
    Honorable Ciro Rodriguez, U.S. House of Representatives......    59
    Honorable Anthony Principi, Secretary of the Department of 
      Veterans Affairs...........................................    62
    Mike Shannon, Co-Founder/CEO, Children's Miracle Network.....    66
Presentation--American Legion Distinguished Service Award to Drs. 
  Jeanne and Steven Stellman.....................................    67
Report--Major Gen. Patrick Brady (USA Ret.) Chrman, Citizens Flag 
  Alliance.......................................................    68
Addresses:
    CPT Richard Stratton (USN, Ret.), Former POW.................    72
    Gen. Teng Tsu-lin, Chairman (Ret.), Veterans' Affairs 
      Commission, Republic of China..............................    73
Report--Committees on Employment and Veterans' Preference and 
  Other Economic Matters.........................................    75
Presentations
    Employer of the Year Awards for Hiring Veterans..............    78
    Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) of the Year 
      Award......................................................    79
    Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) of the Year Award..    79
    Employment Service Officer of the Year Award.................    80
Addresses:
    LuWanda Ford, Founder, Pocket Flag Project...................    80
    Rex Loesby, President, Colorado Yule Marble..................    82
Report--Committee on Americanism.................................    83
Presentations:
    Frank N. Belgrano Jr. Trophy.................................    85
    Ralph T. O'Neil Education Trophy.............................    85
    William Randolph Hearst Americanism Trophy...................    85
    The American Legion National Law Officer of the Year Award...    85
    Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion....    86
Report--Committee on Children and Youth..........................    87
Addresses:
    Honorable Anita Yeckel, Missouri State Senate................    88
    Honorable Russell Carnahan, Missouri House of Representatives    89
Report--Committee on Credentials and Other Membership Matters, 
  Section III....................................................    89
Presentation--Department Membership Awards.......................    90
Report--Committee on Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation.........    91
Presentation--William F. Lenker National Service Trophy..........   102
Reports:
    Committee on Credentials and Other Internal Matters, Section 
      II.........................................................   102
    Committee on Constitutional Amendments.......................   105

Thursday Session--August 28, 2003
Call to Order--National Commander Ron Conley.....................   107
Presentation--Fourth Estate Award................................   107
Statement of Support--Craig Duehring, Principal Deputy Asst. 
  Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Employer Support of 
  The Guard and Reserve..........................................   108
Reports:
    Committee on Foreign Relations...............................   109
    Committee on National Security...............................   114
Final Remarks--National Commander Conley.........................   129
Address--Letter from Honorable Tom Daschle, United States Senate.   131
Presentation--National Vice Commanders to Outgoing National 
  Commander......................................................   132
Election of National Commander...................................   133
Address--National Commander, John A. Brieden, III................   140
Election of National Vice Commanders.............................   144
Greetings--Katherine Morris, President, American Legion Auxiliary   149
Benediction--Outgoing National Chaplain, Rev. Norris A. Keirn....   150

                                Appendix

Annual Awards....................................................   151

                 The American Legion 85th Annual Report

Forward, National Adjutant Robert W. Spanogle....................   159
Excerpts from the Constitution of the Amerian Legion.............   160
National Executive Committee.....................................   163
Reports of National Vice Commanders:
    Jefferson P. Luginbuel, Jr., Colorado........................   164
    Roy L. Kirkham, Louisiana....................................   165
    Robert M. Johnson, Maryland..................................   167
    Robert G. Bournival, New Hampshire...........................   168
    Donovan Ray Mason, South Dakota..............................   170
Reports:
    National Chaplin.............................................   172
    National Historian...........................................   173
    National Judge Advocate......................................   174
    Administrative Services......................................   184
        Library and Museum.......................................   185
        Internet Operations......................................   187
        Information Technology...................................   188
    Americanism Commission.......................................   188
        Counter-Subversive Activities Committee..................   192
        National Committee on Education..........................   193
    Children & Youth Commission..................................   195
        American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc............   207
    Convention Commission........................................   209
        Economic Commission......................................   210
        Employment Committee.....................................   213
        Veterans Preference Committee............................   214
    Finance Commission...........................................   215
        Emblem Committee.........................................   215
        American Legion Insurance Committee......................   216
    Foreign Relations Commission.................................   218
    Internal Affairs Commission..................................   222
        Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials Committee...............   222
        Resolutions Assignment Committee.........................   223
        Constitution and By-Laws Committee.......................   223
        Membership and Post Activities Committee.................   223
        The Sons of The American Legion..........................   225
    Legislative Commission.......................................   227
        National Security Commission.............................   255
        Aerospace Committee......................................   260
        Defense Civil Preparedness Committee.....................   260
        Law and Order Committee..................................   261
        Merchant Marine Committee................................   262
        Military Affairs Committee...............................   262
        National Security Council................................   263
        Naval Affairs Committee..................................   263
Public Relations Commission......................................   263
American Legion Magazine Commission..............................   265
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission...................   266
Report of the National President of the American Legion Auxiliary   291
Consolidated Financial Statements with Supplementary Information.   295



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