[House Document 108-19]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-19


 
                   PROCEEDINGS OF THE 84TH 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 84TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN 
 LEGION, HELD IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA FROM AUGUST 27, 28, AND 29, 
    2002 AND A REPORT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 
           PRECEDING THE CONVENTION, PURSUANT TO 36 U.S.C. 49




 January 27, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                       The American Legion,
                                  Washington, DC, January 22, 2003.
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 84th annual National Convention held in 
Charlotte, North Carolina from August 27, 28, and 29, 2002 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

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
National Conventions and Officers of The American Legion, 1919-
  2002...........................................................    xi

Tuesday Session--August 27, 2002.................................     1

Call to Order--National Commander Richard Santos.................     1
Invocation--National Chaplain Dr. David F. Russell...............     1
Address--Sherry McLaughlin, National President, American Legion 
  Auxiliary......................................................     5
Presentations:
    Spirit of Service Awards.....................................     8
    The American Legion Youth Champions..........................    10
Addresses:
    Honorable Anthony Principi, Secretary of the Department of 
      Veterans Affairs...........................................    12
    LTG Bryan D. Brown, Commanding General, U.S. Army Special 
      Operations Command.........................................    17
    Major Mark Mitchell, Special Operations Ground Commander.....    20
    Chief Warrant Officer Don Tabron, Operations Pilot, Air 
      Mission Commander..........................................    21
Presentation--Certificate of Merit to LTG Bryan D. Brown.........    23
Addresses:
    Honorable Melvin Watt, U.S. House of Representatives.........    24
    Honorable Walter Jones, U.S. House of Representatives........    24
    Honorable Robin Hayes, U.S. House of Representatives.........    25
    Honorable Sue Myrick, U.S. House of Representatives..........    27
    Patrick Cannon, Mayor Pro Tempore of Charlotte, NC...........    28
    Connie Stevens, ``Military Tribute to Bob Hope''.............    29
    Anthony Hope, Son of Bob Hope................................    32
    Mary Van Duke, Team Captain, Team American Legion............    33
    Kay Coles James, Director, U.S. Office of Personnel 
      Management.................................................    36
    Dr. Gail Wilensky, Co-Chair, President's Taskforce...........    40
Greetings--Letter of Greeting, Honorable Jesse Helms, United 
  States Senate..................................................    44
Addresses:
    Milton Woodle, Past Commander, Department of North Carolina..    44
    Jerry Hedrick, President, The American Legion Nat'l 
      Convention Corporation of North Carolina...................    45
Report--Major Gen. Patrick Brady (USA Ret.), Chrmn., Citizens 
  Flag Alliance..................................................    46
Address--Major Gen. Nels Running, Executive Director, Korean War 
  50th Anniversary Committee.....................................    49
National Commander's Convention Report...........................    51
Reading of Convention Call--National Adjutant Robert Spanogle....    55
Presentations:
    Certificate of Appreciation to Nat'l Chaplain, Dr. David F. 
      Russell....................................................    57
    Plaque of Appreciation to San Antonio, TX for hosting 83rd 
      Convention.................................................    58
Addresses:
    Steve Laws, National Commander, Sons of The American Legion..    58
    Bob Cassels, Dominion President, Army, Navy and Air Force 
      Veterans in Canada.........................................    60
    Gen. Gong Yi-Min, Secretary General, Veterans' Affairs 
      Commission, Republic of China..............................    61
Presentation--International Amity Award to Gen. Gon Yi-Min, 
  Republic of China..............................................    62
Addresses:
    Ian Cannell, Chairman, Royal British Legion..................    62
    Wilfred Edmond, Dominion Vice President, Royal Canadian 
      Legion.....................................................    64
    Gen. Lee Sang Hoon (Ret.), President, Korean Veterans 
      Association................................................    66
Presentations of International Amity Award to:
    Commodore Artemio Araguay, Rep. of the Philippines...........    67
    Patrick J. Ganio, Sr.........................................    68
Reports of Committees:
    Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section I..................    68
    Legislation and Rules........................................    70
    Finance......................................................    71

