[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 27 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1736-S1737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 12--REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES 
 POSTAL SERVICE ISSUE A COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP HONORING THE 100TH 
  ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE 
                             UNITED STATES

  Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Roth, Mr. 
Frist, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Kerry, Mr. 
DeWine, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Helms, Mr. Robb, 
Mr. Cleland, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Abraham, Mr. 
Akaka, Mr. Allard, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Chafee, 
Mr. Craig, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mr. 
Fitzgerald, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Gramm, Mr. Gregg, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Stevens, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Specter, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Warner, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Reid, Mr. Inhofe, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
Biden, Mr. Grams, Mr. Lott, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Lautenberg, 
Ms. Snowe, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Crapo, and Mrs. Lincoln) submitted 
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Governmental affairs:

                            S. Con. Res. 12

       Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
     (hereinafter in this resolution referred to as the ``VFW''), 
     which was formed by veterans of the Spanish-American War and 
     the Philippine Insurrection to help secure rights and 
     benefits for their service, will be celebrating its 100th 
     anniversary in 1999;
       Whereas members of the VFW have fought, bled, and died in 
     every war, conflict, police action, and military intervention 
     in which the United States has engaged during this century;
       Whereas, over its history, the VFW has ably represented the 
     interests of veterans in Congress and State Legislatures 
     across the Nation and established a network of trained 
     service officers who, at no charge, have helped millions of 
     veterans and their dependents to secure the education, 
     disability compensation, pension, and health care benefits 
     they are rightfully entitled to receive as a result of the 
     military service performed by those veterans;
       Whereas the VFW has also been deeply involved in national 
     education projects, awarding nearly $2,700,000 in 
     scholarships annually, as well as countless community 
     projects initiated by its 10,000 posts; and
       Whereas the United States Postal Service has issued 
     commemorative postage stamps honoring the VFW's 50th and 75th 
     anniversaries, respectively: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress requests that the United 
     States Postal Service issue a commemorative postage stamp in 
     1999 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 
     Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, on behalf of my principal cosponsor, 
Senator Inouye, and myself, I am proud to submit a resolution 
requesting that the United States Postal Service issue a commemorative 
postage stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (``VFW''), which will be 
celebrating its centennial in September of this year. We are pleased to 
be joined by 56 of our colleagues in support of this measure.
  As a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary post in Caribou, ME, and as 
the daughter of a World War II veteran who was wounded twice in combat, 
I am honored to lead the charge for this worthwhile legislation.
  This measure is intended to pay special tribute to all members of the 
VFW, past and present, who pledged their honor and their lives to 
defend the United States and who fought bravely in foreign lands so 
that we as a nation might live in freedom. These are our true American 
patriots, for they have demonstrated a profound commitment to the 
principles of our Founding Fathers not in mere words, but in their 
deeds. When their country called, they answered, and they fought to 
keep the American way of life safe and secure.
  As an organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars traces its roots 
back to 1899. Veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine 
Insurrection returned home from intense fighting abroad and were 
greeted with a hero's welcome. Over time, the memory of wartime 
sacrifice faded in the minds of many Americans, but not for the men who 
carried with them permanent battle scars, prolonged illnesses, and 
other grim reminders of war.
  Absent a single Government agency possessing responsibility for 
veterans, and facing neglect, these brave men banded together to 
establish a handful of local organizations intended to help secure 
medical care and pensions for their military service. These original 
foreign service organizations, located in Ohio, Colorado, and 
Pennsylvania, gradually grew in number and influence and in 1914 came 
to be known collectively as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States.
  Mr. President, it was several years later, on June 24, 1921, when the 
VFW's chapter in my home State of Maine was chartered. Today, there are 
84 VFW posts in Maine to which over 16,000 veterans belong.
  Those small groups of veterans who organized in 1899 have today grown 
to over 2 million strong. VFW members have fought and died in every 
war, conflict, and military intervention in which the United States has 
been engaged during this century. From factory workers to occupants of 
the White House, the VFW members and its Ladies Auxiliary have come to 
represent a cross section of American society, and each new generation 
of veterans has brought renewed strength and dedication to the VFW's 
founding principles.
  As the 21st century approaches, the VFW's members continue to live by 
the organization's creed of ``Honor the dead by helping the living.'' 
They do so by representing the interests of veterans across the Nation 
through an established network of trained service officers who, at no 
charge, help millions of veterans and their dependents secure the 
educational benefits, disability compensation, pension, and health care 
services that they are rightfully entitled to as a result of their 
distinguished service to our Country.
  The VFW also has a long and proud tradition of supporting troops 
deployed overseas. From letter-writing campaigns in World War I, to 
``Welcome

