[DOCID: f:hd020.104]
From the House Documents Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]

                  PROCEEDINGS OF THE

             95th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE

               VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

                 OF THE UNITED STATES

                 [SUMMARY OF MINUTES]
                                   104th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - 
                                   - - - - - - - - - House Document 104-
                                   20

               Las Vegas, Nevada : : : August 21-26, 1994

  


                                     

        104th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House 
Document 104-20


                         P R O C E E D I N G S

                                 of the
 
         95TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

                          OF THE UNITED STATES



                          [SUMMARY OF MINUTES]



                           Las Vegas, Nevada



                           August 21-26, 1994


<GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>

  March 16, 1994.--Referred to the Committee on National Security and 
                         ordered to be printed
  
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

     Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States,
                                           Kansas City, MO,
                                                  October 24, 1994.
Hon. Thomas S. Foley,
The Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In conformance with provisions of Public 
Law No. 620, 90th Congress, approved October 22, 1968, I am 
transmitting to you herewith the proceedings of the 95th 
National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, August 21-26, 1994, 
which is submitted for printing as a House document.
            Sincerely,
                                           Larry W. Rivers,
                                                  Adjutant General.


                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
Annual Memorial Service, Sunday, August 21, 1994:
    Call to Order................................................     1
    Advance of Colors............................................     1
    Invocation...................................................     1
    In Memoriam..................................................     3
    Introduction of Speaker......................................     3
    Memorial Address.............................................     4
    Introduction of Colonel Archie T. Roberts....................    15
    Presentation of the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor     16
      Bronze Medallion.
    Benediction..................................................    18
    Retiring of Colors...........................................    18
Joint Opening Session, Monday, August 22, 1994:
    Advancement of Colors........................................    20
    Invocation...................................................    20
    Welcome......................................................    21
    Introduction--The Honorable Jan Jones, Mayor, City of Las        23
      Vegas.
    Greetings--The Honorable Jan Jones, Mayor, City of Las Vegas.    24
    Introduction--The Honorable Bob Miller, Governor of State of     26
      Nevada.
    Response--The Honorable Bob Miller...........................    28
    Presentation of American Flag Sets...........................    30
    Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Cramer....................    31
    Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation.........    38
    Response--Ladies Auxiliary President Juanita Crowe...........    40
    Introduction--Helen Putnam Blackwell.........................    41
    Introduction--General Ray Davis, USMC (Ret.), Chairman of the    41
      Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board.
    Response--General Raymond Davis..............................    44
    Introduction--Lieutenant General Claude Kicklighter, USA,        49
      (Ret.).
    Response--Lieutenant General Claude M. Kicklighter, Chairman     50
      of the 50th Anniversary of World War II Commemorative 
      Committee.
    Introduction of Adjutant General Vander Clute................    61
    Response--Adjutant General Vander Clute......................    64
    Introduction--1994 National Voice of Democracy Winner........    67
    Voice of Democracy Winner--Nathaniel Bennett.................    69
    Introduction--Ian McDonough, Vice-President, Returned            73
      Servicemen's League--South Australian.
    Response--Ian McDonough......................................    74
    Introduction of the Supreme Commander of the MOC, Glen           75
      Maroney.
    Remarks--MOC Supreme Commander Glen Maroney..................    76
    Introduction of Professor Teh-Shaun Hung, VACRS..............    80
    Response--Professor Teh-Shaun Hung...........................    80
    Introduction of Dr. William Bennett..........................    85
    Keynote Speech--Dr. William Bennett..........................    86
    Introduction of General Tae-wan Chang, Korean Veterans          101
      Association.
    Remarks by General Tae-wan Chang, President of the Korean       102
      Veterans Association.
    Recess.......................................................   104
Distinguished Guests Banquet, August 22, 1994:
    Invocation...................................................   105
    Pledge of Allegiance.........................................   105
    Introduction of Master of Ceremonies.........................   105
    Presentation of Commander-in-Chief's Gold Medal of Merit.....   110
    Response--Mr. Robert Stack...................................   113
    Presentation of VFW Americanism Award, Gold Medal and           115
      Citation.
    Response--Mr. Gerald McRaney.................................   118
    Presentation of the Dwight David Eisenhower Distinguished       119
      Service Medal and Citation.
    Response and Principal Address--The Honorable Deane R. Hinton   121
    Benediction..................................................   131
    Recess.......................................................   131
First Business Session, Tuesday Morning, August 23, 1994:
    Call to Order................................................   132
    Salute to the Colors.........................................   132
    Opening Prayer...............................................   132
    Report of Credentials Committee..............................   134
    Report of Committee on Convention Rules......................   134
    Presentation of VFW News Media Award, Gold Medal and Citation   139
    Response--Mr. Joseph Goulden.................................   141
    Introduction--The Honorable Jesse Brown, Secretary of           146
      Veterans Affairs.
    Address--The Honorable Jesse Brown, Secretary of Veterans       147
      Affairs.
    Presentation of VFW Hall of Fame Award, Gold Medal and          158
      Citation.
    Response--Mr. Peter Graves...................................   162
    Presentation--VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation...........   165
    Response--The Honorable G.V. Montgomery......................   168
    Presentation of VFW Distinguished Service Award, Gold Medal     184
      and Citation.
    Response--Comrade William Radigan, Sr........................   186
    Presentation--VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation...........   188
    Response--Lieutenant General William G. Pagonis..............   191
    Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure    195
      and Ritual.
    Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization.....   210
    Introduction--Diane Carlson Evans, Vietnam Women's Memorial     235
      Project.
    Remarks by Diane Carlson Evans...............................   236
    Report of Committee on Americanism and Community Activities..   239
    Winners of Insurance Drawing.................................   263
    Recess.......................................................   264
Second Business Session, Wednesday Morning, August 24, 1994:
    Call to Order................................................   265
    Salute to the Colors.........................................   265
    Opening Prayer...............................................   265
    Report of Credentials Committee..............................   266
    Introduction of Eileen Fulton, March of Dimes National          266
      Spokesperson and Honorary Member, Board of Trustees.
    Response--Eileen Fulton......................................   268
    Presentation of the J. Edgar Hoover Award, Gold Medal and       274
      Citation.
    Response--Ms. Mayra Fausett..................................   277
    Presentation of VFW Emergency Services Award, Gold Medal and    278
      Citation.
    Response--Mr. Thomas Korlin..................................   280
    Presentation of the VFW Aviation and Space Award, Gold Medal    285
      and Citation.
    Response--Colonel Thomas Akers...............................   287
    Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.   290
    Report of POW/MIA Subcommittee...............................   295
    Presentation by the PAC Committee............................   307
    Introduction--Harry G. Summers, Jr., Cowles History Group....   308
    Remarks by Colonel Harry G. Summers..........................   309
    Presentation of Life Membership to Major Buddy Merritt.......   318
    Response by Major Buddy Merritt..............................   319
    Presentation to Adjutant General Vander Clute................   320
    Response by Adjutant General Vander Clute....................   323
    Presentation of VFW Armed Forces Award, Gold Medal and          326
      Citation.
    Response--General Needham....................................   328
    Report of Committee on Veterans Service......................   333
    National Marching Units and Parade Committee Winners.........   367
    Report of Committee on Veterans Service (Cont'd.)............   369
    Report of Committee on General Resolutions...................   372
    Presentation of Buddy Poppy Display Winners..................   383
    Winners of Insurance Drawing.................................   417
    Recess.......................................................   418
Third Business Session, Thursday Morning, August 25, 1994:
    Call to Order................................................   419
    Salute to the Colors.........................................   419
    Pledge of Allegiance.........................................   419
    Opening Prayer...............................................   419
    Report of Credentials Committee..............................   419
    Introduction--General Wilma Vaught, President, Women in         420
      Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc.
    Remarks--General Wilma Vaught................................   421
    Presentation of James C. Gates Distinguished Service Award...   427
    Response--Mr. James Edge.....................................   429
    Winners of Insurance Drawing.................................   432
    Presentation--National Large Employer of the Year............   433
    Response--Mr. Daniel Grafton.................................   435
    Visit of Ladies Auxiliary Delegation.........................   437
    Presentation of Distinguished Service Award, Gold Medal and     442
      Citation.
    Response --Past Commander-in-Chief John Carney...............   444
    Presentation of VFW Small Employer of the Year Award.........   448
    Response--Comrade George Whitmill............................   450
    Presentation of the National Employment Service Office Award.   452
    Response--Mr. James Mason....................................   454
    Presentation by Department of the Treasury, U.S. Savings Bond   456
      Division.
    Response--Mr. Kenneth Burch..................................   456
    Presentation of VFW Outstanding VA Health Care Provider of      460
      the Year Award.
    Response--Mr. Charles Bouley.................................   461
    Presentation of VFW Outstanding Community Health Care           462
      Provider Award.
    Response--Dr. Murray T. Pritchard............................   464
    Presentation of VFW Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award..   465
    Response--Mr. Daniel W. Moore................................   467
    Presentation of VFW Post Service Officer Award...............   467
    Response--Comrade John J. Speckman...........................   469
    Introduction--Mr. Mike Lynch, General Manager, Help             470
      Hospitalized Veterans.
    Remarks--Comrade Mike Lynch..................................   471
    Introduction of Past Commanders-in-Chief.....................   473
    Recognition of National Sergeants-at-Arms....................   475
    Visit of National Home Representatives.......................   478
    Remarks by 1994-95 Buddy Poppy Child.........................   481
    Nomination of Officers.......................................   483
    Nomination of Commander-in-Chief.............................   484
    Nomination of Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief.................   486
    Nomination of Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief.................   489
    Nomination of Quartermaster General..........................   491
    Nomination of Judge Advocate General.........................   494
    Nomination of Surgeon General................................   498
    Nomination of National Chaplain..............................   501
    Salute to the Colors.........................................   503
    Closing Prayer...............................................   503
    Recess.......................................................   503
Fourth Business Session Friday Morning, August 26, 1994:
    Call to Order................................................   504
    Salute to Colors and Pledge of Allegiance....................   504
    Opening Prayer...............................................   504
    Final Report of Credentials Committee........................   505
    Completion of Convention Business............................   506
    Nominations for National Home Trustees.......................   507
    Election of Officers.........................................   508
    Announcement of Council Members-Elect........................   528
    Announcement of Appointments by Commander-in-Chief-Elect.....   530
    Installation of Officers.....................................   531
    Presentation of Past Commander-in-Chief Lapel Pin and Gold      539
      Life Membership Card.
    Acceptance Address by Commander-in-Chief Kent................   540
    Parade of Transmittals/Report of New Posts...................   556
    Closing Ceremonies...........................................   556
    Retiring of Colors...........................................   557
    Closing Prayer...............................................   557
    Adjournment..................................................   558
              VFW NATIONAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, 1993-94

Commander-in-Chief...............................................
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief...................................
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief...................................
Adjutant General.................................................
Quartermaster General............................................
Judge Advocate General...........................................
Surgeon General..................................................
National Chaplain................................................
National Chief of Staff..........................................
Inspector General................................................
Assistant Adjutant General, Administration.......................
Assistant Adjutant General, Programs.............................
Assistant Quartermaster General..................................
Director, Accounting.............................................
Director, Administrative Services................................
Director, Americanism & Community Activities.....................
Director, Emblem & Supply Department.............................
Director, General Services.......................................
Director, Insurance Programs.....................................
Director, Marketing Services.....................................
Director, Membership.............................................
Director, National Convention....................................
Director, Post Development.......................................
Director, Post Services & Buddy Poppy............................
Director, Publications & Public Affairs & Editor,
  VFW Magazine...................................................
Director, Purchasing & Life Membership...........................
Director, VFW Properties, Kansas City............................
Director, Voice of Democracy & Youth Activities & Safety.........
Administrative Assistant to Adjutant General.....................
Assistant Adjutant General & Executive Director,
  Washington Office..............................................
Director, National Legislative Service...........................
Director, National Security & Foreign Affairs....................
Director, Political Action Committee.............................
Director, Public Affairs, Washington Office......................
Director, Veterans Employment....................................
Director, VFW Properties, Washington.............................
National Service Officer & Director,
  National Veterans Service......................................
Administrative Assistant to Washington Office....................
      REGIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS, 1993-94

District 1 (ME, NH, VT)..........................................
District 2 (MA, CT)..............................................
District 3 (MD, RI)..............................................
District 4 (DC, DE, EU)..........................................
District 5 (IN, MO)..............................................
District 6 (VA, WV)..............................................
District 7 (TN, KY)..............................................
District 8 (GA, AL)..............................................
District 9 (SC, NC)..............................................
District 10 (OK, AR).............................................
District 11 (WI, IA).............................................
District 12 (SD, ND, WY).........................................
District 13 (NE, KS).............................................
District 14 (MT, WA, ID).........................................
District 15 (NM, CO, AZ).........................................
District 16 (PC, PAC, AK, HI)....................................
District 17 (UT, NV, OR).........................................
District 19 (LA, MS).............................................
District A (Pennsylvania)........................................
District B (Illinois)............................................
District C (New York)............................................
District D (Ohio)................................................
District E (Minnesota)...........................................
District F (Michigan)............................................
District G (California)..........................................
District H (Texas)...............................................
District I (New Jersey)..........................................
District J (Florida).............................................
Past Commander-in-Chief..........................................
<GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>

<GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>

              VFW NATIONAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, 1994-95

Commander-in-Chief...............................................
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief...................................
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief...................................
Adjutant General.................................................
Quartermaster General............................................
Judge Advocate General...........................................
Surgeon General..................................................
National Chaplain................................................
National Chief of Staff..........................................
Inspector General................................................
Assistant Adjutant General, Administration.......................
Assistant Adjutant General, Programs.............................
Assistant Quartermaster General..................................
Director, Accounting.............................................
Director, Administrative Services................................
Director, Americanism & Community Activities.....................
Director, Emblem & Supply Department.............................
Director, General Services.......................................
Director, Insurance Programs.....................................
Director, Marketing Services.....................................
Director, Membership.............................................
Director, National Convention....................................
Director, Post Development.......................................
Director, Post Services & Buddy Poppy............................
Director, Publications & Public Affairs & Editor,
  VFW Magazine...................................................
Director, Purchasing & Life Membership...........................
Director, VFW Properties, Kansas City............................
Director, Voice of Democracy, Youth Activities & Safety..........
Administrative Assistant to Adjutant General.....................
Assistant Adjutant General & Executive Director,
  Washington Office..............................................
Director, National Legislative Service...........................
Director, National Security & Foreign Affairs....................
Director, Political Action Committee.............................
Director, Public Affairs, Washington Office......................
Director, Veterans Employment....................................
Director, VFW Properties, Washington.............................
National Serivice Officer & Director,
  National Veterans Service......................................
Administrative Assistant to Washington Office....................
      REGIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS, 1994-95

District 1 (ME, NH, VT)..........................................
District 2 (MA, CT)..............................................
District 3 (MD, RI)..............................................
District 4 (DC, DE, EU)..........................................
District 5 (IN, MO)..............................................
District 6 (VA, WV)..............................................
District 7 (TN, KY)..............................................
District 8 (GA, AL)..............................................
District 9 (SC, NC)..............................................
District 10 (OK, AR).............................................
District 11 (WI, IA).............................................
District 12 (SD, ND, WY).........................................
District 13 (NE, KS).............................................
District 14 (MT, WA, ID).........................................
District 15 (NM, CO, AZ).........................................
District 16 (PC, PAC, AK, HI)....................................
District 17 (UT, NV, OR).........................................
District 19 (LA, MS).............................................
District A (Pennsylvania)........................................
District B (Illinois)............................................
District C (New York)............................................
District D (Ohio)................................................
District E (Minnesota)...........................................
District F (Michigan)............................................
District G (California)..........................................
District H (Texas)...............................................
District I (New Jersey)..........................................
District J (Florida).............................................
Past Commander-in-Chief..........................................
  
   COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

(Including societies that amalgamated to form Veterans of Foreign Wars)

    The American Veterans of Foreign Service and the Army of 
the Philippines amalgamated at Denver, Colorado, August 1913, 
forming the Veterans of Foreign Wars as it is today. However, 
the birth of the order dates from September 29, 1899, when the 
first national officers were elected and the eligibility clause 
adopted. The original charter as granted October 11, 1899.

                  American Veterans of Foreign Service                  
                        The * indicates deceased                        
1899-1900    James C. Putnam *............  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.  
1900-1901    Maj. Will S. White *.........  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.  
1901-1902    Maj. Will S. White *.........  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.  
1902-1903    James Romanis *..............  Elected at Washington       
                                             Courthouse, Ohio.          
1903-1904    James Romanis *..............  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1904-1905    James Romanis *..............  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1905-1906    George Metzger *.............  Elected at Altoona,         
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1906-1907    Charles H. Devereaux *.......  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1907-1908    David T. Nevin *.............  Elected at Jamestown,       
                                             Virginia.                  
1908-1909    J. Alfred Judge *............  Elected at Lebanon,         
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1909-1910    J. Alfred Judge *............  Elected at Pittsburgh,      
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1910-1911    Robert G. Woodside *.........  Elected at Jersey City, New 
                                             Jersey.                    
1911-1912    Robert G. Woodside *.........  Elected at Philadelphia,    
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1912-1913    Robert G. Woodside *.........  Elected at Pittsburgh,      
                                             Pennsylvania.              
                                                                        


                  American Veterans of Foreign Service                  
                            (Eastern Branch)                            
                        The * indicates deceased                        
1903-1904    Capt. Robert S. Hansbury *...  Elected at Altoona,         
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1904-1905    H. O. Kelly *................  Elected at Pittsburgh,      
                                             Pennsylvania.              
                                                                        


                         Army of the Philippines                        
                        The * indicates deceased                        
1900-1901    Gen. Francis V. Greene *.....  Elected at Denver, Colorado.
1901-1902    Gen. Irving Hale *...........  Elected at Salt Lake City,  
                                             Utah.                      
1902-1903    Gen. Irving Hale *...........  Elected at Council Bluffs,  
                                             Iowa.                      
1903-1904    Gen. Charles King *..........  Elected at St. Paul,        
                                             Minnesota.                 
1904-1905    Gen. Wilder S. Metcalf *.....  Elected at St. Louis,       
                                             Missouri.                  
1905-1906    Col. Alfred S. Frost *.......  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1906-1907    Gen. Arthur MacArthur *......  Elected at Des Moines, Iowa.
1907-1908    Capt. H. A. Crow *...........  Elected at Kansas City,     
                                             Missouri.                  
1908-1909    Maj. P. J. H. Farrell *......  Elected at Galesburg,       
                                             Illinois.                  
1909-1910    Col. Charles L. Jewett *.....  Elected at Pittsburgh,      
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1910-1911    A. H. Anderson *.............  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1911-1912    F. Warner Karling *..........  Elected at Detroit,         
                                             Michigan.                  
1912-1913    F. Warner Karling *..........  Elected at Lincoln,         
                                             Nebraska.                  
                                                                        


              Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States             
                        The * indicates deceased                        
1913-1914    Rice W. Means *..............  Elected at Denver, Colorado.
1914-1915    Thomas Crago *...............  Elected at Pittsburgh,      
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1915-1916    Gus Hartung *................  Elected at Detroit,         
                                             Michigan.                  
1916-1917    Albert Rabing *..............  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1917-1918    William Ralston *............  Elected at New York, New    
                                             York.                      
1918-1919    F. Warner Karling *..........  Elected at Minneapolis,     
                                             Minnesota.                 
1919-1920    F. Warner Karling *..........  Elected at Providence, Rhode
                                             Island.                    
1920-1921    Robert G. Woodside *.........  Elected at Washington, D.C. 
1921-1922    Robert G. Woodside *.........  Elected at Detroit,         
                                             Michigan.                  
1922-1923    Tillinghast Huston *.........  Elected at Seattle,         
                                             Washington.                
1923-1924    Gen. Lloyd M. Brett *........  Elected at Norfolk,         
                                             Virginia.                  
1924-1925    John H. Dunn *...............  Elected at Atlantic City,   
                                             New Jersey.                
1925-1926    Fred Stover *................  Elected at Tulsa, Oklahoma. 
1926-1927    Theodore Stitt *.............  Elected at El Paso, Texas.  
1927-1928    Frank T. Strayer *...........  Elected at Providence, Rhode
                                             Island.                    
1928-1929    Eugene P. Carver, Jr.*.......  Elected at Indianapolis,    
                                             Indiana.                   
1929-1930    Hezekiah N. Duff *...........  Elected at St. Paul,        
                                             Minnesota.                 
1930-1931    Paul D. Wolman *.............  Elected at Baltimore,       
                                             Maryland.                  
1931-1932    Darold D. DeCoe *............  Elected at Kansas City,     
                                             Missouri.                  
1932-1933    Adm. Robert E. Coontz *......  Elected at Sacramento,      
                                             California.                
1933-1934    James E. Van Zandt *.........  Elected at Milwaukee,       
                                             Wisconsin.                 
1934-1935    James E. Van Zandt *.........  Elected at Louisville,      
                                             Kentucky.                  
1935-1936    James E. Van Zandt *.........  Elected at New Orleans,     
                                             Louisiana.                 
1936-1937    Bernard W. Kearney *.........  Elected at Denver, Colorado.
1937-1938    Scott P. Squyres *...........  Elected at Buffalo, New     
                                             York.                      
1938-1939    Eugene I. Van Antwerp *......  Elected at Columbus, Ohio.  
1939-1940    Otis N. Brown *..............  Elected at Boston,          
                                             Massachusetts.             
1940-1941    Joseph C. Menendez *.........  Elected at Los Angeles,     
                                             California.                
1941-1942    Max Singer *.................  Elected at Philadelphia,    
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1942-1943    Robert T. Merrill............  Elected at Cincinnati, Ohio.
1943-1944    Carl S. Schoeninger *........  Elected at New York, New    
                                             York.                      
1944-1945    Jean A. Brunner *............  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1945-1946    Joseph M. Stack *............  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1946-1947    Louis E. Starr *.............  Elected at Boston,          
                                             Massachusetts.             
1947-1948    Ray H. Brannaman *...........  Elected at Cleveland, Ohio. 
1948-1949    Lyall T. Beggs *.............  Elected at St. Louis,       
                                             Missouri.                  
1949-1950    Clyde A. Lewis...............  Elected at Miami, Florida.  
1950-1951    Charles C. Ralls *...........  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1951-1952    Frank C. Hilton..............  Elected at New York, New    
                                             York.                      
1952-1953    James W. Cothran *...........  Elected at Los Angeles,     
                                             California.                
1953-1954    Wayne E. Richards *..........  Elected at Milwaukee,       
                                             Wisconsin.                 
1954-1955    Merton B. Tice *.............  Elected at Philadelphia,    
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1955-1956    Timothy J. Murphy *..........  Elected at Boston,          
                                             Massachusetts.             
1956-1957    Cooper T. Holt...............  Elected at Dalls, Texas.    
1957-1958    Richard L. Roudebush*........  Elected at Miami Beach,     
                                             Florida.                   
1958-1959    John W. Mahan................  Elected at New York, New    
                                             York.                      
1959-1960    Louis G. Feldmann............  Elected at Los Angeles,     
                                             California.                
1960-1961    T. C. Connell................  Elected at Detroit,         
                                             Michigan.                  
1961-1962    Robert E. Hansen.............  Elected at Miami Beach,     
                                             Florida.                   
1962-1963    Byron B. Gentry *............  Elected at Minneapolis,     
                                             Minnesota.                 
1963-1964    Joseph J. Lombardo *.........  Elected at Seattle,         
                                             Washington.                
1964-1965    John A. Jenkins *............  Elected at Cleveland, Ohio. 
1965-1966    Andy Borg....................  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1966-1967    Leslie M. Fry................  Elected at New York, New    
                                             York.                      
1967-1968    Joseph A. Scerra.............  Elected at New Orleans,     
                                             Louisiana.                 
1968-1969    Richard W. Homan.............  Elected at Detroit,         
                                             Michigan.                  
1969-1970    Raymond A. Gallagher.........  Elected at Philadelphia,    
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1970-1971    Herbert R. Rainwater *.......  Elected at Miami Beach,     
                                             Florida.                   
1971-1972    Joseph L. Vicites *..........  Elected at Dallas, Texas.   
1972-1973    Patrick E. Carr..............  Elected at Minneapolis,     
                                             Minnesota.                 
1973-1974    Ray R. Soden.................  Elected at New Orleans,     
                                             Louisiana.                 
1974-1975    John J. Stang................  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1975-1976    Thomas C. Walker.............  Elected at Los Angeles,     
                                             California.                
1976-1977    R. D. Smith, Jr..............  Elected at New York, New    
                                             York.                      
1977-1978    Dr. John Wasylik.............  Elected at Minneapolis,     
                                             Minnesota.                 
1978-1979    Eric Sandstrom...............  Elected at Dallas, Texas.   
1979-1980    Howard E. Vander Clute, Jr...  Elected at New Orleans,     
                                             Louisiana.                 
1980-1981    T. C. Selman *...............  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1980-1981    Arthur Fellwock..............  Succeeded T.C. Selman       
                                             October 21, 1980.          
1981-1982    Arthur Fellwock..............  Elected at Philadelphia,    
                                             Pennsylvania.              
1982-1983    James R. Currieo.............  Elected at Los Angeles,     
                                             California.                
1983-1984    Clifford G. Olson, Jr........  Elected at New Orleans,     
                                             Louisiana.                 
1984-1985    Billy Ray Cameron............  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1985-1986    John S. Staum................  Elected at Dallas, Texas.   
1986-1987    Norman G. Staab..............  Elected at Minneapolis,     
                                             Minnesota.                 
1987-1988    Earl L. Stock, Jr............  Elected at New Orleans,     
                                             Louisiana.                 
1988-1989    Larry W. Rivers..............  Elected at Chicago,         
                                             Illinois.                  
1989-1990    Walter G. Hogan..............  Elected at Las Vegas,       
                                             Nevada.                    
1990-1991    James L. Kimery..............  Elected at Baltimore,       
                                             Maryland.                  
1991-1992    Robert E. Wallace............  Elected at New Orleans,     
                                             Louisiana.                 
1992-1993    John M. Carney...............  Elected at Indianapolis,    
                                             Indiana.                   
1993-1994    George R. Cramer.............  Elected at Dallas, Texas.   
                                                                        

SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE 95TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS 
OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, AUGUST 21-26, 
                                  1994

                        ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE

                        SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 1994

    [The Memorial Service of the 95th Annual Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held at the Las 
Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, was called to order 
at 9:00 o'clock a.m., with Commander-in-Chief George R. Cramer, 
presiding. The Gold Star Parents, Gold Star Wives, National 
Officers and Past National Chaplains were escorted by the 
Sergeants-at-Arms.]

                             CALL TO ORDER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Sergeant-at-Arms, please prepare 
the hall for the advancement and posting of the Colors.

                           ADVANCE OF COLORS

    [Whereupon, the VFW National Honor Guard advanced the 
Colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.]

                               INVOCATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, comrades. The 
Reverend Harland M. Palmer will give the Opening Prayer.
    REVEREND HARLAND PALMER: Good morning. Shalom. Peace be 
unto you. We would like to welcome all the VIPs this morning. 
Of course, in the sight of God, we all are VIPs. In the book of 
Isaiah, Chapter 40, ``Even the youth shall faint and be weary, 
and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon 
the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with 
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they 
shall walk, and not faint.''
    Let us bow our heads in prayer, please. Almighty God, we 
ask a special blessing for this new day. We give thanks knowing 
that you are guiding and directing our paths. We look to you 
for our strength and our understanding.
    Heavenly Father, bless everyone here and bless all our 
dearly departed comrades. Bless our country, Lord, and may we 
help keep it free. And everyone said, ``Amen.'' Amen.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You may be seated. The Trinity 
Life Center Choir will now sing the ``Battle Hymn of the 
Republic.''
    [Whereupon, the Trinity Life Center Choir sang the ``Battle 
Hymn of the Republic''.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Led by the Soloist of the Ladies 
Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, 
we will join together in singing ``Nearer My God To Thee.''

                              IN MEMORIAM

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, Ladies of the 
Auxiliary and Friends: We have met at this time to commemorate 
our comrades of the United States Armed Forces who have 
answered the last call. The VFW Ritual provides that the 
audience shall refrain from applauding. The Chief of Staff will 
see that there is no disturbance during the ceremonies.
    NATIONAL CHIEF OF STAFF DARREL MILLER: Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, your order will be obeyed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I request the National Chaplain 
to preside.
    [National Chaplain Reverend Charles W. Edwards, Jr., 
presided during the Memorial Services performed by the National 
Officers in accordance with the Ritual.]
    [At the conclusion of the Memorial Service the Trinity Life 
Center Choir led the assembly in singing ``America.'']

                        INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: It is now a pleasure for me to 
introduce our special Memorial Service speaker, Brigadier 
General Arthur S. ``Sam'' Thomas, Deputy Chief of Air Force 
Chaplains, Headquartered in the United States Air Force, 
Washington, D.C.
    Chaplain Thomas is a native of Mankato, Minnesota, where he 
attended high school and college. A former enlisted member of 
the Minnesota National Guard, he enlisted in the Air Force in 
January 1955, and served as the Russian Language Specialist in 
Japan.
    After attending St. Procopius Seminary in Lisle, Illinois, 
Chaplain Thomas was ordained in 1965 as a priest for the 
diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota, where he served as a parish 
priest. In November 1968, he was commissioned as a Chaplain, 
First Lieutenant, and reported to March Air Force Base, 
California.
    As the Deputy Chief of Air Force Chaplains, he assists the 
Chief of Chaplains in directing and maintaining a trained, 
equipped and professional chaplain service, including more than 
2,300 active duty guard and reserve chaplains, enlisted to 
support personnel and civilians.
    As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, he and the 
other members serve as Advisors to the Secretary of Defense and 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff on religion, ethical and quality of 
life concerns.
    Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in giving a warm 
welcome to Brigadier General Arthur S. Thomas.
                            MEMORIAL ADDRESS

    CHAPLAIN BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS: Thank you. A Brigadier 
General I am, an Air Force Chaplain I am. I am not a pilot for 
Continental Airlines. This is our new uniform.
    Commander-in-Chief Cramer, Honored Guests, Members of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gold Star Parents: It is my honor to 
greet you this morning in the love and mercy of the God of all 
mercy and constellation. I feel very privileged to share in 
this meaningful service today, and I bring you greetings from 
the Chiefs of Chaplains of the Air Force, the Navy and the 
Army. All three of them greatly appreciate the sacrifices that 
you have made and the contributions that you continue to make 
as dedicated citizens and patriots of our great nation.
    I wish to begin my reflections this morning with a little 
story, a true story, and it is inspired by the VFW emblem. As 
all of you know, the Cross of Malta has a rich history. It has 
been worn with pride and honor for centuries. The banner on the 
emblem, as we share it in the VFW, says Pro Deo Patria, for God 
and country.
    This is a powerful sentiment which rightly joins patriotism 
with the vital spirit of faith. As is well known, this Maltese 
Cross was the mark of the Knights of Malta, officially known as 
the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, whose primary mission was 
to care for the injured crusaders and pilgrims in the Holy 
Land.
    The story I wish to share with you is about their finest 
hour which is, also, coincidentally, the account of their 
grimmest days. You see, in May 1565, the Knights of St. John 
were using the small Mediterranean Island of Malta as a base 
from which to attempt to stem the imperialistic advances of the 
powerful Turkish Empire.
    In May 1565, 40,000 experienced and merciless Turkish 
troops landed on the island to crush the brave members of this 
religious order. Facing them during a violent siege, which 
would last more than five months with more than a mere 8,000 
Christian soldiers, of whom about 700 were Knights.
    There were also a thousand local men, women and children 
who were there to help the defenders. With virtually unlimited 
resources, the Turks made attack after attack on the two small 
fortresses that sheltered the defenders. The fortress was Fort 
St. Elmo.
    Every day, 6,000 to 7,000 iron, marble cannonballs were 
hurled at the fort as its soft stone walls were pulverized. 
Every day, walls of men rushed forward to seize the stronghold. 
The Turks were certain a small fortress would fall within less 
than a week, but they had underestimated the courage and the 
commitment of the Knights. It was more than a month before St. 
Elmo fell.
    Preparing for their deaths, as the Turks massed for the 
final onslaught, the defenders used the small chaplain bell to 
signal their friends that they had made peace with God and were 
prepared for their final battle. The wounded, too injured to 
stand, were placed in chairs near the walls from which they 
opposed their foes with their final energies.
    The final grim battle for Fort St. Elmo, on the 31st day of 
the siege, lasted over an hour. At its close, the overwhelming 
Turkish force turned its attention to the remaining crusader 
fortress in Malta.
    As we pause today to remember and commemorate the lives and 
members of the armed forces of the United States who have gone 
ahead of us, it occurs to me that the members of the VFW have 
far more in common with the Knights of St. John than simply the 
shape of our emblem.
    Indeed, I would like to suggest this morning that you share 
at least three priceless characteristics which these soldiers, 
who so willingly sacrificed their lives in the defense of ours. 
And what are these qualities to which I refer?
    Along with the Knights of St. John, each of you display a 
generous degree of compassion, courage and commitment. To some 
of those outside the armed forces, it sounds contradictory to 
say that members of the profession of arms can be guided by 
compassion.
    But to those of us who are members of this distinctive 
family, it is so obvious. We know very well the love which 
reaches out to aid those in need. We take care of our own is 
more than simply an empty phrase. What is more, we take care of 
others in need, even when they are not our own.
    One needs to look not further than Bosnia or Rwanda, to see 
who it is who is there to help. When America is helping people 
around the globe, the Americans carrying food and medicine are 
almost always wearing a uniform like the one which each of you 
has brought credit to.
    We members of the military community have seen compassion 
in our midst with such frequency that I am ashamed to admit 
that most of us have taken it for granted. We have seen people 
make tremendous sacrifices, such as being separated from their 
loved ones for months at a time, so that people they have never 
even met are free to live in peace and security with their 
families.
    American citizens in uniform have willingly gone to foreign 
shores often at great personal cost, not to serve a selfish 
purpose, but rather they have journeyed to the fortress, 
beaches, jungles and deserts of the world to defend the people 
and defend that precious gift of freedom and liberty.
    Yes, compassion has motivated many that we have seen in our 
midst. Many of those in our number today here in this 
conference hall have been privileged to witness one of the 
greatest miracles of compassion and unselfishness that can ever 
be experienced by a human being.
    Though the memory is not without pain, it is all something 
very, very precious. Although the recollection of such 
sacrifices reminds us of the deep personal loss, I am convinced 
that those who have witnessed the death of a fallen comrade, 
life lives forever transformed and enriched by the sharing of 
that moment.
    For you, without a glimmer of a doubt have beheld ultimate 
compassion. There is a French proverb, ``Gratitude is the 
heart's memory.'' The gratitude that you feel today and every 
day for their sacrifices is the most fitting memorial that we 
can hope to offer.
    The acts of compassion worked by the VFW are as numerous as 
its members. In communities all over our nation, you are 
volunteering to work with troubled youth, homeless families, 
handicapped, and individuals, and virtually everyone who 
possesses a need.
    You are freely and generously contributing your resources 
and energy to make the United States and the world a better 
place. Why? Because you profit in some manner? Certainly, you 
are not only motivated by compassion, but you see the need and 
you respond.
    This willingness to respond, to act upon the compassion you 
feel when you recognize need is an evidence of the second 
quality you share with the defenders of Malta, courage. Many 
people recognize need and they simply immerse themselves more 
deeply in their selfish pursuits to drown out the cry.
    Others see the troubled state of the world about them and 
they flee for refuge to the false security of drugs or alcohol. 
But these are the paths of cowards. You, on the contrary, see 
the need, but instead of running away you face the fear and 
confront the darkness. Only a fool is never afraid or 
intimidated by the challenges facing them.
    George Patton said that in the heat of battle courage is 
fear, holding on a minute longer. And in a similar vein, Eddie 
Rickenbacker noted that courage is doing what you are afraid to 
do. There can be no courage unless you are scared. So, if you 
sometimes feel that the obstacles are too great to surmount, 
that is a test in some particular endeavors and will be 
impossible to attain, then take heart.
    Your courage can still prevail. Don't surrender when you 
know you are right. I will just share one example. As important 
as the issue is to many, in the current political climate, 
there are those who despair about ever gaining a full 
accounting of American POWs and MIAs from World War II, Korea 
and particular Vietnam.
    Most Americans, in fact, do not know how many thousands of 
sons, sisters, brothers and fathers these numbers represent. 
Yet, despite the times when calling for the fullest possible 
accounting appears a futile appeal, the VFW boldly continues to 
make this one of its primary goals. I commend you. I commend 
you for your concern, I commend you for your constancy, I 
commend you for your courage.
    The third quality you possess is commitment. In our day of 
instant gratification, it is anything but popular to say that 
something takes time; but it does. You the members of the VFW 
have proven that you are committed to what is right for the 
long haul. You don't leave the plow when the tilling gets 
rough.
    You understand what Adlai Stevenson meant when he said, 
``Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but 
the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.'' Yes, we all 
have been particularly moved when we have recited the Pledge of 
Allegiance or sung the National Anthem. Of course, we have had 
to catch our breath when we stood at the Tomb of the Unknown 
Soldier or the Vietnam War Memorial.
    Who wouldn't become emotional as they stroll through 
Arlington Cemetery? But we know all too well that such emotions 
don't last. They are simply precious moments. It is in the 
daily grind, the ongoing commitment to doing what is right that 
things get done.
    It perplexes me that the unbounded enthusiasm and 
patriotism which treated American veterans in the aftermath of 
the Gulf War evaporated so quickly. I don't doubt that it was 
sincere, yet it was based not on thoughtful commitment to 
principles involved, but simply on the emotions and the relief 
of the moment.
    That, and I believe, unfortunately a degree of national 
penitence for the mistreatment of the returning Vietnam 
veterans two decades earlier caused this sudden evaporation. By 
contrast, you as members of the VFW possess a profound and deep 
commitment to your beliefs, a commitment that you have in 
common with the defenders of the Malta more than four centuries 
ago, which reminds me I didn't finish the story about the 
Knights of Malta.
    You see, that siege of the island after the fall of St. 
Elmo continued during 1565. The crusader casualties were 
horrible as the months passed, conditions in their remaining 
strongholds deteriorated to the point where their hope was 
nearly gone.
    Yet, the Knights of Malta and their comrades remained 
steadfast. Strengthened by compassion, courage and commitment, 
they defied the overwhelming odds and refused to spare their 
lives by denying their God and embracing a new faith.
    Finally, on the verge of defeat, but not surrender, a small 
relief force of 16,000 did arrive with reinforcements. The 
mighty Turkish army already battered by the much smaller 
crusaders and defenders fled after one final battle in which 
they were utterly brutal as they boarded their enormous fleet 
to return to Constantinople.
    Hardly a man, woman or child on Malta was unscarred by this 
siege. By the close of the conflict, only 600 defenders of 
Malta were capable of fighting. Seven thousand have died and 
the remainder were severely wounded. However, the ships 
returning to Constantinople carried 25,000 fewer soldiers than 
they had arrived with in May 1565.
    The Knights of Malta had stood with courage in the face of 
incomprehensible odds and they had emerged victorious. 
Likewise, no matter how intimidating the challenges which seem 
to face you or the prestigious organization, I have confidence 
that the VFW will always emerge triumphant. Is there any wonder 
that you have chosen for your theme this coming year ``Anchored 
in Pride''?
    One closing thought, which is also inspired by the Pro Deo 
Patria portion of the VFW emblem. We recently commemorated the 
50th Anniversary of D-Day, the day that sounded the death knell 
for fascism in Europe. Some of you were there.
    Without its section, the allied leaders on that day were 
convinced that their cause was not only right but holy. It was 
only appropriate that they sought divine blessing for the 
invasion of Normandy. In rereading the words of General 
Eisenhower's Order of the Day to the allied troops invading 
France, I was struck by the degree to which they affirmed the 
ongoing vision and mission of the VFW.
    I quote General Dwight Eisenhower. ``The tide has turned, 
the free men of the world are marching together in victory. I 
have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and 
skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. 
Let us all beseech the blessings of almighty God upon this 
great and noble undertaking.''
    Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this special 
occasion. May God continue to richly bless and comfort you and 
to also fill you with overflowing compassion, courage and 
commitment as you continue to pursue this great and noble 
undertaking.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, General, for the very 
fine memorial message. We will now be led once again by the 
Trinity Life Center Choir in singing America the Beautiful.
    [Whereupon, the Trinity Life Center Choir led the assembly 
in singing ``America the Beautiful.'']

