[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 103 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO MR. RAY G. SMITH, AMERICAN LEGION NATIONAL COMMANDER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2000

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Ray G. 
Smith.
  Ray will be sworn in as the National Commander of the American Legion 
at their annual convention today. No one is more deserving of this 
honor than Ray G. Smith. As a 45-year member of the American Legion, he 
has steadily gained the respect of Legionnaires all across the country.
  Like me, Ray grew up in Johnston County, North Carolina. He joined 
the Air Force in 1951 and saw active duty during the Korean War. He 
served in the 20th Air Force, 19th Bomb Wing at Anderson Air Force Base 
in Guam, where his specialized training in engineering required him to 
spend much of his time during the war traveling throughout the Pacific 
and Southeast Asia.
  Ray's military service did not end when he left active duty in 1955. 
He spent four years in the active Air Force Reserves and was honorably 
discharged in 1959. On September 7, 1955, the day after he was 
discharged from the Air Force, Ray became a member of the American 
Legion. Since then, he has risen steadily through the ranks. Ray has 
held numerous offices at the post, district, department and national 
levels, including North Carolina Department Commander in 1979 and 
National Vice Commander in 1988.
  Ray's campaign for National Commander has taken the better part of 
two years and sent him all over the country. Being named National 
Commander of the American Legion is an enormous responsibility, but 
Ray's dedication and years of loyal service have proven that no one is 
more capable or worthy of this high honor. Only the second North 
Carolinian to serve as national commander, Ray will oversee an 
organization that has grown to 2.8 million strong since it was created 
by Congress in 1919. As National Commander, one of Ray's main duties 
will involve working with us here in Congress to ensure that those who 
have sacrificed so much for our country receive the benefits they have 
earned.
  As a veteran of the United States Army myself, I look forward to 
working with Ray and all members of the American Legion on issues that 
are important to veterans. As we celebrate Ray's swearing in today, let 
us each take a moment to honor our veterans. For each of us, freedom is 
a way of life, a legacy left to us by our nation's founders. This 
freedom is costly. America owes veterans a debt of gratitude for their 
sacrifices. It is the service of these genuine American heroes that has 
helped make this country great.
  Mr. Speaker, no one is more qualified to represent and lead these 
heroes than my friend Ray G. Smith.

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