[[Page S1737]]

home'' rallies after the Persian Gulf war, to providing care packages, 
to USO shows and, more recently, to providing free telephone cards 
enabling servicemen and women to call loved ones from their posts in 
Bosnia, the VFW continues to provide comfort and a touch of home to 
those men and women stationed far away.
  The endeavors of the VFW, however, go well beyond the realm of 
``veterans helping veterans.'' In fact, service to the broader American 
community has always been a pillar of the VFW foundation.
  Through the VFW's Community Service Program, members of its 10,000 
posts serve local communities, States, and the Nation with all of the 
integrity, ingenuity, and loyalty that have characterized the 
organization since its inception. During the past program year, for 
example, the VFW, working side by side with its Ladies Auxiliary, 
contributed nearly 13 million hours of volunteer service and donated 
nearly $55 million to a variety of community projects. Commitment to 
worthy causes such as the March of Dimes, the Keep America Beautiful 
campaign, and many other volunteer organizations also continues to be a 
hallmark of service among VFW members.
  The promotion of patriotism is another hallmark of the VFW's history. 
Since the beginning of its Americanization Committee in 1921, the VFW 
has actively taught traditional values to Americans both young and old. 
Today, teaching respect for the flag is a primary activity, as is 
educating children in the classroom about the critical role that 
veterans have played throughout our history.
  The interests of today's youth are also met by VFW posts around the 
Nation through active support for drug prevention programs, the Boy 
Scouts of America, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and 
sponsorship of competitors in both the Junior and Special Olympics. The 
VFW has also recently commemorated 50 years of helping high school 
students attend college. Because of VFW support, in fact, America's 
young people annually receive more than $2.6 million in scholarships.
  The VFW deserves public national recognition for these efforts and 
for its many other contributions to improving the lives of our Nation's 
veterans and enhancing American society as a whole. Although as a 
country we can never fully repay the debt we owe to these brave men and 
women, we can certainly strive to honor the vision which led them into 
battle to protect the principles America holds dear.
  We must uphold the memories of their heroic acts with respect, with 
reverence, and with our heartfelt admiration. By requesting that the 
U.S. Postal Service issue a commemorative stamp honoring the VFW's 
100th anniversary, as was done for its 50th and 75th anniversaries, we 
can take a small step toward remembering their service and showing our 
deep appreciation for their unwavering commitment to our country, both 
in peacetime and in times of conflict. This, I believe, would be a 
much-deserved tribute to the VFW and its more than 2 million veterans 
of overseas service.
  Mr. President, I am very pleased to note that you are a cosponsor of 
this important measure.
 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, the resolution before the Senate 
today requesting that the United States Postal Service issue a 
commemorative postage stamp for the 100th anniversary of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States will honor our veterans who have 
so courageously fought in every war, conflict, police action, and 
military intervention since the Spanish-American War in 1899.
  Members of the VFW have helped millions of veterans secure the 
education, disability compensation, pension, and health care benefits 
that veterans are rightfully entitled to receive as a result of their 
military service.
  With over 2 million members the VFW has also been deeply involved in 
community service projects designed to encourage service in the local 
community benefiting education, the environment, health services, civic 
pride, and community betterment. For example, the VFW's Voice of 
Democracy essay competition provides over $2.7 million in college 
scholarships annually to promising young students. The VFW's Safety 
Program conducts programs in home, auto, and bicycle safety, as well as 
programs dealing with drug awareness and substance abuse. Clearly, the 
VFW with over 10,000 posts continues to make valuable and significant 
contributions to our communities across the country.
  In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the VFW I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution to commemorate our veterans for 
their service.

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