               INTRODUCTION OF COLONEL ARCHIE T. ROBERTS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: The names of four chaplains, 
Lieutenants George L. Fox, Clark V. Poling, John P. Washington 
and Alexander D. Goode, will never be forgotten. Chaplains Fox 
and Poling were Protestant Ministers. Chaplain Washington was a 
Roman Catholic Priest. Chaplain Goode was a Jewish Rabbi. 
Although their religious traditions differed, they were united 
in the spirit of sacrifice that was their foundation.
    When the Army Transport, the Dorchester, was torpedoed and 
sunk in the North Atlantic off Greenland in February 1943, they 
gave their life jackets to others in hopes those lives would be 
saved. The four chaplains perished in those icy waters. A 
postage stamp was issued in their honor.
    In Philadelphia, the Chapel of the Four Chaplains preserves 
their memory for all posterity. I wish to bring to the podium 
now Chaplain Archie T. Roberts for his remarks from the Chapel 
of Four Chaplains. Past National Chaplain, Archie T. Roberts.

  PRESENTATION OF THE CHAPEL OF FOUR CHAPLAINS LEGION OF HONOR BRONZE 
                               MEDALLION

    COLONEL ARCHIE ROBERTS: Thank you very much, Commander-in-
Chief Cramer. As he related the incident that we are all so 
very familiar with, and as we have celebrated the days of World 
War II the past couple of years, and look forward to that, we 
certainly know that this stands as a true and eternal message, 
not only of that day but for all of the future generations, as 
well as the importance of mankind working together.
    So, it is a privilege for me to represent the Chapel of 
Four Chaplains here this morning to present an award to one who 
symbolizes that kind of giving of himself in the service of 
others, one who was recognized by the Chapel some years ago for 
the giving of himself in his local community, and certainly now 
for the past few years at the National level.
    So, Commander-in-Chief Cramer, it is an honor and privilege 
for me to present to you the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of 
Honor Bronze Medallion.
    If you would come forward, please. This is awarded to 
George R. Cramer, Commander-in-Chief of the VFW. And on the 
reverse Pro Deo Patria, which is, as the General said, For God 
and Country, which you truly symbolize.
    The award for the Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion is 
presented to George R. Cramer by the Chapel of Four Chaplains, 
Valley Force, Pennsylvania, in recognition of outstanding 
service to all people regardless of race or faith. This award 
symbolizes for all Americans and for all time the unity of this 
nation founded upon the fatherhood of one God. Congratulations, 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief Cramer.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Archie, I just certainly want to 
thank the Chapel of Four Chaplains for the prestigious award 
and recognition. It is even more important, Archie, because you 
gave it to me.
    We will now join the Trinity Life Center Choir in singing 
``God Bless America.''
    [Whereupon, the Trinity Life Center Choir led the assembly 
in ``America the Beautiful.'']
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: We will have the Benediction by 
Reverend Immanuel Wasson, Holy Trinity AME Church.

                              BENEDICTION

    REVEREND IMMANUEL WASSON: Let us bow our heads. Lord let us 
all leave this service with a prayer in our hearts for the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars and their families. Help us to 
appreciate those who have given their lives for our safety, and 
now to the congregation when you return to your homes tell your 
friends and your relatives that Las Vegas is not only a city of 
bright lights and glitter but we love the Lord and we serve him 
with all of our heart.
    Now, unto him that is able to keep you from falling and 
unto the presence and to present you faultlessly for his glory 
with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Savior, the glory 
and mighty dominion and power both now and forever. Amen.

                           RETIRING OF COLORS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I would like to express my 
appreciation to the Trinity Life Center Choir for being with us 
today. We certainly appreciate your presence.
    [Whereupon, the Retiring of the Colors was performed by the 
VFW National Honor Guard.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Will you all remain standing 
while the Sergeants-at-Arms escort the Gold Star Parents and 
Gold Star Wives out, please.
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS GEORGE SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, 
the Closing Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I would like to thank you all 
for attending this Memorial Service of the 95th Annual 
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I look forward to 
seeing you this afternoon at the Awards Luncheon. Please note 
the doors will open at 11:30 a.m. Thank you again for 
attending.
    32D ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON HONORING ALL AMERICAN COMMANDERS AND 
                        NATIONAL PROGRAM WINNERS

                        HILTON CONVENTION CENTER

                        SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 1993

    George R. Cramer, Commander-in-Chief and Mrs. Juanita 
Crowe, National President, Ladies Auxiliary, were Host and 
Hostess of the Thirty-second Annual Awards Luncheon, 95th 
National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States.
    The Invocation was given by Reverend Charles W. Edwards, 
Jr., National Chaplain.
    The menu for the luncheon was Chilled Melon in season, Beef 
Tenderloin Tips in a La Deutsch with Pearl Onions, Normandie 
Vegetables and Rice Pilaf, Apple Pie, Rolls and Butter, Coffee, 
Brewed Decaffeinated and Tea.
    Toastmaster for the event was Paul A. Spera, Junior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief.
    After the presentation of awards for the All American 
Commanders and National Program Winners, Reverend Charles W. 
Edwards, Jr. Chaplain, gave the Benediction.

                         Presentation of Awards

                   all american department commanders

    Donald Kilmer, Alaska; Leslie Thone, Arkansas; Raymond 
Sisk, California; James Boyt, Europe; Niel Ramsdell, Florida; 
Glenn Mitchell, Georgia; Norbert Enos, Hawaii; Alvin Mason, 
Idaho; Eddie Akers, Kentucky; Alan Winter, Maine; Joseph 
Nassar, Maryland; Leslie Blanchard, Mississippi; Herbert 
Tellkamp, Nevada; James Ferguson, New Mexico; William Penn, 
Pacific Areas; F.E. ``Gene'' Warden, Texas; Frederick Peyton, 
Utah; William Myette, Vermont; George Berthiaume, Washington.

                    all american district commanders

    Alabama--James H. Brewer, 4; Arkansas--Jerry Cloud, 9; 
William Walden, 13. California--Leonard Herrst 4; Dennis R. 
Atwood, 13; Stephen C. Highnight 17; Fred V. Vogler, 22. 
Europe--Myron H. Murley, 4. Florida--Robert M. Sprute, 7; 
Sidney R. Holm, 10; Rocky E. Albert, 13. Georgia--Ben Clay, 5. 
Illinois--Vincent J. Medina, 6. Kansas--Leon Shaw, 3. 
Kentucky--Jack N. Moore, 13. Maryland--Gregory J. Abbott, 17. 
Michigan--Barry J. Estill, 6. Minnesota--Clarence R. Fyhrlund, 
6. Mississippi--Leonard Slade, 3; Glenn O. Patterson, 5. New 
Jersey--Walter R. James, 9; Donnie C. Wine, 11; Brune W. 
Schlueter, 12. New York--William J. Stackman, 3. Ohio--Raymond 
R. Burrows, 1; George M. Householder, 7; John R. Johnson, 12. 
Pacific Areas--John F. Welsh, 3; Rhett O. Webber, 7. Rhode 
Island--Ernest Frappier, 1. Texas--Doyle W. Sloan, 1; Richard 
L. Johnson, 9; Richard J. Crissman, 10; Gary L. Kinson, 21.
                 all american county council commanders

    Montgomery, Ohio--Robert Legault. Lake Geauga, Ohio--Guy 
Speakman.

                      all american post commanders

    Alabama--Charles Gavin, 3550; James Green, 4388; Phyllis 
Crowden, 5140; Fred Wynn, 5818. Alaska--Horace Johnson, 9978; 
Arkansas--Samuel Walters, 2278; James Randazzo 4507; Raz 
Munholland 4548; Donald Nelson, 7769; Mark Cybulski, 9095; 
Odell Stricklin, 10442. California--Kenneth Robbins, 85; 
Alexander Brown, 1512; James Sehrt, 1934; Leslie Mahler, 3255; 
William McDonald, 3982; Roy Springer, 4084; Manfred Poole, 
4647; Hugh Hartfield, 5394; Lyman Indermuehle, 8547; Dale 
Samuelson, 10165; Donald Roberts, 11133. Connecticut--Dominic 
Romano, 7330. Delaware--William Wailes, 475. Europe--Austin 
Mansfield, 89; James Landreth, 8862; Martin Mieras, 10436; 
Jaudon Davis, 11281. Florida--William Taylor, 2811; James 
Walden, 4781; John Logan, 8463; Donald Pierce, 8696; Norman 
Auger, 10097; Thomas McDole, 10137; Thomas Koulan, 10209; Carlo 
LaPollo, 10757. Georgia--Hubert Swecker, 665; Ben Clay, 1100; 
Leonard Ott, 6330. Illinois--Roy Russell, 99; Joe Dannels, 
2223; Junior Murray, 4549; Terry Wright, 9759. Indiana--Ivan 
Dimmett, 1114; Leo Farnsley, 3281. Kansas--Larry Salzman, 7479. 
Louisiana--Milton Foster, 7286. Maine--Joseph Gallant, 832; 
Larry Smith, 11363. Maryland--Claude Groom, 482; Noble Sutphin, 
6506; William Berry, 6694; Kenneth Britter, 9862. Michigan--
Raymond Kolka, 485; Gerald Hawkins, 3243. Minnesota--Roger C. 
Fahrenkrug, 5555. Mississippi--J.L. Beeson, 4889; James 
Teeters, 6473; Willie Lindsey, 9832. Missouri--James Farmer, 
3777; Leonard McGee, 5896; Richard Palmer, 7147. Nebraska--
Richard Doty, 247; James Brown, 2503; John Lossi, 3704. 
Nevada--James Martin, 3819; Alfred Staff, 10053. New Jersey--
Juan LaBoy, 157; Joseph Fortunato, 453; Edward Damiano, 6805; 
Daniel Firus, 9112; James Felton, 9503. New Mexico--Donald 
Brown, 11384. North Carolina--Sherrill Brawley, 6480; David 
Brooks, 7383. Ohio--John Wasilko, 1500; Craig Swartz, 2947; 
Charles Smith, 4736; Talmadge Bailey, 7201; Nathan Sternberger, 
8437; Mark Caniff, 8850. Oklahoma--Ronald Slowick, 2270; Donald 
Connelly, 3669. Pacific Areas--James Luther, 10215; Sammy 
Skipper, 10269; Victor Ferrer, 11435; Jerry Bristle, 11447. 
South Carolina--Arthur Mann, 10420. South Dakota--Sid Walter, 
628; Daniel Sigmund, 1273. Texas--Richard Crissman, 812; Roy 
Paulk, 1475; Henry Salisbury, 2772; Danny Henry, 4372; Jack 
Meadows, 4380; James Nordyke, 6873; Harvey Henderson, 6899; 
James Zimmerman, 7211; Hubert Brast, 8577; Bobby Cook, 8790; 
Albert Poste, 8919; Louis McCellan, 8923; Alonzo Bryant, 9181; 
Edward Rodriquez, 9186; John Dread, 9191; David Dickens, 9286. 
Vermont--Robert Dean, 2571. Virginia--John Dodge, 1503. 
Washington--James Van Slyke, 2995; Niel Lavin, 4760. West 
Virginia--Eugene Patrick, 3856; Alvin Johnson, 8365. Wyoming--
James Little, 2316.
                        national program winners

    Americanism--Post 7472 and Ladies Auxiliary, Ellicot City, 
Maryland; District 2 and Ladies Auxiliary, Department of 
Minnesota.
    Community Activities--Division I: Post 5812 and Ladies 
Auxiliary, Pueblo West, Colorado; Division II: Post 2681 and 
Ladies Auxiliary, Marietta, Georgia; Division III: Post 9969 
and Ladies Auxiliary, Del City, Oklahoma; Division IV: Post 
4876 and Ladies Auxiliary, Altus, Oklahoma.
    Loyalty Day--Post 5290 and Ladies Auxiliary, Conyers, 
Georgia; District 9 and Ladies Auxiliary, Department of 
Washington; Allegheny County Council and Ladies Auxiliary, 
Department of Pennsylvania; Department of Texas and Ladies 
Auxiliary.
    Youth Activities--Post 302 and Ladies Auxiliary, Kansas 
City, Missouri; District 14 and Ladies Auxiliary, Department of 
Maryland; Department of Washington and Ladies Auxiliary.

                          parade leaders award

    First Place--Department of Europe. Second Place--Department 
of Pacific Areas. Third Place--Department of Utah.

                  national department division winners

    Division I--Department of California.
    Division II--Department of Florida.
    Division III--Department of Missouri.
    Division IV--Department of Washington.
    Division V--Department of Iowa.
    Division VI--Department of Kentucky.
    Division VII--Department of Mississippi.
    Division VIII--Department of Maine.
    Division IX--Department of Vermont.
    Division X--Department of Pacific Areas.
    Division XI--Department of Europe.

                           conference winner

    Western Conference--100.58% + 2,181

                      department conference winner

    Western Conference--Department of Pacific Areas.
    Southern Conference--Department of Mississippi.
    Big Ten Conference--Department of Missouri.
    Eastern Conference--Department of Europe.
                         JOINT OPENING SESSION

                        MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1994

    [The Joint Opening Session of the 95th National Convention 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the 
81st National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary was called to 
order on Monday, August 22, 1994, at 9:00 o'clock a.m., in the 
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, by Comrade 
Albert J. McMindes, Chairman of the VFW 95th National 
Convention Committee.]
    COMRADE ALBERT McMINDES: Good morning. Welcome. Please 
clear the center aisle and please take your seats. Sergeants-
at-Arms, please retire to the rear of the hall to prepare the 
National Honor Guard for the presentation of the Colors.
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS GEORGE SARVER: Yes, sir.

                         ADVANCEMENT OF COLORS

    [Whereupon, the National Honor Guard advanced the colors at 
this time and the Pledge of Allegiance was given.]
    COMRADE ALBERT McMINDES: We will have the Invocation by the 
National Chaplain, Reverend Charles W. Edwards, Jr.

                               INVOCATION

    [Whereupon, National Chaplain Edwards gave the Invocation.]
    NATIONAL SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: The Opening Ceremonies 
have been performed.
    COMRADE ALBERT McMINDES: We have put together for you a 
review of the 1993-94 year. Please watch your video screens and 
enjoy the presentation.
    [Whereupon, a video presentation on the 1993-94 
``Commitment to Service'' year was presented at this time.]

                                WELCOME

    COMRADE ALBERT McMINDES: On behalf of the VFW Department of 
Nevada, I would like to welcome all of you to our state, the 
City of Las Vegas and to the VFW 95th National Convention. We 
are proud to be the host for this National Convention. It took 
a lot of hard work to arrive at this moment, and we still have 
some work ahead of us this week.
    But the hard work is worth it, because each of these 
Conventions is a milestone in the field of veterans affairs. On 
a personal note, I am very proud to stand here this morning 
where Past Commander-in-Chief Les Frye stood five years ago to 
welcome you to our 90th National Convention.
    We sounded taps for Chief Frye this year, and in his 
passing the VFW lost one of its great leaders and the 
Department of Nevada lost a dedicated and a dear comrade and 
friend. In the days ahead, we will carry on the work of Les 
Frye as well as the work of those dedicated comrades who 
founded our organization 95 years ago.
    If only those founders could see us today. We are over two 
million strong, with over 10,000 Posts serving all of America's 
27 million veterans and their families. I think they would be 
proud of what they have founded and proud of us and all that we 
have done to carry on their work and make their dreams come 
true.
    Our work is not yet completed. As you meet this week, you 
will have 222 Resolutions to discuss, vote on and then put into 
action. In addition, we will give awards to two dozen people 
who have served our veterans and our communities. Speakers from 
the U.S. Government and many other organizations will appear 
before us to present their views on veterans affairs and what 
we must do to approve those affairs.
    We have a lot of work ahead of us, comrades and sisters, 
and before I hand this Convention over to Commander-in-Chief 
Cramer, I would like to thank my National Convention Committee 
who have done so much his year to being us to this moment. I 
cannot thank them enough.
    If you enjoy this Convention, tell them. If there is 
something you did not enjoy, tell me. Welcome to Nevada, 
welcome to Las Vegas, and welcome to the 95th National 
Convention.

    INTRODUCTION--THE HONORABLE JAN JONES, MAYOR, CITY OF LAS VEGAS

    COMRADE McMINDES: Our next guest became the 15th Mayor of 
Las Vegas in May 1991. She has presided over the city's change 
from a small town to a major metropolitan area.
    A champion of public and private partnerships, her Mayor's 
Committee for a Better Community has succeeded in renovating a 
shelter for homeless women, children and establishing a 
neighborhood community center offering social, recreational and 
educational programs.
    She recently raised $150,000 from the business community to 
fund a city and county government consolidation study which 
realized a savings of more than $35 million in city and county 
services.
    She serves on a variety of influential Boards affecting the 
Las Vegas Visitors and Conventions, transportation, housing, 
flood control, clean air, senior citizen concerns, and she also 
serves on the Nevada State Commission on Nuclear Projects, and 
is Chair for the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Communications and 
Transportation Committees.
    A mother of five children, she maintains an active 
involvement in the community. She was recently recognized by 
the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs for her community 
service and was the 1992 Woman of the Year for the National 
Conference of Christians and Jews. She is listed among the 
2,000 Notable Women in America and was recently recognized as a 
member of the Distinguished Women of Nevada.
    The Chief Executive Officer of a restaurant and catering 
company, a Director of Research and Development for another 
company, President of the Fletcher Jones Management Group, 
please welcome the Mayor of Las Vegas, Jan Laverty Jones.

      GREETINGS--THE HONORABLE JAN JONES, MAYOR, CITY OF LAS VEGAS

    MAYOR JONES: Thank you. It is both an honor and pleasure to 
be here this morning to welcome the Veterans of Foreign Wars on 
the occasion of their 95th Convention. It is also a great 
pleasure for me to welcome you to one of the world's finest 
resort destinations but also one of the most livable cities in 
the country.
    One of the little known facts about Las Vegas is per capita 
we have more churches, schools, Little League, Cub Scouts, Boy 
Scouts, Girl Scouts, Frontier Girls, Pop Warner Football Teams 
than any city of our size in the country. I invite you, if you 
have the time, not only to visit our resort area but take a 
little time and go out and see what a wonderful city we are 
really to live in.
    Your presence here today reinforces your commitment to 
ensuring that our country continues to remain a leader and 
dominant power in accepting responsibility in the world. The 
2.2 million dedicated men and women of the VFW, have our deep 
devotion and heartfelt thanks for your unselfishly answering 
the call of our country in our hour of need. That is what your 
presence here today means.
    The great personal commitment and sacrifice of each of you 
so the hopes and future of those of us behind and all our 
children can be realized, as well as to promise all of our 
future generations that we will live in a country that is free 
of war and free of the threat of war.
    It is that simple hope and common vision that has united 
our country. We owe a great deal to all of those who have 
fought and died on foreign soils for the cause of freedom and 
for the foundation of peace we enjoy today.
    My sincere thanks to all the Veterans of Foreign Wars for 
selecting Las Vegas as the site to host their National 
Convention. I am very pleased to offer my personal, best wishes 
and also those of the city's residents. One of the things, even 
though I know this is a very serious occasion, I noticed that 
earlier they said if there were any problems, call your 
Commander. You can also call me.
    One other thing we attempted to do, and I know most of you 
won't be spending time in the casinos, but as mayor I want you 
to know one of the things we try to do for our special 
conventions is make sure all our slot machines are set at a 
rate that the return will be very favorable in your interest.
    That is just a little something we offer. I can't promise 
anything on roulette or the crap tables. For those of you who 
may lose, I want you to know that 56 percent of those revenues 
go to educate our children. School started this morning, so you 
are not losing money, you are helping to educate the children 
of Nevada. Enjoy yourselves and please all come back and visit 
with us again.

INTRODUCTION--THE HONORABLE BOB MILLER--GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA

    COMRADE McMINDES: Whether you fly into the Las Vegas area 
or drive, it is hard to ignore the beauty of Nevada. Our next 
guest, who is committed to preserving the natural beauty of 
this great state, was elected Governor in 1989. He is Chairman 
of the Western Governors' Conference and serves as Chairman of 
that group's Committee on Natural Resources.
    He is active in the National Governors' Association, 
serving as lead Governor of the Infrastructure Committee, the 
Transportation Committee, and is Chairman of the Legal Affairs 
Committee.
    In 1993, he was appointed by President Clinton to the 
Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations and the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, or as we know it FEMA. A 
strong advocate for justice and public service and safety, he 
formerly served on President Ronald Reagan's nine-member 
President's Task Force on Victims of Crime.
    Entering Nevada politics shortly after receiving his law 
degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, he has served as 
Clark County District Attorney and Deputy District Attorney, 
Las Vegas Township, Justice of the Peace, and as a uniformed 
officer in the Sheriffs' Departments of both Los Angeles and 
Clark County. He was the first Legal Advisor of the Las Vegas 
Metropolitan Police Department.
    He served his country as a member of both the U.S. Army 
Reserve and the U.S. Air Force Reserve, receiving his discharge 
at the rank of E-6 in 1973. He is the father of a boy, two 
girls and the husband of a former teacher of the hearing 
handicapped.
    Please give a warm welcome to the Governor of the beautiful 
State of Nevada, Bob Miller.

                   RESPONSE--THE HONORABLE BOB MILLER

    GOVERNOR MILLER: It is exciting to stand here and look out 
at so many attendees, and it is truly an honor to welcome all 
of you to the Silver State for your 95th Annual Convention. I 
know that every veteran believes in hard work and in playing 
hard, and I know that you will be working hard, and now having 
seen your ambitious opportunity for the play of every sort, you 
certainly will be able to combine both of those while you are 
here in the Las Vegas area.
    In Nevada, our state slogan is ``The Battle Born.'' It is a 
slogan that dates back to the beginning of the Civil War when 
Nevada was the first to achieve statehood in those times. But 
it is a slogan that Nevada veterans have carried into battle in 
every conflict since right up to modern conflicts like Desert 
Storm.
    All Nevadans embrace their slogan in support of our 
veterans. I am proud to be the Governor of a state that has 
more veterans per capita than any other state. Those Nevada 
veterans, like all of you, are the people who have been part of 
a long history of this country's commitment to defending 
freedom and liberty around the globe.
    Without the contributions and sacrifices of veterans of all 
of our previous wars, this country might not now have the 
opportunity or ability to defend freedom around the world. Your 
accomplishments and sacrifices have not only resulted in 
victorious individual awards, but have also laid the foundation 
for a legacy of peace and democracy for generations to come in 
this country and on foreign shores.
    Every American needs to remember the contributions made by 
our veterans. It was just a few months ago that the world was 
reminded of the significance of long-range impact of those 
contributions during the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. It was an 
opportunity for the whole world to be reminded that America's 
military forces aren't employed purely out of self-interest but 
also in the interest of peace and freedom for all people.
    When General Dwight Eisenhower announced to the world the 
D-Day landing on the coast of France, he said, ``I call upon 
all who love freedom to stand with us. Now together we shall 
achieve victory.'' Nevada veterans, all the veterans of this 
country, stood together on battlegrounds around the world and 
here on our home front in support of our combat troops. To this 
day, our veterans stand together. They stand together in 
support of each other and in support of their communities, and 
as the case with comrades in arms, our veterans will continue 
to be victorious in their efforts to make their lives and the 
lives of their fellow citizens better.
    I look forward to standing with you together in that 
effort. I thank you for returning to Nevada. I am sure you will 
have not only a productive but a pleasurable conference. Thank 
you.

                   PRESENTATION OF AMERICAN FLAG SETS

    COMRADE McMINDES: At this time I would like to call on 
Mickey Scherer, the Ladies Auxiliary National Patriotic 
Instructor, to the podium, please.
    NATIONAL PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTOR MICKEY SCHERER: Thank you 
very much. I would just like to take a moment to reflect back 
to two memorable occasions, one being December 7, 1941, the 
1991 anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Going back to June 6, 1944, 
to 1995, the 50th Anniversary of the invasion of Normandy.
    On these anniversaries, how many memories have been stirred 
up, friendships renewed, tears shed? These two flags being 
presented today are being dedicated to those men and women who 
served in the armed forces of the United States and to the many 
who gave their lives for the cause of our freedom. I would just 
like to quote a few lines from a poem written by Herb Lee 
Watkins.
    It states, ``What was inside of them that overcame their 
fear, what made them leave the homes they loved and families 
held so dear? What made these men lay down their lives to stem 
the tide of war, for now they must rest beyond the blue, upon 
the golden shores.
    ``I am much more than just a flag that decorates a pole, I 
am faith, the hope and the love within the G.I.'s soul. And if 
a flag could really talk, here is what this flag would say, to 
every soldier laid to rest, `Come fly with me today'.''
    Honorable Bob Miller, Governor of Nevada, and Honorable Jan 
Jones, Mayor of Las Vegas, we of the Ladies Auxiliary of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States are proud to 
present to each of you this piece of cloth. It is our symbol of 
liberty. The red represents the sacrifices of our brave 
defenders; the white, our desire for liberty; and the blue 
represents the loyalty and human dignity of all our people.
    May these flags presented to you today always be displayed 
proudly. Thank you.

               INTRODUCTION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER

    COMRADE McMINDES: It is now my sincere pleasure to 
introduce the gentleman who will lead this 95th National 
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    When the VFW looks for leaders, we seek men of integrity 
and strength of character. We seek men with the ability to 
motivate and encourage us to greater accomplishments for 
America's veterans. Commander-in-Chief George R. Cramer has 
proven himself to be just such a man.
    A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, George earned an 
Air Medal and the Bronze Star as an artillery surveyor with the 
6/14 Artillery, 1st Field Forces. He served in Vietnam from 
October 1967, through December 1968.
    He joined the VFW in 1969. He was quickly recognized for 
his leadership abilities and ultimately served as an All-State 
Post Commander in 1972-'94, an All-American District Commander 
in 1976-'77, a 100 percent State Commander in 1982-'83, and an 
All-State Post Quartermaster from 1976 through 1985.
    George's commitment and service are also recognized outside 
the VFW in organizations like the American Legion, the 
Dibrovsky Club and the Scottish Rite.
    He is a Life Member of VFW Post 6869 in North Riverside, 
Illinois. George and his wife, Linda, son Scott and daughter 
Cheryl reside in Woodridge, Illinois.
    For the past year, George has led the VFW in speaking out 
against full diplomatic relations with Vietnam until the POW/
MIA issue is fully resolved. He has spoken boldly against 
military intervention in Haiti and has worked hard to protect 
veterans entitlements and ensure the VA Health Care System 
remains intact and exclusively for veterans.
    Please join me in welcoming the Commander-in-Chief of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, George R. 
Cramer, from the great State of Illinois.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Commander-in-Chief Cramer.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Jack, for the kind 
introduction. Good morning. You know, what a better way to 
start the 95th National Convention than by having the house 
lights dimmed and our great looking National Honor Guard 
walking down the aisle with a spotlight on the American Flag.
    I want you to know that two nights ago I had the 
opportunity to be with our National Honor Guard at the football 
stadium where the native football league, Las Vegas Posse plays 
and they did a great job on the field representing you as well. 
I think they deserve a hand for what they do for this 
Association. [Applause]
    Unfortunately, the Mayor and the Governor have already 
left. I was going to tell the Mayor that we were there 
representing our organization and doing our moral support for 
the City of Las Vegas. The Posse showed up, I guess, but didn't 
do well. They came out on the short end of a 10 to 39 score.
    You know, I have always learned when I got out of school, I 
entered the military, business and now for the last three years 
I was very confused on coming out to the Silver State. I 
thought by coming out here that was perhaps a token of their 
appreciation for us coming out here, but like many of you I 
guess instead of getting some type of a souvenir to take home 
we are making the Silver State while we are here this week.
     No year truly comes to an end in the VFW. Instead, each is 
a building block and that adds strength to our organization. 
Throughout my travels this year, I saw the work, the dreams and 
the progress of those that preceded me as VFW Commanders-in-
Chief.
    It can be said of them that in their time they built for 
the future. I feel the same can be said of our year. The work 
that each of you did this year will have an impact today, 
tomorrow and for many tomorrows to come. Because of you, the 
POW/MIA issue is closer to being resolved.
    You held the line on the cuts to the VA budget, and you 
asked that the future budgets address the needs that have been 
neglected for so long. You took the joy and happiness to 
hospitalized veterans around the country, and you set the VFW 
on a new course of veterans service in co-sponsoring the Golden 
Age Games.
    I must tell you this is the third year I have had the 
opportunity to attend the games, and one of the individuals, a 
very proud individual that is partially handicapped, and in 
both of these games, in a wheelchair, is a competitive guy. I 
have been talking to this guy for three years.
    This year I had the opportunity to present him with one of 
his medals. As I was presenting his medal and saying something 
to him, he said, ``You know, Chief, I have got to tell you 
something.'' I said, ``What is it?'' He held up a little card. 
It said, ``I am deaf.''
    But the whole thing, I am getting the point across is what 
these games do for those guys in the hospital. They look 
forward each and every year meeting each other and competing 
each other against the VA Hospital system, the guys in the VA 
Hospital system.
    It is because of people like yourselves that are making 
this all possible. Through programs and projects, you continue 
to serve our country and make it better than ever. You honor 
those who served in World War II through hundreds of 
commemorative events, and on D-Day, 1994, you walked the cold, 
windswept beaches of Normandy where so many fought and died for 
freedom over 50 years ago.
    You maintain our tradition of serving veterans, a tradition 
that goes back over 95 years, and through your work and 
dedication you have assured that this tradition will go on as 
long as there are veterans. You have set a new record in our 
Voice of Democracy program by contributing over $2 million in 
scholarships.
    At that Washington Conference, you awarded more 
scholarships than ever before. Even since our Washington 
Conference, two more scholarships have already been awarded for 
next year, and the day is very close where each student will 
have at least $1,000 when they go out.
    You kept the pressure on our government to maintain a 
military of defending our country against any enemy. 
Strengthening the peace time is the best defense that a nation 
can have. We know too well what can happen when a country is 
weak at home and has no foreign policy abroad.
    We don't want anyone to forget about Pearl Harbor and the 
history of America, and we don't want the cost of another D-
Day. Everything that you did this year, you met the challenges 
of the day and set the course for the future.
    I enjoyed representing you and carrying your message around 
the world. Sometimes it seemed like the day just blew by real 
quickly and, then, of course, other times it seemed like the 
day would never end. But in my case, it is the best year I have 
had, the best experience in my life.
    I have only you to thank for it. Because of people like 
yourselves, this organization will continue to honor the dead 
by helping the living through your commitment to service.
    As I told the Council of Administration a couple of days 
ago, it took us about nine months to have the opportunity to go 
in to see the President of the United States. At the Washington 
Conference, I made a decision, perhaps a decision that wasn't 
received well by many of you out there, but in respect to the 
office of the presidency of the United States, I, along with 
Larry Rivers, on May 20th went in to visit President Clinton in 
the Oval Office with several other veterans service 
organizations. One at a time, of course.
    While Larry and I were there, we presented the VFW priority 
goals to the President. I personally asked him verbally and 
with a typewritten letter to attend this Convention. I want you 
to know that it wasn't until two weeks ago that he and/or his 
staff refused to attend this Convention. In addition to that, 
with the exception of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse 
Brown, also told us that no other cabinet member was available 
for our Convention or any other Convention.
    I want you to know last Monday Vice-President Al Gore 
attended a union convention in Chicago and, of course, he met 
with the Chicago Police Department for some unknown reason.

   PRESENTATION OF VFW GOLD MEDAL OF MERIT AND CITA- TION TO LADIES 
                   AUXILIARY PRESIDENT JUANITA CROWE

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: It is a singular pleasure to 
introduce our next honoree. An outstanding leader, she 
represents the more than 770,000 women of the Ladies Auxiliary 
to the VFW. She and they have contributed greatly to the VFW's 
success over the past year.
    She was elected National President at the 80th National 
Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary in Dallas, Texas, last year 
at this time. Her theme, ``Volunteers for a Better World,'' set 
the tone for a year of outstanding achievement.
    During the past year, a Ladies Auxiliary Museum was 
established at National Headquarters in Kansas City with more 
than $22,000 donated by the members. In keeping with her theme, 
the Ladies Auxiliary volunteers contributed an all-time high 
$46 million conducting community service and patriotic programs 
during the '93-'94 year. The ladies volunteered more than 3.7 
million hours at VA Medical Centers, nursing homes and other 
hospitals across the nation.
    Another highlight of the past year was a total of 
$3,088,173 raised for cancer victims and research. This is the 
sixth consecutive year the Auxiliary has raised more than $3 
million.
    Without question, the Ladies Auxiliary experienced a banner 
year under our next guest's leadership. Please honor the Ladies 
Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with a warm welcome 
for their National President, Juanita Crowe, from the great 
volunteer State of Tennessee.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Gold Medal 
of Merit and this Citation awarded to Juanita Crowe, National 
President, Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
1993-'94.
    ``In special recognition of her untiring dedication to our 
country and in sincere appreciation for her enthusiastic 
leadership as evidenced by the exceptional contributions of the 
Ladies Auxiliary to the programs and purposes of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars and, by their deeds, fulfillment of the 
commitment of the Ladies Auxiliary to ``Volunteers for a Better 
World''.
    ``In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and 
the official seal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, this 22nd day of August, 1994.'' It is signed by myself 
and, of course, by Howard Vander Clute, our Adjutant General.
    Juanita, I publicly want everyone to know that it has been 
a real pleasure for me to have the opportunity to serve with 
you these last three years.

           RESPONSE--LADIES AUXILIARY PRESIDENT JUANITA CROWE

    LADIES AUXILIARY PRESIDENT CROWE: Commander-in-Chief 
Cramer, National VFW and Auxiliary Officers, Comrades, Sisters 
and Guests:
    I am deeply honored to receive this special award from the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars and I thank you very much. This 
Convention marks the completion of the 80th year that the 
Ladies Auxiliary has served as a partner with the VFW towards 
our joint goals of serving American's veterans and our 
communities.
    I am proud to have been able to play a role in that caring 
legacy. I am pleased to have been able to join our Commander-
in-Chief Cramer in his dedicated ``Commitment to Service.''
    I thank each of you here today for your continued 
dedication to our organization and for the tremendous efforts 
you have put forth conducting our programs. You truly are 
volunteers for a better world. It is a better world because of 
you and your ``Commitment to Service.''
    Commander-in-Chief Cramer, thank you for the leadership you 
have provided and for the tremendous feeling of cooperation 
that you have fostered during your term of office. May you have 
a very successful year and I, too, have certainly enjoyed 
serving with you and for you for the last three years. Thank 
you so very much.

                  INTRODUCTION--HELEN PUTNAM BLACKWELL

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Seated in the audience this 
morning is the daughter of our founder, James Putnam, the first 
Commander-in-Chief of our original organization, the American 
Veterans of Foreign Service.
    This lady has continued in the family tradition of service, 
recently completing a term as President of the Department of 
Arkansas Ladies Auxiliary. Please give appropriate recognition 
to Mrs. Helen Blackwell.

