[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11010-11011]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF COMMANDER HAROLD CHAPMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LEE M. ZELDIN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 17, 2017

  Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
Harold Chapman, a resident of New York's First Congressional District 
and the 73rd AMVETS National Commander. Commander Chapman's unyielding 
work for both his country and fellow veterans exemplifies public 
service, and should be appropriately revered and respected. In light of 
his years of distinguished service to the United States and her people, 
I am proud to offer this statement in honor of Commander Harold 
Chapman.
  Commander Chapman is an honorably discharged veteran of the United 
States Air Force, with his Vietnam War-era service including 18 months 
in the Pacific Theater, as well as postings at air bases in California 
and Texas. Following his honorable discharge, Commander Chapman began 
his service at the AMVETS Department of New York, taking command of 
AMVETS New York Post 18 in 1995. Remarkably, Commander Chapman went on 
to hold each chair in sequence at the AMVETS Department of New York 
before taking command of the entire department and its more than 70 
posts in 2002.
  Following his two terms as New York's representative to AMVETS' 
National Executive Committee, in 2008, Commander Chapman became the 
head of AMVETS District I. This

[[Page 11011]]

impressive next step saw Commander Chapman oversee all AMVET members 
and Posts in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, 
Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. While in command of 
District I, Commander Chapman's admirable efforts to grow AMVETS 
membership throughout his district merited him an award from AMVETS 
National Headquarters, in addition to previously being recognized as 
the Department of New York's AMVET of the Year.
  Today, Commander Chapman travels the nation to hear directly from 
AMVETS members on a variety of issues and deliver their important 
concerns directly to the White House, Secretary of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and Congressional leaders in both the Senate and 
House of Representatives. As an essential voice in Washington for 
veterans across the United States, Commander Chapman insists that 
aiding and protecting our veterans should always be one of our top 
priorities.
  Mr. Speaker, Commander Harold Chapman's dedication to public service 
and commitment to helping our nation's veterans must be commemorated. 
Commander Chapman has always put his country before himself, and it is 
both an honor and privilege to serve as his Representative in Congress.

                          ____________________