[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO LOUISE CHASE, COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, DEPARTMENT 
                            OF PENNSYLVANIA

  Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, on April 18, 1998, the Pennsylvania 
American Legion will honor its State Commander, Louise Chase, a World 
War II Navy veteran, who was elected Commander at the conclusion of the 
79th convention on July 20, 1997. She is the first woman commander of 
the Department of Pennsylvania in its 80 year history.
  In 1979, Commander Louise Chase was elected as the Department of 
Pennsylvania's first woman vice commander. She has served twice as 
District Commander. Her Legion service also includes terms as Adjutant 
of Philadelphia County and the Eastern Judicial Section, two terms as 
Post Commander and 12 years as Adjutant of Tioga Post 319. She has also 
served as the organization's state legislative chairman and twice as 
chairman of the Select Committee on Economics and Benefits, as well as 
chairman of several other committees.
  She is one of only two Pennsylvania Legionnaires to have served on 
committees of the two National Conventions held in Pennsylvania. She 
served for 16 years as the Eastern Regional Vice Chairman of the United 
States Service Academies Selection Committee for Senators John Heinz 
and Harris Wofford.
  Commander Chase served in the U.S. Navy, with duty posting in 
Washington, D.C. during World War II.
  Her family has a long tradition of service to America dating from the 
Civil War, including her brother Tom who saw sea duty with the U.S. 
Navy off Cuban waters during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Her late father 
personally worked with the original astronauts while they were in 
training at the Johnsville Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, 
Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
  Her business career includes serving as controller and office manager 
of Philadelphia's prestigious Germantown Cricket Club for 13 years; 
controller of a construction company, plus manager of two of its high 
rise apartment buildings for 10 years; and manufacturers' 
representative for paper container companies for five years. She 
recently retired as an international marketing representative of a 
major computer manufacturer.
  Her husband, Joseph, was Pennsylvania American Legion Commander in 
1991-1992. The two live in Horsham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
  Madam President, I congratulate Commander Louise Chase for her 
service to the veterans of Pennsylvania. I am certain that the 
Testimonial Dinner being held in her honor on April 18, 1998 will be a 
fitting tribute to her years of service to The American Legion, 
veterans, and to her country.

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