[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22940]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      ALLIED VETERANS OF THE WORLD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
organization of military veterans that works hard to take care of its 
own by supporting the Veterans Administration's health care services. 
It is my privilege to introduce the work of the Allied Veterans of the 
World to my fellow Members of Congress.
   Allied Veterans of the World was founded in 1979 as the 451st Bomber 
Group by Commander-in-Chief Harold Grossman. It became the first 
organized veteran group in Florida by incorporating under the name 
Bomber Group 451st.
   For the next 10 years, this small group of veterans donated items to 
the VA domiciliary and aided senior citizens in its Florida area by 
providing transportation for veterans to the VA hospital. The members 
realized they could make a bigger impact if they opened the 
organization to all veterans. So in 1989, they formed under the name 
Allied Veterans of the World.
   Today, led by National Commander Johnny Duncan, Allied Veterans 
raises funds through bingo, car washes, cookouts and cyber centers. All 
funds directly benefit veteran or first responder organizations.
   National Commander Duncan states, ``Our veterans deserve the best 
medical attention possible, and we understand the challenges their 
health care system faces today. We are proud to be assisting the VA 
volunteers and medical professionals with funds that will help them 
better serve our healing veterans.''
   Allied Veterans has contributed to VA hospitals in Florida, 
Mississippi, North Carolina and Georgia supplementing federal programs 
for veterans such as recreation therapy, therapeutic supplies and 
homeless veterans programs.
   In my district in Northeast Florida, the Allied Veterans have 
purchased flags of all the services to be used in our local hospices so 
that when a veteran is admitted into a program, his or her service flag 
stands watch at the veteran's door. This is a meaningful gesture very 
much appreciated by the veteran and his or her family members. The 
program allows the hospice staff a final chance to display honor and 
appreciation for the veteran's service. Allied Veterans of the World 
has donated over a million dollars to projects through VA medical 
centers, Fraternal Order of Police chapters, and other organizations 
that support veterans and first responders.
   It is my honor to commend the Allied Veterans of the World and its 
National Commander Johnny Duncan and National Secretary Jerry Bass on a 
job well done.
   Surely, this organization lives up to its motto Veterans helping 
Veterans.

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