 INTRODUCTION--GENERAL RAY DAVIS, USMC (RET.), CHAIRMAN OF THE KOREAN 
                  WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Next, being a Korean veteran 
himself, I would like to call on Past Commander-in-Chief John 
Staum to introduce our next guest.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: Thank you, Commander-in-
Chief Cramer. Madam President, Distinguished Officers of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Distinguished Guests, my Fellow 
Comrades and Sisters:
    It is a pleasure to stand before you this morning as a 
member of the Korean War Memorial Veterans Advisory Board and 
to present to you and introduce to you the Chairman of that 
Board. I asked the Commander-in-Chief for this special 
privilege and he graciously consented to let me do this.
    I am introducing to you this morning a great American 
fighting man, and I am sure once you listen to his speech this 
morning you will agree with me that he is a great, great 
person.
    For the past eight years, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and 
its Ladies Auxiliary have generously contributed to the 
building of a monument in our nation's capital to honor those 
who fought and died in freedom's cause during the Korean War.
    To date, the VFW's contribution has exceeded our original 
$500,000 commitment to the Korean War Memorial by more than 
$100,000.
    Next July 27th marks the 42nd anniversary of the signing of 
the Korean Armistice and the dedication of that Memorial to 
those who served and sacrificed in the Korean War.
    For an update on this Memorial, we are most honored to have 
with us this morning the Chairman of the Korean War Memorial 
Veterans Advisory Board, General Raymond G. Davis.
    During the Korean War, Lieutenant Colonel Davis commanded 
the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division from August 
to December, 1950. Besides receiving the Medal of Honor for 
action during that period, he also earned two Silver Star 
medals, the Legion of Merit with Combat ``V,'' and later, as 
Executive Office of the 7th Marines, the Bronze Star Medal with 
Combat ``V''.
    Prior to his retirement, he served as the Assistant 
Commandant of the Marine Corps. A World War II veteran, Korean 
War veteran and Vietnam veteran, my friends, in all my private 
life, my business life and my affiliation with the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States, I have had the honor of 
meeting many great and distinguished people in this United 
States and throughout the world, but this man rates right at 
the top.
    So, I ask you to please give a great welcome to the 
Chairman of the President's Korean War Memorial Advisory Board, 
General Raymond G. Davis, United States Marine Corps, (Ret.) 
General Davis.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to General Davis.]

                    RESPONSE--GENERAL RAYMOND DAVIS

    GENERAL DAVIS: Thank you, John. That was most generous. In 
fact, somewhat overpowering. I would like today initially to 
reflect on what happened in this hall yesterday, which was my 
first great privilege to attend your Memorial Service, and I 
must say it was totally outstanding.
    I was indeed moved to tears. I swelled with pride, I was 
thrilled to the depths of my spirit, challenged to ever moving 
forward in support of those great causes which we all serve. I 
congratulate you, I commend you and I certainly salute you.
    I am here today to talk about those eight years that John 
referred to in bringing forth the Korean War Veterans Memorial 
in Washington. It is now being constructed. I was there last 
week at the site near the Lincoln Memorial. As some of you may 
know, the water table in that area is just two feet below the 
surface.
    We have repaired that and we have compacted the soil. We 
have driven the piles, and last week we poured the foundation 
for the 19 figures which will be soon in place. On a recent 
visit to the foundry, we observed the 19 figures in full size, 
seven to eight feet, being readied for casting.
    A side statement about that visit. Five out of the first 
seven we disapproved of the facial features. Somehow sculptors 
and artists know only people who have pointed ears and long 
noses and sunken eyes and terrified looks on their face. We 
have corrected that.
    We have now approved 11 out of the 19. I have just been 
told that the rest are ready for our approval. I think that the 
sculptor is now convinced, because we told him time and time 
again, that these are young gallant warriors embarked on a 
mission where they are dedicated and determined to have 
victory.
    That is what you will see on the faces of those figures in 
our Memorial. The wall, 180 feet long, will depict all those 
who supported this formation of foot troopers. Huge boulders 
from the desert near San Jose, California, are hauled to 
Minnesota--it is black granite--sawed into slabs eight inches 
thick, ten feet by four feet in size, highly polished, and 
etched with a computerized system.
    We have approved most of that and, of course, we have our 
friend John there in the vicinity to carefully oversee that 
part of the operation. The list of those being lost is being 
researched, being sorted out and will soon be ready for display 
in a manner which many of you have seen at the Naval Memorial, 
an upgraded automatic process where all will be seen with their 
activities and possibly their photographs. All of this will be 
at the site of our Memorial.
     The Memorial is to be finished in May or June of next year 
and will be dedicated on the 27th day of July, the date of the 
Armistice in Korea. It is a three-day event. You will find in 
the registration area here in Las Vegas copies of the details 
of the three-day schedule.
    Generally, the dedication is on the 27th, and all past 
presidents, the President of South Korea, representatives from 
all the nations that participated in the war will be present.
    On the second day, the assembly of flags of all units that 
participated in the war. Those who have been deactivated will 
be symbolically reactivated for this event. Then on the third 
day, of course, the parade. In anticipation of maybe up to 
500,000 veterans, families and their friends, we plan 
continuous activity and entertainment throughout this period.
    The Memorial, we have arranged to be open 24 hours a day 
for several days before and certainly after the event. No more 
than 2,000 per hour can view it carefully and, therefore, we 
have arranged to maximize its availability. Entertainment at 
the Kennedy Center, on the mall, major events near the 
Washington Memorial, fireworks, an exhibition in the 
Smithsonian Institute, art displays in the National Gallery, 
war movies, a major symposium on the war, the causes, the 
effects, the lessons, and open house in all the embassies with 
a bus fleet that will shuttle from embassy to embassy.
    A contract is being completed this week with World Travel 
Partners, a billion-dollar enterprise, will run the details of 
these activities. We now have more than 8,000 rooms reserved, 
the schedules, the travel, the communications, the local buses, 
the control headquarters, the conduct of the details of all the 
activities.
    An international flavor will be obvious. In the last four 
or five months I visited Korea three times. I briefed the 
President of South Korea. They are fully organized and they 
have committed a million dollars to recruit the best talent in 
Korea to perform at the Kennedy Center is one example.
    Their government will provide honor guards, flag carriers, 
banners. Their veterans will come, and I met here a few minutes 
ago the President of the Korean Veterans Association who is 
here. I have seen him many, many times. We are prepared for a 
major participation by Korean veterans.
    The tourists industry, some of us don't realize how many 
tourists from South Korea and other nations come to this 
country, but many of those will be diverted to Washington to 
join in this event. One thousand five hundred British veterans 
are already committed, for example.
    None of the construction money can go to this dedication 
event, and you will soon hear from us. We are now moving out 
smartly. The Battle Monument Commission has new leadership. 
General Joe Roffstodder is here. He is really building the 
fires for us in Washington.
    In the defense, General Kicklighter is here who is running 
the 50th Anniversary event. Will you stand, please. In a 
priority mail-out, in our initial lists are the 200,000 
contributors to the construction of the Memorial, and they will 
be asked to commit themselves to attending, to the purchase of 
a souvenir passport which will mark them as full participants.
    In addition to the passports, it will be an opportunity for 
contributors to receive books, prints and artifacts of other 
kinds. We anticipate a major participation by veterans and 
their families. Any surplus we raise, and this includes surplus 
which might have gone to World Travel Partners, is being put 
into a foundation to support needy veterans and their families.
    We have a prototype of a newspaper which will be mailed to 
those who indicate their participation. We will give you an up-
to-date view of exactly what is to happen in July, 1995. I have 
hundreds of copies of the three-day schedule, so when you have 
a chance go by the registration area and pick up one of those. 
After July of next year, our nation will never again forget 
Korean War veterans. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: General, certainly it is my 
pleasure, on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, to present 
to you this check for $4,000 towards the Korean Memorial Fund. 
That check brings the VFW total to well over $600,000 and makes 
the VFW the largest contributor to the Korean Memorial.

    INTRODUCTION--LIEUTENANT GENERAL CLAUDE KICKLIGHTER, USA (RET.)

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: With 50 percent of our 
membership being World War II veterans, plans, programs and 
tributes on the 50th Anniversary of World War II have special 
significance.
    With us today is Lieutenant General Claude Kicklighter, 
Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army and Executive 
Director of the 50th Anniversary of World War II Commemorative 
Committee.
    During the Vietnam War, General Kicklighter served with the 
101st Airborne Division. Prior to his retirement, he served as 
Commanding General, United States Army Pacific.
    The VFW has an excellent working relationship with the 
committee in developing plans and programs that provide 
communities across America with a greater understanding of the 
lessons and history of World War II.
    Please join me in giving a VFW welcome to a VFW Life Member 
and the Executive Director of the 50th Anniversary of World War 
II Commemorative Committee, Lieutenant General Claude M. 
Kicklighter.

  RESPONSE--LIEUTENANT GENERAL CLAUDE M. KICKLIGHTER, CHAIRMAN OF THE 
        50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE

    GENERAL KICKLIGHTER: Thank you, sir, for those very kind 
introductory remarks.
    Commander-in-Chief, Madam President, other Distinguished 
Guests, especially General Davis, Fellow Veterans, Ladies and 
Gentlemen:
    It is an honor and privilege for me to be here in Las Vegas 
and to attend our 95th National Convention and also to provide 
you an update brief on the Commemorative Program for 
commemorating the 50th Anniversary of World War II.
    It is also great for me to celebrate my sixty-first 
birthday with you this morning. What a birthday party. I have 
never had a group like this. From the very start of this 
program, the VFW has been a leader in helping our nation 
remember and commemorate the 50th Anniversary of World War II.
    It has been an honor and privilege for me to work with our 
past three National Commanders. Commander-in-Chief Bob Wallace 
helped get this program off to a great start, and then he was 
followed by Commander-in-Chief Jack Carney, who helped move 
this program across the nation by getting involved our 
Departments, Districts, our Posts, and the Ladies Auxiliaries 
who moved this program into many of our communities across 
America.
    During this past year, it has been indeed a privilege to 
work with our Commander-in-Chief George Cramer. He has always 
been there when I needed advice and counsel and support. 
Starting right after our Convention last year, we initiated a 
program to issue the 75th Commemorative Medal to the World War 
I veterans. Commander-in-Chief Cramer was there to help kick 
that program off.
    I will tell you that we still have many World War I 
veterans out there, unfortunately, who are disappearing rapidly 
that have not received that medal. I would ask you to help us 
find those World War I veterans and make sure they get their 
75th Commemorative Medal.
    Commander-in-Chief Cramer also participated and was very 
active in the recent D-Day activities in both England and 
Normandy, France. In July, we were together as we commemorated 
a very moving commemoration in Guam, as we commemorated the 
liberation of Guam with 1,200 other veterans of that battle.
    I look forward to this next year working with our 
Commander-in-Chief-Elect ``Gunner'' Kent. I look forward to 
that opportunity. Although Commander-in-Chief Cramer has 
already mentioned the purpose of the program, I will briefly 
review it for you.
    It is to help a grateful nation, and I underline ``grateful 
nation'', to remember and to thank and honor our World War II 
veterans and their families, and especially the families of 
those who lost loved ones in that war, who know the price of 
freedom.
    Also, we want to remember those who served on the home 
front and we want to remember to tell the story of the women 
who served both on the home front and in the war, and we want 
to complete the story of the minorities that served on the home 
front and the war.
    A second part of that purpose is to encourage the study of 
history of this period. When we began this program, three out 
of five Americans could tell you almost nothing about World War 
II. We want to make sure that we learn and we prepare and we 
use this knowledge to ensure our children and our grandchildren 
and our great-grandchildren never have to go through what this 
generation went through.
    So, a big part of this program is to support the local 
schools. You know, the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary are very 
active in the school program. I would like to give you now just 
a brief update of several of the programs that are helping us.
    First, I will talk about the World War II Commemorative 
Community Program. This is a grass roots program where we are 
trying to reach more than eight million World War II veterans, 
where they live, whether that is in a community, a retirement 
home, a nursing home or a veterans hospital.
    We are recognizing and we are asking our states, our 
communities, our veterans and civic organizations across 
America to join in this program and volunteer to participate 
and to sponsor at least three events each year to thank and 
honor our veterans.
    As we come to the final year of this program, we need more 
than ever the help of our VFW Posts and Auxiliaries across the 
nation. We also want to emphasize not only thanking the 
veterans but we use them to get in the local schoolhouses. Once 
a community and organization volunteers to become a 
commemorative community, they are officially designated with a 
plaque signed personally by the Secretary of Defense, as 
authorized by Congress, and they become a Commemorative 
Community.
    They receive a Commemorative Community plaque, and along 
with that plaque they receive many very professional products 
to go into local schoolhouses. To date, I am happy to report 
that there are more than 4,000 World War II commemorative 
communities across America today.
    That includes every state and every territory, and it 
includes colleges and universities, the Supreme Court, also 
television channels, and many, many other organizations that 
are a part of this. We are continuing to grow, thanks to your 
help, more than 200 new commemoratives each month are joining 
our ranks.
    Our National VFW Headquarters became a World War II 
commemorative community about two years ago, as you recall, 
when General Colin Powell made a surprise visit to our winter 
conference and presented a Commemorative plaque to our 
Commander-in-Chief Jack Carney.
    Since that time, hundreds of our VFW Posts and Ladies 
Auxiliaries have become World War II commemorative communities. 
They are doing wondrous and great things across America and 
around the world. I wish I had time this morning to share some 
of the contributions that are being made through our Posts and 
Auxiliaries, but time doesn't allow it.
    I would say that District No. 3, in Arizona, all of the VFW 
Posts and the Ladies Auxiliaries are all World War II 
commemorative communities and working extremely hard throughout 
their District. I thank you for that.
    As we come to the final year of this commemoration, we need 
all of our Posts and Ladies Auxiliaries and your communities to 
become more involved. We need to make sure that all of our 
World War II veterans are properly thanked and honored as they 
must be.
    The next area I will give you a brief update on is 
education. I don't have to talk to this group about education. 
The VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary and our committees have 
produced some superb educational materials that are available 
to all of our schools across America at no cost.
    We need you to assist in getting these materials and our 
veterans into the classroom to assist our teachers. If we 
study, learn and prepare, just maybe World War II will become 
known as the last world war.
    Howard Vander Clute and Mike Gormally have been a driving 
force in the commemorative program and our educational program. 
I want to thank both Mike and Howard for the very great work 
and support you have done for this program. If you need more 
information about either the educational or the commemorative 
program, I will ask you to check at our booth, and also the VFW 
has products out there to assist you in this as well.
    A quick update on the media. As you know, as well as I do, 
if we are going to reach young America we must keep the media 
involved in telling the story. We are working hand in hand with 
the VFW and with your Posts around the country to get our local 
stations involved.
    I would like to share with you just a couple of things that 
we are doing. One is that we have prepared some 30-second spots 
about World War II for our television stations. I am happy to 
report to you that many of the stations across America now are 
playing those spots and will continue to produce those 
throughout this next year.
    So, any assistance that you can do to encourage your local 
stations will be appreciated. There already have been more than 
50 major television programs and movies in the past three years 
that have honored and thanked our veterans of World War II. 
There are many, many more that are planned for this final year. 
So, with the VFW we will keep the pressure on the media to tell 
your story.
    The last item that I will give you is an update on this 
morning is the commemorative events. As you know, we began this 
program on December 7th, 1991, with the 50th anniversary of the 
attack on Pearl Harbor, in Honolulu and the VFW was again very 
much involved in helping make that happen.
    We have had many events that we have done since then, but 
due to time this morning I will just hit a few. I would also 
point out that at the commemorations that we do around the 
world, they are normally done on the site where the battle 
takes place, and it is also done in many sites across America. 
That will be the model that we will use throughout the rest of 
this program.
    In June 1994, we commemorated the battles in Italy, the D-
Day landings in Normandy and the liberation of Saipan, and 
Tinian in the Pacific. In June '94, we had the liberation of 
Guam, a very moving ceremony in the Island of Guam.
    In August, we commemorated the landings in Southern France, 
and the 25th of August we will commemorate the liberation of 
Paris. In September '94, we will commemorate the liberation of 
Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Then we will be back 
in the Pacific to commemorate the Battle of Peleliu and Palau, 
one of the toughest and bloodiest battles of the war.
    In October, we will commemorate the great naval battle of 
Leyte Gulf and General McArthur's return to the Philippines. In 
December '94, the Battle of the Bulge, both in Belgium and in 
St. Louis, Missouri. Then we come to the final year, 1995.
    In February-March '95, we will commemorate the Battle of 
Iwo Jima. We will do this initially in Washington, and then we 
will have three separate ceremonies during the period of 
February and March on the Island of Iwo Jima. In March '95, we 
commemorate the crossing of the Rhine River at the Remagen 
Bridge in Germany. That is the first time we have had a 
commemoration in Germany.
    In April through June, we will commemorate one of the most 
significant and the toughest battles of war when we commemorate 
the Battle of Okinawa. We will initially commemorate this in 
Washington, but we will finish the commemorations and the last 
commemoration before ``V-J'' Day will be on the Island of 
Okinawa.
    Also, we will commemorate in Russia on April 25th, we will 
commemorate the U.S./Russian link up on the Elder River both in 
Germany, Washington and Moscow. May 8, 1995, is the end of the 
war in Europe and VE Day will be commemorated throughout Europe 
and all across America, remembering the end of the war and 
tyranny comes to an end in Europe.
    Then in July '95, we will all be in Washington, D.C., to 
help General Davis unveil the Korean Monument that we are so 
excited about. Then September 2nd is the end of the war in the 
Pacific. This will be our last event during the celebration, 
and we will close the World War II commemoration with an 
international event, with many heads of state participating in 
Honolulu.
    We will have major end of the war ceremonies all across 
America in major cities across America. We will be glad to 
provide a list for you on that. Then the program officially 
closes November 11, 1995, Veterans Day. Throughout America that 
morning we will remember the price of freedom that we had to 
pay 50 years ago.
    No generation has ever been given a tougher job than the 
World War II generation. You have fought the most destructive 
war in history, a war that we were not prepared for, and we had 
to buy time to get prepared with lives of young Americans.
    You literally saved the world as we know it, and it is 
appropriate that we remember and that we thank you. No matter 
what we do to honor this very special generation, it will not 
be enough. Every day, when we wake up and look around at this 
strong and free and beautiful America, we must always remember 
that this nation didn't just happen, it happened because brave 
men and women answered our nation's call 50 years ago as they 
always have done and as they will always do.
    It has been said that any nation that forgets its veterans 
ceases to be a great nation. America will never forget its 
veterans. A grateful nation does remember. God bless America. 
Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, General. In 
appreciation of not only what you are doing for World War II 
activities, but also in appreciation for your service to the 
country that we all live in, and on behalf of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States, it is my pleasure to present 
to you your Life Membership in the VFW.
    GENERAL KICKLIGHTER: Wow. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Working very closely with 
General Kicklighter is Colonel Kevin Hanretta. Certainly, 
Kevin, in addition to what I said to the General, we are most 
appreciative of your efforts as well and on behalf of the VFW I 
would like to present to you your Life Membership in the VFW.
    Yesterday, our Annual Memorial Service was dedicated to the 
memory of two distinguished Past Commanders-in-Chief, Lewis G. 
Feldmann of Pennsylvania, and Leslie M. Frye of Nevada.
    Witnessing that Memorial Service and with us this morning 
is Thomas Fagan, a Feldmann, a nephew of Past Commander-in-
Chief Lewis, with a message from the family. Mr. Fagan.
    MR. THOMAS FAGAN: The Veterans of Foreign Wars meant a 
great deal to Lewis Feldmann. On behalf of Lewis' widow and the 
rest of the family, I would like to present this memorial to 
the VFW in honor of him.

             INTRODUCTION OF ADJUTANT GENERAL VANDER CLUTE

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The purpose of this next 
introduction is to honor a gentleman who is no stranger to 
these proceedings. He has given 36 years of service to our 
great organization. He has made significant contributions to 
the VFW and to America's veterans.
    Howard E. Vander Clute, Jr., was appointed Adjutant General 
in 1981, after serving as Commander-in-Chief of this 
organization during 1979-80. Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, he 
served with the Army Corps in Germany through 1951 and '53. He 
later joined and remained a Life Member of VFW Post 6467 in 
Bergenfield, New Jersey.
    Howard Vander Clute was elected Post Commander in 1958 and 
ultimately served as an elected officer of the Post, County 
Council and the Department at all levels. He is a past All-
American District Commander. He was an All-American Department 
Commander of New Jersey in 1974-75, and has served as the 
Chairman of the National Security Committee, on the National 
Council of Administration, General Resolutions Committee, and 
the National Budget and Finance Committee.
    In 1972, former Governor William Cahill of New Jersey 
appointed Vander Clute State Veterans Day Chairman. In later 
years, New Jersey's Governor Brendan Byrne appointed him to two 
successful four-year terms as the Chairman of the State 
Veterans Service Council.
    During his years as Junior and Senior Vice Commander-in-
Chief, Vander Clute made fact-finding trips to Europe, the Far 
East, the Middle East and Central America. He also appeared on 
Good Morning, America, Today and Tomorrow Shows representing 
the VFW on major issues of interest to all members.
    Vander Clute is married to the former Susan Stamm and 
resides in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has served the VFW 
for the past 13 years as its Adjutant General.
    Sergeant-at-Arms, will you present our guest to this 
podium. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming a man 
who has become an institution in our organization, Howard E. 
Vander Clute.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Adjutant General Vander Clute.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The citation reads, ``Gold Medal 
of Merit and Citation awarded to Howard E. Vander Clute, Jr.
    ``In special recognition of his extraordinary service as an 
articulate spokesman and exceptional advocate for our nation's 
veterans and for the programs and purposes of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars that is more than 36 years of leadership rendered 
in every elected office at the Post, County Council and 
District and on the National levels for which he received All-
American honors as the District and Department Commander of New 
Jersey, followed by his election to serve on the National 
Council of Administration, representing New Jersey and 
Maryland.
    ``In his election and advancement through the Chairs to the 
highest office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States in 79-80, at which time his single achievement and 
brilliant leadership as National Commander-in-Chief propelled 
the organization and its membership in front of the rest, and 
in its sincere appreciation for continuing to serve the 
organization with great dignity, high esteem and unparalleled 
expertise, and innovation for another 13 years as the Adjutant 
General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.''
    Howard, it is a pleasure for me to sign that citation and 
for John Senk to sign for you. Thank you, for all your efforts 
on behalf of the VFW.
    I thought it was important at the employees party the other 
night that the employees were a part of this first, because 
they were the people that purchased the pin. At the party, I 
showed Howard the pin. I said I have got to take it back 
because they bought it at Sears and it is broken, so we have 
got to return it and get it fixed.
    It was not broken, but I wanted to keep it for this special 
occasion. So, it is a proud moment for me to present to you the 
only Past Adjutant General's pin.

                RESPONSE--ADJUTANT GENERAL VANDER CLUTE

    ADJUTANT GENERAL VANDER CLUTE: Commander-in-Chief, I always 
prided myself in the fact that I knew everything that goes on 
at a National Convention. I am a hands-on sort of a manager, 
and much to the irritation of my staff at times. Every day of 
this Convention, we review carefully the daily agenda before we 
come here in the morning, and everybody has a copy. Obviously, 
there was one copy that got by me this morning.
    Also the daily business of the organization almost always 
passes by my office. I don't know how they were able to prepare 
a citation, because I am always in on everything to be 
absolutely certain that we have all of the things that we need 
to make this convention a success.
    So, you can imagine this morning my surprise when the 
Commander-in-Chief was not reading from the same script that I 
was monitoring. Please let me say if you have set aside this 
moment this morning to pay tribute to me, let me reverse that, 
because you have given me an opportunity to serve this 
organization that has produced for me a great deal of 
excitement, a great deal of self-satisfaction and a great deal 
of pride in having the position of Adjutant General for the 
almost 14 years I have served.
    It is I who owe you a debt for which I will continue to 
work to pay off by paying attention to the policy, by 
subscribing to the policy of this organization and working in 
its best behalf as long as I can take a breath.
    Secondly, I want to thank, and I am trying to do this and 
not leave anything out, the 13 Commanders-in-Chief that I 
served during that time, beginning with Art Fellwock, who had 
to serve two terms because of the untimely death of T.C. Selman 
just a month after he had been installed as Commander-in-Chief.
    It was decided that I would have a training period in 
Kansas City under the tutelage and counsel of then Adjutant 
General Julian Dickenson. Circumstances prevented that from 
happening, because only a few days after I arrived at 
headquarters, Julian Dickenson died in the St. Mary's Hospital 
in Kansas City.
    So I was thrust into the position almost immediately. 
Commander-in-Chief Art Fellwock flew to Kansas City to install 
me in front of all of the employees. Frankly, it was an awesome 
responsibility, one that took a great deal of time to adjust 
to.
    After that initial adjustment, it was the most rewarding 
position that any member of this organization could ever hope 
to have to deal with the membership of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, deal with the Commanders-in-Chief who served it so well, 
and to work with the professional staff that all of you have 
helped to assemble.
    I say that to this audience because every member of that 
staff came from the ranks of this organization having been 
tested in the field as a volunteer before he came to the 
headquarters. I am proud of the staff that serves this 
organization, I am proud to have worked with it.
    If there have been accomplishments in that 14 years, the 
credit belongs to the staff who has focused upon the 
responsibilities that were given to them and to perform in the 
best interest of their country and of this organization.
    Before I sit down and attempt to regain my composure and 
get on with the agenda of this Convention, which is so 
important to me these few days, I want to share this moment 
with my wife, Susan, who has been there all the way. My wife is 
known to talk a lot, and it is not a very secure secret if she 
has one, but that one was well kept. Thank you everybody for 
all this great experience. Thanks again.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Howard, it was easy to keep 
Susan from telling you anything. We didn't tell her until 
yesterday.

  INTRODUCTION OF NATHANIEL BENNETT--1994 NATIONAL VOICE OF DEMOCRACY 
                                 WINNER

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: For 47 years, the VFW's Voice of 
Democracy Scholarship Program has encouraged high school 
students to think, write and speak out on freedom and 
democracy.
    For each student, competition begins at his or her school. 
They move through the VFW Post, District and State levels, 
finally to the VFW National Competition where more than 
$100,000 in scholarship monies are given.
    All told, more than $2 million in scholarships and awards 
are provided each year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    The 1994 First Place National Winner of the Voice of 
Democracy Program is Nathaniel Bennett of Minneapolis, 
Minnesota.
    Nathaniel just finished his junior year at Minneapolis 
South High School. He is sponsored by VFW Post 1149 and its 
Ladies Auxiliary in Minneapolis.
    As First Place Winner, he is the recipient of the $20,000 
T. C. Selman Memorial Scholarship and he plans to use his 
scholarship to attend the University of California.
    Here to present his award-winning essay on ``My Commitment 
to America'' is the 1994 Voice of Democracy Scholarship First 
Place Winner, Nathaniel Bennett.
    It is a pleasure for us to present you with your medal and 
this plaque to Nathaniel Bennett, First Place National Winner 
of the Voice of Democracy Winner 1994. Young man, you did an 
excellent job.

              VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNER--NATHANIEL BENNETT

    MR. NATHANIEL BENNETT: Before I begin, thank you's are in 
order. This is great. I will have to speak to my parents to 
build another wing for all the awards and medals that you have 
given me. It is amazing. It is beautiful. If I named people 
specifically, I would take up much more of your Convention than 
I think is appropriate, because all the people I have met have 
treated me so kindly and warmly, and it has been a pleasure to 
meet you all.
    So, just quickly I would like to thank my Stars Spangled 
Banner Post 49 in Minneapolis and the 7th District, the 
Department of Minnesota, and, of course, all of the members of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary, not only 
for the scholarship and for your service in the war conflicts 
and in the ladies' case keeping the country, the jobs and the 
families together when the men were gone, but also for your 
sharing yourselves with me and the American community.
    Every time I come to one of these events, it becomes more 
obvious how dedicated service you truly are. So, without 
further ado, ``My Commitment to America.''
    All of us can think of a commitment that we've made to 
someone else; in marriages, in families and with friends. 
Commitment means people pledging themselves, often to each 
other. My commitment to America is no different. It involves 
America and I pledging ourselves to each other. For America's 
part, I have been welcomed by my family, my community, a 
government that is of, by and for the people, and by a society 
that has made this country great. To make the relationship 
between my nation and myself work, I must make my own 
commitment.
    I have always felt a commitment to America, but only 
recently thought about what that commitment really is. I have 
pledged allegiance to the flag and to the republic for which it 
stands, but never fully understood the meaning of allegiance. I 
studied the Constitution, and discovered that it explains what 
the government can and cannot do, and gives the people certain 
rights, but nowhere in the Constitution does it mention a legal 
commitment. To understand my commitment to this country, I had 
to look deeper than the letter of the law. I had to look at the 
moral principles that America is based on, such as freedom of 
expression, toleration of differences, and belief in peaceful 
compromise. I had to realize that I, and every other American, 
must make a moral commitment to America.
    As part of that commitment, it is important that I exercise 
my right to vote, my right to free speech, and my right to 
petition the government. Still, this is not enough. I must also 
contribute to society in my own, individual way. America is not 
only a political state, it is a society that was shaped by many 
people, in many ways.
    Many of the greatest Americans were not involved in 
politics. If Mark Twain had been a career politician, we would 
not have his novel, Tom Sawyer, and we would not know how fun 
and profitable it can be to white-wash a fence. If Alexander 
Graham Bell had spent his life studying Constitutional law, we 
might still be communicating by Pony Express. If the father of 
the skyscraper, Louis Sullivan, had been a Washington lobbyist, 
the world of architecture would be less interesting and a lot 
shorter. If Harriet Tubman had been a member of Lincoln's 
Cabinet, there would have been many slaves that never made it 
to freedom. The point is not that these people weren't making 
political statements. Of course their lives reflected their 
political opinions. The point is that they contributed to 
society in their own way.
    Right now, I am experimenting with a few ways to express my 
commitment to America. I'm no Ansel Adams, whose pictures 
inspire awe in our nation's natural beauty, but I do take 
photographs of my surroundings that express my commitment to 
America. One of my pictures is of a building with a billboard 
displaying the message, ``Support our Troops in Operation 
Desert Storm.'' Below the billboard, on the building are the 
words, ``Troops Out'' in black spray-paint. When I took the 
photograph, I thought of it as merely an ironic urban scene, 
superimposing two messages into one image, but now it seems to 
me it is an example of the American forum. The maker of the 
billboard, the maker of the graffiti, and I, the maker of the 
photograph, all considering America's direction.
    I'm not on a par with Bob Dylan, the American troubadour, 
but I play the bass guitar and occasionally I write songs. One 
of them called ``Indecision'' describes an inner struggle. Two 
lines read, ``I try to communicate. I do so with perseverance. 
But hypocrisy retaliates with its interference.'' The tunes and 
lyrics are simple, but the song reflects my occasional 
frustrations about life.
    And what about this speech? I do not think the great 
American orator, Fredrick Douglas, will lose his place in 
history because of me, but I am using this speech to explore 
and explain my commitment to America. It made me think about 
how my photography and music reflect that commitment. Even now, 
as I recite, I gain more insight into who I am and what my 
commitment to America means.
    I've discovered that I treasure the freedom of expression 
that allows me to contribute my music, my photography, and my 
opinions to American society. My whole generation and I 
experience this freedom because of many Americans before us; 
Americans who have given their ideas in political speeches, in 
songs, in stories and in actions; Americans who have worked in 
factories and universities and grocery stores; Americans who 
have given their loyal services and even their lives, in the 
armed forces. In response to and in honor of those Americans, I 
contribute my ideas, my talents, and my life to America in 
order to make it better now and for generations to come. This 
is my commitment to America. It is the greatest commitment that 
I can make.

  INTRODUCTION--IAN McDONOUGH, VICE-PRESIDENT, RETURNED SERVICEMEN'S 
                        LEAGUE--SOUTH AUSTRALIA

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: A long-held tradition among the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars is to maintain close relationships 
with our counterparts in other countries. VFW members have 
strong affection for troops with whom they have shared the 
field of battle.
    In World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam, many American 
troops fought alongside the troops of Australia. These close 
ties have carried forward in our current relationship with the 
Returned Servicemen's League of Australia.
    This morning, I am especially pleased to introduce the 
current Vice-President of the Returned Servicemen's League from 
South Australia, Ian McDonough.

                        RESPONSE--IAN McDONOUGH

    COMRADE McDONOUGH: Commander-in-Chief Cramer, Distinguished 
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. I would probably be like one of 
our Prime Ministers. He lost his trunks in the Indian Bank one 
day and got caught with his pants down. I have been 
experiencing audiences up to about 200. Your Adjutant General, 
I am very pleased to meet him, but this is a con man.
    I have only met him last Friday for the first time and I 
have met him twice since, and he has put one over on me each 
time. Being 34 years in a law agency, it is a bit hard to take, 
Howard. It has been a pleasure meeting you. I have the honor to 
present to you the Australian Flag. It is the first one 
respective government has presented outside of Australia on 
behalf of the British Governor.
    In addition, I would like to present the VFW with this 
Returned Servicemen's League gold plaque from my President in 
Australia. That was the first Con Act of your Adjutant General. 
The second one was this morning he asked me to present a plaque 
on behalf of the Australian Veterans organization, called the 
Greater Southeast Australia Association on behalf of their 
Vice-President.
    It is an honor to present this. I served in 1960 in the 
Australia Air Force. I know the area well. I most certainly 
treasure our association, so this is given to you, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER. Thank you, Ian.

       INTRODUCTION OF SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE MOC--GLEN MARONEY

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER. Thank you, Ian.
    A national gathering of the Veterans of Foreign Wars would 
not be complete without a visit from the Supreme Commander of 
the Military Order of the Cootie.
    Elected Supreme Commander at the 74th Supreme Scratch in 
1993, Glen Maroney first became a member of Gopher Pup Tent No. 
2 Grand of Minnesota after joining VFW Post 246 in 1948.
    Glen is a World War II and Korean War veteran, serving as a 
U.S. Naval Officer in the Pacific Theater during the Second 
World War and being recalled to active duty during Korea.
    He has been active in both the Military Order of the Cootie 
and the VFW for more than 45 years.
    Please give a warm VFW welcome to the Supreme Commander of 
the Military Order of the Cooties, Glen Maroney.
              REMARKS--MOC SUPREME COMMANDER GLEN MARONEY

    COMRADE MARONEY: I almost thought I needed to take a bow 
out there. That is a Cootie greeting. Anyway, good morning, my 
dear friends, National Officers, Commander-in-Chief George and 
the National Officers of our Ladies Auxiliary, the beautiful 
ladies, my fellow comrades out here and friends all.
    We have your other Auxiliary that have had a beautiful year 
this year. I am extremely proud of our members and what they 
have done. We will start our Supreme Scratch this coming 
Thursday at 1:00 o'clock over at the Riviera. That will be our 
75th Anniversary.
    That is 75 years our veterans have come back to these 
encampments and to do things and have a good time and renew old 
friendships and acquaintances. Some people ask me why in the 
world would you name an outfit a Cootie? Well, this happened 
after World War I, the ones that came out of the trenches of 
Europe.
    They didn't have all these head doctors, psychiatrists, 
therapists, whatever you want to call them, that tell you today 
what is wrong and put on you Prozac. How to solve your problems 
then was in laughter, good times. They weren't so darn thin-
skinned that we couldn't tell an ethnic joke, a religious joke, 
or any kind of a joke, where like today we are not politically 
correct to start with.
    What I am saying, they got over their problems with 
laughter. Our original parameter was to both perpetuate humor 
and offer advice to American servicemen. And we still to this 
day try to have a good time in our meetings, enjoy each other 
and enjoy life. I think we should look to that a little bit 
more. We need to lighten up and let's have some fun.
    As we matriculated through the years, the Cooties got a 
little more serious program. Some of you with better ideas than 
I came up with our hospital program which they call the ``Keep 
Them Smiling in Beds of White.'' I am proud of what we have 
done in the hospitals this last year.
    We have set all-time records. I am not going to give you a 
lot of figures. You don't want to hear them anyway. We set all 
kinds of records, but one thing that has really made me realize 
how good we have been doing is the VAVS. You all know that is 
Volunteer Service for Veterans Administration Hospitals that 
puts out figures as to what the organizations do.
    There are 172 VA's in the United States or under their 
jurisdiction. We Cooties are represented in 160 of them, which 
is a good record. We need more of you, though, to join with us 
and to get those other 12. We are working on them. More 
importantly, there are 60 regular organizations who are 
registered with the VA system to do volunteer work.
    We are not number one or number two, I am sorry to say. 
That is the American Legion and their Auxiliary. We are not 
even number three and number four. That is the VFW and their 
Auxiliary in that position. Number five, no, the DAV, the 
Disabled American Veterans.
    But we are number six and we are proud of that figure. We 
are very proud of that. Our motto this year was ``Volunteer 
With Pride.'' We have some of the greatest volunteers in the 
world, and I am proud that they selected me to lead them this 
year.
    I want to reiterate and try to get through here, and it is 
a hard thing to do. When we become Cooties, we do not abandon 
the VFW. We still stay strong and work with the VFW, and under 
the leadership of our great Commander-in-Chief this year we 
have been fostering and trying to promote that word around the 
country.
    Just as an example, I have one of our Supreme Officers down 
front. He is Quartermaster of his Post. He has been District 
Commander two or three times. He has held all kinds of offices 
in his Department. Bobbie Birdett, my Supreme Adjutant 
Quartermaster, is down front. Along with him I would like to 
introduce his wife, Faye, who is our Supreme Senior Vice-
President of the Cooties Auxiliary.
    Just one more short thing and I will get out of here. I 
know we have a lot of speakers coming. I have tried to somehow 
show the fact that we are active in the VFW and we have tried 
to pick up our VFW booster program, not just a numbers game 
where we say only you members can sign up and things like that.
    We wanted the states, when we called them, to give us a 
resume on what they are doing to promote and help their VFW on 
membership. We have got some great letters from some of them. 
Some didn't respond. It is a new program and didn't get through 
the heads right away, and they have to think about it for a 
while.
    I would like to announce at this time that the Grand 
Commander Rick Allen of North Carolina will be the winner of 
our VFW Booster Program this year. Rick is here. With that, as 
I said earlier, we have had a terrific year. I am proud of the 
fact I was able to lead this Auxiliary for the VFW and I am 
especially proud to be here with George and serve with him this 
year.
    I know with Howard, George and I retiring, we will all be 
around. Howard is not going to wander off on his motorcycle 
into the sunset like the rest of us. Thank you again for all of 
your kind attention.

            INTRODUCTION OF PROFESSOR TEH-SHAUN HUNG, VACRS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: For more than two decades, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars has pledged their support for our 
friends in the Republic of China on Taiwan through resolutions 
at our National Convention.
    The citizens of the Republic of China on Taiwan are proud 
of their success and economic achievement. Certainly, that 
success, in large part, can be attributed to the employment and 
development programs that the Republic conducts for its 
veterans.
    The tremendous care, support and vitality of its veterans 
programs have been an inspiration and model for the VFW. We 
wish to thank our friends with VACRS, the Vocational Assistance 
Commission for Retired Servicemen, for their long and 
beneficial friendship.
    Joining us today to reaffirm our pledge of brotherhood and 
comradeship is Professor Teh-Shuan Hung, Vice Chairman of 
VACRS.

