[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 127 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MARGARET VINSON HALLGREN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2002

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Margaret 
Vinson Hallgren, President of the National Military Family Association, 
NMFA, in recognition of her distinguished service to our country.
  For 18 years, while filling critical volunteer positions within NMFA, 
including four terms as director of government relations and an 
unprecedented six terms as president, Margaret has worked tirelessly to 
help partially offset the extraordinary hardships and sacrifices 
service members and their families endure while serving our Nation.
  Margaret Hallgren, whom I have the honor of knowing personally, has 
been a military family member all her life, first as an Army 
“brat,” then as an Army spouse. She is the widow of an 
active duty Army officer, W.H. Vinson, Jr., and is now married to Hal 
E. Hallgren, who retired after 30 years of active duty in the U.S. 
Army. She has four grown children and nine grandchildren.
  After earning her B.A. degree from Vassar College and a Masters of 
Accounting from Duke University in Political Science/International Law, 
Margaret worked for 2 years as an Intelligence Analyst for the Central 
Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Washington, DC.
  Margaret later went on to an incredible career at the National 
Military Family Association, NMFA, where she has touched the lives of 
hundreds of thousands of active duty, National Guard, Reserve, and 
retired families in her unwavering efforts to enable them to achieve a 
reasonable quality of life. It is an understatement to say that 
Margaret has been in the vanguard of Congress’ and the Department 
of Defense's actions to sustain readiness and the All Volunteer Force.
  Among her numerous accomplishments, perhaps her biggest achievement 
comes from her visionary work as one of the 12 original cofounders of 
the Military Coalition, TMC. The Coalition was organized in 1985 for 
the sole purpose of attempting to repeal legislation which would have 
reduced retired pay cost-of-living adjustments by 22.5 percent over a 
7-year period. After TMC's successful effort in this area, Margaret and 
other leaders in the Coalition had the foresight to recognize its 
future potential and kept it intact. Today, the Coalition is comprised 
of 33 military and veterans organizations and represents more than 5.5 
million active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired members and 
veterans of the seven uniformed services plus their families and 
survivors. Thanks to Margaret's insight, NMFA continues to be a leader 
in TMC on issues affecting military families.
  Mr. Speaker, Margaret Hallgren's extraordinary career of leadership, 
volunteerism and personal dedication in protecting the welfare and 
quality of life of every member of the uniformed services community is 
an inspiration and continuing lesson to all Americans. My best wishes 
and gratitude go with her. Margaret, I salute you on behalf of all our 
servicemen and women, past and present who have worn and continue to 
wear the uniform.

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