[House Document 109-8]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

109th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 109-8

 
   PROCEEDINGS OF THE 86TH 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 86TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN 
 LEGION, HELD IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE FROM AUGUST 31, SEPTEMBER 1, AND 
  2, 2004 AND A REPORT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 
           PRECEDING THE CONVENTION, PURSUANT TO 36 U.S.C. 49




February 17, 2005.--Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                       The American Legion,
                                 Washington, DC, February 17, 2005.
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 86th annual National Convention held in 
Nashville, Tennessee from August 31, September 1, and 2, 2004 
and a report on our organization's activities for the year 
proceeding 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-
  2004...........................................................    IX

Tuesday Session--August 31, 2004
Call to Order--National Commander John Brieden III...............     1
Invocation--National Chaplin Rev. William J.P. Doubek............     1
Presentations:
    The American Legion Youth Champions..........................     3
    Spirit of Service Awards.....................................     6
Remarks--National Commander John Brieden.........................     9
Address--Katherine Morris, National President, American Legion 
  Auxiliary......................................................     9
Addresses:
    Honorable R.L. Brownlee, Acting Secretary of the Army........    10
    Honorable Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of 
      Veterans Affairs...........................................    14
    Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States.....    16
    Honorable Jim Cooper, U.S. House of Representatives..........    20
    Honorable Bill Purcell, Mayor of the City of Nashville, TN...    23
Greetings:
    Jennings B. Loring, President, American Legion Convention 
      Corp. of TN................................................    24
    Bascom Barrett, 2003-4 Department Commander, The American 
      Legion of TN...............................................    24
National Commander's Convention Report...........................    25
Reading of Convention Call--National Adjutant Robert Spanogle....    30
Presentation--Certificate of Appreciations to National Chaplain 
  Doubek.........................................................    32
Presentation--Plaque of Appreciation to St. Louis, MO for hosting 
  85th Convention................................................    33
Remarks--Neal Warnken, Past National Commander, Sons of The 
  American Legion................................................    34
Address--Michael Deacon, National Commander, Sons of The American 
  Legion.........................................................    34
Greetings--Bob Cassels, Dominion President, Army, Navy and Air 
  Force Veterans in Canada.......................................    35
Address--Dan Kurzman, Author.....................................    36
Report of Committees--Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section I    38
Greetings--Lt. Genl. Gong Yi-Min, Veterans Affairs Commission, 
  Republic of China..............................................    40
Reports of Committees:
    Legislation and Rules........................................    41
    Finance......................................................    42

Wednesday Session--September 1, 2004
Call to Order--National Commander John Brieden...................    45
Addresses:
    Gen. Richard B. Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.......    46
    Lt. Gen. Stephen Blum, Chief, National Guard Bureau..........    50
    Honorable Tom Ridge, Secretary, Department of Homeland 
      Security...................................................    54
    Honorable Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee...............    60
    Honorable Jerry Jennings, Deputy Asst. Secretary of Defense, 
      POW/Missing Personnel Affairs..............................    61
Special Address--Senator John Kerry, Democratic Candidate for 
  President......................................................    64
Greetings--John Furgess, Commander-in-Chief, Veterans of Foreign 
  Wars of the U.S................................................    71
Special Report--Flag Amendment Campaign, Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady 
  (ret.), Chrmn., Citizens Flag Alliance.........................    73
Address--James Weiskopf, VP for Communications, Fisher House 
  Foundation.....................................................    78
Grettings--John Alger, Dominion Vice President, Royal Canadian 
  Legion.........................................................    81
Report--Committees on Employment and Veterans' Preference & Other 
  Economic Matters...............................................    83
Presentations:
    Employer of the Year Awards for Hiring Veterans..............   111
    Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) of the Year 
      Award......................................................   112
    Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) of the Year Award..   113
    Employment Service Officer of the Year Award.................   113
Report--Committee on Americanism.................................   114
Presentations:
    Frank N. Belgrano Jr. Trophy.................................   132
    Ralph T. O'Neil Education Trophy.............................   132
    William Randolph Hearst Americanism Trophy...................   133
    The American Legion National Law Officer of the Year Award...   134
    Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion....   135
Report--Committee on Children and Youth..........................   136
Awards:
    Garland E. Murphy, Jr. Award.................................   143
    Child Welfare Foundation Legacy Award........................   143
Report--Committee on Credentials and Other Membership Matters, 
  Section III....................................................   144
Presentations:
    Department Membership Awards.................................   145
    National Emergency Fund Awards...............................   147
Report--Committee on Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation.........   149
Presentation--William F. Lenker National Service Trophy..........   197
Reports:
    Committee on Credentials and Other Internal Matters, Section 
      II.........................................................   197
    Committee on Constitutional Amendments.......................   202

Thursday, Session--September 2, 2004
Call to Order--National Commander John Brieden...................   205
Presentation--Fourth Estate Award................................   205
Reports:
    Committee on Foreign Relations...............................   207
    Committee on National Security...............................   220
Final Remarks--National Commander Brieden........................   270
Presentation--National Vice Commanders to Outgoing National 
  Commander......................................................   276
Election of National Commander...................................   286
Address--National Commander, Thomas P. Cadmus....................   287
Election of National Officers....................................   291
Greetings--Sandy Dutton, President, American Legion Auxiliary....   295
Benediction--Outgoing National Chaplain, Rev. William J.P. Doubek   296

                                Appendix

Annual Awards....................................................   298

                 The American Legion 85th Annual Report

Foreword, National Adjutant Robert W. Spanogle...................   309
Excerpts from the Constitution of The American Legion............   309
National Executive Committee.....................................   311
Reports of National Vice Commanders:
    Richard G. Denbow, Iowa......................................   313
    Michael Helm, Nebraska.......................................   315
    Fang A. Wong, New York.......................................   316
    Clinton E. Thompson, North Carolina..........................   318
    Todd E. White, Wyoming.......................................   319
Reports:
    National Chaplain............................................   322
    National Historian...........................................   324
    National Judge Advocate......................................   325
    Administrative Services......................................   336
        Library and Museum.......................................   337
        Internet Operations......................................   339
        Information Technology...................................   340
    Americanism Commission.......................................   340
        Counter-Subversive Activities Committee..................   345
        National Committee on Education..........................   345
    Children & Youth Commission..................................   347
        American Legion Child Welfare Foundations, Inc...........   356
    Convention Commission........................................   362
    Economic Commission..........................................   363
        Employment Committee.....................................   366
        Veterans Preference Committee............................   366
    Finance Commission...........................................   367
        Emblem Committee.........................................   368
        American Legion Insurance Committee......................   368
    Foreign Relations Commission.................................   371
    Internal Affairs Commission..................................   375
        Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials Committee...............   376
        Resolutions Assignment Committee.........................   376
        Constitution and By-Laws Committee.......................   376
        Membership and Post Activities Committee.................   376
        The Sons of The American Legion..........................   378
    Legislative Commission.......................................   380
    National Security Commission.................................   402
        Aerospace Committee......................................   407
        Defense Civil Preparedness Committee.....................   408
        Law and Order Committee..................................   409
        Merchant Marine Committee................................   409
        Military Affairs Committee...............................   410
        National Security Council................................   410
        Naval Affairs Committee..................................   411
    Public Relations Commission..................................   411
    American Legion Magazine Commission..........................   413
    Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission...............   413
    Report of the National President of the American Legion 
      Auxiliary..................................................   437
    Consolidated Financial Statements with Supplementary 
      Information................................................   441