                   RESPONSE--PROFESSOR TEH-SHUAN HUNG

    PROFESSOR TEH-SHUAN HUNG: Commander-in-Chief Cramer, 
Delegates to the Convention, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and 
Gentlemen.
    On behalf of the Vocational Assistance Commission for 
Retired Servicemen and the veterans of the Republic of China, I 
extend to you our most sincere congratulations on the occasion 
of the National Convention of the VFW. I am very pleased to be 
with our old friends from the VFW here in Las Vegas.
    As veterans, we have endured the horrors of war, and we 
long for peace and quiet. Unfortunately, even today, with the 
near-demise of communism as a force of evil in the world, we 
still have many trouble spots, which could erupt into wide-
spread violence, and possibly world war, at any moment. In 
Bosnia, Rwanda, Haiti, Somalia, and in a host of other places 
around the world, the embers of hate are fanned by greed, until 
they rage into a roaring fire of death and destruction.
    We believe that it is the special responsibility of the 
veterans of the Free World to unite in our efforts to promote a 
spirit of justice, which may calm the propensity toward war and 
violence. As we know, the devastation of war can only lead to 
economic dislocation, hardship, and suffering, not only for the 
military forces, but also for non-combatants within the nations 
and the people of neighboring countries.
    The VFW has always been a close friend of VACRS and the 
Republic of China. We share many common goals and mutually 
beneficial interests in veterans affairs. We both promote the 
best quality in home care, health care, education and training, 
and job placement that can be provided for our veterans. We 
understand that veterans benefits are not merely grants from 
the government, but rather compensation for service rendered to 
the nation on which no one can place a price tag.
    In the areas of foreign relations and national defense our 
two countries likewise share common aims. We are committed to 
expanding liberty, democracy, national security, and prosperity 
for all people of the world. We believe that the cooperation of 
freedom-loving people will triumph over dictatorship and 
slavery. As the Iron and Bamboo Curtains continue to fall, we 
are all hopeful that nations around the world can finally enjoy 
peace.
    For two decades, the VFW has shown its endorsement of the 
Republic of China through Resolutions at the Department and 
National levels. You have supported the diplomatic recognition 
of the Republic of China, our return to the United Nations, and 
the continued supply of advanced military equipment for our 
armed forces. For this support our people are truly grateful.
    As an important example, I would like to recall that, 
during the 1970s and 1980s, the Republic of China attempted to 
purchase F-16 fighters from the United States. Unfortunately, 
the Carter, Reagan and Bush administrations denied our 
requests. The VFW, in spite of the difficulties, knew that it 
was in the best interests of both the Republic of China and the 
United States to provide us with F-16s, under the provisions of 
the Taiwan Relations Act, so that we could maintain a 
sufficient self-defense capability.
    After almost two decades of continuous support, your 
Resolution was finally fulfilled, when President Bush 
authorized the sale of 150 F-16 fighters to our country in 
1992. We thank you and are most grateful for your unending 
efforts in this regard, and we hope that you will support our 
continued access to advanced U.S. military equipment in the 
future.
    We also hope that the relationship between the VFW and 
VACRS will continue to grow and prosper in the years to come, 
so that we will be able to enhance and foster the spirit of 
veterans' brotherhood between our organizations.
    In closing, I give you my best regards for health, 
happiness, and a most successful Convention in 1994. Thank you 
very much.
    MR. CHARLES KAN: On behalf of the Republic of China, we 
have a presentation that I have the honor to read, a 
certificate accompanying the Cloud and Banner Medal.
    ``Mr. George R. Cramer, Commander-in-Chief, The Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States, has distinguished himself by 
his outstanding contributions to the promotion of friendly 
relations between the peoples of the United States of America 
and the Republic of China and to the enhancement of ties and 
cooperation between the veterans of our two countries.
    ``In appreciation of his meritorious service, Commander-in-
Chief Cramer is presented the Order of the Cloud and Banner 
with Cravat by the Government of the Republic of China, in 
accordance with Article 11 of the Armed Forces Decoration 
Regulations.'' It has been signed by Lee Teng-hui, President, 
Lien Chan, Premier, and Sun Chen, Minister of National Defense.
    We have a plaque presented by VACRS. ``Presented to Mr. 
George R. Cramer, Commander-in-Chief, the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States in appreciation of his outstanding 
contributions to a strengthening of brotherhood between the VFW 
and VACRS by the Chairman of the Vocational Assistance 
Commission for Retired Servicemen, Republic of China, August 
22, 1994.''
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Professor Teh-Shaun Hung, I want 
to thank you for the medal and the plaque, and also I want to 
thank you on behalf of the VFW for being a most gracious host 
when we had an opportunity to visit with you folks in the 
Republic of China.

                  INTRODUCTION OF DR. WILLIAM BENNETT

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Ladies and gentlemen, we are 
pleased and honored to have with us this morning one of the 
most exciting and intellectually stimulating speakers in 
America today. He is also the 1987 recipient of the prestigious 
VFW James E. Van Zandt Citizenship Award.
    In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Bill Bennett 
Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1985, 
he was named Secretary of Education; and in 1989 he accepted 
the Post of Director of National Drug Control Policy.
    Dr. Bennett, in a decade of distinguished public service, 
earned a reputation as a man of strong, reasoned convictions 
who addresses the tough issues of our time in an eloquent, 
meaningful manner.
    In his post-government career, Bill Bennett continues to 
have a significant impact on gut issues that move the American 
people.
    Evidence of his influence on national political debate can 
be seen in his extraordinarily successful and widely praised 
``Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories,'' which 
was number one on the New York Times Best Seller List; and his 
book ``The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators'', his 
assessment of modern American society.
    A commentator and frequent guest on ``Good Morning, 
America,'' CNN, MacNeil/Lehrer and Nightline, Bill Bennett is 
currently a distinguished fellow in cultural studies at the 
Heritage Foundation and is Co-Director of Empower America, a 
public policy ``think tank.''
    A native of Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in Washington, 
D.C., where he attended Gonzaga High School. He went on to 
receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Williams 
College and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Texas, 
and a law degree from Harvard.
    Please join me in a warm VFW welcome for the Honorable 
William Bennett.
                  KEYNOTE SPEECH--DR. WILLIAM BENNETT

    DR. WILLIAM BENNETT: Thank you very much, Commander-in-
Chief Cramer, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure, 
privilege and honor to once again appear before the VFW. I 
treasure the award I received in 1987 and it was a great 
delight to get the phone call, as many of you know, last week 
inviting me to come. I have been on vacation with my wife and 
children and there are a few things I would give up for that 
family time, but I was happy to do so for your kind invitation. 
I have a reputation for speaking candidly, so let me speak 
candidly to you today.
    Though I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak to 
you, I frankly do not understand why the President of the 
United States or the Vice-President could not come and speak to 
you today. For a long time it has been my view, and let me just 
say parenthetically I know we do not take sides in the VFW, it 
is not a political organization, but you will allow me free 
speech, nonetheless.
    For a long time it has puzzled me and bothered me that the 
President of the United States nor the Vice-President could not 
see fit to attend the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Jamborees. In 
doing so, to my knowledge, they were the first President and 
Vice-President to stiff the Boy Scouts in the history of the 
United States. To find out the same thing was done to the VFW 
simply adds to the embarrassment.
    To me, this is more important than Whitewater. I don't 
understand Whitewater, I may never understand Whitewater, I may 
be with many of you never understanding Whitewater, but I do 
understand what it means to neglect critical and important 
institutions. It is not as if the virtues of the Boy Scouts and 
the Girl Scouts and the virtues of the VFW were in oversupply 
in our nation that we could neglect these august institutions.

                          virtues vs. virtues

    Indeed, as I shall say in a few minutes you have given me, 
these are the virtues we need most of all. By the way, I hope 
you don't mind my using the term virtues. I feel I have made 
some contributions in getting this word back into circulation 
with the ``Book of Virtues.'' When I talked to my publisher a 
year ago about this book, he said, ``What is it?'' I said, ``It 
is a collection of moral stories for adults and children and 
adults and children together.'' Then he said why don't we call 
it the ``Book of Values.''
    I said no, it's not about values. When I hear the word 
values, I reach for my Sears catalog. This is about virtues, 
and a virtue is an excellence of character, and what we need I 
believe more than anything else today is attention to 
character, to nurturing the character of the young, and to 
instill in them the kind of virtues long associated with this 
organization and its brother and sister organizations.
    The tremendous success of the ``Book of Virtues'' has, of 
course, meant a great deal to me and my family personally and 
financially, and I don't want to stay too long in Las Vegas to 
make sure that it remains so. But it says something else about 
the country and the culture. The book was number one on the New 
York Times best-seller list, which I have to tell you as a 
conservative Republican was the nicest thing the New York Times 
ever said about me. It's a book with no pictures, there is 
nothing dirty or nasty or salacious or illicit in it, and it 
has sold 1.4 million copies.
    Three weeks ago it outsold Howard Stern's book four to one. 
Two weeks ago it outsold Howard Stern's and Roseanne's combined 
three to one. The last time I said that in public I got a phone 
call from a friend of mine named Rush Limbaugh, you may know 
him. He said, ``Don't use that locution.'' And I said, ``Why 
not?'' And he said, ``That's a hell of a thought, Howard Stern 
and Roseanne combined.''

                          winning the struggle

    But anybody who suggests that the cultural war has been 
waged and we have lost it; that Americans don't care about what 
is decent and honorable and forthright is mistaken. There is a 
great struggle going on in the country and I think the greatest 
and most important struggle going on in the country is in the 
culture.
    The stakes are these: Who wins gets to teach the children, 
and who gets to teach the children will decide what it is our 
children learn. Whether they will learn that America is the 
greatest country in the world, the greatest country that has 
ever existed, a country with faults and problems and a history 
that is mixed, but still the beacon of liberty and freedom in 
the world where whether they will learn something else about 
America.
    Who gets to teach the children will decide whether our 
history is taught accurately, whether math is taught at all, 
whether children are taught to speak English for their sake as 
well as for the sake of the identity of this country. It is a 
fight and a struggle I invite you to join. A grateful nation 
thanks you, ladies and gentlemen, for your service to this 
great country.
    It is our responsibility, people like me whose life is 
public policy, and whose life as an educator is to try to make 
it plain that our schools and colleges must teach the 
accomplishments of this country and how this country could not 
survive, could not have the greatness it has without the 
sacrifice made by you and your colleagues. So with that we 
thank you. Without the Veterans of Foreign Wars it would not 
have achieved what we achieved five years ago.

                         victory over communism

    Perhaps one of the most significant events in the entire 
history of Western civilization, the overthrow of communism and 
the victory of freedom. The long twilight struggle against 
communism of which John F. Kennedy spoke, a struggle waged by 
Republicans and Democrats alike, over the last 40 years, has 
ushered in the victory of liberty and democracy and most 
important, the American idea.
    Your contribution to that victory is not just a victory for 
the military, it is not just a victory for our children, it is 
not even a victory for America, it is a victory for 
civilization itself. Because the struggle to be clear, was a 
struggle between civilization and barbarism, between the 
goodness represented by democracy and freedom on the other 
side. Quite accurately, although to some it was a shock when 
Ronald Reagan said it, it was called ``The evil empire.'' 
Indeed, that's what it was and it was vanquished by the forces 
of righteousness, decency and freedom.
                            domestic crisis

    The struggles we face now are somewhat different, I would 
submit to you. Yes, there are still foreign problems and there 
are no doubt going to be needs and opportunities for the United 
States to involve itself militarily. History is not over, the 
military involvement of the United States in the wider world is 
not over, and yet I believe the great struggle before us is the 
struggle I described, the struggle for our culture, the 
struggle for our children, the struggle internally to the 
United States.
    The great wars that the United States has waged and won 
were not fought and won so that we could see a 560 percent 
increase in violent crime in the last 30 years. The great 
struggles and wars were not fought and won so that we could see 
a 90-point decline in the scholastic aptitude test scores in 
the last 20 years. And the great wars and efforts that this 
country has waged were not fought and won so that we could see 
an increase in illegitimacy in this country that staggers the 
imagination.
    In 1960, five percent of the children born in this country 
were born out of wedlock. In 1990, 30 percent of the children 
born in this country were born out of wedlock. Senator Patrick 
Moynihan, a Democrat from New York, and I have spoken often on 
this topic and he agrees with me that if this rate continues by 
the end of this century we will have a 50 percent illegitimacy 
rate in this country.
    This country, this republic, cannot survive that kind of 
onslaught. We did not wage the wars against fascism, Nazism, 
Stalinism and communism in order to be overthrown from within 
by a declining decay of our own institutions. Our churches, our 
schools, our neighborhoods and our families are the places and 
the beachheads where these next wars will be fought and 
decided.
    The struggle again is the struggle for our children. Public 
policies, sound public policies can make a difference. To have 
a serious criminal justice system and not one that's a 
revolving door system will make a great deal of difference. We 
have to make it plain that we no longer believe what was 
popular in the '60s and '70s--that all criminals are victims 
and must be treated as such.

                    sense of personal responsibility

    We have to have once again a clear and certain idea of 
personal responsibility, not the idea that we have seen 
recently in the courtrooms of California where a person can say 
``I'm not responsible because the riot made me do it,'' or 
``I'm not responsible because sometime in my youth I was 
mistreated.'' At the heart of American politics, at the heart 
of the American political philosophy, and at the heart of 
Western civilization I described a few minutes ago, is the idea 
of personal responsibility. If that goes, it all goes.
    As to the welfare system, it is my belief and it has been 
for some time, that we must simply end the welfare system. The 
government must say we will no longer subsidize the wantonness 
of youth. Welfare programs were started, as many of you know--
this should be a point underlined by this organization--to help 
the widows of those killed in service to their country. It has 
now been perverted into a system which rewards teenagers for 
the wantonness of the back seat of an automobile. This is not 
progress.
    And in the third area--education. We need to make it plain 
that an education is the education of mind and heart, that all 
education is the education of character. That parents want the 
schools to do several simple things: To teach children how to 
read, and write and count and think correctly and to help to 
develop ideas right and wrong that will guide them through 
life. If the current educational structure cannot provide these 
ends and reach these ends in a straightforward way, then it is 
time to turn the system back to parents. In my view, the 
American people will do better than the bureaucracies that now 
govern our educational system.

                         lessons of government

    So there are things to do in the realm of public policy. 
But I must tell you, I served in three different government 
jobs. I was Chairman of the National Endowment for Humanities. 
That's not the National Endowment for the Arts, I don't want 
you to confuse it. The National Endowment for the Arts is the 
one with the dirty pictures, the National Endowment for 
Humanities is the one with the dirty books but you have to be 
an intellectual to understand that.
    Then I was Secretary of Education where I fought with 
teachers' unions, university presidents; then I became the 
nation's first drug czar, which the only laugh line I had in 
that position was that I could refer to my lovely wife as 
czarling and to our two little boys as the czardines.
    Parenthetically, my wife thinks that my career in 
Washington is a case study in downward mobility. The thing 
started while at the Humanities, then I got into fights in 
Education, then I ended up in busts of the ``Bloods'' and the 
``Crips'' at four in the morning in Los Angeles. And when I 
left that job she asked, ``What's next dear, toxic and 
hazardous waste cleanup?''
    But I saw a lot, I saw a lot about America. I visited 
classrooms; it was my wife's idea. When I became Secretary of 
Education, she said instead of making pronouncements, why don't 
you go around the country and go to class and teach classes, 
talk to parents, teachers and kids and see what they think, 
then make your pronouncements.
    I said, ``Elaine, I'm the Secretary of Education for the 
United States, I don't do retail, I do wholesale.'' And she 
said, being a daughter of a salesman, ``Do retail and you'll do 
better wholesale,'' and I did. And I went to 105 classrooms and 
taught class, and believe me, it's difficult to teach class 
with cameras in the back of the room. Dan Quayle will tell you 
that. And I will tell you that.
    And when I was drug czar I went to 103 besieged communities 
and I said take me to where the problems are the worst and they 
would always take me to where the problems were the worst. So 
I've had a pretty good survey of the American scene and I can 
tell you that our greatest problems are not going to be solved 
by government. Our greatest problems are not going to be solved 
by public policies. The government can help, they can hinder, 
but right now I think it's doing a lot of hindering in its weak 
approach to crime and it's approach to welfare and it's 
approach to education.
                       strengthening institutions

    But the real answers I believe lie outside of government. 
They lie in the idea of personal responsibility. They lie in 
the idea of the strengthening of our institutions. And they 
lie, of course, and most significantly, in the spiritual and 
moral realm. They lie in that realm in which we are all called 
to our own sense of responsibility. What we must do first, it 
seems to me, not to conclude, is to attack the idea of 
dependence in our time. There is an idea in our time of 
dependence on government which we must slough off if we are to 
regain our sense of personal responsibility.

                            richmond debates

    In the Richmond debate, the last of the presidential 
debates almost two years ago now, there was an important moment 
to me--the single important moment of that political campaign. 
A man about 40 years old, wearing a pony tail, approached the 
podium in Richmond--the interactive debate you remember with 
Clinton and Bush and Perot--and he said to the three men, ``We 
are your children,'' said this 40-year-old man, ``one of you 
will become the President. What will you do to take care of our 
needs as your children?''
    ``As your children we have needs, what will you to do take 
care of us?'' It was a shocking question. This question that 
was asked in Richmond not far from where Madison and Jefferson 
are buried, this man, this self-governing citizen referred to 
himself as a child in the presence of the future President of 
the United States as the father who would take care of him.
    What was perhaps more shocking than the question was the 
answers that were given. My colleague, my boss George Bush, a 
very good and decent man, demurred a little bit then answered 
the question. He told this man six or eight or ten things that 
he would do for him.
    Then Ross Perot answered the question. Well, to be fair to 
Ross Perot, he didn't answer the question, he said something 
like open the hood and get granny out of the closet, open the 
barn and some other stuff. It was very peppy, but it didn't 
really answer the question.
    But then Mr. Clinton answered the question and answered 
with a long and elaborate litany about the things that he would 
do for this man. And that answer goes on today. Look, I don't 
want to take cheap political shots and use the VFW platforms 
and opportunity to do that, that would not be right that 
wouldn't be fair.
    The political philosophy of the party empowered is a 
coherent political philosophy; it just happens to be one with 
which I disagree. That political philosophy says this: ``Give 
us your money and we will take care of you. Give us more of 
your money and we will take care more of you. Give us all of 
your money and we'll take care of everything, cradle to grave, 
your health care, your child care, your condoms, everything you 
need, we'll take care of it.''

                          spiritual challenge

    That, it seems to me, is the challenge to the American 
political and public spirit today. We need to say something to 
that, in my view, Democrats and Republicans alike, because 
there are Republicans who participate in this philosophy. But 
Americans, whatever their political persuasion, need to stand 
up to the government and say to the government today: ``Give us 
back our money and with it our sense of responsibility.''

                        who will lead the world?

    Finally, ultimately, as you know, because this is the idea 
for which you fought, this is an idea of self-government. This 
is an idea not of being in tutelage to a federal government. 
This is an experiment in liberty, liberty of the citizens, 
liberty of all the citizens.
    I referred earlier to the great victory of freedom around 
the world. One of the great heroes of freedom of the era in the 
last ten years was Lech Walesa of Poland. Let me close by 
reminding you of what Lech Walesa said at his departure from 
the United States. He visited the United States and addressed 
the Congress, in which he thanked the American people for the 
service that the United States had provided in the cause of 
freedom. Then he went to New York City, and with the Statue of 
Liberty behind, he said goodbye to the United States. He said, 
``Thank you, thank you America for teaching the world the great 
lesson that freedom is more important than tyranny.'' Everyone 
thought he was finished, but he wasn't. He added a sentence or 
two: He said, ``Now comes another challenge for the United 
States. Take care of this country,'' he pleaded with us. ``Take 
care of America,'' said Walesa, ``for if you do not lead us, 
who will?''
    Well, we have taught the world a great lesson. Thanks to 
you and your colleagues, we have taught the world great lessons 
over centuries. Now there is a great lesson to be taught and to 
be relearned at home, so let us take care of that country at 
home.
    And I hope now that you will join with other Americans to 
fix the problems at home; to get into the struggle in our own 
country, the struggle for the minds and hearts of our 
countryman and our children.
    The ideas of America, the idea of liberty, the idea of 
freedom and the idea of personal responsibility. That is the 
great struggle of our time. Thank you very much.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Dr. Bennett, for your 
sincerity and inspirational message. Quite frankly, I am glad 
the other fellow was unavailable.
   INTRODUCTION OF GENERAL TAE-WAN CHANG, KOREAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Four decades ago, we stood 
shoulder-to-shoulder with our comrades in Korea on freedom's 
front line. We shared the hardships and agonies of a war that 
took a terrible toll not only in lives but the very fibre of a 
nation. Since then, we have continued to stand together, 
committed to defending the freedom we won. During the difficult 
days of the Vietnam War, our allies from the Republic of Korea 
joined us in fulfilling our commitment in Vietnam.
    Today, Korea, through the sheer dynamics and energy of its 
people has emerged as an economic power in that region of the 
world. It is an achievement in which we share the pride of the 
Korean people. It remains an achievement that was made possible 
by the sacrifices of gallant veterans, both Americans and 
Koreans.
    We take great pride in the special relationship that we 
share with the Korean Veterans Association. We know the courage 
and dedication of those veterans, but most of all we know their 
friendship.
    It gives me great pleasure to introduce our comrade- in-
arms, General Tae-wan Chang, President of the Korean Veterans 
Association.
    Comrades, please join me in giving General Chang a warm VFW 
welcome.

  REMARKS BY GENERAL TAE-WAN CHANG, PRESIDENT OF THE KOREAN VETERANS 
                              ASSOCIATION

    GENERAL CHANG: Thank you. Commander-in-Chief Cramer, 
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
    It is a great privilege for me to be invited to attend your 
1994 Annual Convention. I extend warm greetings on behalf of 
all members of the Korean Veterans Association.
    Dear VFW Members, the Republic of Korea, with its new 
government since February of last year, has made remarkable 
progress in all fields including politics, economy and social 
affairs. This progress and great achievements would not have 
been possible without your assistance in the Korea War. I 
extend our sincere gratitude for this assistance.
    Today, in the midst of world political turmoil, the United 
States leads the pursuit for reconciliation and peace to form a 
new world order. However, North Korea is only eager to beef up 
its military power.
    As you know well, North Korea has refused to allow complete 
nuclear inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency 
for the last six years and continues its nuclear weapons 
development. The North Korean Nuclear Program provides a 
serious threat to peace not only on the Korean Peninsula but 
also around the world.
    As you know, Kim Il Sung, the ruler of North Korea for the 
past 49 years, died last month and has been succeeded by his 
son, Kim Jung Il. The son is cruel and belligerent and this 
increases the possibility of a reckless provocation by North 
Korea. These factors have increased tension between the North 
and the South.
    Dear friends, we take great pride in our traditional 
friendship. I look forward to your continued support in 
furthering the security and mutual interests of our two 
nations. In closing, I sincerely hope your Convention will be a 
successful and rewarding one. Thank you.
    This plaque is presented to Commander-in-Chief Cramer, in 
grateful recognition of the dedication and continued support to 
the Republic of Korea and to the promotion of friendly nations 
between the two organizations. This is presented this 22nd day 
of August, 1994, Las Vegas, Nevada.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, General, not only for 
this fine plaque but I also want to thank your organization as 
well for the hospitality extended to me upon my recent visit to 
Korea.
    Before we go into our closing ceremonies, I would like to 
remind everyone our Distinguished Guests Banquet tonight will 
feature Robert Stack and Gerald McRaney. I say that because 
they are perhaps going to arrive a little late. I do want you 
to know that we will have a show that will last for about an 
hour and one-half, your entertainment. I hope you can 
appreciate what we are doing here in the entertainment capital 
of the world.
    I would like to call on our National Chaplain Dr. Charles 
Edwards for the Benediction.
    [Whereupon, National Chaplain Charles Edwards, Jr., gave 
the Closing Prayer.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: This concludes the Opening 
Session of our 95th National Convention. We will reconvene at 
9:00 o'clock a.m. tomorrow.
    [Whereupon, the meeting was duly recessed at 11:50 o'clock 
a.m.]
                      DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET

                            AUGUST 22, 1994

    [The Distinguished Guests Banquet of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States, meeting in the Las Vegas 
Hilton Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, was called to 
order at 7:00 o'clock p.m., by Comrade Albert J. McMindes, 
Chairman, Board of Directors, VFW 95th National Convention.]
    COMRADE McMINDES: May we have your attention. We would like 
to start the program. If you will all rise and remain standing 
until the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance is given, 
please.
    At this time I would like to call upon the National 
Chaplain, Reverend Edwards, to give the Invocation.
    [Whereupon, the Invocation was given by National Chaplain 
Reverend Charles W. Edwards, Jr., followed by the Pledge of 
Allegiance.]

                  INTRODUCTION OF MASTER OF CEREMONIES

    COMRADE McMINDES: Good evening and welcome to the 
Distinguished Guests Banquet for this, our 95th Convention. As 
your Chairman of the Board of Directors for this Convention, I 
want to extend a sincere welcome to all of you from the City of 
Las Vegas and the great State of Nevada.
    I sincerely believe that this banquet may well be one of 
the highlights of your Convention. We have a stimulating and 
what I am sure will be a memorable program in store for you. We 
hope that you enjoy the meal and the program.
    It is my pleasure, and I consider it to be indeed a 
pleasure, to have the special privilege of introducing the 
distinguished member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars who will 
serve as your Master of Ceremonies for the remainder of the 
evening.
    The VFW Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief ``Gunner'' Kent has 
been continuously active in the VFW affairs at the State, 
District and National levels since joining the VFW in 1968. The 
VFW offices include All-American Post and Department Commander, 
Captain of the All-State Team, and the Western Conference 
Chairman.
    He was named Arizona's Young Vietnam Veteran of the Year 
for 1979. He has also served as your National VFW 
Transportation Coordinator, Vice-Chairman of both the National 
Legislative and National Security Committees, and Chairman of 
the Americanism Committee. He is currently a Life Member of VFW 
Post 19972, Sierra Vista, Arizona.
    I am proud to introduce a good friend, our Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief ``Gunner'' Kent from the great State of 
Arizona.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF KENT: Thank you, Comrade 
McMindes. It is truly my honor to have the opportunity to serve 
as your Master of Ceremonies for this magnificent event. For 
your pleasure, the Sun Spots will entertain with their 
appropriate music during the meal.
    After the meal, it will be my honor to introduce the head 
table and the Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States. Please enjoy your meal.
    [Whereupon, the dinner was enjoyed at this time.]
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF KENT: It is my high honor to 
introduce our head table guests.
    [Whereupon, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Kent introduced 
the distinguished guests at the head table.]
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF KENT: I have the privilege 
this evening to introduce to this very special audience the 
National Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States. Since its beginning, the VFW has drawn 
together dedicated men and women who share the same concerns 
and love for America.
    As veterans, with a long and proud history of 
accomplishments, the VFW has always been in the forefront of 
every constructive program to set forth, expand and protect the 
rights of the American veterans. Whether its efforts were for a 
strong national defense or concern for the nation's veterans, 
the VFW must have inspired leaders who will guide us wisely.
    We have been most fortunate to have a man of this stature 
to guide us this year. Throughout his 25 years of active 
involvement in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, George Cramer has 
been a man on the move helping his fellow veterans and his 
community.
    In keeping with his motto, ``Commitment to Service'', he 
has worked hard, addressed the concerns and resolved the 
mandates of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce the 
Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, George R. Cramer, from the Department of 
Illinois.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Commander-in-Chief Cramer.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Gunner, for the very 
kind introduction. It will be my pleasure to surrender the 
gavel to you Friday morning. You see standing before you a very 
proud man. For the last 12 months, he has had the wonderful 
privilege of leading the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States and our Ladies Auxiliary.
    Leading this great organization is very gratifying. I have 
seen the results of the work and services of over two million 
VFW members and over 770,000 members of our Ladies Auxiliary 
across the United States, in Central America, Europe and Asia.
    In every city and town I visited, I saw positive proof that 
the VFW and our Ladies Auxiliary are a dynamic force serving 
our nation's communities and our nation's veterans. The year 
1994 has been a pivotal year not only for world events but in 
our continuing efforts to ensure adequate funding for the 
veterans' health care programs, ensuring that veterans' 
programs received the proper funding, maintaining the integrity 
of the VA as Congress and the Administration review our 
nation's health care programs, and in seeking eligibility 
reform in the VA health care system continue to be our biggest 
challenges.
    To our commitment to service, we have supported our armed 
forces and the need to maintain a strong national defense. Our 
VFW has committed tremendous resources and travel to the POW/
MIA issue. Our steadfast stand to resolve that issue has not 
wavered.
    Your efforts in support of every program that we have 
undertaken this past year, whether it be in community and youth 
activities, the Voice of Democracy, Post development, Buddy 
Poppies, has proven that working together we can be successful.
    Yes, it has been a very special year for me because I was 
proud to be with and serve with the finest men and women of our 
nation, its veterans.
    In conclusion, let me say that the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
have always and always will be committed to serving America and 
its veterans. Before my personal mission as your National 
Commander-in-Chief draws to a conclusion, I wish to say on 
behalf of my wife Linda, my son Scott, and my daughter Cheryl, 
thank you for your hard work and thank you for your commitment 
to service.
    I might say that I am sure you have noticed there is a 
vacancy next to me tonight. Linda and the kids were here and 
one of them got sick so you know where mom is. They are in the 
room, and she is taking care of the one that is sick. He is 
okay. I am sure you will find him terrorizing the hotel 
tomorrow morning.

        PRESENTATION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S GOLD MEDAL OF MERIT

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Our first honoree has a face and 
voice instantly recognized by nearly every American and most 
Europeans. A fifth-generation Californian, he literally grew up 
among the men and women in the performing arts.
    Stars of film, the concert stage, opera and radio were 
regular visitors during his formative years. It was only 
natural that he aspired to a career in the limelight.
    Before achieving international acclaim as a performer, he 
garnered accolades as an athlete and in motor sports. He and 
his brother won the International Outboard Motor Championships 
in Venice, Italy, and he was a National Skeet Shooting Champion 
at the age of 16. In 1971, he was inducted into the National 
Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame.
    While still in college, he began his acting career in 
earnest when he signed a contract with Universal Studios. His 
first assignment as the male lead opposite Deanna Durbin in 
``First Love'' began a long and successful career.
    However, just when his career began to pick up speed, he 
answered the call that echoed across America following that 
fateful day in December, 1941.
    Commissioned as a Navy Ensign in 1942, his shooting skills 
gained him duty as an Aerial Gunnery Instructor. After four 
years, including a year overseas, he returned to his Hollywood 
career.
    He has 40 successful feature films to his credit, including 
an Oscar nomination for ``Written On The Wind.'' However, he is 
most often identified with his emmy-award winning performance 
as Eliot Ness in the long-running TV series ``The 
Untouchables.''
    He is one of the few actors to star in four major 
television series and is currently in his sixth year as the 
host of the highly-rated ``Unsolved Mysteries.''
    He is particularly proud of the number of criminals that 
have been captured as a result of that show.
    His portrayal of law enforcement officers and his strong 
support of aggressive law enforcement have brought significant 
recognition and honor to those who serve to protect and defend 
our city streets and country roads. In addition, he has been a 
veterans advocate throughout his lengthy career.
    Please give a warm VFW welcome to a patriot, a veteran and 
a sincere law enforcement advocate. Please rise and honor this 
year's recipient of the VFW Commander-in-Chief's Gold Medal of 
Merit and Citation, veteran actor Robert Stack.
    [Whereupon, a prolonged rising ovation is given to Robert 
Stack.]
    ``The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Gold 
Medal of Merit and this Citation awarded to Robert Stack in 
special recognition of his distinguished career in motion 
pictures and television, highlighted by his sincere and 
positive portrayals of a variety of law enforcement 
professionals.
    ``In grateful appreciation for a service to America as a 
naval officer during World War II and for his commitment to 
creating a safer environment for United States citizens in the 
television series ``Unsolved Mysteries'' which he hosts and 
resulted in apprehension of dangerous criminals.''
    It is signed this 22nd day of August by myself as 
Commander-in-Chief and Howard Vander Clute as Adjutant General.
    Mr. Stack, as I told you, it is really kind of ironic that 
I should be presenting this award to you as a person who 
portrayed Eliot Ness. I told you I grew up in a neighborhood of 
your arch enemy, Mr. Al Capone.

                       RESPONSE--MR. ROBERT STACK

    MR. STACK: Cicero, Illinois? Al Capone. I am deeply touched 
and honored. An award is conditioned upon the value of the 
people who give it. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States is the finest veterans organization in the world.
    It is a kick for me tonight because I came from a military 
family in World War II. Five of us were in the Navy. From a 
Vice-Admiral aiding President Roosevelt, to a Captain 
Commander, Ensign and Seaman 2nd, and I was low one. But it is 
a fulfilling thing.
    I was on the trip two months ago when we went over for the 
50th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy. To see the men 
given recognitions like the death of a salesman, respect must 
be given. Finally, these men and women, to see them with their 
medals, not just the ribbons, but to see them dressed in their 
flight jackets going back to Omaha Beach getting the accolades 
they should have gotten a lot earlier than 50 years, it gave me 
a thrill.
    I have been involved with veterans groups for the better 
part of my life. I have worked one group in particular, the 
Paralyzed Veterans. We put on a trap shoot and they shoot from 
the wheel chairs, and they can shoot the socks off anybody who 
is standing up on their two feet.
    I think one little bumper sticker puts it best that is on 
the back of one of these wheel chairs. The guys are all lined 
up, and on the back of this one it says, ``This wouldn't be the 
land of the free if it wasn't the home of the brave.'' God 
bless you, thank you and keep the faith.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Mr. Robert Stack.]
     PRESENTATION OF VFW AMERICANISM AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Each year, when we come together 
at our National Convention, one of the highlights of our 
gathering is to bestow the VFW Americanism Award. This award, 
given to an individual for outstanding contributions to the 
principles of Americanism, has been bestowed upon such notables 
as Senator John McCain, comedian Red Skelton, singer Lee 
Greenwood, actor John Wayne and many others.
    Tonight we are pleased to add another individual to that 
distinguished list.
    Our guest's show business career has not been quick or 
easy. He began acting in high school and college. Before coming 
to Hollywood, he labored long in repertory theaters and low 
budget films across the country. Coming to Hollywood, he drove 
a taxi too support his family and finance his acting classes 
while looking for acting jobs.
    His first television role was on an episode of ``Nightly 
Gallery.'' Four appearances on ``Gunsmoke'' were followed by 
steady work as a character actor in ``Where the Ladies Go,'' 
``Women in White,'' ``The Law,'' and ``Roots II.'' In addition 
to made-for-TV movies, he worked steadily on several series, 
including ``The Incredible Hulk,'' ``The Rockford Files,'' 
``Police Woman'' and ``How the West Was Won.''
    One of his fondest roles was to play the last gunfighter to 
square off against Matt Dillon in the final episode of 
``Gunsmoke''.
    Bolstered by several successful years as a character actor, 
our guest was in a unique position to pick and choose among a 
variety of offers which came his way for a series pilot.
    One particular script caught his eye and the rest, as they 
say, is history. He began the first of eight years as the 
irrepressible, yet immensely likable private investigator Rick 
Simon on ``Simon and Simon.'' He immediately followed that 
success with a four-year stint as America's favorite Marine in 
``Major Dad.''
    He takes great pride in both ``Simon and Simon'' and 
``Major Dad'' because he has been able to write, produce and 
direct, addressing some issues he considers very important.
    He co-wrote a segment of ``Simon and Simon'' titled ``I 
Thought the War was Over'' in which his character suffers from 
post-traumatic stress disorder from his Vietnam service.
    On another segment, he was able to deal with adolescent 
drug abuse, deglamorizing the use of drugs for his many teenage 
viewers.
    In addition to his show business success, he has formed the 
Entertainment Industry's Council for a Drug-Free Society and is 
a strong supporter of the John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles 
which teaches communications and educational skills to deaf and 
hard of hearing children.
    A strong supporter of American military forces, he visited 
the troops in Somalia. While there, he lived as a soldier, 
donning his flak vest and helmet as he moved from compound to 
compound. His visit was a highlight and a real morale booster 
for troops in a dismal situation.
    For his commitment to the principles of Americanism, 
demonstrated in his strong stand against drug abuse, his 
concern for those suffering from PTSD, his professional 
portrayal of a Marine officer and his support of our men and 
women in uniform, we are proud to welcome to the podium this 
year's recipient of the VFW Americanism Award, ``Major Dad,'' 
Mr. Gerald McRaney.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Mr. Gerald McRaney.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States Americanism Award, Gold Medal and Citation 
presented to Gerald McRaney:
    ``In sincere appreciation and special recognition of his 
exceptional ability as an actor, crusader for a drug-free 
America, entertainer of United States forces in Somalia and as 
a director and portrayer of an American serviceman in the film 
titled `Vestige of Honor' and a segment of `Simon and Simon' 
entitled `I Thought the War Was Over' and special recognition 
of his starring role in the `Major Dad' television series. His 
expression of patriotism by entertaining and encouraging 
members of the United States armed forces during their 
`Operation Restore Hope' deployment in Somalia and his 
initiatives through use of entertainment media to chronicle the 
devastating effects of illicit drugs by America's youth 
demonstrate his devotion to this country and to his fellow 
man.''
    This has been signed by myself and Howard Vander Clute, 
Adjutant General.
    Mr. McRaney, congratulations for what you do for America.