Wednesday Session--August 28, 2002...............................    73

Call to Order--National Commander Richard Santos.................    73
Special Presentation--Marie Osmond, Co-Founder/CEO, Children's 
  Miracle Network................................................    74
Special Address--Tom Ridge, Assistant to the President for 
  Homeland Security..............................................    77
Presentations:
    National Commander Santos to Senator Robert Dole, National 
      Fundraising Chairman, National World War II Memorial.......    83
    American Legion Distinguished Service Award to Honorable Bob 
      Stump, U.S. House of Representatives.......................    86
    Col. Mike Lovitt, Public Relations Director, Nat'l Committee 
      for Employer Support of The Guard and Reserve..............    87
Report--Committees on Employment and Veterans' Preference & Other 
  Economic Matters...............................................    92
Presentation--Employer of the Year Awards for Hiring Veterans....   118
Report--Committee on Americanism.................................   120
Presentations:
    William Randolph Hearst Americanism Trophy...................   137
    The American Legion National Law Officer of the Year Award...   138
    Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion....   139
Report--Committee on Children and Youth..........................   141
Awards:
    Garland E. Murphy, Jr. Award.................................   148
    Child Welfare Legacy Award...................................   148
Report--Committee on Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section 
  III............................................................   149
Presentation--Department Membership Awards.......................   150
Report--Committee on Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation.........   151
Presentation--William F. Lenker National Service Trophy..........   188
Report--Committee on Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section II   189
Presentation--National Emergency Fund Raising Award..............   196
Report--Committee on Constitutional Amendments...................   197

Thursday Session--August 29, 2002................................   206

Call to Order--National Commander Richard Santos.................   206
Address--Honorable Thomas E. White, Secretary of the Army........   206
Presentation--Fourth Estate Award................................   213
Reports of Committees:
    Foreign Relations............................................   214
    National Security............................................   225
Final Remarks--National Commander Santos.........................   271
Presentation--National Vice Commanders to Outgoing National 
  Commander......................................................   273
Election of National Commander...................................   276
Address--National Commander, Ronald F. Conley....................   286
Election of National Vice Commanders.............................   289
Benediction--Outgoing National Chaplain, Dr. David F. Russell....   294
Annual Awards....................................................   296
Foreword, National Adjutant Robert W. Spanogle...................   307
Excerpts from the Constitution of The American Legion............   307
National Executive Committee.....................................   309
Reports of National Vice Commanders:                                312
    Russ Hanseter, Wisconsin.....................................   312
    Charles R. John, Oklahoma....................................   314
    Terry D. Lewis, Pennsylvania.................................   315
    James F. Mareschal, Missouri.................................   317
    Dale R. Salmen, Nevada.......................................   318
Reports:
    National Chaplain............................................   320
    National Historian...........................................   322
    National Judge Advocate......................................   324
    Administrative Services......................................   334
        Library and Museum.......................................   334
        Internet Operations......................................   337
        Information Technology...................................   338
    Americanism Commission.......................................   339
        Counter-Subversive Activities Committee..................   343
        Education Committee......................................   343
    Children & Youth Commission..................................   345
        American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc............   358
    Convention Commission........................................   360
    Economic Commission..........................................   361
        Employment Committee.....................................   365
        Veterans Preference Committee............................   365
    Finance Commission...........................................   366
        Emblem Committee.........................................   367
        American Legion Insurance Committee......................   367
    Foreign Relations Commission.................................   369
    Internal Affairs Commission..................................   373
        Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials Committee...............   374
        Resolutions Assignment Committee.........................   374
        Constitution and By-Laws Committee.......................   374
        Membership and Post Activities Committee.................   374
        The Sons of The American Legion..........................   377
    Legislative Commission.......................................   379
    National Security Commission.................................   405
        Aerospace Committee......................................   410
        Defense Civil Preparedness Committee.....................   410
        Law and Order Committee..................................   411
        Merchant Marine Committee................................   411
        Military Affairs Committee...............................   412
        National Security Council................................   412
        Naval Affairs Committee..................................   413
    Public Relations Commission..................................   413
    American Legion Magazine Commission..........................   415
    Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission...............   416
    Report of the National President of the American Legion 
      Auxiliary..................................................   439
    Consolidated Financial Statements with Supplementary 
      Information................................................   448



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