[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Page 28692]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM J. ROGERS

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I wish today to extol the enormous 
legacy of selfless service, contribution, and, above all, patriotism of 
an extraordinary Mainer and American, William J. Rogers, and to 
recognize with the highest esteem the American Legion Post in Auburn, 
ME, founded by Bill and his fellow veterans, which will be 
appropriately named the ``William J. Rogers American Legion Post 153'' 
in his honor on November 29, 2009. This fitting accolade pays tribute 
to an individual who devoted his life to serving and defending our 
country, as well as tirelessly advocating for those who placed their 
lives in harm's way on our behalf--our courageous veterans.
  Bill was one of the great sons of my hometown of Auburn, ME, where my 
roots run deep. In fact, on a personal note, I am proud to say we both 
graduated from the same high school, Edward Little. As fate would have 
it, years later, I enjoyed the pleasure of having Bill and his lovely 
wife, Connie, as wonderful neighbors of mine on Nottingham Road.
  As a young man, Bill answered his country's call to serve during 
World War II and joined the U.S. Navy, training to be a pilot at the 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill along with Boston Red Sox 
legends, Ted Williams and Johnny Pesky Bill's roommate. As a naval 
aviator, Bill fought heroically and was awarded the Air Medal and 
Presidential Unit Citation for his wartime service, having deployed to 
fight in the Pacific, where he valiantly flew F6F Hellcats and Lockheed 
Venturas.
  While Bill departed from active military service in 1946, his 
commitment to veterans and a lifetime of advocacy on their behalf was 
just beginning. Bill was a founding member of American Legion Post 153 
in Auburn, where he held several offices at both the local and State 
levels including adjutant, vice commander, and department commander. On 
the national level, Bill became Maine's national executive 
committeeman, a member of the liaison committee to the National Public 
Relations Commission, and from 1965 to 1966 national vice commander. In 
1976, Bill received the tremendous distinction of being elected 
national commander of the American Legion, the first national commander 
from the State of Maine--and we could not have been more proud.
  Traveling more than 300,000 miles throughout the world in all 50 
States and 17 countries, Bill was the voice of Legionnaires and 
veterans, meeting with leaders such as President Ford and President 
Carter. Maine and our Nation could not have had a better champion for 
the American Legion and our brave and noble veterans than Bill Rogers.
  Throughout his life, in word and deed, Bill placed service above self 
and country above self-interest. He held sacred our country's 
obligation to stand by those who have stood by us, and I cannot imagine 
a more perfect testament to this outstanding Mainer and American who 
placed such a high premium on contributing to our Nation than to name 
Auburn's American Legion Post after him.

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