                      RESPONSE--MR. GERALD McRANEY

    MR. McRANEY: I am deeply touched and highly honored to be 
recognized by such a prestigious organization. I also am filled 
with a sense of humility to be presented with an award for 
Americanism knowing full well that any person in this room is 
much more deserving of it than I am.
    I just left the set. I flew in from Seattle where we are 
making a ``Simon and Simon'' movie of the week, and among the 
people working on the set is a Navy veteran of Vietnam, and 
then about a month ago I buried an uncle of mine. So, if you 
will, I will accept this honor, but not for myself, but for my 
buddy up in Seattle and in the name of Charles Lee Lewis, who 
served this country in the Pacific campaign during World War 
II.
    I do believe Uncle Chuck might be looking tonight. He is 
probably pretty proud. I thank you all from the bottom of my 
heart for the honor that you do to me, but more importantly, I 
thank you from the bottom of my heart for the honor that you do 
to the United States of America. Thank you. [Applause]

PRESENTATION OF THE DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL 
                AND CITATION TO AMBASSADOR DEANE HINTON

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Since 1970, the Dwight David 
Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award has been presented to 
eminent Americans for their individual contributions to the 
cause of American security, unity and world peace. No one is 
more deserving of this prestigious award than our honored guest 
tonight, Ambassador Deane Hinton.
    Prior to his retirement from the State Department in March, 
Ambassador Hinton was the longest serving foreign service 
officer, serving overseas for more than 50 years. Ambassador 
Hinton has served under every President since Harry Truman.
    During troubled and difficult times, he served with 
distinction as Ambassador to Panama, Costa Rico, Pakistan and 
El Salvador. In Washington, he served with the Bureaus of 
Intelligence, Economic Affairs, and European Affairs as well as 
with the Council on International Economic Policy in the White 
House.
    In 1983, he received the President's Award for 
Distinguished Diplomatic Service.
    At the time of his retirement, Ambassador Hinton was a 
Career Ambassador in the Foreign Service of the United States. 
This is the highest rank in the Foreign Service, limited to no 
more than five serving American diplomatic officers.
    Born in Ft. Missoula, Montana, Ambassador Hinton served two 
years active duty with the United States Army during World War 
II.
    Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to present 
the VFW Dwight David Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award to 
a great American and distinguished statesman, Ambassador Deane 
Hinton.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Ambassador Deane Hinton.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: ``The Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States Dwight David Eisenhower Distinguished 
Service Medal and Citation awarded to Deane R. Hinton, United 
States Ambassador.
    ``In special recognition of his distinguished career in the 
Foreign Service of the United States spanning fifty years and 
marked by his record of skillful diplomacy in handling 
assignments of extreme sensitivity and importance which have 
contributed immeasurably to maintaining global harmony and 
world order and in sincere appreciation for his exceptional 
service to the nation under every President since Harry S. 
Truman.''
    This citation has been signed by myself and Howard E. 
Vander Clute, Jr. Ambassador Hinton, thank you for what you 
have done for America.

     RESPONSE AND PRINCIPAL ADDRESS--THE HONORABLE DEANE R. HINTON

    MR. HINTON: Commander-in-Chief Cramer, Secretary Brown, 
Fellow Veterans:
    Actually, I started as a Private under Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt. You are right, the Foreign Service career started 
with Harry Truman. Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed a 
singular honor for me to address you tonight. I am deeply 
appreciative of the award that the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
have bestowed upon me. It only seems unfair to subject you to 
me after dinner music, but still the Commander-in-Chief told me 
no speech, no award. So, to you, my friends, you pay the price.
    It is my pleasure being with you. Let me start by 
expressing four beliefs about the United States and the world 
that I have arrived at in these 50 years. I won't argue them, I 
will just say them.
    First, the nation's peoples, the economies and the faith of 
all of us are more definite every day than that proposed 
isolation solution to our problems, in fact, advocating formula 
for disaster.
    Second, as the United State's relative power position 
moves, even though we remain the only super power, the need to 
strengthen multi-lateral institutions is central to a secure 
prosperous future. The United Nations, as discordant as it is, 
must play an increasing role in the managing of world problems 
in crisis.
    A new world trade organization must supersede the GATT, and 
like it or not we must abide by the rule just as we expect 
others to abide by them. So, also we must continue to support 
and help fund the international financial institution's key 
regional bodies, such as the Organization of American States.
    Third, and this is critical, there is no substitute for 
United States leadership in facing up to the world's problems. 
Neither the United Nations or anything else is likely to 
function well without our leadership.
    Fourth, the strength of our position in the world depends 
on the strength of our domestic economy and society.
    Just as we should not concentrate on world problems at the 
expense of the home front, neither should we concentrate on the 
home front at the expense of our international credibility. You 
will perhaps forgive me if as an Army brat, son of a soldier, a 
one-time soldier, and as a retired Foreign Service Officer I 
reflect tonight both on the state of the world and on two 
critical instruments dedicated to advancing our national 
security, our armed forces and our foreign service.
    Neither works at its best without the other. In fact, 
resort to arms to deal with international problems is generally 
evidence of foreign policy favor, where it is the diplomat's 
job to advance the national diplomacy without the exercise of 
force. Still, diplomacy not backed up by the force, or possible 
force, is like a football team quarterback, whether to pass or 
not pass.
    For this and many other reasons that you and I know that we 
need to maintain a strong national defense establishment. We 
also need, in my opinion, a strong State Department with strong 
foreign service. You may understand this a bit better if I tell 
you something about what Foreign Service Officers are and the 
FSO's, as we call them, do.
    First, let me tell you what we don't do. I only wore 
striped pants once, and that was over 40 years ago. As to tea 
drinking, if it is not iced tea, I say that is all. That phrase 
about striped pants and tea drinking diplomats is a bum rap.
    Pastor John Gordon Mean, my boss in Guatemala, was killed 
there by terrorists in 1968. I lost other colleagues in 
Guatemala, including the military group commander. In 
subsequent years, friends of mine have been killed in Cypress, 
Lebanon, Sedan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
    Now, it is high time that the American public understood 
that the Hollywood image of diplomats and a drinking society is 
a gross distortion of the reality. There are far more hardship 
posts in Africa, Asia, Latin America and in the Middle East 
than there are dozens of the plush, expensive European Posts. 
For every London, Paris or Rome, there are Africas, Ghanas, 
Kuwaits and others.
    What does the Foreign Service do? Basically, it is the 
Washington's eyes and ears in a foreign land. Ambassadors are 
responsible for the President knowing what is going on and 
analyzing its impact on American interests, and for presenting 
recommendations to the Secretary of State and the President as 
to how best to advance those interests.
    He and his staff also conduct negotiations pursuant to 
instructions from Washington on a wide range of issues which 
may include nuclear non-deliberation, maritime law enforcement, 
participation in peace keeping, protection of the Gulf 
copyright and patent rights, extraditions, cooperation of the 
war on drugs, economic development, mutual security and 
assistance programs, allocation of radio frequencies, air 
traffic rights and a myriad of other things.
    For example, the last agreement I signed with Panama took 
years of negotiation by the Department of Agriculture experts, 
my staff and myself, related to screw worm eradication. 
Esoteric, yes. Vital to U.S. interests, no. Important, yes, to 
American Mexicans and Central American Cattlemen, and there may 
be some here tonight.
    Other less glamorous but nevertheless essential functions 
are the constant protection of American citizens; 
administrative support for a wide range of government agencies, 
the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of Defense, or what 
have you, and an increasingly commercial profession in helping 
to market the U.S. exports and promoting an investment.
    I will skip a page or two. I will not put this harm on you 
people. The Ambassador and his staff, a multi-agency staff, 
should know the players in the country to which he is assigned, 
understand the decision-making process. Once you know your 
decision-making process in Washington, you know better than 
anybody else how to influence and control policy.
    If they do, then visits by high Washington officials or 
phone calls, would be followed by sound diplomatic preparation 
that can get results. On the other hand, failures in diplomatic 
preliminaries in cities. Now, in setting strategic priorities 
can easily reduce the needed reputation at the top, and each 
such failure results in the loss of prestige.
    What is far worse is loss of our credibility. The fiasco 
concerning human rights in China is a clear example. Another 
example, our diplomats in Europe should have been able to 
advise the President in advance of his proposal for a new 
ground of trade negotiations was premature, doomed to rejection 
this last June by the French President and other leaders of the 
industrial democracy.
    Let me say one or two words about the researchers. The 
Secretary of State Christopher, in recent Congressional 
testimony, called for redefinition of national security, 
putting greater emphasis on American economics and building 
democracy and meeting threats both by our proliferations and 
environmental degradation, rapid population growth, the illegal 
narcotics, and terrorism.
    The National Security Advisor, speaking at John Hopkins, 
laid out a strategy, what he called democratic awareness. He 
argued compelling that our interests and ideals require us not 
only to be significantly engaged but to lead. He is right. But 
fine words backed with shrinking resources will not get the job 
done. Indeed, the administration has not even sought the 
requisite appropriations from Congress.
    No wonder Jim Hoagland, Associate Editor of the Washington 
Post, says, describing Bill Clinton's foreign policy is like 
describing the Loch Ness Monster. How can you describe what you 
cannot see? Jim will appreciate that.
    We have opened 29 embassies in new countries in the former 
Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in a period in which the State 
Department's budget has declined by over five percent constant 
dollars. Around the world in the last few years, we have been 
firing experienced foreign service nationals and also reducing 
Americans.
    This year the intake of new Foreign Service Officers is 
130, down from 200 last year. Our service is a rather small 
one. But in addition to the immediate Edwards impact, the long-
run implication is 35 percent decrease in new officer blood in 
the Foreign Service to me is horrendous.
    There are other endless lists of consequences of excessive 
budgetary stringency. In Brazil, in a country the size of the 
United States, more or less, political officers have a travel 
budget of $3,200 for all year. How can they do their job? The 
overall appropriation for the State Department is a little over 
$2 billion for the fiscal year.
    That is less than the cost of one B-2 Bomber, a small 
fraction of the appropriation for our intelligence services, 
and almost nothing compared to domestic entitlement programs. I 
submit to you the American people cannot reasonably expect the 
Foreign Service to meet its responsibilities with declining 
resources.
    Let's look at the world. It is a mess. It is a dangerous 
complicated chaotic mess. Moreover, we as people are showing 
signs of wanting to run away from it. Fifty years ago, and 
there has been mention of this from this podium tonight, the D-
Day celebration reminded us we were a united nation, with a 
clear understanding of the imperative need of victory over the 
Nazi and Japanese aggressors.
    The Cold War period, once the dangers were widely 
apprehended and the policies containment set, the struggle of 
Communism in the Soviet Union clarified and simplified most 
critical foreign policies. There were voices of dissent, but by 
and large the leaders, the allies of the United States, had the 
clear policies and they stayed with it.
    That formula has then introduced successes unchanged today, 
simple in concept but difficult application. You must 
understand and define the American interests given the 
situation. Collect the relevant data, do some hard analyzing 
and establish strategic policies and then stick with them. 
Perseverance is pretty damn important in this business.
    Now, there is some difficulties in doing these things, and 
particularly in these days when we are seeking the television 
impact shots on the American public backing. But we have to 
recognize, and certainly everyone in this room and this 
organization recognizes that there is a cost for freedom and 
that cost is not paid as you go along. It should be encountably 
more costly as you go along.
    Leaders with a vision of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry 
Truman and Richard Nixon, or the diplomatic skills and 
consensus of the George Bush or Dwight Eisenhower are not in 
evidence today. If in an actual vision of America's future 
World War remains to be drawn, we certainly have little or no 
consensus today about our interest in the Baltics and around 
Somalia, North Korea, to name just a few places.
    I submit that it is more important than ever to strengthen 
the Foreign Service and fund it. Surely, to the extent that we 
are unable or unwilling to use force, because of public 
weariness or otherwise, our need for effective diplomacy 
becomes more critical.
    The diplomacy, like the armed forces, are but tools 
employed with vision and political, while they can help 
America's selected leaders advance the cause of democratic 
leaders.
    Henry L. Luce, in the 1940's, popularized the idea of the 
American Century. Over the past 50 years, despite some weaving, 
swerving and occasionally backsliding, Luce's vision has 
sustained American world leadership and it came to pass. With 
his prophesy fulfilled for half a century, also will be 
fulfilled with the next 50 years. Let us hope so and let us 
work for it. Thank you very much. [Applause]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Ambassador Hinton. We 
are delighted that you were able to be with us this evening. 
Your remarks are greatly appreciated.
    Before I turn the microphone over to our Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief ``Gunner'' Kent, I would just like to 
request that after the concluding ceremonies that you stick 
around for the show from the Sun Spots. When they first began 
their career in entertainment and got their start at, where 
else, a VFW Post in the Philippines and Okinawa.
    I will turn the program back to Senior Vice Commander-in-
Chief ``Gunner'' Kent.
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF KENT: Thank you very much. I 
would like to thank everybody for a special Distinguished 
Banquet tonight and for your attention during the ceremonies.
    If everybody will please rise, we will now have the 
Benediction by the National Chaplain, Dr. Charles Edwards.
    [Whereupon, National Chaplain Edwards gave the 
Benediction.]
    SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF KENT: Thank you very much, 
comrades and sisters. That concludes our Distinguished Guests 
Banquet. Remember, we do have a show. Please stay around.
                         FIRST BUSINESS SESSION

                    TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 23, 1994

    [The First Business Session of the 95th National Convention 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was called 
to order in the Barron Room of the Las Vegas Hilton Center, Las 
Vegas, Nevada, at 9:00 o'clock a.m., by Commander-in-Chief 
Cramer.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Sergeants-at-Arms, will you 
prepare the room for the posting of the colors.
    [National Sergeant-at-Arms George Sarver led the Convention 
in the Salute to the Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance and 
National Chaplain Reverend Charles W. Edwards, Jr., gave the 
Opening Prayer from the Ritual.]
    SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, the 
Opening Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You may be seated. If you can 
quietly come in, we would like to start the proceedings. As 
people are coming in, let me take this opportunity to introduce 
the people that are sitting on the dias. I know you know most 
of them.
    First of all, I would like to introduce the Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief, ``Gunner'' Kent, from Arizona; our Junior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief, Paul Spera from Massachusetts; our 
Judge Advocate General, Jim Plick from New Jersey; our Surgeon 
General, Dr. Howard W. Bryant from Washington; our Chaplain, 
from Texas, Dr. Charles Edwards.
    Also the Chief of Staff from Iowa, Darrel ``Sarge'' Miller; 
and our Inspector General from Minnesota, Larry Ziebarth. Our 
Assistant Adjutant General for Administrative, John Senk; 
Quartermaster General Jim Bowden, and Assistant Quartermaster 
General Joe Ridgley.
    If I may, as long as people are quietly coming in, I would 
like to introduce the Past Commanders-in-Chief on the dias this 
morning, not in any particular order. They are Past Commander-
in-Chief Eric Sandstrom; Past Commander-in-Chief and Director 
of our PAC, Bob Currieo; Past Commander-in-Chief Clifford 
Olson; Past Commander-in-Chief John Stang; Past Commander-in-
Chief Norm Staab; Past Commander-in-Chief Billy Ray Cameron; 
Past Commander-in-Chief John Staum; Past Commander-in-Chief Bob 
Wallace; Past Commander-in-Chief Ray Soden; Past Commander-in-
Chief Art Fellwock; Past Commander-in-Chief Thomas C. Walker; 
Past Commander-in-Chief Ed Hanson; our Adjutant General and 
Past Commander-in-Chief Howard Vander Clute, also Past 
Commander-in-Chief and Executive Director of our Washington 
office, Larry Rivers.
    I would like to begin the proceedings this morning by 
calling on the Chairman of the Credentials Committee, Richard 
Trombla.

                    REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, this is a temporary report of this 
Committee as of last night. Total delegates 14,769; Department 
Commanders 43; National Officers 10; Past Commanders-in-Chief 
23. That is for a grand total of 14,845 as of last night.
    Commander-in-Chief, this is a temporary report of this 
Committee at this time.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. I missed a 
distinguished guest on the dais, the Southern Conference 
candidate for Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Jim Nier from 
Texas. I should have introduced Jim first.
    I would like to call on our Adjutant General for any 
announcements that there may be this morning.
    Convention announcements.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Next, I would like to call on 
the Chairman of the Committee on Convention Rules, Past 
Commander-in-Chief Cliff Olson.

                REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CONVENTION RULES

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CLIFFORD OLSON: Thank you. Good 
morning, comrades. I just wanted to make sure you were all 
awake out there. On behalf of the Vice-Chairman of the 
Committee on Convention Rules, Eric Sandstrom and myself, I 
would like to thank Commander-in-Chief Cramer for this 
appointment, and I will try to make it quick.
    The Committee on Convention Rules to the 95th National 
Convention, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Las 
Vegas, Nevada, met Monday afternoon, August 22nd, and agreed to 
the following recommendations which are respectfully submitted 
for your consideration:
          1. That, with exceptions noted below, Demeter's 
        Manual be recognized as parliamentary authority for 
        this Convention.
          2. That when a delegate desires to make a motion or 
        address the Convention, he shall rise, address the 
        Chair as ``Comrade Commander-in-Chief,'' and after 
        being recognized, shall state his name, Post number and 
        Department, before proceeding.
          3. Debate shall be limited to ten minutes for each 
        speaker.
          4. A delegate shall be permitted to speak but only 
        twice on any one subject, or any pending resolution, 
        except by consent of two-thirds of the voting strength 
        of the Convention present; provided, that chairmen of 
        Convention committees may speak as frequently as 
        necessary in connection with reports of their 
        committees; and in controversy the presiding officer 
        shall not entertain any motion which will curtail 
        further debate without affording the maker of the 
        motion or a member of the particular group presenting 
        the resolution an opportunity for final rebuttal.
          5. All resolutions offered by individual delegates 
        must bear the endorsement of the Department Commander 
        or Department Adjutant and must be submitted to the 
        office of the Adjutant General for numbering and 
        referral to committees.
          6. All resolutions offered on the floor at the 
        Convention, or otherwise, shall be in writing and shall 
        automatically, and without reading, be referred to the 
        Adjutant General for assignment to the proper 
        committee.
          7. Committee chairmen, in reporting on resolutions 
        referred to their committee, shall first read those 
        resolutions on which favorable action is recommended. 
        Specific resolutions shall be set aside for individual 
        action at the request of any delegate, the others being 
        voted upon collectively. After action has been taken on 
        all such resolutions, the chairman shall read the 
        number and title of those resolutions which the 
        committee has just disapproved. A resolution 
        disapproved by the committee shall be automatically 
        rejected unless a motion is made and seconded that it 
        be approved, in which case it shall be brought up for 
        debate and Convention action.
          8. This Convention will not consider any resolution 
        dealing with race, creed or religion, or endorse anyone 
        for public office. This Convention will not consider 
        any resolution calling for the expenditure or 
        appropriation of organization funds.
          9. This Convention will not consider any resolution 
        endorsing legislation sponsored by any other veterans 
        organization, or requesting us to join with any other 
        organization in sponsoring legislation not expressly 
        approved by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
        States.
          10. No person not a duly accredited delegate or 
        member of the National Convention shall participate in 
        debate, directly or indirectly, in a viva voce vote on 
        any subject before the Convention.
          11. Unit rule of voting shall not be allowed in this 
        Convention.
          12. On roll calls, the Chairman or acting Chairman of 
        each delegation shall poll his delegation on the floor 
        and shall announce the vote of his delegation.
          13. Delegations may arrive at a vote in any manner 
        they see fit, but shall announce it in terms of full 
        units and not in terms of a fractional part of a vote.
          14. When the report of the chairman of the delegation 
        is not acceptable to all members of the delegation and 
        a poll of the Department delegates is demanded by ten 
        delegates of said Department, the Adjutant General 
        shall poll the delegates, without discussion of 
        question.
          15. Voting shall be by acclamation, except when a 
        roll call be demanded by ten delegates representing 
        Posts in ten separate Departments.
          16. Nominating speeches for the National Officers 
        shall be limited to five minutes each. Not more than 
        two seconding speeches shall be made for any candidate 
        and such speeches shall not exceed two minutes each. 
        Nominating andelection of National Officers will be 
        held according to the National Constitution and By-Laws 
        and Manual of Procedure, Article VI, Section 609.
          17. Delegates and persons recognized by the Chair 
        shall be entitled to a respectful hearing and the Chair 
        shall have the authority to clear the gallery or the 
        floor or have the Sergeant-at-Arms escort from the 
        floor any person or persons who may create any 
        disturbances which interfere with the orderly procedure 
        of the Convention.
          18. Consent of two-thirds of the voting strength of 
        the Convention present is necessary for suspension of 
        the rules of this Convention. That is proposed by Cliff 
        Olson, Jr., Chairman and Vice-Chairman Eric Sandstrom.
    I move adoption, Comrade Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. You have heard the 
motion. Is there a second? The microphones are on two sides.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ERIC SANDSTROM: Comrade Commander-
in-Chief, I am Past Commander-in-Chief Eric Sandstrom from the 
State of Washington, and I second the motion.
     COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. Comrades, you have 
heard the motion and the second. Now, on the question. Hearing 
none, all those in favor will vote by the usual sign of 
``aye''; those opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.

 PRESENTATION OF VFW NEWS MEDIA AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION TO MR. 
                             JOSEPH GOULDEN

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The VFW's News Media Award has, 
over the past decade, become an increasingly important honor. 
In an era when journalistic integrity and objective reporting 
have been given way to textbook journalism, sensationalism and 
rampant editorializing, those members of the media who value 
truth and simply wish to inform the public need to be singled 
our for recognition.
    This year's recipient of the VFW News Media Award is just 
such an organization. Founded by veteran media critic and 
author Reed Irvine in 1969, Accuracy In Media or ``AIM'' has 
been a thorn in the mainstream media's side for nearly 25 
years.
    Accuracy in Media was created to combat the liberal bias 
infecting the nation's airwaves, newspapers and magazines. The 
mission of AIM is to foster accuracy and fairness in reporting, 
while investigating complaints of media error, distortion and 
bias and exposing them if the charges warrant.
    Most of AIM's ire focuses on TV and newspapers, but 
magazines do not escape the organization's scrutiny. AIM's 
Director of Media Analysis, Joseph Goulden, a winner of a 1971 
National Magazine Award and the author of 16 books, is dismayed 
by the prejudices he thinks distorts major magazines' coverage 
of issues like gay rights, the environment and the POW/MIA 
issue.
    In an effort to reward integrity and journalistic 
excellence, we are proud to present this year's News Media 
Award to Accuracy In Media.
    Here to accept the award is AIM's Director of Media 
Analysis, a U.S. Army veteran and respected military history 
author, James C. Goulden.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, Gold Medal and 
Citation awarded to `Accuracy In Media' in special recognition 
of AIM's exceptional service to the American public through the 
fulfillment of its mission to foster accuracy and fairness in 
reporting by its assertive investigation of complaints of media 
error, distortion and bias and its expose of warranty charges 
and in sincere appreciation of AIM's continuing efforts to 
combat the liberal bias infecting our nation's airwaves, 
newspapers and magazines.'' This award is signed by myself and 
Adjutant General Vander Clute.
    Congratulations, Joe, in what you do for America.

                      RESPONSE--MR. JOSEPH GOULDEN

    MR. GOULDEN: I accept this award on behalf of the founder 
and Chairman, Reed Irvine, who is a Combat Marine in the Second 
World War. I fought a lot of those guys in the Pacific. 
Yesterday morning, as my wife and I came through the Pittsburgh 
airport, there was one of your delegation there, and a fellow 
that is even grayer than I had a sign on his cap that said, 
``Remember Pearl Harbor.''
    That brought immediately to my mind something that is going 
on in Washington right now which our media has yet to pick up 
on, and it is the exhibit commemorating the 50th Anniversary of 
the bombing of Hiroshima. I looked at this fellow in the 
Pennsylvania delegation, and I went back to what the script 
that the Smithsonian had written with taxpayer money.
    Essentially, this exhibit said that we bombed Hiroshima, 
and actually, what these people were doing out there, the 
Japanese were defending their unique culture against the 
Western imperialism. This exhibit starts as if Pearl Harbor 
never existed as if and the Bataan death march never happened 
by the Japanese and the Asians, and it never occurred.
    We are getting cracked up on this Accuracy In Media, and I 
hope we can inspire the media to take another look at this 
version of history and of the truth. Our goal essentially is to 
do to media what they do so vigorously for everyone. That is 
Accuracy In Media is an independent watchdog and try to correct 
errors when we find them.
    A couple of issues I want to touch on briefly. In 1988, CBS 
News did a report called ``The Wall Within'', about six 
supposedly psychotic veterans, who were living as wild men in 
the Pacific Northwest. One of these men told Dan Rather, the 
interviewer, that he had personally skinned the lives of about 
50 Vietnamese civilians, men, women and children. He had the 
psychotic episode that drove him off to live outside of 
society.
    Reed Irvine was very suspicious of this report when it came 
out and he was trying to run down the identity of these 
barbarians. CBS News wouldn't turn the names over. They were 
shadowed interviews and we didn't know who they were. Finally, 
this story has been exposed to the work of the independent 
researcher by B. G. Birkett out of Dallas.
    We got the names and the records, and we found these men 
did not have combat experiences they claimed. They were Vietnam 
REMS, some who are now drawing physical disability, simply 
psychotic. They have never been in the front lines or never 
have had any episodes such as they claim.
    This goes back to something I recall from research I did a 
few years back on a book called ``The Best Years About America 
in 1945 to 1950.'' I was really struck then in the way the 
media picked up on this vet syndrome. Any veteran in the armed 
services, who had a couple of beers and got in a shuffle in a 
bar was a crazy veteran.
    The VFW and other organizations fought that false image 
very well and I think finally expunged it from the press. What 
happens, though, when CBS News is proven wrong in such a crazed 
veteran story, they were given the service records of these six 
people that they featured in this broadcast. CBS News' response 
through Dan Rather was, ``We stand by our story.'' CBS has not 
heard the last of this episode yet.
    Another issue which was stressed very strongly by AIM, and 
that is the POW/MIA issue. I will go back to one of our 
favorite persons, Dan Rather, who wrote a rather lengthy piece 
in National Review earlier this year criticizing the Clinton 
Administration for distorting normal relations with the 
Communist regime in Hanoi, jumping up and down on Bill Clinton 
for doing this.
    We went back and looked and saw exactly what Dan Rather 
suggested had been done in the way of reporting on the POW 
issue since the Clinton people came in office. In all of 1993, 
one story, one other brief mentioned period. We have been 
continuing all along the media voted the investigative press of 
this story, we could break it out in the open and find out what 
happened to those guys still missing from the four-year war 
era.
    The media are not in the habit of committing error. The 
Washington Post, as a number of other newspapers, has a person 
assigned the job of ombudsman, these are the guys that go 
through the complaints. Richard Carlwood, while he held that 
position with the Post, had this to say in print about your 
rights as a person who has been aggrieved by the media.
    ``You are not entitled to a letter to the editor, you will 
not be entitled to a paid advertisement. If we don't like it, 
we don't print it. To ask for equal time on the evening news or 
reporting newspaper is very often the base of the mood. You 
have no right to fair treatment, right to be quoted accurately 
or in context, or even quoted at all in the news reports, 
broadcasts or commentaries.''
    Now, that is a fairly civilized newspaper, and that is the 
attitude they take towards truth in accuracy. It has been a new 
show all. As was said in the introduction, a lot of people are 
getting disgusted with the media and their ability to report 
accurately and fairly. There was a poll I noticed recently in 
the National Research Center about tracking public opinion on 
various power groups in America in the last 20 years. In 1973, 
they asked American adults, ``What is your level of confidence 
in the media?'' Hardly any, 15 percent, had any confidence, 
hardly any confidence at all.
    In 1993, after 20 years of assertions, the figure was up to 
39 percent that had hardly any confidence at all in the media. 
That is four out of ten people don't believe what the media are 
telling them. By contrast, people put great confidence in the 
military. In 1993, 42 percent were confident versus only 11 
percent in the media. I think the media should be getting a 
message out of this, and not a very good message, that the 
people are not responding to distortion of the inaccuracies.
    I will conclude by saying this: AIM, Accuracy In Media, we 
stand ready to go to the defense of the military establishment 
and of the veterans when you are mistreated by the media. We 
salute you, and God bless every one of you men for what you 
have done for our country, and God's speed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Joe, along with your award is 
this honorarium of $1,500. Thank you very much.

 INTRODUCTION--THE HONORABLE JESSE BROWN, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades and Sisters, it is a 
special pleasure to introduce to you our next speaker.
    Sworn in on January 22nd by President Clinton as Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, Jesse Brown has brought a new spirit and 
direction to the second largest Cabinet Department.
    A decorated combat veteran of Vietnam, he enlisted in the 
Marine Corps in 1963, and served in Vietnam from August, 1965, 
to December, 1965. As a rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, 9th 
Marines, 3rd Marine Division, he was wounded in a fire fight 
near Da Nang.
    Mr. Brown was formerly Executive Director of the Disabled 
American Veterans. Throughout his career, he has worked with 
and for veterans. His life has been truly dedicated to 
veterans' issues and concerns.
    He began his employment with the DAV in 1967 in Chicago, 
moving to the DAV Headquarters in Washington in 1973. There, he 
served in a variety of positions with increasing 
responsibility, including Supervisor of the National Appeals 
Office and Deputy National Service Director.
    He was appointed DAV Executive Director in 1988 and was 
responsible for overseeing DAV's National Service, Legislation, 
Employment, Volunteer Services and Communications Programs.
    Jesse Brown has served as Chairman of the Vietnam Civic 
Committee, and was a member of the White House Conference on 
Handicapped Individuals and the Chicago Mayor's Committee on 
Employment of the Handicapped.
    Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a fellow VFW Life 
Member and a true advocate for veterans, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, Jesse Brown.

   ADDRESS--THE HONORABLE JESSE BROWN, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

    SECRETARY BROWN: Thank you so very much, Commander, for 
those very kind remarks. I was listening to George, our 
Sergeant-at-Arms out there, and I was wondering if he had 
aspirations for political office. He is very good at what he 
does. In fact, I wish I had him with me in Vietnam. He is 
outstanding.
    Commander-in-Chief Cramer, Distinguished Officers, Fellow 
Members of the VFW, Honored Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
    I do want you to know that I am so very, very happy to be 
here as we celebrate our 95th Convention. I want you to know 
that I am also making plans to attend our 150th National 
Convention. It is an honor as always to appear with Congressman 
Sonny Montgomery, the distinguished Chair of the House Veterans 
Affairs Committee, who is rightfully known as the champion for 
our veterans.
    He has proven time and time again that his feelings for our 
veterans and their families come from the heart. History, in my 
view, will probably never, never be able to fully measure the 
contributions this man has made to our nation and to those who 
have made such tremendous sacrifices and contributions on its 
behalf.
    I also should like to share with you an observation about 
this great organization. The fact is great organizations do not 
just happen. It is no accident that the VFW has been so 
outstanding for so long. Harry Truman once said in times when 
there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs 
when courageous skillful leaders seize the opportunity to 
change things and make them better. Things are better because 
of the VFW and its leadership.
    Commander-in-Chief George Cramer, Adjutant General Howard 
Vander Clute and Executive Director Larry Rivers do a wonderful 
job. They, and the rest of the excellent VFW staff, are there 
for you when you need them, and I want you to know that they 
are there for me, giving me advice and counsel.
    I personally can never, never forget the Veterans Service 
Organization that put me on the path in life that has led me to 
my highest hopes. There is a special place in my heart for our 
veterans organizations and that will never change.
    Some things have changed. For instance, the VA and the 
veterans organizations are working closely together on behalf 
of the veterans and their families. In the past year, together 
we have built a strong working relationship. I must tell you 
our good work together has not been without criticism.
    I will tell you, frankly, there have been some very strong 
accusations made against me. I have been accused of being too 
close to veterans organizations. I have been accused of 
defending their interests too strongly. I have been accused of 
being too responsive to their hopes and to their dreams.
    My friends, my fellow members, I say to you, the only jury 
that matters, I confess I am guilty. If it is a crime to work 
with those who have spent their lives helping our fellow 
veterans, I am guilty. If it is a crime to listen and be 
responsive to the needs of our disabled vets, I am guilty.
    If it is a crime to work hard for the families of veterans 
who died for world peace, I am guilty. Of course, as you and I 
know working hard and putting veterans first is not a crime. It 
is, I suggest to you, our moral obligation to care for those 
who have won the battle. I make no apologies to anyone. I stand 
with you and that shall never, never change.
    Last year, when I met with VFW leaders, they told me of 
your concerns. I heard that some things had happened at the VA 
for the first time. Over the past year, the VA veterans 
organizations working together have made important advancements 
on behalf of our veterans.
    They are advancements involving former prisoners of war, 
Vietnam vets, Persian Gulf vets, women veterans and veterans 
for our homeless. For the first time, we have trained all 
260,000 VA employees on how to treat our veterans, with dignity 
and respect when they come to our institutions.
    For the first time, the VA wrote to nearly two million 
veterans inviting them to refinance their home loans. This 
saved them $450 million a year in interest payments. We also 
wrote to 40,000 veterans suffering from the effects of Agent 
Orange. We informed them that the VA is now paying compensation 
for acne, for various forms of lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, 
Hodgkin's disease, liver disorder, PTC and multi-myeloma and 
respiratory cancers.
    Of course, we have not forgotten about our Persian Gulf 
veterans. We are providing immediate medical care and engaging 
in extensive research. I believe very strongly that we have a 
moral obligation to compensate those with undiagnosed 
illnesses.
    I have told Congress so and I have written to all 535 
members asking them to support legislation to accomplish this 
goal. Because of Chairman Sonny Montgomery, who is here with us 
today, the House has done its job and now we are waiting on the 
Senate to act.
    For the first time, the VA has made helping homeless 
veterans a top priority. We have increased spending by $20 
million. We held the first National Summit and we established a 
new $5.5 million grant program for public and non-profit 
organizations.
    The VA is also addressing the concerns of women veterans. 
We have appointed a National Coordinator and have established 
comprehensive health centers. For the first time, we have 
established task forces to include the VFW to help us reduce 
our backlog and process our claims in a more timely manner.
    We have also made great progress on some other issues that 
I know that many of you are concerned about. That is the reason 
why we are going to compensate former prisoners of war who 
developed ischemic heart disease, secondary health problems.
    For the first time, veterans are represented in the 
development of health care reform. Your VA staff, and I say 
``your VA staff'' because all 260,000 of them work for you. If 
it were not for you, the VA as an institution would not exist 
and they would not exist.
    So, therefore, I always refer to VA employees to include 
myself as your servant. They were deeply involved in helping 
formulate the health reform proposals. As a member of the 
Health Care Task Force, I must tell you quite frankly I was 
shocked at the number of people who wanted to take our Veterans 
Hospitals away from us.
    But we told them through your VA employees that this would 
be contrary to the moral obligation this nation has to those 
who have served and served honorably. We explained to them that 
we needed these hospitals to take care of the 670,000 who were 
wounded in World War II, the 100,000 that were wounded in 
Korea, the 300,000 that were wounded in Vietnam and the 500 
that were wounded in the Persian Gulf. And, of course, those 
who will become wounded in future wars.
    We explained that we needed these hospitals to provide 
nursing home-care for our older veterans, our World War I 
veterans and World War II veterans, our Korean veterans, and, 
of course, not too far beyond them are our Vietnam veterans. We 
might think of ourselves as young brats, but we are getting on 
up there. So, we need these hospitals to take care of our older 
veterans, to provide nursing home-care and to do research to 
improve the quality of care for all of our veterans.
    Also to back up our military hospitals in times of national 
emergency and, of course, to take care of all veterans who have 
served the nation and served it well. I want you to know that 
when we had finished negotiating, we walked away with a 
commitment that this nation's VA Hospitals will be maintained 
as a separate entity for our veterans. And I am excited about 
that.
    We have a commitment that our service-connected former 
prisoners of war and our low income veterans who pay nothing 
for their care, they will also be eligible for extra VA 
services not included in the national package, services such as 
long-term nursing home-care.
    On the health-care reform, we will open our doors to all 
veterans who want to get their care from the VA. For the first 
time in history, when a veteran comes to a VA Hospital, he or 
she will receive full, comprehensive care, everything that is 
needed to stay healthy.
    There will be no more questions about conditions that are 
not service-connected, but just service, just medical care, and 
that is as it should be. We have urged Congress to work very 
closely with the Chairman here to pass a bill that protects the 
best interest of all our veterans, those who have given so 
very, very much to our nation.
    We all know, quite frankly, that this is a time of great 
challenge for the VA's health-care delivery system. But I 
believe very, very strongly by looking in the depths of my 
heart that with the VFW's help, the VA will rise to accept that 
challenge.
    You may have heard that two VA employees were accused of 
illegally removing documents from veterans' files. I say to you 
that this is a betrayal of the trust that you have placed in 
them. I want you to know in this place at this time that anyone 
caught destroying your records will be prosecuted to the 
fullest extent of the law.
    There should be no guessing when it comes to Jesse Brown. 
Some people might refer to me as the honorable or the 
secretary. But the bottom line is Jesse Brown has been a 
national service officer for 27 years and he is going to die a 
national service officer.
    As a national service officer, I understand, and they must 
understand, that we need those records to establish claims for 
service connection, increased evaluation, educational benefits 
for our children and medical care for our veterans and their 
families. Therefore, we are not going to tolerate that kind of 
behavior. We are just not going to do it.
    As I look back at these and other issues, I feel that we 
can be proud of what we have accomplished together. I do not 
suggest that all of the VA's problems are solved. We continue 
to place and face many challenges, but we have proven that 
working together we can get things done. I know that this 
progress will continue.
    Recently, I was reminded of why we do what we do; why we 
have a moral obligation to help our veterans. I had the honor 
of attending ceremonies in France, marking the 50th Anniversary 
of the landings at Normandy. I was proud to see Junior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief Paul Spera and Adjutant General Howard 
Vander Clute there.
    I was so glad, very, very glad that the VFW was there 
representing our veterans who are World War II veterans. Paul, 
Howard and I knew that we were in a sacred place, 50 years 
after D-Day. I looked out at the sea which carried so many of 
our young men to an uncertain destiny.
    I looked at Omaha Beach, where every foot of sand was paid 
for with the mud of our veterans. I looked at the cliffs where 
the American Rangers achieved the impossible, and then I knew 
that in that sacred place that freedom is not free. There, in 
that sacred place, it became clear that 400,000 who died and 
700,000 who were wounded in World War II advanced the cause of 
freedom and world peace.
    This, my friends, is a story that has been played out many 
times and many places and in many wars, wars like Korea where 
35,000 died, and more than 100,000 were wounded, and wars like 
Vietnam where nearly 60,000 died and over 300,000 were wounded.
    During the span of our nation's history, over 40 million 
Americans have accepted the challenge to defend our nation's 
principles and our democratic institutions. They did so at a 
price. As a result, we must be certain that those who have 
fought to defend our freedom are not disadvantaged because of 
their service.
    There are those who may have forgotten why the VFW and the 
VA exist, why this nation has a sacred obligation to our 
veterans. Unlike many bureaucrats and politicians, when you and 
I think about veterans, we think about our friends, our 
buddies.
    We think about our mothers, our fathers, and we think about 
our sons and daughters. We think about the veteran that comes 
to the VA for care. We think about the mother and father whose 
son shall never, come home. We think about a young wife 
learning that her husband will be disabled for life.
    We think about the families and their hopes and dreams that 
will change forever. For these reasons, the VFW and VA 
understand the price of freedom. The VFW and VA understand the 
sacrifices that veterans and their families have made for our 
nation.
    The VFW and VA understand that we have a sacred obligation 
to care for those who have borne the battle, and that is why we 
do what we do. Together, I suggest to you, we will continue to 
fight to assure those that have served, those that have been 
wounded and disabled, and those that have died receive the 
respect and honor they have deserved from a grateful nation. 
So, thank you very, very much. God bless you all.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Secretary Jesse Brown.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I want you to know that on 
behalf of all of you going out and raising all the money for 
the Golden Age Games, that is one time we saw the Secretary 
smile this year, just a couple of months ago, when Larry Rivers 
and I went into the Secretary's office in Washington and 
presented him, on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a 
check for $50,000.
    Mr. Secretary, I know you said you are going to make plans 
for the 150th Anniversary of this great organization and you 
said you were going to die a service officer. Mr. Secretary, 
you are a Life Member and General Order No. 1 says you cannot 
die. [Applause]

