[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 131 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9989-S9990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ANTHONY JORDAN, NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with a tremendous sense of 
pride and great pleasure to inform my colleagues that a citizen of the 
great State of Maine has been elected national commander of the 
American Legion.
  As many in this Chamber are aware, the American Legion recently held 
its 79th national convention in Orlando, FL. At the conclusion of that 
convention, a Maine legionnaire, Anthony Jordan, of Augusta, was 
elected national commander.
  To be selected by your peers to such a prestigious post is a 
significant accomplishment. For his home State, for his family, for his 
American Legion post in Wiscasset, ME, and for the thousands of Maine 
veterans it is a singular honor.
  Mr. President, the American Legion chose wisely when it selected Mr. 
Jordan to lead this organization for the next year. Let me just tell 
you a bit about Mr. Jordan's background.
  Tony Jordan served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965. He joined the 
American Legion, our Nation's largest veterans organization, in 1971. 
Mr. Jordan demonstrated an unusual level of personal commitment and 
leadership in making his commitment to the work of the American Legion, 
both at the State and the national level.
  For example, he served as post commander in Wiscasset and as vice 
commander of the American Legion Department of Maine. He also served as 
chairman of the Legion's national membership and post activities 
committee. He chaired the Foreign Relations Council and the National 
Security Commission.
  In addition, Mr. Jordan also contributed to the Legion as a member of 
the National Legislative Commission and as liaison to the National 
Finance Commission.

[[Page S9990]]

  Finance, foreign relations, national security--that is an impressive 
and diverse range of committee appointments that make him well 
qualified to head the American Legion. But the Legion also knew that, 
when it asked Tony Jordan to take charge, this was an important time 
for the American Legion and for America's veterans.
  Tony Jordan has expressed strong personal sentiments in favor of the 
constitutional amendment to protect the American flag. Our flag is the 
symbol for everything for which our Nation stands. Mr. Jordan is 
standing with those who believe in the integrity of the flag and what 
it represents--freedom and justice, ideals for which our Nation's 
veterans risk and, in some cases, gave their lives.
  Mr. Jordan is also outspoken in his support of a GI bill of health, 
the American Legion's response to the challenges being faced by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans across this country as they 
seek to fulfill the promise we made to ensure that our veterans have 
access to quality health care.
  These are only a few examples, Mr. President, of what Mr. Jordan has 
done on behalf of his country and its largest veterans organization. I 
know my colleagues will agree that the American Legion chose wisely and 
well when it elected Anthony Jordan of Augusta, ME, as its national 
commander. I wish him well in the challenging year ahead.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant 
legislative clerk proceeded to call.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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