PRESENTATION OF VFW HALL OF FAME AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION TO MR. 
                              PETER GRAVES

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Each year the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars Hall of Fame Award honors an individual from the 
field of entertainment who has made a significant contribution 
to America and her veterans. We are particularly delighted to 
honor this year's recipient this morning.
    Our honoree has combined an enormously successful film 
acting career, from the classic ``Stalag 17'' to the hilarious 
``Airplane,'' with an equally rewarding TV career encompassing 
more than a half-dozen series, several major mini-series and 
numerous movies-for-television.
    Since his film debut in ``Rouge River,'' he has starred in 
a host of leading roles in such motion pictures as ``The Court-
Martial of Billy Mitchell,'' ``A Rage to Live,'' ``The Raid,'' 
``The Ballad of Josie,'' ``The Long Grey Line,'' ``Texas Across 
the River,'' ``Five Man Army,'' ``Number One With a Gun,'' 
``Airplane II'' and others.
    His series credits include ``Court-Martial,'' ``Whiplash,'' 
``Fury'' and ``The Rebels,'' plus two Time-Life series, 
``Discover: The World of Science,'' in national syndication and 
on PBS-TV.
    Additionally, he created the role of Palmer Kirby on ABC-
TV's ``The Winds of War'' mini-series and reprised that role 
for ``War and Remembrance.''
    He continues with his hosting chores for the third season 
of Arts & Entertainment Network's popular ``Biography'' series.
    Despite a long and successful career on both the big and 
small screen our guest is most often remembered for his six 
seasons as the leader of an elite team of specialists fighting 
crime, corruption and radical foreign dictators on ``Mission 
Impossible.'' That role established him as a star of 
international importance, a status that continues undiminished.
    But we are here this morning to honor him for his real life 
role, that of a compassionate veteran.
    Enlisting in the United States Air Force after high school, 
he developed an appreciation for America's veterans that has 
continued throughout his career. Over the past year he has 
served as the National Chairman and Spokesman for the Salute to 
Hospitalized Veterans Program.
    Those who work with the program have developed a unique 
affection for our guest. To quote them, ``He has been a hands-
on chairman, visiting the hospitals and establishing 
relationships with the veterans. On one occasion he passed up a 
TV guest appearance to be a part of the Veterans Winter Sports 
Clinic in crested Butte, Colorado. At that event, in spite of 
fatigue and altitude sickness, he invited the wheelchair-bound 
participants back to his room and enjoyed their company into 
the wee hours.
    In a word, he has been the very best chairman the 
Hospitalized Veterans could have asked for. In addition to his 
work with hospitalized veterans, he will shortly begin taping a 
documentary on the G.I. Bill. He was eager to do this 
documentary as it was the G.I. Bill that, following his Air 
Force duty, allowed him to pursue his education and training as 
an actor.
    It is with a great deal of pleasure that I now introduce a 
veteran, humanitarian, Chairman of the National Salute to 
Hospitalized Veterans, star of films and television, and this 
year's recipient of the VFW's Hall of Fame Award, Mr. Peter 
Graves.
    Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Hall of Fame 
Award, Gold Medal and Citation awarded to Peter Graves.
    ``In special recognition of his singularly successful film 
acting career and equally exceptional television career and his 
hosting for the third season of Arts & Entertainment Network's 
`Biography' series and in grateful appreciation for the 
countless hours of service he devoted to veterans as the 1994 
Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Chairman and for his plans to 
do a special documentary on the G.I. Bill which enabled him to 
enroll at the University of Minnesota as a drama major.''
    This citation is signed by myself today as Commander-in-
Chief and by Howard Vander Clute, Adjutant General.
    Let me say along with this citation we have two checks for 
you, one for $2,500 for Citizens Assisting the Pacific Palisade 
Youth, and one for $2,500 for the Motion Picture and Television 
Fund. We would like to see you get ``Mission: Impossible'' back 
on TV.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to recipient Peter Graves.]

                       RESPONSE--MR. PETER GRAVES

    MR. PETER GRAVES: Thank you very much, Commander-in-Chief 
Cramer. Mr. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Ladies and 
Gentlemen:
    Boy, what a thrill to be here with you. It is a thrill to 
have these donations by your wonderful organization. The Motion 
Picture and Television Fund, I am sure you have all heard about 
it. It does wonderful work, including the motion picture 
country home and hospital, and all sorts of things for people 
in need in my business.
    The other to the Citizens Assisting Palisades Youth, that 
is my wife's favorite charity. She is one of the founders of it 
and works most diligently in its behalf. She was not able to be 
here with me today, but I know how deeply she thanks you for 
that.
    That is the best introduction I have ever had and the 
longest, I think. It made me think of something, a picture I 
forget about every once in a while, and I have done it and I 
should not. It was called ``The Long Grey Line.'' As many of 
you may remember, it is a story of West Point from the early 
days of this century on up through World War II, and a 
marvelous old guy, Marty Monker, who served there for something 
like 50 years. Probably many of you know about this.
    Well, I was in that film, and we made a great deal of it, 
most of it, at the United States Military Academy. It was 
directed by one of the great, great all-time directors, John 
Ford. Now, I am sure you have heard about him. He did ``She 
Wore A Yellow Ribbon,'' ``Stage Coach,'' and so many wonderful 
films.
    I played a young corporal in the Army, about 1900, who was 
courting or trying to court a young lady played by Maureen 
O'Hara. This is already easy work. Now, it comes along there is 
another fellow by the name of Tyrone Power who is a rival.
    We kind of mix it up every once in a while in vying for the 
affections and attentions of Maureen O'Hara. One of the scenes 
called for us to have a fight, a fist-fight in the stable yard. 
Now, of course, we filmed this in the mid-'50s and there were 
no longer any stables at West Point or no horses, fumes or 
whatever at that time.
    What the way old man Ford wanted, and he could be cranky 
when he wanted to, what he wanted was for us to fight in the 
stable yard in a pile of horse manure. So it came the day for 
this to take place, and the prop guys had done a super job. 
There wasn't any horse manure, but they had straw and mud and a 
mixture of things ten feet high that looked exactly like the 
real stuff, and on the screen you couldn't tell the difference.
    We showed up at 8:00 o'clock in the morning, and old man 
Ford said, ``What is that?'' They said, ``Mr. Ford, we can't 
get the real stuff, so we put together this straw and mud and 
all these things.'' He said, ``I want horse manure. I want it 
tomorrow morning at 8:00 o'clock.''
    Well, that day, trucks went out all over upstate New York 
to all the farms they could find looking for horse manure. By 
George, at 8:00 o'clock the next morning they had a pile of it 
about ten feet high. Even as big a star as Tyrone Power 
couldn't get out of this.
    Now, old man Ford loved it. We fought all day long in this 
pile of stuff. I think I spent the whole night in a bath after 
that. I couldn't come near Maureen O'Hara for several days.
    Ford was a brilliant director, but he could be very cranky 
at times. There was, as you remember, at West Point they had a 
football coach named Red Blake, one of the greatest coaches of 
all time. We had the whole cadet corps on parade one day for 
filming to use in the film. Of course, that is an impressive 
sight.
    Ford had arranged this. This was really a rehearsal for 
him. He always did what he wanted to do with his cameras and so 
forth. So, Red Blake was standing watching these cadets on 
parade, and when they finished, they passed by and Red Blake 
had tears in his eyes.
    He turns to Mr. Ford and he said, ``Mr. Ford, if you can 
just keep your cameras turning and you can get it just like 
that, it will be something.'' Ford said, ``Sometime I will tell 
you how to coach your damn football team.'' Well, that is life 
in the picture business.
    John Ford is gone from us now, but pictures and television 
continue and the needs of veterans continue and veterans' 
affairs and interests must be addressed. You all do so and you 
do it well and with diligence. I am proud to be among you. I 
thank you immensely for these honors you have give me today.

PRESENTATION--VFW GOLD MEDAL OF MERIT AND CITATION TO THE HONORABLE G. 
                        V. ``SONNY'' MONTGOMERY

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Ladies and gentlemen, it is my 
pleasure to introduce to you a friend of the VFW and our 
nation's veterans. A true patriot, he has given a lifetime of 
service to the nation in uniform and in the United States 
Congress.
    Now serving his fourteenth term in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, he joined the House Committee of Veterans 
Affairs in 1969. Two years later he was appointed to the Armed 
Services Committee. Service in these two positions has enabled 
him to stand vigil over the entitlements and services for our 
military personnel, our veterans and their families.
    Our honored guest assumed the chairmanship of the House 
Veterans Affairs Committee in 1981. For his leadership in the 
crusade for a permanent peacetime G.I. Bill, a new Bill, now 
known as the Montgomery G.I. Bill, was signed into law by the 
President on June 1, 1987.
    His effectiveness as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs 
Committee can best be measured by the manner in which he has 
been able to protect and fine-tune veterans entitlements and 
services.
    A retired Major General of the Mississippi National Guard, 
his active and reserve service includes duty in World War II in 
the European Theater with the 12th Armored Division.
    It is my privilege to introduce a fellow comrade, a Life 
Member of VFW Post 79, in Meridian, Mississippi, a friend, and 
in the finest tradition of Southern grace, a true gentleman, 
the Honorable G. V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Gold Medal 
of Merit and this Citation awarded to G. V. `Sonny' Montgomery, 
United States Representative, District 3, Mississippi.
    ``In special recognition and sincere appreciation for his 
enduring efforts, singular knowledge, assertive leadership and 
exceptional service as Chairman of the Veterans Affairs 
Committee and senior member of the Armed Services Committee and 
his unwavering support for the men and women of the armed 
forces, our nation's veterans and their families through his 
vigilant fights to preserve and strengthen veterans 
entitlements, protect the interests of the members of the armed 
forces and especially his dedication to advance educational and 
training benefits for veterans as embodied in the Montgomery 
G.I. Bill.''
    This citation has been signed today by myself, as 
Commander-in-Chief, and by Howard Vander Clute, Adjutant 
General.
    Congratulations, Sonny, and thank you, Mr. Congressman, for 
what you do for our veterans.
                RESPONSE--THE HONORABLE G. V. MONTGOMERY

    CONGRESSMAN MONTGOMERY: Good morning. I tell you it is a 
tough act to follow the Secretary and Peter Graves, but I will 
try. I have been watching the doors and there have not been 
many of you that have left, so thank you very much.
    Commander-in-Chief Cramer, please make General Order No. 2 
live forever. You gave the Secretary No. 1 and I would like to 
have No. 2 on behalf of a number of World War II veterans out 
there, also.
    To the other National Officers of the VFW and to Secretary 
Brown and to Mr. Graves, to Diane Evans, who will be on the 
program, other Distinguished Guests and my Fellow VFW Members:
    I am very proud. In fact, the first veterans organization I 
joined after I got home from Europe in 1946 was the VFW on 8th 
Street, I believe. In my remarks, I have got to do that to 
catch up with these other two fellows. I mentioned to Howard 
Vander Clute that it showed that I joined the VFW in 1976.
    I joined the VFW in 1947. I was one of the Post Officers in 
1948, and I am proud of that. As Secretary Brown mentioned, he 
could use the Sergeant-at-Arms George, who got order here this 
morning. We certainly could use him, Commander-in-Chief, in the 
Congress of the United States. [Applause] I see you agree with 
that.
    About six months ago, I went to my VFW State Convention in 
Jackson, Mississippi. I talked to my comrades in Mississippi. I 
said, ``I know you are doing well in your membership drive for 
1994.'' They said, ``No, Sonny, we are not doing very well. We 
are about at 80 percent.''
    So I and others gave them a challenge. We said, ``You have 
got six months before the Convention. Let's get busy.'' They 
did, Mr. Commander-in-Chief. They are now 103 percent. You have 
got them on the second row.
    Commander Byrd and Johnnie Sartor and others over there, 
thank you for the job that you did. I feel right at home here 
today. You say, ``Hello, Sonny'' and some of you say ``Hello, 
Senator.'' I am on the House side, but you can call me Senator. 
I don't mind.
    I wasn't sure whether we were going to make it or not. We 
were working on the Crime Bill in the House of Representatives. 
I told Jesse Brown we did pass the bill. It has gone over to 
the Senate side now. Even if we pass the Crime Bill, I don't 
believe I would go get in any dark alleys. I don't know what 
these people will do.
    Thank you very much to the VFW for your Medal of Merit and 
Citation. I am very proud to have this award. I hope next year 
if I am invited back that I can wear this medallion. It is a 
special award and I appreciate it very much.
    I do know that the record we have established in Congress 
for veterans would not be possible without the help that we 
have had from the VFW, and also I would like to mention the 
Ladies Auxiliary, what they have done, especially the VFW 
Ladies Auxiliary, which is so strong and does a tremendous job. 
I congratulate you with working with the VFW full membership.
    I am very pleased that the VFW has chosen the Beech 
Aerospace Services Corporation, a worldwide aircraft logistics 
training and support company to receive the Large Employer of 
the Year Award. I understand that this national award is given 
annually to a company for its outstanding policies and 
achievements in hiring, promoting and retraining veterans.
    The VFW has picked a good one. I know the company well, 
Commander-in-Chief. Its headquarters is in Madison, 
Mississippi. That is also in my congressional district. I don't 
think it had anything to do with winning this award. I am sorry 
that Dan Grafton will be here tomorrow. He is the Beechcraft 
President.
    He is a wonderful person and a great company, who employs 
about 600 people. They have got another contract to move up to 
900. I know a large part of that number will be veterans that 
they will hire, because they believe in this veterans 
preference, even though they are private enterprise. I sure 
wish the U.S. Post Office could honor veterans like Beech 
Aerospace has done and hire more veterans.
    I want to commend you, Commander-in-Chief Cramer, for 
inviting me to the 95th National Convention. The last year 
under your leadership, Commander, the VFW has accomplished much 
since you were elected at the last Convention. The last time I 
saw you, sir, was at the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day 
Ceremonies, and it was an unforgettable week.
    It is always a pleasure to be with my friend, Howard Vander 
Clute. Howard's record as your National Adjutant General speaks 
for itself. I had a nice visit with he and his wife last night. 
The organization has grown and prospered during the years he 
occupied this crucial position. Howard is retiring after this 
Convention, and we wish him well and we will miss you also, 
Howard.
    I want to thank Larry Rivers and his excellent staff for 
all they do on Capitol Hill. They really help us out in every 
piece of legislation that comes out of our Committee over 
there. The VFW, under Larry Rivers, has had something to do 
with what is in that Bill.
    They have helped shape, as I said, every piece of 
legislation that comes out of our Committee. Larry Rivers runs 
the best banquet in Washington honoring members of Congress and 
knows how to get us out on time every time. I value the 
friendship of both of these two gentlemen that I have 
mentioned, and they have done a great job for the VFW.
    Of course, I want to recognize the very able Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, my good friend, Jesse Brown. Jesse, I 
appreciate your staying here. Most times in Washington, after 
you make a speech, you get up and leave. Thank you, Jesse, for 
staying. He is a good Secretary.
    I want him to hear this. He has firmly established himself 
as a champion of veterans. The best thing about it is that you 
veterans like him. He has taken a lot of heat. He has taken a 
lot of heat for what is called the Office of Management and 
Budget.
    They kind of tell the Congress what they would hope they 
would do to represent the administration. The White House has 
been on him, but he is still for issues for veterans. There is 
no doubt that he is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and make 
no mistake about it. He stands up for us a lot of times. I see 
him up there dealing with legislation. Thank you again, Jesse 
Brown, for all you do.
    Let me thank all of the delegates for your outstanding work 
through the years. If we don't have strong Posts back in the 
different states, we can't do a job in Washington. You have to 
go see the members of Congress, and you the Senators if you are 
going to get things done.
    There are other organizations out there working against us 
trying to get these funds and we need your help. Please 
continue to work on veterans issues. I appreciate very much 
your stand for a strong national defense. This has been really 
an unforgettable year for our veterans.
    This year we celebrated the milestone in national and world 
history, the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, the 
military force, 175,000 Americans, British and Canadian troops 
launched the most massive sea and air assault ever attempted in 
the history of the world.
    The goal was to liberate Europe and restore freedom to 
those people. The invasion was in the beginning of the end of 
the war and pushing the deadlock out. The Speaker of the House 
authorized me to be chairman of the group, and we took 27 
members of the House to Normandy during the week of June 6th.
    While there, Commander-in-Chief Cramer, Secretary Brown and 
our delegation joined President Clinton and other heads of 
state to pay tribute to the brave men and women who 
participated in the invasion. This story is a powerful part of 
both our past and future.
    Many of you served in that historic military conflict. I 
went in about the fourth month after June 6th. How many of you 
did go into Europe--hold up your hands--in World War II? Don't 
be bashful. How many were in the Pacific Theater? I want to 
tell you we have not forgotten you either. We are going to have 
a celebration.
    General Kicklighter told me last night that we have already 
had several celebrations out in the Pacific and some more will 
be going on. Thank you for the job that you have done in World 
War II.
    Some of you also have great distinction in Korea, Vietnam, 
the Persian Gulf and other distant places. The delegates here 
have a common bond which makes this organization great. We 
believe in duty in mind, bravery in heart and purpose in 
spirit. You had it then, and please keep it.
    We need it more than ever to talk about patriotism and love 
of our country. The D-Day Celebrations reminded us of the 
courage and sacrifice that inspired President Roosevelt to sign 
into law two Bills 50 years ago, three weeks after the Normandy 
Invasion. They have been touched on this morning.
    On June 22nd of this year, Secretary Brown and I joined 
President Clinton in the 50th Anniversary celebration of the 
signing of the G.I. Bill of Rights, and with the help of the 
veterans organizations, Congress created the G.I. Bill to help 
veterans readjust to civilian life.
    Many people here today have benefitted from that Bill, 
either by education from the different wars or the home loans. 
Those that have benefitted by the G.I. Bill hold up your hand. 
It is most of the audience, Mr. Secretary, here today.
    I still live in the same home I financed under the G.I. 
Bill. I thought I had a four-percent interest, Mr. Secretary, 
but it was four and a quarter, but we will not worry about 
that. This G.I. Bill passed that long ago will probably be the 
greatest piece of legislation passed in this century. It moved 
America forward and you were a part of it.
    I am going to talk to you about the Veterans Preference 
Act. We celebrated the 50th Anniversary of this Preference Act. 
As a result of that, the legislation of the Federal Government 
is currently deleting the employee. The Federal Government all 
right. Most of the departments do hire veterans.
    They do hire our veterans under the Government Preference 
Act. Recognizing the value of this legislation, President 
Clinton said, ``This nation owes a great deal to our men and 
women who have worn our country's uniform. The prosperity and 
freedom we enjoy today are the priceless gifts of their service 
and commitment.''
    The President affirmed these remarks recently when he 
directed the Justice Department to drop an appeal of a ruling 
against the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service violated 
the Veterans Preference Act while implementing a reorganization 
plan.
    Secretary Brown asked the administration not to appeal the 
case. I asked the President of the United States not to appeal 
the case, and the VFW acted promptly and got in touch with the 
President. Now, it was not appealed. Let me share with you the 
response.
    We have had some critics and criticism who say the Veterans 
Preference Act makes it difficult for minorities and women to 
get some of the better jobs in the Federal Government. I am 
quick to tell them as Chairman of the Veterans Committee my job 
is to stand up for veterans, male and female of any race, creed 
or heritage. As long as I am Chairman, I am going to see that 
these veterans are protected.
    We have had many good years working with the VFW. I would 
like to mention a few of the things. We have done the best we 
could to protect and strengthen one of the best medical systems 
in the world. Yes, I know there are a lot of problems out 
there, and you see them because you go there in the hospitals 
and the out-patient clinics. We are trying to get that 
corrected, and we are working with the Secretary on that.
    We have protected and expanded the compensation of the VIC 
and pension programs. We have expanded and reformed the home 
loan program. We have re-established new programs for the 
homeless veterans. We have set up Vietnam veterans cancer 
centers and for post-traumatic stress disorders.
    We have provided special medical care and compensation for 
veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and we have established a new 
U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals. So we have had some help along 
the line by the staff that I have mentioned today.
    I would like to recognize my staff director, Mack Fleming, 
who is really a true veteran, and Carl Commentator also. I wish 
they would stand. They are on our Committee and do everything 
they can for veterans and the VFW knows it. You two stand up. I 
would appreciate it if you would give them a hand. [Applause]
    Mack Fleming helped make the speech, so I guess he didn't 
want to hear it anymore. We passed the 1995 VA Appropriations 
Bill. I will be brief on that. It is $37 billion to run the VA 
system that Jesse Brown has. It includes $16 billion for 
medical care, and that is $111 million more than the President 
requested.
    It is also $610 million more than we got in 1994. We are 
getting some more money now to run the Veterans Hospitals. In 
this appropriation, it has passed and these are the final 
figures. It includes $252 million in medical research, $41 
million more than proposed by this or the last administrations.
    I am sold on medical care in the VA system. They do a lot 
of good for the veterans. They don't get much credit for it. 
They have made a lot of us live longer and in less pain. When 
we get their good medical research, the accomplishments, we 
pass it on to the civilian sector. We have done a lot of 
things. If I had more time, I would just cover some of them. 
Medical research is certainly important in the VA.
    On general operating expenses, we have an increase of $44 
million. Now, $10 million of that will go to processing of 
claims and backlog of cases. I have talked to Secretary Brown 
about this. We have a problem. It takes too long to process the 
claims in cases, and we ought to do better and we will try.
    Under the administration's plan to reinvent government, 
which passed in Congress earlier this year, 252,000 federal 
employees must be cut from the payroll during the next five 
years. The VA's share of the reduction would be about 27,000 
people.
    Now, 25,000 of that total would come from the VA medical 
staff, 5,000 cut in medical personnel, professionals in the 
next five years. We quickly introduced a bill exempting the VA 
Hospitals from the personnel cuts. The House passed the bill in 
April over the opposition of the Administration.
    One hundred eighteen members of the House voted against the 
bill. That is one of the highest numbers we have ever had to 
oppose a veterans bill. I don't like to get any votes against 
my bills. I didn't like it a darn bit when they voted against 
that bill.
    Some of them are finding out about it back home. The bill 
is now pending in the Senate. You might work on the Senate. 
Don't see staff members in the Senate. Get a hold of the 
Senators and say, ``Listen, I want you to pass that bill over 
there'' and we will get something done.
    On August 8th, the House passed and sent to the Senate, our 
Bill 4386, the Persian Gulf War Benefits Act. This is for 
Persian Gulf veterans who are seriously ill. We have not been 
able to diagnose what is wrong with them. Therefore, there is 
no compensation that could be paid to them.
    Secretary Brown supports this legislation. It is not a 
budget buster. The Secretary will approve each case, but it 
will give compensation to some of these veterans. We don't know 
what is wrong with them and we need to get that bill moving in 
the Senate.
    Health-care reform, we will be very busy the remainder of 
the year and we will be since we have gotten the Crime Bill out 
of the way working on health-care reform. Mr. Cramer, I want to 
sincerely thank you and your staff, Jim Magill and others, for 
working so closely with us and the veterans organizations to 
come up with a workable bill.
    We are included in the general hard bill health care and we 
will be putting in the Senate bill the bipartisan health care 
bill. The veterans part of the health care pending before 
Congress could not be better. Veterans would come out real 
well. We do have health-care legislation.
    The bottom line is that in health-care reform the veteran 
will be given more options and different medical care than he 
or she is given now. Now, the Enola Gay, you know what the 
aircraft is. That is the one that is led by great pilots of the 
atomic bomb in World War II, and bringing the war to a close.
    I want to mention something that some of you VFW members 
know about and some of you don't know about it and should know 
about it. Next August, the Smithsonian Institute will have the 
exhibit in the Air Space Museum entitled ``The Last Act.''
    This museum is the most visited of any other museums any 
place else in Washington. ``The Last Act'' is the atomic bomb 
at the end of World War II. There is much controversy about it 
and the VFW leadership and I are working to see if we can get 
this changed.
    Those in charge of the exhibit are trying to show that 
President Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb was wrong. 
The exhibit would attempt to convey the message that Japan was 
not the aggressor in World War II. Now, I knew that would get 
your attention.
    When I first heard about it, I asked the Smithsonian 
officials to meet with the VFW and other veterans 
organizations. They did that. We have let everyone know we are 
concerned about this. Now, if something comes out like this, 
where it is a very explosive situation from veterans throughout 
the country, and I certainly hope that it will be.
    I am reminded of the deep sorrow that I felt when I was 
visiting the Island of Corregidor in 1987 and reflected on the 
horrors experienced at the hands of the Japanese by the 
American soldiers, forced to take part in the Bataan death 
march.
    I reminded them that President Truman's decision to drop 
the bomb saved hundreds of thousands of American lives and that 
the Pacific to be displayed otherwise should not be allowed. I 
know you are glad I am wrapping it up here. I have enjoyed it.
    I am very proud of our legislative record that we have 
worked with the organization over the last 28 years. We have 
been very fortunate to work with a number of VFW Commanders and 
VFW staff, and I have really relied on these VFW Commanders.
    Commander-in-Chief, I would like to restate the names of 
those here today that have really helped me and guided us in 
the past 14 or 15 years. They are Howard Vander Clute, Art 
Fellwock, Bob Currieo, Cliff Olson, Billy Ray Cameron, John 
Staum, Norman Staab, the late Earl Stock, Larry Rivers, Wally 
Hogan, Jim Kimery, Bob Wallace, Jack Carney and George Cramer.
    Also, I want to recognize another former National Commander 
who has been a great help to all of us, a source of strength to 
us. He is a former long-time Washington Executive Director of 
the National, Past Commander-in-Chief Cooper T. Holt. I wish 
these gentlemen would just stand up and let me thank them with 
you for the work they have done for us. [Applause]
    I am proud to be a member of the VFW because you are big 
and strong. When you talk in Washington, Congress listens. One 
of your areas of work is to do everything that you can for the 
veteran or his or her dependent. Another area that you are 
strong in, and there are few organizations that do this, you 
believe in a strong military defense.
    I hope you will continue to push for a strong military 
defense. We are cutting the military too much and too fast, and 
I am concerned about it.
    Now, listen to this. I want to thank the good Lord that the 
VFW does score members of Congress on how they vote on the 
military. Keep it up. We pay attention to it. God bless the VFW 
and God bless the USA.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Congressman Sonny Montgomery.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Congressman 
Montgomery, not only for your diligent work over the many years 
on behalf of our nation's veterans, but I also want to thank 
you and your staff for always keeping the door open so we can 
discuss veterans issues.
    PRESENTATION OF VFW DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND 
                  CITATION TO COMRADE WILLIAM RADIGAN

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: It is always a great pleasure 
when we have the opportunity to honor one of our own for a 
lifetime of distinguished service.
    The gentleman I wish to introduce has, for more than 42 
years, unselfishly given his time and energy to our great 
organization. He is a veteran of World War II, having served in 
the European Theater as a gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress in 
Italy from November, 1943, until November, 1945.
    For his service, he received the European, African Middle 
Eastern Service Medal, an Air Medal and the World War II 
Victory Medal.
    Returning at the end of World War II, he joined VFW Post 
3061 in Vermillion, South Dakota, in July, 1948. He is still a 
member of that Post.
    He became a mail carrier in 1946 and retired from the U.S. 
Postal Service 34 years later in 1980. While working full-time 
in 1952, he accepted the position as Adjutant/ Quartermaster of 
the Department of South Dakota.
    He is the father of eight sons and three daughters. One 
son, Major Randall Radigan, spent three years in Vietnam as a 
medical dust off pilot. Another son, William, Jr., has 26 years 
of service in the U.S. Air Force and is currently a major in 
Weisbaden, Germany.
    William, Sr., resides in Vermillion, where he is also a 
member of the American Legion, the Vermillion Fire Department 
and a member of the Vermillion City Council.
    Our purpose here today is to honor Comrade Radigan as he 
continues to perform as Adjutant/Quartermaster of South Dakota.
    Few men have given so much for so long to the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars. His outstanding record has created a standard by 
which those of us who continue the work can aspire.
    Please join me in a warm welcome for a veteran who has 
given much to make the VFW great, William J. Radigan, Sr., from 
the great State of South Dakota.
    Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Distinguished 
Service Medal and this Citation awarded to William J. Radigan, 
Sr.
    ``In sincere appreciation and grateful recognition of 42 
years of unselfish service to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States as a dedicated worker, able administrator and 
distinguished leader in fulfilling the duties and 
responsibilities of the office of State Adjutant and State 
Quartermaster of the Department of South Dakota Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States.''
    This citation has been signed today by myself as Commander-
in-Chief and by Howard Vander Clute as the Adjutant General.
    Bill, you know many times we have honored those that 
retire, but I think it is important and very fitting and proper 
that we need to look at the people that give of their time for 
so many years and award them while they are still working for 
us. We really appreciate people like yourself.

                 RESPONSE--COMRADE WILLIAM RADIGAN, SR.

    COMRADE WILLIAM RADIGAN (Post 3061--South Dakota): 
Commander-in-Chief Cramer, the distinguished individuals on the 
podium, and to all the Post Commanders-in-Chief, and to you, my 
Comrades, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States:
    It would have helped if I had known this was going to 
happen. I am so honored and feel such an emotional high today 
that I don't think any of you could understand it if I tried to 
explain it to you. I think it is appropriate that today I 
extend some thanks to two ladies who have worked in our office 
through the 42 years, one for 11 and one for 31 years. Rena and 
Shirley Potts have been such a help to me.
    I am grateful to my wife who for 40 years before she left 
us worked so closely with me. I am grateful to all my comrades 
and sisters in the Department of South Dakota who made this all 
possible for me. When I took the job, I agreed to stay 18 
months, and then I was going to be on my way to other things.
    It has been a great trip and I am still active and I still 
enjoy it. This honor is something that few people get. 
Naturally, I am deeply, deeply moved. My appreciation is known 
only to me.
    As I look out in this room today, I think I would like to 
have you know something else about me. First, I have to thank 
my children who gave up some things, all 11 of them, so I could 
do this job. I want to thank my God for giving me the ability 
and the strength to do it, and then I want to say something to 
all of you.
    This is a great honor, and I don't belittle it, but there 
is a greater honor in this organization as far as I am 
concerned. I have known most of these men as they walk through 
their offices. It has been wonderful. Today, I have a privilege 
and an honor.
    I can walk out into this audience and it will make no 
difference what the man's military rank was, it will make no 
difference what position he holds in civilian life, it will 
make no difference what his financial status might be. The only 
thing that makes any difference today here is that all of you 
have offered service to the great United States of America and 
that you are eligible to belong to the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States.
    My greatest honor as long as I shall live will be that when 
I walk up to one of you I can shake your hand and call you 
``comrade''. There is no greater honor. I am appreciative of 
what you have done for me today, Commander-in-Chief, and my 
friend George. I certainly appreciate it. I will cherish it all 
my life. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Comrade Radigan.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I would like to call on our 
Adjutant General for a few announcements. [Convention 
announcements.]

   PRESENTATION--VFW GOLD MEDAL OF MERIT AND CITATION TO LIEUTENANT 
                 GENERAL WILLIAM G. PAGONIS, USA (RET.)

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: We are indeed very honored to 
have with us today the man responsible for two of the most 
significant logistical operations of the past decade, the 
dismantling of the Cold War infrastructure of the U.S. Army in 
Europe and total logistical operations for Desert Shield and 
Desert Storm, Retired Army Lieutenant General William G. 
``Gus'' Pagonis.
     Based on his Desert Storm experience, he co-authored a 
book entitled ``Moving Mountains--Lessons in Leadership and 
Logistics from the Cold War.''
    To put the Desert Storm feat in perspective, one book 
reviewer described the situation as follows: ``Pagonis' 
logisticians and transporters moved 560,000 service personnel 
and their equipment to Saudi Arabia, the equivalent of 
relocating the entire City of Richmond, Virginia, and 
everything in it, halfway around the world; supplying and 
repositioning them over an area larger than half of the Eastern 
United States.''
    Today, he is a Senior Vice-President for Logistics for 
Sears, Roebuck & Company, the single point of contact for 
logistics for Sears.
    A native of Pennsylvania, General Pagonis served with the 
501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam in 1970-'71. 
He is the recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor 
with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Combat Infantry Badge 
among others.
    For his contribution to the success of Operation Desert 
Storm, I am pleased to present the Commander-in-Chief's Gold 
Medal of Merit to a distinguished soldier and logistician, 
William G. ``Gus'' Pagonis. General Pagonis has indicated that 
he wishes to contribute the honorarium accompanying the Gold 
Medal of Merit Award to the VFW sponsorship of the Golden Age 
Games.
    Please welcome a great soldier, executive and Life Member 
of VFW Post 167 in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, William ``Gus'' 
Pagonis.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars Gold Medal of Merit and Citation 
awarded to William G. Pagonis, Lieutenant General, United 
States Army, in recognition of over 29 years of distinguished 
service to his country in the United States Army, which 
included duty as the Commander of the 1097th Transportation 
Company in Vietnam and later as the Division Transportation 
Officer of the 101st Airborne Division during its deployment in 
Vietnam, and for his role as Commanding General, 22nd Theater 
Army Area Command, United States Central Command, Saudi Arabia, 
from August, 1990, to January, 1992, an assignment that 
required his taking full responsibility for logistics during 
Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
    ``His inspiring leadership manifests itself in the fact 
that Operation 'Desert Storm' was a dramatic military success 
with minimum loss of life of United States forces as a result 
of the proficiency of his command in providing food, shelter, 
fuel, arms, ammunition and other logistical support. His 
performance and his selfless devotion to the cause of this 
nation's vital interests in the Persian Gulf have thereby 
reflected great credit upon the highest tradition of the United 
States Army.''
    This citation is dated the 23rd day of August, 1994, and 
signed by myself as the Commander-in-Chief, and by Howard E. 
Vander Clute, Adjutant General.
    General Pagonis.

            RESPONSE--LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM G. PAGONIS

    LIEUTENANT GENERAL PAGONIS: Thank you very much. First of 
all, everybody knows that Generals don't do anything but the 
troops do. We end up getting a lot of credit when we should 
not. I will tell you that all of you who participated in the 
Gulf War or saw me on CNN, I looked a lot taller on television, 
but I am the same guy.
    Somebody asked me while I was here if it was going to be 
hard to go from a General to becoming a private citizen. I 
said, ``No, not as long as you serve the United States Army 
troops.'' I will tell you that I was ordered by General 
Schwarzkopf to serve for six months and I stayed there 18 
months.
    During the last six months, he came back over to say 
goodbye to the troops prior to his retirement. All the soldiers 
loved to get their picture taken with General Schwarzkopf. I 
was standing maybe 20 feet away, and this one trooper walked up 
to me and said, ``Sir, can I have my picture taken with you?'' 
I said, ``Sure, don't you want to wait for the boss?'' He said, 
``Yes, but your line is a lot shorter.''
    I must tell you that my entire 29 years in the Army I have 
always had soldiers keep me in my place, and you don't have to 
ever worry about getting big-headed. I have to tell you a 
couple of quick stories, because only this group would 
appreciate them.
    During the time I was overseeing Iraqi POW's, I became the 
Colonel Klink of the prison camps. I didn't realize that I was 
to run the prison. There were some great guys from New York, 
men and women who served in the Military Police. We captured 
70,000 prisoners in less than 48 hours, and the idea was to 
sacrifice about 70,000 troops and throw them into the battle, 
and these individuals had no food, water for days, and no 
shoes.
    They were petrified when the American soldiers and Marines 
captured them that they would be tortured and not taken care 
of. I don't have to tell people in this room, just the opposite 
occurred. Now, CNN didn't report any of the stuff, but just the 
opposite occurred.
    Soldiers gave their field jackets to the prisoners. They 
were given water, medical supplies, and many of them were ready 
to take up arms and fight against Hussein. This just showed the 
great tradition that the American soldiers, sailors, Marines 
and Air Force have always done a marvelous job.
    I would like to close with there are 520,000 service 
members, your sons, daughters, grandchildren, and many of you 
in this room served in the Gulf War. During the 18 months that 
I was there, it was 180 degrees different than anything I have 
ever been exposed to before.
    Women were allowed to drive. I had 15,000 female soldiers 
that drove trucks, forklifts right in the heat of battle. All 
of these kinds of customs were so different, yet we did not 
have one major or minor incident in the 18 months. That just 
shows how great these young Americans were.
    All we know is that soldiers, airmen, Marines, sailors are 
not like the 42-year-old veteran that Broderick Crawford was in 
the movie. They were 18 and 19-year-old Americans. I tell 
people anywhere I go I feel good about this United States, 
because these great Americans are still with us and are still 
serving their country.
    I am honored to be with you today among the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, and it is an honor and privilege to have served 
in the military. I thank you so very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, in a few moments and 
throughout the remainder of the Convention, we will be taking 
up important business of our Committee Reports and acting on 
the Resolutions proposed for adoption by this Convention. I 
have asked the Committee Chairmen to use the following 
procedure in presenting the respective reports.
    First, the Committee Chairman will read the list of 
Resolutions which the Committee recommends to be adopted or 
adopted as amended. Following the reading of this list, the 
Chairman will move the adoption of those Resolutions. After 
that motion and the second, the Chair will ask if there are any 
of those Resolutions that the comrades want to set aside.
    Note will be taken of those Resolutions to be set aside and 
actions will be taken on those Resolutions which have not been 
set aside. After the vote on the Resolutions, which were not 
set aside, the Chair will take up those Resolutions which have 
been set aside for debate. They will be taken up in the order 
in which they have been set aside.
    Each Resolution will be voted on by the Convention as a 
motion to adopt. If the Committee has recommended referral of 
any Resolutions to any permanent Committee of the VFW for 
review, those motions will then be acted upon. After action is 
completed on the Resolutions recommended for adoption or for 
referral to a Standing Committee, the Chairman will read the 
list of those Resolutions in which the recommendation is 
rejection.
    After the list is read, you will have the opportunity to 
move for the adoption of any of those Resolutions. Each motion 
will be taken up and disposed of in order. No motion is made by 
any comrade. The Resolutions under our Convention Rules 
automatically are rejected by the Convention.
    The first Committee to report, I will call on Past 
Commander-in-Chief Bob Wallace to give the Report on the 
National By-Laws and Manual of Procedure.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL BY-LAWS, MANUAL OF PROCEDURE AND RITUAL

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ROBERT WALLACE: Thank you, Comrade 
Commander. First of all, let me thank you for the appointment 
as Chairman of the By-Laws Committee and also let me thank you 
for giving me the Vice-Chairman who served this organization 
with distinction in 1974-'75 as Commander-in-Chief, continues 
to serve, John Stang, from the great State of Kansas, as well 
as the members that were appointed to this Committee.
    A special thanks to the Final Review Committee that you 
have set up this year and worked diligently to clean up any 
housekeeping on the By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    I want to recognize them. The Chairman Dwaine Wilson, 
members Ed Burnham, Jack Melban, John Gwizdak, Glen Gardner, 
George Riedel, Vernon Soukup, Frank Zenzer and Larry Maher. I 
want to also thank Jim Plick, our Judge Advocate General, for 
his advice and counsel. I want to thank John Senk, Tom Kissel 
and all those that served on the By-Laws Committee.
    The Committee met Sunday afternoon and the following is 
what we propose to you today. By-Law B-10 and By-Law B-5 have 
been pulled because they have typographical errors in them and 
will not be presented at this Convention. At this time, the 
Committee recommends the passage of B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-6, B-
8, B-9, B-11, B-12, B-13 and B-14.
    Commander-in-Chief, I move approval of those By-Laws.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE JUDGE BROWN (District G--California): Commander-in-
Chief, I am Judge Brown, District G, California. I second it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. On the question. Hearing nothing, all 
those in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; 
opposed. The ``ayes'' have it and it is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALLACE: At this time I will go 
through the Manual of Procedure. The Committee recommends 
approval of M-1, M-2, M-3 and M-4. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, 
I move that we approve M-1, M-2, M-3 and M-4.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE CARL AIELLO (Post 1645--Massachusetts): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I second the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. On the question. Hearing nothing, all 
those in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; those 
opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALLACE: M-5 was rejected by the 
Committee. The change in the Ritual, the Committee recommends 
passage of R-1, R-2 and R-3. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I move 
approval of R-1, R-2 and R-3.
    COMRADE JUDGE BROWN (Post 7792--California): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, once again, you have 
heard the motion and second. On the question. Hearing nothing, 
all those in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; 
those opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALLACE: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, if you have nothing else for me, I thank you and I thank 
the members of this Convention for their cooperation, and 
especially the members of this Committee. Thank you very much.
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I am Al Hedges from the Department 
of Europe. I would like to have B-16 set aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I think you are out of order. 
The motions have already been passed.
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): 
Nothing was said about this, Commander-in-Chief.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LAWRENCE MAHER (Post 7356--Missouri): Is 
this on the eligibility question? Do you wish to address the 
eligibility question, B-16, that was objected to in Committee? 
You would like to bring that up?
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): I 
would like to bring it up, yes.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Okay. Go ahead.
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I would----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Before you debate anything, it 
will have to be a motion to adopt.
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): I make 
a motion that we adopt B-16.
    COMRADE CHARLES BODILY (Post 9342--Department of Europe): I 
second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Okay. Comrades, you have heard 
the motion and the second. On the question.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALLACE: On the question, Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, the reason the By-Laws Committee rejected 
B-16 is because it deletes the requirement for citizenship in 
the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    The primary organization of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
the United States citizenship is a mandate to belong to this 
organization, and the By-Laws Committee feels that to belong to 
an Auxiliary unit the individuals should also be citizens of 
the United States of America.
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I believe I can address this body 
on this subject.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Go ahead. You are on the 
subject.
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): I am 
not here to rehassle with this group. In modern times, we, in 
the VFW, have been seeking changes in other Resolutions that 
went through the Committees in the past couple of days or 
yesterday, or the day before that were calling for change.
    Section 1102, which you have announced, Comrade Past 
Commander-in-Chief Wallace, I would like to point out why we 
would like this done. I cherish my citizenship as much as any 
of you do. I am sure that all of the veterans around the world 
who are there by military assignment or by government 
assignment, or by work, when they go to these foreign countries 
around the world, while living there, they marry and some of 
these people are in these countries for many, many years. They 
obtain a wife.
    Now, this man is an American citizen. Many Europeans are 
wives, and that wife bears children for him, and they will 
become American citizens. I am an American citizen, but I do 
live overseas. I have a life to run. I have a wife who is very 
dear to me. She speaks English better than I do.
    The options that you give us, not you give us but the 
United States gives people for citizenship is three years with 
a waiver, five years otherwise. All right. That still means 
that when you take these foreign wives back to the states they 
are still not eligible for the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
    This is wrong. I have met some people in different areas 
that do have wives in the Ladies Auxiliary who are working on 
citizenship. The Ladies Auxiliary title means just that, Ladies 
Auxiliary. It doesn't say Ladies Auxiliary of Citizens. This 
woman performs all of her duties as the wife of an American 
citizen overseas.
    When that man joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars overseas, 
he is accepted as a U.S. citizen. Do you mean to tell me we are 
going to tell that man he is a second-class citizen because his 
wife just happened to be separately born in another country?
    I don't believe we really want to do that. We are not only 
from the Department of Europe, and I am not talking about 
Europe, I am not talking about retirees, I am talking about a 
large segment of the American citizenry that lives overseas and 
eligible to be Veterans of Foreign Wars members.
    I have also seen and addressed the people who said if my 
wife can't be a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies 
Auxiliary then I don't want to be there. That is not too often. 
But it does happen.
    In closing, I must say that I have been going to 
Conventions from Europe for the past 18 or 19 years. I have 
been spending my wedding anniversary here and my birthday. This 
is Friday. I will hit my sixty-eighth birthday. I sure would 
like to have a birthday present from you to take back to my 
wife and tell her, ``Honey, you can stand next to me in a 
VFW.'' Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Chair recognizes Microphone 
No. 2.
    COMRADE JAMES CARLISLE (Post 10097--Florida): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I understand the Department of Europe's 
problem with this particular case, but how about the rest of 
the country? What would this cause in our state of Florida 
where we have non-citizens that have lived there for 25 or 30 
years who have been married to citizens and the only reason 
they are not citizens is because they don't want to be an 
American citizen?
    We certainly don't want them in our Ladies Auxiliary. I 
think that one of the big points here is the fact that the 
Ladies Auxiliary has not come to us and asked us to change 
this. I think that when they come to us, then we can sit down 
and study it further. This is why I am opposed to changing the 
By-Laws on this particular case. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    I recognize Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PATRICK BUCKMAN (Post 9342--Department of Europe): 
I ask that the Resolution be read to the delegates in full, 
please.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WALLACE: Many years ago they told 
me that the eyes would be the first to go, but that is not true 
with me. That was the second. This pertains to retired military 
people who reside in a foreign country.
    ``WHEREAS, the spouses of these members do not reside in 
the United States except when their spouses are re-assigned on 
military orders or who do not expect to reside in the United 
States for a sufficient time to qualify for naturalization of 
citizenship in the United States; and,
    ``WHEREAS, the spouses of these members have faithfully 
supported their husbands in all endeavors, both career and 
private business, and supported their husband's involvement in 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States by assisting 
in fund-raisers and other functions, although they are not 
currently eligible for membership in the Ladies Auxiliary of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States; and,
    ``WHEREAS, these spouses would be active members of the 
Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States were it not for the citizenship restriction and would be 
able to sustain Ladies Auxiliary Posts in overseas areas after 
native born American ladies went back to the United States due 
to reassignment of their husbands; and,
    ``WHEREAS, these spouses will not be eligible for 
naturalization of citizenship until they have resided in the 
United States for a minimum of three years with a waiver and 
have attended extensive classes on the American government and 
culture; and,
    ``WHEREAS, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States Ladies Auxiliary has the opportunity to assist these 
spouses in learning about the American government and culture 
so the spouses may pass their tests and be active members of 
the Ladies Auxiliary at the same time; and,
    ``WHEREAS, it is impossible for the Departments in Europe 
and the Pacific and Panama to sustain Ladies Auxiliary Posts 
without the National By-Laws being changed to allow for foreign 
wives as members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States;
    ``THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the 17th Annual Convention 
of the Department of Europe, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that the National By-Laws be amended by deleting 
the citizenship requirement for membership in the Ladies 
Auxiliary, thusly amending Section 1102--Eligibility, by 
deleting the last sentence of the first paragraph and 
substituting in lieu thereof the following `members must be not 
less than 16 years old.' ''
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I wrote this Resolution. The reason 
why I wrote it the way it is written is because in the 
Department of Europe we have one Auxiliary in Elsein, Germany.
    Each year, usually in October, the Senior Vice-President of 
the National Organization of the Ladies Auxiliary visits 
Europe. She visits that Post in her travels. We are told every 
time they come over, yes, they, the Senior Vice-President, 
supports the idea of this Resolution
    On the 23rd of June, I submitted a letter to the National 
Organizations asking for their support or their indication of 
support to this Resolution. To date I have not received an 
answer from them. As far as the question of them coming to us, 
comrades, we are the parent organization. We set the rules.
    The ping-pong game is being played back and forth, and we 
don't want to shove it down their throat. Their game is, 
``Well, we can't do anything until we do something over here.'' 
Now, if you understand the ``Whereas'' on the three-year 
requirement of residency before you can even apply for 
citizenship, this is very important. It is five years without 
the waiver and three years with the waiver.
    The point here is if I start an Auxiliary in Europe, for 
instance, and my wife joins that Auxiliary, and she learns how 
to run the Auxiliary, and I come back to the States in three 
years, she transfers into that Auxiliary, two things will 
happen. One, you have got an active member in that supporting 
your Post, and, two, your Post will help her learn how the 
Americans really live to pass their naturalization test.
    That is the whole point of this Resolution, to make the 
Auxiliary and the VFW a stronger organization. That is why I 
ask for the support of this body to make this change. Thank 
you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Chair recognizes Microphone 
No. 2.
    COMRADE CHARLES CANNON (Post 5076--Texas): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am on the Committee and I am here to 
oppose this. Number one, how can any person take an obligation 
to defend the United States as the Auxiliary does and not be a 
citizen? That is number one.
    Number two, wives don't always stay with husbands. They get 
a divorce. As long as the Ladies Auxiliary pays their dues, 
they can remain a member. So, I object to this By-Law change.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3. There is 
nobody there.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE RON RUSAKIEWICZ (Post 9460--Connecticut): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, my name is Ron Rusakiewicz, a member of 
Post 9468, Stratford, Connecticut, and a member of the By-Laws 
Committee. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, and my good comrades, I 
want to tell you this particular By-Law amendment was debated 
very well on Sunday afternoon in the Committee meeting and was 
debated by a good many comrades from all over this country that 
were chosen to head that Committee and to work on that 
Committee and give recommendations to you here on this floor 
today.
    I want to tell you we have great sympathy for those 
Departments who would like to see this particular By-Law 
amendment passed. There were a few problems with it. When you 
get into it just a little bit deeper, the debate on it was part 
of the Ladies Auxiliary.
    The last By-Law in their By-Laws is that the By-Laws cannot 
conflict with the men's By-Laws. How could you possibly have a 
By-Law that says you can have someone in the organization 
without citizenship and yet still we cannot? We were looking to 
opening up Pandora's box.
    The second thing that was brought up, and it was brought up 
here on the floor again today, it simply said that when they 
join a Ladies Auxiliary let them become citizens. That wasn't 
explained very well on the floor. I am told that if you are a 
national of a certain country, and you either own a business or 
if you have any rights from that country whatsoever, obviously 
if you become a citizen of another country, you lose those. So, 
again, we have sympathy for the women, but in this case I don't 
think it can be you can have your cake and eat it, too.
    Finally, I think the most important point, as our good 
comrade on Microphone No. 2 said before, another member of the 
Committee, is that it is, in fact, important that the Ladies 
Auxiliary has never come to us, has never proposed the 
Resolution, nor have they ever proposed a By-Law amendment in 
this organization to change this.
    So why in God's good name are we trying to do that to them? 
I think this is simple. I think we want to keep it simple and I 
think we ought to defeat this By-Law amendment. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Chair recognizes Microphone 
No. 3.
    COMRADE M. W. BRYANT (Post 35--Missouri): I move the 
previous question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second? If there is 
no second, we will continue debate.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JUDGE BROWN (Post 7792--California): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, there has been a 
motion and a second to move the previous question. Under the 
Rules of the Convention, the proponent of the adoption of this 
Resolution has one more chance to speak.
    If there is no one at Microphone No. 3, I will recognize 
Microphone No. 1, one person, and then after that we will vote 
on moving the previous question.
    COMRADE AL HEDGES (Post 9334--Department of Europe): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, in answer to the question about the 
Ladies By-Laws, naturally, they can't change their By-Laws 
until we change ours, to start with. Their changes are 
predicated on what we do, not what they do.
    Secondly, we have got soldiers coming in these countries 
that are also non-citizens serving our country. Also they marry 
and the point is we are the ones that are losing in this 
battle. We are losing membership in both organizations.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The motion before us is to move 
the previous question or to stop debate. All those in favor 
will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; all opposed. The 
``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    We will now vote on the motion to adopt this Resolution. 
Should you vote ``yes'', that means that the members of the 
Ladies Auxiliary would not have to be a citizen of the United 
States. If you vote ``nay'', or in the negative, it means that 
we uphold the By-Laws as they are today and members of the 
Ladies Auxiliary must be a citizen of the United States of 
America. Do you understand that?
    Okay. All those in favor of adopting the motion will 
signify by the sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``nay''. The 
Resolution is not adopted.
    Anything else? Comrade Commander-in-Chief Wallace, I will 
discharge your Committee. Thank you for your work.
    Next, the Chair would like to call on the Chairman of the 
Finance and Internal Organization Committee, Past Commander-in-
Chief Art Fellwock.

        REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARTHUR FELLWOCK: Thank you very 
much, Commander-in-Chief. First of all, I want to thank you for 
the appointment to serve as Chairman of the Finance and -210-
para. Internal Organization Committee. I also want to recognize 
the fact that the Committee was an outstanding Committee and we 
had a most able Vice-Chairman, and that being Joe Scerra, Past 
Commander-in-Chief from Massachusetts.
    My name is Art Fellwock and I am a member of VFW Post 1114 
in Evansville, Indiana, and a Past Commander-in-Chief. I will, 
first of all, read the Resolutions that the Committee adopted.
    Resolution No. 201, Amend Congressional Charter. The 
Committee voted to adopt this Resolution. I make a motion that 
we adopt Resolution No. 201, to Amend the Congressional 
Charter.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, there is a motion. Is 
there a second?
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE VERNON SOUKUP (Post 8081--Illinois): I second that 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Any questions? All those in 
favor of the motion will signify by saying ``aye''; those 
opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FELLWOCK: The Committee was in a 
negative mood, I think, because these are the ones the 
Committee voted to reject. I shall read them to you.
    No. 202, Life Membership Card Designating Commandership on 
all Levels of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    Resolution 203 was referred to the Americanism and 
Community Activities Committee.
    Resolution No. 204, Request for Reconsideration of 1994-'95 
Commander-in-Chief's Membership Program was rejected.
    Resolution No. 205, Sale of VFW Buddy Poppy, was rejected.
    No. 206, Amend Congressional Charter, was rejected in favor 
of 201 that you just passed.
    Resolution 207, 100th Anniversary 1999 National Convention, 
was rejected.
    No. 208, Eliminate Age Requirement for Sons of VFW, was 
referred to the Americanism and Community Activities Committee.
    Resolution No. 209, Safe Student Transportation Award, was 
rejected.
    No. 210, Post to Establish Fund to Support Korean War 
Association, was rejected.
    No. 211, Provide VFW Cancer Insurance Program, rejected.
    No. 212, Amend National Membership Program, rejected. 
Proposal No. 213, ``Buddy Poppy'', rejected.
    No. 214, Print Constitution, By-Laws, Ritual and Podium 
Edition in Loose-leaf Form, rejected.
    Proposal No. 215, Eliminate Age Restriction for Sons of the 
VFW. This was referred to the Americanism and Community 
Activities Committee.
    Resolution No. 216, Abolish the Political Action Committee 
Program, rejected.
    No. 217, Changing of Wording in Resolutions to By-Laws, 
Rules, Ritual and Manual of Procedure, rejected.
    Resolution No. 218, was rejected.
    Does anyone wish for any of these I read to be set aside at 
the present time?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DON HEVER (Post 9433--Minnesota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, the Department of Minnesota requests that 
we set aside Resolutions 217 and 218.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LAWRENCE MAHER (Post 7356--Missouri): 
Comrade, you will have to take those up one at a time. Since 
they were rejected by the Committee, you will have to propose 
them as an affirmative motion. That motion will then have to be 
seconded.
    Do you understand, Comrade?
    COMRADE DON HEVER (Post 9433--Minnesota): Commander-in-
Chief, the Department of Minnesota moves the adoption of 
Resolution No. 217.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE RUSSELL VILLWOCK (Post 3579--Illinois): I second 
the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. On the question? There is nothing on the 
question. All those in favor of adopting Resolution No. 217 
signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``nay''. 
The ``nays'' have it.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE JOHN VRTJAK (Post 1612--Illinois): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Jack Vrtjak, Post 1612, Department of 
Illinois. I move that Resolution 213 entitled ``Buddy Poppy'' 
be adopted.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE ROBERT SMALL (Post 8322--Illinois): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. On the question.
    COMRADE JOHN VRTJAK (Post 1612--Illinois): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I would respectfully request that the 
Chairman read the entire Resolution. There are only a few 
``Whereases'', and they are short. I wish the comrades would 
please pay attention before I debate this. Thank you.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FELLWOCK: Resolution No. 213 is 
entitled ``Buddy Poppy''.
    ``WHEREAS, 'to assist worthy comrades, to perpetuate the 
memory and history of our dead, and to assist their widows and 
orphans'; and,
     ``WHEREAS, to carry out the intent of the above words 
found in Article I of the Constitution of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars; and,
    ``WHEREAS, at the 1923 Encampment of the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States at Norfolk, Virginia, the 
`Buddy Poppy' was adopted to `Honor the Dead by Helping the 
Living'; and,
    ``WHEREAS, a certificate was issued on May 20, 1994, 
granting the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States all 
trademark rights in the name `Buddy' under the classification 
of Artificial Flowers; and,
    ``WHEREAS, the `Buddy Poppy' is a flower of remembrance to 
`Honor the Dead by Helping the Living' since the 1923 
Encampment; now, therefore,
    ``BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that the `Buddy 
Poppy' remain in its original shape and color with only the tag 
removal permitted when used in displays.''
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE JOHN VRTJAK (Post 1612--Illinois): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief. We are sorry that the maker of this motion 
could not be present--I beg your pardon, I yield to the maker 
of the motion.
    COMRADE JOHN BUETTNER (Post 1699--Illinois): Comrades, the 
Buddy Poppy is the emblem as much as our Cross of Malta. If you 
want to go over to the other side of that door, when do we let 
something that we are dedicated to be colored, painted, 
changed? We will not let it happen to the Cross of Malta.
    I say on this Resolution, leave the Buddy Poppy red like it 
belongs. Let us honor the dead by helping the living. That is 
our emblem of the Buddy Poppy. I am sure that none of us would 
paint one of them black or white, green, and go out and try to 
sell it to the public on the street and say this is our emblem 
of the Buddy Poppy.
    You must put red yesterday, this day, and I am sure all of 
us heard through our Chaplain say to honor the dead by helping 
the living. The red is our Buddy Poppy. It is used numerous 
times. So, Comrades, let's pass this Resolution and leave that 
Buddy Poppy red like it belongs. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2, anybody else 
at Microphone No. 2?
    Mr. Chairman, will you explain the Committee's reasoning on 
this?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FELLWOCK: The Committee's thinking 
on this was that it definitely would limit the use of Buddy 
Poppies and the creativity of the assemblers of the Buddy Poppy 
displays. I know all of you have seen some beautiful Buddy 
Poppy displays.
    There is a lot of momentum on that. It would work against 
the goals of our organization to promote the sale and use the 
Buddy Poppy to honor the dead by helping the living. We 
sincerely think that this would work against this in the sale 
of the Buddy Poppies. So, we, on the Committee, recommended 
that we reject this Resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JOHN BUETTNER (Post 1699--Illinois): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, on rebuttal, I also understand what they 
are saying, but, comrades, just a little real quick statement. 
Illinois has been real proud. We have won lots of awards on the 
National level.
    About 92 percent of our awards, and I mean they are great, 
like 26 percent over the last eight years. I have been Buddy 
Poppy Chairman for the last fourteen years in the Department of 
Illinois. The Department of Illinois does not color very many 
poppies in our state, but we get the awards. Incidentally, I 
see some plastic poppies out there in the displays and I think 
they should be out of there, and I don't think it hurts selling 
your poppies.
    We are interested in the Buddy Poppy and what we stand for, 
just what we are on our Cross of Malta. Again, comrades, I 
don't think not coloring the poppy will hurt our sales or our 
creativity. We can do it with the red poppy. Let's stick with 
it and keep it like it is. Thank you, comrades.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else?
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE RICK BARNELL (Post 6520--Illinois): I just want to 
speak and say if we are concerned about the situation with the 
Buddy Poppy displays, then let's change some of our entry 
forms, too. The instructions, basically, what the award is to 
be given on.
    Let's not change the Buddy Poppy. I am in agreement let's 
keep it red. Let's keep it in its form. Let's honor those 
veterans that have given it all.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else on debate? I will 
call for the motion. Should you vote ``yes'', that means that 
the Buddy Poppies will only be used in their red color. If you 
vote ``no'', it means that you will be able to use them as you 
are using them today, and you can change the color of the Buddy 
Poppy.
    All those in favor of adopting this Resolution will signify 
by the sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``nay''. Let me do that 
one more time. All those in favor of adopting the Resolution, 
signify by the sign of ``aye''; all those opposed say ``nay''.
    The Chair is confused. All those in favor of adopting the 
Resolution, please stand. Please be seated. All those opposed 
to adopting the Resolution, please stand. I don't believe the 
Chair is confused, I believe the motion haspassed and will be 
adopted.
    Past Commander-in-Chief Fellwock says because I am from 
Chicago we stuffed the ballot box early on this morning. Is 
there a Resolution somebody wants to set aside?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOE SCOTT (Post 1333--New Jersey): I would like to 
have No. 205 set aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You want to move for passage?
    COMRADE JOE SCOTT (Post 1333--New Jersey): I move that we 
adopt or pass Resolution No. 205.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE DENNIS WALL (Post 7164--New Jersey): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Dennis Wall, Post 7164, New Jersey, seconds 
that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second to adopt Resolution 205. On the question.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOE SCOTT (Post 1333--New Jersey): I would like to 
have the Resolution read so that everyone in the room will know 
what they are voting on or voting for.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FELLWOCK: For the sake of saving 
time, let me just read the ``Resolved''. I think it will get to 
the meat of what we want to talk about.
    ``BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that the sale of 
poppies by the National Organization of the same design to 
other organizations be stopped.''
    COMRADE JOE SCOTT (Post 1333--New Jersey): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, the sale of identical poppies, deleting the 
tag on the bottom that says ``Buddy Poppy.'' Now, I understand 
that Buddy Poppy, the wording is patented. The removal of that 
tag and placing a substitute tag with other organization's name 
on the Buddy Poppy, and pardon me, on the poppy of the same 
design, has deterred the sale of Buddy Poppies in our area.
    I am sure what happened in our area in New Jersey is going 
to go on. It will become a steamroller and other organizations 
around the country will do or adopt the same, providing they 
can still buy them through the National Headquarters.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Chair recognizes Microphone 
No. 2.
    COMRADE HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New Jersey): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, Howard Vander Clute, Post 6467, New 
Jersey. I certainly don't like the idea to stand here and speak 
in opposition to two distinguished Department Officers from New 
Jersey. Perhaps I can shed some light on this issue.
    You might recall that eight or ten years ago we were faced, 
perhaps even longer than that, about 12 years ago we were faced 
with the situation that we had a manufacturer in New Jersey who 
was gouging us with prices to supply the parts to the National 
Organization.
    As a result, we were able to by taking our case to court 
negate the contract that we had with them, because we found 
that the conditions of the contract they had provided, many of 
the provisions were false. We were able then to provide a new 
manufacturer of parts.
    We even had this manufacturer design and produce a machine 
that makes the petals for us, and we have a veteran operating 
that machine five days a week, and they continue to do so. That 
company is in Kansas, by the way. We were able to control the 
price of poppies for a long period of time.
    In order to do so and in order to protect the investment of 
the manufacturer who designed the machinery, we had to give him 
a long-term contract. In order to meet the terms of that 
contract, we have contracted with other Veterans Service 
Organizations to provide them their poppies.
    Not all of them are exactly the same as ours. I think the 
reference here is to Catholic War Veterans. We produce annually 
less than 300,000 for the Catholic War Veterans, while we 
produce for ourselves 18 million. It is hard for me to imagine 
that this could affect the sales of Buddy Poppies that are 
conducted by Posts and Auxiliaries in the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars.
    Remember this, the most important part of this issue is 
that we have been successful in protecting the price of poppies 
for sale in the organization. You have not had a price rise in 
years, and it is simply because we can keep that machine 
running constantly and we can protect the investment of the 
contractor that produces the parts.
    Obviously, we want to continue doing what we are doing. 
Now, 300,000 poppies for the Catholic War Veterans does not 
significantly hurt the sales of VFW Buddy Poppies. We make them 
also for the DAV, and we have been trying to contract with the 
AmVets.
    They are not poppies, as you know, they are an entirely 
different flower. All of this business protects our investment 
and protects the price. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOE SCOTT (Post 1333 - New Jersey): The objection 
is not money. The revenue that we receive, the Post receives 
from the Buddy Poppies, is used in the Relief Fund. Many of the 
Posts stand out there in the hot sun, in the rain at times, and 
offer the sale of Buddy Poppies.
    Many people will come up, and the public is not 
knowledgeable of the difference between the VFW Poppy, the DAV 
Poppy, and the Jewish War Veteran's Poppy, and whatever else. 
They see the same design. When the poor fellow, our member, is 
trying to collect the money for our VFW Poppy, they say, ``We 
have already given.'' They will display the poppy.
    Our member will go up to them and say, ``May I see the tag 
on that poppy?'' It was not a VFW poppy. You just went through 
a motion to keep it red, the poppy red. I agree that is great. 
Why can't we sell a different colored poppy if it is money we 
are worried about to the other organizations so that the public 
can distinguish the difference in the poppies?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE JOHN DeBOLD (Post 364--New York): I got here a 
little late from New York and when I walked in I just heard 
this Resolution before the floor. I said to myself I am 
definitely opposed to this. If you take it away, where is the 
money going to come from to support our guys in the hospitals?
    So, let's talk about reality. They have done away with the 
parade, and I don't want to do away with this. This is an 
important thing to have. Forget about the Jewish War Veterans. 
They should have these poppies and let's not abolish ours. We 
need it.
    If you are going to abolish it, we will have nothing for 
our hospital veterans. God Almighty, don't take it away. Caring 
begins at home. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3, anybody there?
    Microphone No. 1.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE JAMES FERGUSON (Post 7686--New Mexico): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, it seems to me that we are arguing a moot 
point. After all, we are all veterans organizations, and I 
can't see any reason why 300,000 poppies are going to hurt the 
VFW in any way. I say we stay with the program we have at this 
time. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE WILLIAM RADIGAN (Post 3061--South Dakota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Bill Radigan, Post 3061, South Dakota, 
Chairman of the 1993-'94 Buddy Poppy Committee. Our Committee 
reviewed this. We are all aware of what they were doing.
    I think that all of us have the feeling that the first 
thing you consider are the veterans. These other organizations, 
basically, use the money for the same things we do, and it 
really doesn't make an awful lot of difference who they benefit 
from.
    They are veterans, they need us, and we can help these 
other organizations who probably couldn't have a program unless 
we helped them. I think it behooves all of us to stand up and 
be veterans and to say if we can help you, the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars are ready to do it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anybody else?
    Microphone No. 1. The rules of the Convention say that a 
delegate can only speak twice on the question. I think you have 
already spoken twice.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE TOM ADKINS (Post 6423--Kentucky): As long as we are 
producing these poppies, if they start interfering in our 
business, we could surely stop producing them. It is real 
simple. If it gets to become a problem, we eliminate them 
getting the poppies.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there anything else? We will 
now vote on the motion. If you vote ``aye'' on the motion, that 
means we stop the sale of our poppies to other organizations. 
If you vote ``nay'', it is business as usual and we continue 
with what we have been doing.
    All those in favor of adopting Resolution 205 will signify 
by the usual sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``nay''. The Chair 
is not in doubt. The motion fails.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DONALD HEVER (Post 9433--Minnesota): I move 
adoption of Resolution No. 218 and request the Chairman to read 
it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Just make the motion. Is there a 
second?
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DONALD GATES (Post 141--Minnesota): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You have heard the motion and 
the second to adopt Resolution No. 218. Don, would you like to 
hear the Resolution in its entirety?
    COMRADE DONALD HEVER (Post 9433--Minnesota): Yes, please.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FELLWOCK: The Resolution is as 
follows:
    ``WHEREAS, resolutions presented to the resolutions 
committee at the various VFW conventions should be presented by 
a proponent of the resolution; and
    ``WHEREAS, the thoughts that brought about the resolution 
are best related by the author or at least by the Post, County 
Council, District or Department from which the resolution 
originated; and,
    ``WHEREAS, the chairman of the committee that hears the 
resolutions could impose restrictions on speakers who are not 
members of the committee; now, therefore
    ``BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States that the VFW 
Post, County Council, District or Department that proposes a 
resolution will be able to speak on the resolutions committee 
that will hear the resolution and give its recommendation to 
the VFW District, Department or National Convention for which 
the committee was convened.''
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DONALD HEVER (Post 9433--Minnesota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, last year in the City of Dallas, I attended 
the National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual Committee 
Meeting. Last year, as it was this year at that same meeting, 
the Chairman would not allow anyone outside of the Committee to 
speak on Resolutions taken to that Committee.
    I felt that that was absolutely outrageous last year, 
considering one Department in our organization presented to 
that Committee no less than nine Resolutions. That Department 
was not represented on that Committee. By the ruling of the 
Chairman that Department could not speak to that Committee.
    The one thing that the By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and 
Ritual Committee deals with is the By-Laws, and it is my 
understanding that in the Committee it would take a simple 
majority to recommend approval or rejection to the floor. On 
the floor, it requires a two-thirds motion.
    If I am mistaken about that, please correct me. I felt that 
it was only right that the members of the Committee should be 
given the full knowledge, the full thoughts of the meaning 
behind a Resolution that is brought up, and I felt that is only 
right and proper.
    I want to also personally thank Art Fellwock from Indiana, 
Chairman, and Joe Scerra, Vice-Chairman from Massachusetts, for 
their graciousness in allowing me at that Committee to speak. 
This Resolution was presented and they allowed me to speak.
    I knew that I was going to come to the floor and speak, but 
I necessarily wouldn't be able to speak at that Committee 
meeting. I feel that the knowledge of the information available 
that came about from the Resolution, the thought behind it 
should be presented to the Committee where they could ponder 
it, they could debate it, and that is what I really feel that 
the good, honest open debate should be, should be available.
    The way it is set up right now, it can be denied at a 
Committee meeting. That is with the thought that each Committee 
has members from every Department or nearly every Department 
that was brought up, and I refer to the Committee on Veterans 
Benefits, Veterans Service, where the Department of Oregon had 
a Resolution and where the Department of Oregon is not 
represented, at least not in this booklet. That is all I have. 
Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Chair would like to ask the 
Chairman of the Committee to explain the reasoning behind the 
Committee's decision.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FELLWOCK: The Committee discussed 
this in quite length, and I can say that Don knows, and he 
recognizes the fact that yesterday during our Committee Meeting 
I allowed Don to speak, a non-member of our Committee. On most 
Committees in the VFW, we do allow participation after the 
Committee members have spoken, allow other VFW members to speak 
on the Resolution.
    We have done this many times. The VFW National Organization 
tries to put on every Committee someone from that state, every 
state. So, someone from that state, where that Resolution 
originated, can speak for that Resolution. Now, we try to do 
that all the time.
    However, at times we must have discipline. I refer to last 
year that you will recall I was Chairman of the National 
Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, and we had threats from 
outsiders that were going to come in and disrupt our meetings 
and disrupt the POW/MIA.
    So, we maintained a very stringentness that only Committee 
members could speak because we wanted no one to disrupt our 
meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I am saying for most 
of the time all of the Committee Chairmen are very lenient. 
They let most everybody speak.
    However, we have to have some rules and regulations and 
some disciplines so that, by golly, if someone intends to 
disrupt our meetings at any time we have some disciplines that 
we can enforce that policy. This is why the Committee 
recommended rejection of this Resolution. They can always come 
to the floor here and speak.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anybody wish to speak? If not, 
go ahead at Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DONALD HEVER (Post 9433--Minnesota): I fully 
realize and understand Past Commander-in-Chief Fellwock's 
feeling there that we must maintain order. There is no question 
about that. We can't have chaos in running your meeting. I 
certainly also am very confident that every Past Commander-in-
Chief has held the gavel on many, many occasions and many 
various levels, and they certainly would be well experienced to 
take care of whatever would be out of order and order could be 
maintained.
    The fact still remains that there is a possibility that the 
Department that will present the Resolution to this body, at 
any National Convention, will not be represented on this 
Committee. The same would apply to your Departments. You might 
have some Resolutions coming out of your Districts or Posts.
    If you want that Resolution read, a real good way of doing 
that is have a proponent on the Committee to make the motion to 
adopt. You will have somebody there to adopt it. Who is going 
to do it? Yesterday they were only looking for a motion to 
reject.
    Whatever minutes I have left, I want to personally thank 
the comrades that stood up at that Committee meeting and backed 
my thinking here as far as the Resolution. Thank you very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE HOWARD VANDER CLUTE (Post 6467--New Jersey): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, first of all, I think that Past 
Commander-in-Chief Fellwock made an excellent point when he 
said you must have good discipline. I think there is another 
element here, too.
    The Commander-in-Chief has the authority to appoint and 
does the best he can to cover all of the Committees with the 
experienced comrades who know the process of the National 
Convention. Most all of you have been to many Conventions. This 
is simply a recommendation from the Committee to the members of 
the Convention.
    The debate occurs here on the floor. No one that I know of, 
any Past Commander-in-Chief that has served before, has denied 
any comrade the right to speak on a Resolution or a By-Laws 
amendment on this floor, and to articulate the reasons why that 
Department, that District, that Post presented that thought 
through that Resolution and/or By-Laws amendment.
    There are two things here. It is only a recommendation to 
the Convention, and with the benefit of those who serve on the 
Committee. They are not biased when they are assigned to 
consider these Resolutions and/or Amendments, and simply bring 
the facts to the floor.
    The debate occurs here. No one is being denied nor has 
anybody ever been denied that right. This is the most 
democratic organization I have ever seen, and our By-Laws are 
in place to support it as a democratic organization.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anyone else? I will now bring 
the motion to a vote. The motion is to adopt the Resolution 
which would allow the proposer or author of any Resolution to 
speak in front of the Committee, even though he or she is not a 
member of the Committee. If you reject the motion or the 
Resolution, the Committee just gets to debate the Resolution in 
the Committee Meeting, which is the way it has always been.
    All those in favor of adopting the Resolution will signify 
by saying ``aye''; all those opposed ``nay''. The ``nays'' have 
it.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE DONALD GATES (Post 141--Minnesota): I move the 
adoption of Resolution No. 209.
    COMRADE DONALD HEVER (Post 9433--Minnesota): I second it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second to adopt Resolution No. 209. Now, on the 
question, I recognize Microphone No. 2, Donald Gates from 
Minnesota.
    COMRADE DONALD GATES (Post 141--Minnesota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am not even going to ask to have the 
Resolution read, unless somebody else does. I wrote the thing. 
If there are errors in it as communicated to me by the 
Committee, the errors fall on my shoulder. It is the Safe 
Student Transportation Award.
    I understand the reason for its non-recommendation was the 
fact that it would incorporate a new program and new finances, 
and all the other associated baggage that goes with the 
creation of a new program. It was actually meant to be another 
facet of the existing safety program. I would ask that it be 
considered as such.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anyone else? Hearing none, all 
those in favor of adopting this Resolution will signify by the 
sign of ``aye''; all those opposed. The ``nays'' have it. 
Anything else?
    If there is nothing else on Finance and Internal 
Organization, Past Commander-in-Chief Fellwock, I discharge you 
and your Committee and thank you for doing a great job.
  INTRODUCTION--DIANE CARLSON EVANS, VIETNAM WOMEN'S MEMORIAL PROJECT

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: In our nation's capital on 
Veterans Day, 1993, after nearly a decade of work, the Vietnam 
Women's Memorial was dedicated on the grounds of the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial. This historic event would never have 
happened had it not been for the tireless dedication of our 
next guest.
    Diane Carlson Evans served as an Army Nurse in Vietnam in 
1968 and 1969. That experience provided the motivation for 
launching the efforts that resulted in the Vietnam Women's 
Memorial.
    Please welcome a member of VFW Post 4393 in Eau Claire, 
Wisconsin, Diane Carlson Evans.
    Before you say anything, Diane, on behalf of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States, it is my pleasure to 
present to you a check in the amount of $2,500 for the Ladies 
Memorial, which brings our total contribution over $100,000.

                     REMARKS BY DIANE CARLSON EVANS

    COMRADE DIANE EVANS (Post 4393--Wisconsin): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief Cramer. I am a Life Member of the VFW, but 
it is Northfield, Minnesota.
    Commander-in-Chief Cramer, my Fellow Veterans and Members 
of the Auxiliary, Friends of the VFW:
    This is truly a moment I have waited for for ten years to 
be able to come before you and say thank you, thank you, 
members, from all across America of the VFW for helping us 
build a Vietnam Memorial for Women in Washington, D.C. Our 
years of hard work paid off.
    My very special thanks to Paul Spera that sat with us on 
the platform last fall to represent the Commander-in-Chief and 
the VFW at the dedication, and my very special thanks to Cooper 
T. Holt, who early on was very helpful with the Vietnam Women's 
Memorial as our National Adjutant.
    A special thanks to Howard Vander Clute, Larry Rivers and 
every single National Commander since 1985, beginning with 
Billy Ray Cameron, who some of you may remember in 1985 when I 
came before this delegation for help. We all kept our eye on 
this mission and with sheer grit and a lot of determination, 
which is what it takes when we are fighting for issues for 
veterans, we now are a lasting legacy for all future 
generations and a beautiful tribute to the quiet soldiers of 
the Vietnam War, the women. Silence is no longer a hiding place 
for these women. Thousands came to the dedication last fall.
    They were thanked by a grateful nation, they were thanked 
by the Chair of the Joint Chiefs, General Shalikashvili, and 
they were thanked by other veteran that hugged them. At last 
the men and women that served beside each other during that 
turbulent history of our Vietnam War are together in time and 
place forever.
    The figure of the statue, portraying a wounded male soldier 
and women that served in varying roles, was designed by Santa 
Fe Sculptor Glenna Goodaker. This monument will always be a 
reminder that America is great because of the men and women 
working together side by side.
    There is now a sense of calm, healing and completion at the 
Vietnam Women's Memorial, not unlike the calm that thousands of 
women brought to the wounded and the dying during the Vietnam 
War. The remaining cost of the design, construction and the 
landscaping of the Memorial, the debt that we still have is 
still $300,000.
    So, we thank you for this check for $2,500, which will go 
to help retire that debt. We continue to look to you for your 
financial support. To fund the project's continuing mission of 
education, research and identifying the women who served, 
Senator Warner and Senator Murkowski, and Congressmen Morella 
and Lambert introduced the Vietnam Women's Coin Act of 1994 
with minting of coins for 1995.
    The coin design will be emblematic of the Vietnam Women's 
Memorial. Thanks for your help in contacting legislators to co-
sponsor this bill. It did pass unanimously last fall in the 
Senate. However, with 236 co-sponsors in the House, our bill is 
being held up in the Subcommittee, chaired by Joe Kennedy.
    I have flyers here at the Convention. On your way out, 
please pick up a flyer or stop by our booth. The co-sponsors, 
who have signed on are starred on these flyers. I would ask 
that each of you go back to your state and try to get at least 
300 to 400 co-sponsors so we can prove to Mr. Joe Kennedy that 
this coin is needed and wanted by the people of America.
    On behalf of the Vietnam Memorial Women's Project, I extend 
to you all of our internal thanks. You did the right thing in 
1985 and every year since when you decided to help, and you 
will all know that when you visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
in Washington, D.C.
    In the words of Sculptor Glenna Goodaker who said that my 
hand can shape the clay which might touch the heart and heal 
the wounds of those who served, it fills me with humility and 
deep satisfaction and I can only hope that future generations 
that view the sculpture will stand in tribute to the women who 
served.
    Now, congratulations to the VFW and to the first woman 
Surgeon General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Yes, this is 
wonderful. Thank you very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Next, I would like to call on 
the Chairman of the Americanism and Community Activities 
Committee, Past Commander-in-Chief John Staum.

      REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON AMERICANISM AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN STAUM: Good afternoon. It is 
12:15. I will try to make this as quick as possible. One thing 
I do want to say, yesterday morning I had the privilege of 
introducing General Davis to you for his comments regarding the 
Korean War Memorial.
    General Davis' comments to me in private were that he was 
never more impressed by the reception he received from you and 
the courtesies received here. At the Memorial Service, I sat 
next to him and he was deeply moved. Coming from a medal honor 
recipient, he is probably one of the most decorated veterans in 
the United States. He has a new respect and a new love for the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars. I think we will see him around here 
many more times participating.
    Yesterday afternoon, we had the Committee on Americanism 
and Community Activities meeting. We had a number of 
Resolutions, and at this time I will read the Resolutions that 
were recommended for adoption by the Committee.
    Resolution No. 101, U.S. Flag Desecration, recommended for 
adoption.
    Resolution No. 102, to Support and Promote Voice of 
Democracy Scholarship Program, recommended for adoption.
    Resolution No. 103, Cooperation with National and State 
Organizations to Promote Youth, Safety and Patriotic Programs, 
recommended for adoption.
    Resolution No. 104, Oppose any Action to Change our 
National Anthem, recommended for adoption.
    Resolution No. 105, Oppose any Effort That Would Ban the 
Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools, recommended for 
adoption.
    Resolution No. 106, Censor/Remove Henry B. Gonzalez for 
Remarks on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, 
recommended for adoption.
    No. 107, English as the Official Language of the United 
States of America, recommended for adoption.
    No. 108, Proper Respect to our National Anthem, No. 108 and 
117 regarding Memorial Day, and we recommended No. 111 simply 
because it was the most concise and the best of the three 
Proposed Resolutions. That is to return Memorial Day to May 
30th. We recommended that No. 111 be adopted.
    Resolution No. 112, National Flag Celebration Week, with a 
Further Be It Resolved that the President sign a Proclamation 
supporting National Flag Week. That was recommended as adopted.
    Commander-in-Chief, I move that the body accept the 
recommendations of the Committee.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE ROBERT STOUT (Post 8398--California): I second that 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. On the question, is there any 
discussion?
    COMRADE EARNEST MUDD (Post 8541--Texas): I move that 
Resolution No. 106 be set aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else? No. 106 will be 
set aside. We are voting on the recommendations of the 
Committee on the rest. All those in favor will signify by the 
usual sign of ``aye''; those opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It 
is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: We will take up 106. Let me 
look in the book. This was discussed on the Committee floor, 
Ernie. Let me make a couple of comments here. I think I know 
what you want to say. It calls for the official censor of 
Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez from Texas for the comments made 
about the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance on the U.S. 
House of Representatives.
    This is the staff's recommendation, by the way. Our 
national censorship could be viewed as a local problem and 
inappropriate. The staff did recommend rejection. However, the 
Committee felt very strongly that veterans should be able to 
speak out against something like this.
    Now, I could read the whole Resolution. It is very long and 
it is quite inflammatory. However, Ernie, go ahead and talk, 
please.
    COMRADE EARNEST MUDD (Post 8541--Texas): I make a motion 
that Resolution No. 106 be rejected.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LAWRENCE MAHER (Post 7356--Missouri): There 
is a motion on the floor to adopt the Resolution. You have 
asked it be set aside for debate. You can debate that motion at 
this time, but the motion before the floor is to adopt the 
Resolution.
    COMRADE EARNEST MUDD (Post 8541--Texas): I am prepared to 
debate it. I thought somebody had to second it to let me talk.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: It has been seconded. Go 
ahead and talk.
    COMRADE EARNEST MUDD (Post 8541--Texas): Comrades, this is 
my Congressman from the 20th District of Texas. I understand a 
lot about him. He has been in Congress for 39 years, something 
like that. He has got a lot of points that you don't know.
    Some of you watch him on TV and some of you don't. When you 
take things out of context and you start glaring them in front 
of the media, they make a lot of to-do about it. We don't 
approve of some of these. Several of us have spoken to him 
personally about these remarks he makes.
    But if you take something out of context, you can make it 
mean anything. Let me say this, he has the right of freedom of 
speech. You cannot deny his freedom of speech as it has been 
proven many, many times.
    Number two, I don't think it is in the purview of this body 
to censor any Congressman, because the censor of a Congressman 
has to be done by that body and done with the Speaker of the 
House presiding.
    Number three, if you are going to do this, then I request 
that we put a list of all Congressmen before this body and let 
us decide whether we as a body of Veterans of Foreign Wars 
should even censor them or not censor them. Many Congressmen 
have made remarks that are derogatory and against what our 
thinking is.
    I move this Resolution No. 106 be rejected.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LAWRENCE MAHER (Post 7356--Missouri): That 
is out of order.
    COMRADE EARNEST MUDD (Post 8541--Texas): That is my 
recommendation, and whatever words you want, that is okay. I 
don't like them talking about my Congressman.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there anyone else?
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WALTER LUKSTA (Post 9115--Illinois): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Walter Luksta from the Department of 
Illinois, Post 9115. As a point of order, I don't have a copy 
of the written Rules of the Convention, but is there any 
contradiction between the Rules of the Convention that we have 
adopted and this Resolution?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: As far as I hear it, no.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JAMES FERGUSON (Post 7686--New Mexico): If I may, 
Commander-in-Chief, I was at the meeting where we talked about 
this, and personally I offered to hang the man. I think that 
maybe if you read the Endorsement Act of what the Congressman 
said about us or about the members in the Pledge of Allegiance, 
I think that some of the rest of the people in here might get 
as upset as we were at that meeting. Thank you, Commander-in-
Chief.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: Do you want to hear it read? 
I will read the portion from the Congressional Record dated 
June 14, 1993, Page H3502. By the way, this was submitted by 
the Department of Washington.
    ``Nothing is sadder to see than the harried instinct in 
taking the Pledge of Allegiance here in the House of 
Representatives. What is that pledge? That pledge was not 
around until just about three decades, three and one-half or 
four decades ago. Here we are, we have taken an oath and that 
oath is to the Constitution, not to the flag. The flag is a 
symbol, and here we are like a good little herd reminiscent of 
the hypocrisy,'' and it goes on.
    That is what the Congressman said. I am quoting out of the 
Congressional Record. This is why the members of the Committee 
felt that we should adopt this Resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE EARNEST MUDD (Post 8541--Texas): Comrades, if you 
take that and take just part of it, I would be with you and 
willing to run somebody out of town on that. When you look at 
what could be said about things that are happening in Congress 
and remarks made against it, I don't think that is a reason to 
ask for censorship of a Congressman.
    We have five military bases in the District. He fights to 
keep them open. He fights to keep the people employed. He 
fights, and we are not losing anything in San Antonio because 
of his being in there. He is on very important Committees in 
Congress.
    He is very well respected. He is controversial. I will tell 
you this. If you don't have a Congressman up there a little bit 
controversial once in a while, what do you send him up there to 
be, to be a ``yes'' man up there? That is why on some of these 
things the present President tries to put through. We need 
controversial Congressmen.
    I say, comrades, I don't think this body should take a 
stand against a Congressman of the United States. I, for one, 
am a 46-year member of this veterans organization, and I don't 
recall it ever being put on the floor where we voted to censure 
a Congressman.
    I may be wrong, but I would challenge the Judge Advocate or 
Parliamentarian to give us a ruling on that. Thank you.
    COMRADE DAVID GREANEY (Post 7420--California): I move the 
question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: We need a second.
    COMRADE GERALD GILGENBACH (Post 8847--Ohio): I second that 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Okay. Before we vote on the 
motion, I will allow one person to speak against the 
recommendation of the Committee. If anyone wants to do that, 
please do so
    Microphone No. 1, there is nobody.
    COMRADE GEORGE BERTHIAUME (Post 969--Washington): Did you 
say who wanted to speak in favor of it or against it?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Against the motion. Did I say in 
favor of it?
    COMRADE GEORGE BERTHIAUME (Post 969--Washington): All I 
have heard is people speak against. I would assume you would 
allow someone to speak in favor of it.
    PARLIAMENTARIAN LAWRENCE MAHER (Post 7356--Missouri): When 
somebody moves the question, the opponents, under the 
Convention Rules, have the last word. If there is anybody out 
there, a single proponent that wishes to speak against the 
motion, he has his say now.
    COMRADE GEORGE BERTHIAUME (Post 969--Washington): That 
would be myself. The entire reason behind the Department of 
Washington doing this is that we feel that any time any Senator 
or Congressman gets----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Corky, you are in favor of the 
motion, right?
    COMRADE GEORGE BERTHIAUME (Post 969--Washington): I am 
opposed to it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The motion is to adopt.
    COMRADE GEORGE BERTHIAUME (Post 969--Washington): The 
motion is to pass?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Yes.
    COMRADE GEORGE BERTHIAUME (Post 969--Washington): My 
apologies. The motion is to approve 106. I am in favor of it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The motion on the floor right 
now is to move the previous question. All those in favor will 
signify by the sign of ``aye''; all opposed ``no''. The 
``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    Now, we are going to move the previous question. To vote 
``yes'' means to adopt the Resolution and to vote ``no'' means 
to reject the Resolution. All those in favor to adopt the 
Resolution, which means censor the Congressman. Now, to say 
``no'' means we don't censor the Congressman.
    All those in favor will signify by the usual sign of 
``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so 
ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: The following Resolutions 
were rejected by the Committee.
    Resolution No. 108, which is entitled ``Memorial Day'' and 
that was rejected in favor of No. 111.
    No. 109, Proper Respect to our National Anthem, that was 
rejected.
    No. 110, regarding Hunter Safety, was rejected.
    No. 113, A Tribute to the Flag, that was rejected.
    No. 114, in Celebration of America Week, that was rejected.
    No. 115, ``Meet You At The Poll'', that was rejected.
    No. 116, ``Flag Etiquette'', that was rejected.
    No. 117, Support Senate Resolution No. 132, Return Memorial 
Day to May 30th, and that was rejected in favor of Resolution 
111.
    We also received, and I don't think printed in your books, 
Resolutions No. 203, No. 208 and 215, and those were all 
dealing with Sons of the VFW and the age requirements, and 
those three Resolutions were rejected.
    That is the Report of the Committee, Comrade Commander-in-
Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WILLIAM HAAS (Post 7980--Illinois): In regard to 
what the Commander-in-Chief said about rejection of 203, and 
the others, the Sons of the VFW----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Before you debate it, somebody 
will have to make a motion to adopt.
    COMRADE WILLIAM HAAS (Post 7980--Illinois): I would like to 
make a motion that that be adopted, restrictions on the Sons of 
VFW, with the age be removed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You are talking about multiple 
Resolutions now, right? You will have to do each one.
    COMRADE WILLIAM HAAS (Post 7980--Illinois): The one that 
restricts.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Which Resolution would you like 
passed? You have to make a motion to adopt one Resolution at a 
time. We would like to know who you are and where you are from.
    COMRADE WILLIAM HAAS (Post 7980--Illinois): I am William 
Haas from Post 7980, Illinois. Resolution 203, I don't know the 
context or the Resolution or Resolved part of it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You are still debating the 
motion. Are you going to make a motion to adopt No. 203?
    COMRADE WILLIAM HAAS (Post 7980--Illinois): I am. However, 
I----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Make the motion to adopt No. 
203.
    COMRADE WILLIAM HAAS (Post 7980--Illinois): I move adoption 
of Resolution No. 203.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE RUSSELL VILLWOCK (Post 3579--Illinois): I will 
second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second to adopt Resolution No. 203. Now, on the 
question.
    I will recognize Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE WILLIAM HAAS (Post 7980--Illinois): I come before 
you to speak in regards to this, the age restriction on the 
Sons of the VFW. Commander-in-Chief Cramer, it was my privilege 
to serve you as State Director in 1983. We have got these young 
men in our organization as the Sons of the VFW and we teach 
them loyalty, patriotism, citizenship and consideration for 
welfare of others.
    Along with this, they also learn our ways and help us in 
raising funds and do the duties and obligations set forth for 
us and them. Then the age of 16 or 18 comes along and we put 
them in a button. We no longer have any use for them. It is 
ridiculous, in my opinion, with all of us advancing in age.
    Those in World War II, in particular, are in the area of 70 
or more who can easily use the talents and the abilities that 
we have taught to these young people in our efforts to 
accomplish our duties and obligations. My son was Past State 
Commander of the Sons of the VFW. His sisters are members of 
the Auxiliary.
    They are still vibrant and helpful in doing it just as my 
son and many other sons and grandsons could be in the Sons of 
the VFW. I also carried it to New Orleans and it didn't even 
receive consideration. One of the individuals is up on the 
roster now. We were flatly turned down.
    Now, the thing that I would like to remind you is that when 
my sons or my grandsons reach age 16 or 18, it doesn't mean 
that they are not my sons or grandsons anymore. They are 
forever, so long as the good Lord will let them breathe and 
live.
    I ask you today to consider extending this age and let's 
make use of these people that we have taught and made good 
citizens. Let's make them apply this to things we have taught 
them. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I would like to ask the Chairman 
of the Committee to explain the reasoning of the Committee.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: I think in your book you 
will find this under Financial and Internal Organization. 
However, it was sent over to our Committee. Resolution 203, the 
recommendation that came down, 203 would eliminate the age 
restriction on the long-standing youth program called Sons of 
the VFW.
    This Resolution would eliminate the current youth activity 
and create a Men's Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 
The staff recommended rejection.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE ROBERT FONTENOT (Post 6394--California): I am the 
State Chairman of the Youth Activities and the Sons of the VFW. 
I wholeheartedly support the comrade that got up and spoke on 
the extension of the age, because once these kids become 16 
years old, then we kick them out, back into the community.
    It seems like to me we are sending a bad message to the 
youth of our country when we get them into our organization and 
get them started, to train them, and then kick them right back 
out when they become 16 years old and we can no longer use 
them.
    I belong to the American Legion and the DAV also. They all 
have no age limit. They do all right. I can't see how we can 
continue trying to get former Sons of the VFW, and when they 
get 16 years old we send them back to the community and we no 
longer use them.
    That is, do you think we are going to get the other 
youngsters to join with us and when they become 16 if we are 
not going to use them anymore? I think that we are sending a 
bad message with the age limit. Thank you very much.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: Can I read something else, a 
recommendation? The Resolution, as I said, Resolution 208 also 
dealt with this problem. Let me read that. Maybe it will clear 
up the 16-year-old bit. Resolution 208 would eliminate the 16-
year age restriction for the Sons of the VFW in favor of no age 
restriction.
    It is the same as Resolution No. 203 and also no age 
restriction at 16 is inaccurate inasmuch as 18 years of age has 
always been the limit for the Sons' program. The Sons of the 
VFW is not a feeder program for the VFW organization. The Sons 
of the VFW was a youth program that was established to give 
young men an opportunity to work side by side with their 
fathers as they do beneficial activities within their 
communities.
    The Junior Girls unit was established for a similar purpose 
and is used as a feeder program for any young woman wanting to 
participate in the Ladies Auxiliary. They also recommended 
Resolution 208 be rejected.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE AL BUBECKI (Post 4425--Florida): I am speaking in 
favor of the motion, because I believe that the VFW needs all 
the help it can get. Getting these young people to continue to 
help us after the age of 16 is a worthwhile project, not only 
in the way of getting help but also in educating them. I am in 
favor of the motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE BENNY BACHAND (Post 4287--Florida): Commander-in-
Chief and Delegates to this Convention: As you know, I have the 
opportunity to serve you as the Assistant Adjutant General and 
to see that the programs work every day, as does Gordon Thorson 
in the arena of Youth Activities.
    It was our recommendation to reject for the similar reasons 
that Past Commander-in-Chief John Staum recommended to you. 
Obviously, this is not an Auxiliary and one in which we would 
have to think long and hard about if we wanted to form another 
Auxiliary.
    The truth of the matter is that over the 10,000 Posts that 
we have in this organization, only roughly 40 Posts have Sons 
of the VFW units. One of the things we must be very careful 
about is that, as all of you know, regarding the Flying 
Squadrons this last year, the IRS is attacking us in every 
venue. We have to make sure that we are careful to keep our tax 
exempt status.
    I want to warn the people here in this Convention that we 
are under closer scrutiny by the IRS to protect our exemption 
under 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. It would not be wise 
to try to attempt to broaden the past for participation at our 
canteens. That is the problem we are faced with. We recommend 
rejection of this Resolution. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there anybody else at 
Microphone No. 3?
    COMRADE STEVE JACOBS (Post 6944--California): Comrades, 
Benny said we have 40 units. The reason is because they don't 
stay in the units. I am a Life Chairman of the Youth Activities 
in the State of California. I am a Past Department Chairman and 
what we need to do is keep those kids.
    I understand the canteen problem. You know, as the 
Commander-in-Chief said about the age, we need to keep these 
kids involved. The Auxiliary started out the same way, and it 
was the Junior Girls, and now they can belong to this 
organization.
    We all know when we go out with poppies and do parades and 
do everything else, it is good to have young men. They are our 
sons and our grandsons that could be side by side with us 
forever. I think we need to adopt this motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE LAWRENCE MARTELL (Post 10131--Florida): I move the 
previous question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE NORMAN GAOVETTE (Post 8681--Florida): I second that 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: There is a motion and a second 
to move the previous question. I believe one person can speak 
in favor of the adoption. Is there anyone that would like to 
speak? Is there anybody at Microphone No. 2?
    COMRADE RAY SODEN (Post 2149--Illinois): I rise to support 
the Resolution that we extend the age limit of our Sons of the 
VFW. I stand before you with very much pride in the fact that I 
wrote the original Resolution that started the Sons of Veterans 
of Foreign Wars in the National Organization.
    One reason why we only have 40 units, and I am going to say 
this as straight as I can say it, is because the National 
Organization has not promoted it to extend it beyond what its 
original intention was supposed to be. We have to have some 
continuity.
    Comrades, we have the Dads of the VFW who are in the 
Department of Indiana, and Evansville is one of the greatest 
supporters of their activities and run a lot of their 
functions. There is no reason that my son, who is a Past 
Commander of the Sons of the VFW, could not have the 
opportunity as he has done voluntarily to stand side by side on 
Poppy Day to help shake the can, to help raise money as he has 
done for many years, or to participate and help around the Post 
with any activity that we have.
    We need all the support that we can get. If you have ten 
percent of your Post's membership coming out to help, or 
participate in the meeting, you have a great attendance. You 
have a great participation, believe me. So, we do need all the 
help we can get.
    So, we have the Junior Girls unit and the mobility of it 
because of their By-Laws. That allows them to join the 
Auxiliary. We hope and pray to God that our sons and our 
grandsons never have the opportunity to become eligible for 
this organization.
    We want peace in the world. That is what we are telling 
everybody. So, let's let them participate on some level and 
join with us hand in hand in promoting Americanism and 
promoting youth activities to working with our Junior units.
    My son, a Past Commander of the Sons of the VFW, would be 
willing to work with the units, would be able to communicate 
with them and help on all of our programs. Let's add another 
little arm of strength and utilize that vitality of youth and 
let's put them to work. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Ray. Let me just 
clarify one thing. There is a dad's organization, but they are 
not part of the VFW.
    Before I move the previous question, because we are 
encountering so many problems nationwide now with the Internal 
Revenue Service affecting our membership today, I would like to 
call on our attorney from Kansas City, Larry Maher, to explain 
some of the situations that we have.
    COMRADE LAWRENCE MAHER (Post 7356--Missouri): I am just 
going to explain one situation it impacts that which you are 
about to do here. The Internal Revenue, the Baltimore District 
Office, has taken a position that all of the Auxiliary units, 
to the extent they can use the club, have to be counted against 
the 75-percent requirement for (c)(19) qualification.
    If you had all of the members of the Sons of the VFW 
together with the members of the Posts, and you don't have 75-
percent eligible veterans of the VFW, you could lose your 
501(c)(19) exemption. That is the position they are taking. We 
don't agree with it. We are going to fight them over it.
    But understand, if you expand the eligibility beyond 16, it 
looks an awful lot like you are making them eligible to go into 
that club, and that is precisely what the IRS wants you to do. 
Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The motion before us is to move 
the previous question. All those in favor will signify by the 
usual sign of ``aye''; all those opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. 
It is so ordered.
    The motion in front of us now is to adopt Resolution 203, 
To Lift the Age Limit of the Sons of the VFW. If you vote 
``yes'', we don't have any age restriction. If you vote ``no'', 
we retain the rules as they are today. All those in favor will 
signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The 
``nays'' have it.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF STAUM: Commander-in-Chief, that is 
the end of our report and we ask that the Committee be 
discharged.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. John, you and your 
Committee are discharged for the rest of the Convention.
    I would like to call on our Adjutant General to make a 
couple of announcements.
    [Convention announcements.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I would like to call on our 
Assistant Adjutant General Benny Bachand to give a briefing on 
this evening's Patriotic Rally.
    COMRADE BENNY BACHAND (Post 4287--Florida): Thank you, 
Commander-in-Chief. As all of you know by now, the VFW will 
have a Patriotic Rally this evening in the Las Vegas Convention 
Center. Buses will run from the Bally to the Convention Center, 
and then they will continue to run after the program.
    Those Department Commanders, Auxiliary Presidents and those 
units that are in the parade portion will have to assemble by 
4:30 in M-1. The doors to the Convention Center will open at 
5:00 o'clock. The program will start at 5:30. Then the parade 
starts.
    We will have a tribute to America, a program that will last 
approximately one hour and 15 minutes. I will assure all of you 
that by 8:00 o'clock this evening this program will be done, 
and I hope to see all of you here because I think we have an 
exciting program for you this evening at the Las Vegas 
Convention Center.
    Thank you, Chief.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Benny. Let me just 
say we are attempting something different this year instead of 
just walking down the street with hot weather and a parade. 
Benny has put another great program together here.
    I want to tell you something. Last night, after the 
banquet, in which we had about 3,000 attending, better than 
half of the people left the hall. Those who left, you missed a 
tremendous show for about an hour and one-half. I want to thank 
Benny and Joe Ross for getting those people together for us.

                      WINNERS OF INSURANCE DRAWING

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The final order of business is 
to bring up our Insurance Director, Bob Crow for today's 
insurance drawing. While he is coming up here, I know there 
must be an officer from the Big Ten Conference around here, and 
I want you to know you have a small 50-pound box for yourself 
to pick up in the Conference Room in the Business Center.
    COMRADE ROBERT CROW: Thank you, Chief. Again, this year we 
are going to have a cash drawing, and this is sponsored by 
Combined Insurance Company of America. They are currently our 
underwriters of all our individual health, life and accident 
programs.
    At this time I would like to have Past Commander-in- Chief 
Jim Kimery to go ahead and draw six tickets. We are going to 
have six drawings today. They will be for $25, $50, $100, and 
then $25, $50 and $100. That will be the order of the drawings.
    Tomorrow we will have three more drawings, and they will be 
for $25, $50 and $100. Then on Thursday, we will have four 
drawings. They will be for $25, $50, $100, and then a grand 
prize winner of $1,000. I will see if I can get the tickets and 
we will read off the winners.
    The names will be listed down in the Insurance Booth in the 
display area. If the individuals are not here to pick up their 
money, we will send it to them after the Convention. The winner 
of the first $25 is Jack Adkins, Post 3404, Missouri.
    The $50 winner is Phillip G. Phistry, Post 10124, New 
Mexico. The $100 winner is Kenneth Mueller, Post 6401, Kansas.
    The second three drawings, the $25 winner is Elmer 
Talkington, Post 10386, Arizona. The $50 winner is Charles 
Horne, Post 9969, Oklahoma. And the last $100 winner is Frank 
J. Landerway, Post 3641, Colorado. If any of these gentlemen 
are here, or if you know the gentlemen, they can stop by and 
pick up their money after the meeting.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: All right. I will now recess 
this meeting until 9:00 o'clock tomorrow morning. I will see 
you at the Patriotic Rally tonight. Thank you for a great 
attendance.
    [Whereupon, the session was recessed at 12:55 o'clock p.m.]
                        SECOND BUSINESS SESSION

                   WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 24, 1994

    [The Second Business Session of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars of the United States, held in the Barron Room of the Las 
Vegas Hilton Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, was called to order at 
9:00 o'clock a.m., with Commander-in-Chief George R. Cramer, 
presiding.]
    COMMANER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrade Sergeant-at-Arms, prepare 
the room for the Pledge to the Flag.
    [The National Sergeant-at-Arms lead the Convention in the 
Salute to the Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance.]
    [The Opening Prayer was given by the National Chaplain 
Reverend Charles W. Edwards, Jr.]
    NATIONAL SERGEANT-AT-ARMS SARVER: Comrade Commander-in-
Chief, the Opening Ceremonies have been performed.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Good morning. I hope you all had 
an enjoyable afternoon as you keep the silver state smiling. 
Those who attended the Patriotic Rally last night, did you 
enjoy it?
    First of all, the members of the General Resolutions 
Committee, I would like for you to meet with Past Commander-in-
Chief Jack Carney outside the second set of glass doors for a 
Resolution that was proposed yesterday. We would like to get 
you together briefly so you can over that Resolution if you 
would, please.
    I would like to call on the Chairman of the Credentials 
Committee, Richard Trombla, for his report.

                    REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    COMRADE RICHARD TROMBLA (Post 1174--Kansas): I am Richard 
Trombal, Department of Kansas, Chairman of the Credentials 
Committee. This is a temporary report as of last night. We have 
16,263 delegates; Department Commanders 44; National Officers 
10; Past Commanders-in-Chief 25. That is for a grand total of 
16,342. This is a temporary report, Commander-in-Chief.

INTRODUCTION OF EILEEN FULTON, MARCH OF DIMES NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON AND 
                   HONORARY MEMBER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Our next guest has one of the 
most recognizable faces in the world today. As the forerunner 
for television vixens such as Susan Lucci, Joan Collins and 
Donna Mills, she will shortly celebrate her 35th Anniversary as 
the infamous ``Lisa'' on CBS-TV's award-winning drama ``As The 
World Turns.''
    Although best known as ``Queen of the Soaps,'' she is a 
dramatic actress, songstress and comedienne who has appeared 
both on and off Broadway in the ``Fantasticks,'' ``Summer of 
the Seventeenth Doll,'' ``Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' with Hal 
Holbrook, and in ``Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?''
    On the big screen she played the lead role in ``Girl of the 
Night,'' an adaptation of Harold Greenwald's novel ``The Call 
Girl.''
    She is an accomplished cabaret performer and song stylist, 
receiving nationwide rave reviews for her one-woman show 
featuring her powerful soprano voice. She recently released a 
new CD and cassette entitled ``First Kiss,'' featuring a 
collection of beloved romantic standards and torch songs.
    She is currently dividing her time between ``As the World 
Turns,'' Broadway, Regional Theater, singing and writing her 
autobiography, and several murder mysteries. She is also 
writing her memoir ``Diva Darling'', which will be available in 
May, 1995, to coincide with her 35th Anniversary on ``As The 
World Turns.''
    Although she has one of the busiest schedules of any 
performer, she finds time for those disabled and less 
fortunate. She has served as Chairperson of the New York 
Metropolitan Committee for UNICEF, co-hosted cerebral palsy 
telethons, worked for the Lupus Foundation and Martha's Table, 
a Washington, D.C. organization to benefit homeless mothers and 
children, and hosted the March of Dimes International Telethon.
    She comes to us today as the National Spokesperson for the 
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.
    Please rise and welcome the ``Queen of the Soaps'', 
actress, authoress, singer and humanitarian, Miss Eileen 
Fulton. [Applause]

                        RESPONSE--EILEEN FULTON

    MS. FULTON: Thank you very much. Thank you for such a 
speech. I want to meet this wonderful person that we are 
talking about. I know there are a lot of you out there who have 
not seen me on ``As The World Turns,'' so I am going to catch 
you up on my character for 35 years.
    My name, Lisa Miller Hughes Eldridge Hughes Shay Coleman, 
almost Hadley, McCall, now Mitchell, and now looking, and she 
is looking. I have only had six husbands, but I have had 
seventy some odd, very odd, lovers. I have just has a ball on 
that show. That is why I stay with it.
    We used to be live, and I don't mean that we are dead now, 
but you understand that we did the show live. I have a couple 
of little stories I would like to share with you, because that 
was the most horrific time for me.
    We had on our show, and we do a lot of things about doctors 
and lawyers, but we had a young man, an actor, to come on for 
one day and he had to play the part of a specialist. He had to 
come in and diagnose a patient who was dying off of 
diverticultis.
    The young actor came in and he said, ``Okay. I can do this; 
I can do this. `Gentlemen, I am here to tell you that your 
patient is dying of divicu--what is that word? That she, no, no 
diverticulitis. He said, yes, difticlus. I can't get that. 
Well, when we would do the show, I am coming through the door, 
so perhaps you will just stop the cameras and then if I don't 
say it right the first time I cold have another chance.''
    They said, ``You will never have another chance. This is 
live. Twenty-three million people will be watching you.'' That 
is the wrong thing to say to an actor who is scared to death. 
``Twenty-three million people? Diverticu--how do you say 
that?''
    Well, one of the actors on the show was very clever and 
very kind. He read this commercial that goes bum, bum, bum, 
bum, bum dippety-do and bum, bum, and diverticulitis. I think 
you got it, diverticulitis. Yes, he got it.
    We all went about doing, ``Diverticulities, I think you 
have got it.'' He said, ``That will help me remember.'' All day 
he was practicing and getting that right, and he said, ``I have 
got it. I know how to say it. When I come on the air, I will 
say diverticultis. I have got it.''
    On the air, he was all just full of himself. He had on his 
nice suit. He painted on his mustache and he came through the 
door in front of 23 million people and he says, ``A gentleman, 
the patient is dying of diverticulties. I think he has got 
it.''
    Another cute little story, I had to walk around and say it 
three months. I had to walk around and say, ``I am pregnant and 
I don't know how it happened.''I had had four husbands and two 
children, and I didn't know how it happened? Oh, come on now.
    So, I walked around saying, ``I am pregnant and I don't 
know how it happened. How have I gotten pregnant? How did it 
happen? I don't know. I am so pregnant. How did it happen?'' 
Finally, a lady from Birmingham, Alabama, sent me a letter. She 
enclosed a pamphlet from the Planned Parenthood. She said, 
``This is how it happened. Get on with it.''
    This life has been full of stories like hers and I could 
stay up here all day and tell you about these, but the real 
reason I am here is to thank you especially for the March of 
Dimes for all the wonderful work that you are doing. I have 
worked with the March of Dimes for quite some time.
    I didn't realize what the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary have 
done for the March of Dimes. I am so impressed. I want to thank 
you. You have helped with your time, with your support, your 
energy, your love, your kindness. You have marched in the Walk 
of America, you have gone door-to-door for the Mothers March.
    You know what you have done. It is wonderful. I think it is 
time that the rest of the world knew what you did. And why 
should I be amazed? You are my heroes. You have saved our 
country more than once and now you are saving lives. You are 
helping prevent birth defects.
    I would like to tell you just a quick story of something, 
and I would like to personalize one thing that you did do. I 
think this is totally amazing. In Brownsville, Texas, in 1990, 
there was a couple, Teresa and Ramon Salazar. They looked 
forward so much to having a family.
    Teresa had two miscarriages. The third time she went full 
term and she was so excited because she was going to have this 
baby. At that very time in 1990, there was discovered that in 
Brownsville alone children were being born with neural tube 
defect.
    That is a birth defect affecting the brain and the spine. 
In five years, 68 babies in Brownsville alone had died or had 
this birth defect. This is a major epidemic. In Texas, the 
Department of Health, with the help of the March of Dimes and 
their expertise, came in to see what was causing it.
    The cause, we are not sure, but they did come up with a 
wonderful discovery. This is because of your money and your 
support and devotion that you have given. They found that 
Vitamin B can help save at least 50 to 70 percent of the 
children born and keep 50 to 70 percent of the children--do you 
understand what I am trying to say--can prevent 50 to 70 
percent of the children born with this. I think this is 
wonderful.
    Well, Teresa wanted another baby. She went to the doctor. 
The doctor put her on vitamins, the Vitamin B, and that is 
folic acid. She went for prenatal care and when their baby was 
born she gave birth to as healthy baby. I thank you for making 
this possible for her.
    I think some of you were there at the Wayne Newton Show the 
other night. Didn't I see some of you at the Wayne Newton Show? 
I saw you, yes. I was impressed by what Wayne said. It kind of 
reminds me of you. Wayne said, when he was thanking his 
audience, and he is a very gracious man, he said, ``You can 
give your money; a man's money is his money. When you give 
time, you give a part of your life.''
    That is what you have done. You have given your money and 
your support, but you are also giving your time. You are giving 
a part of your life. The March of Dimes thanks you and so do I. 
Thank you very much.
    We do have our awards now. I have got the mike and it is my 
show. (Laughter) we are going to give our awards. We have four. 
The first one, I will read to you what it says on this 
beautiful plaque. It is from the March of Dimes Birth Defects 
Foundation.
    ``Because you cared enough to support the campaign for 
healthier babies, more of America's babies will get a healthy 
start in life.'' This award goes to Plymouth, Wisconsin, Post 
5612, VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary, for outstanding support of 
the March of Dimes Mission, 1993-'94. Congratulations.
    The next one, again, ``Because you cared enough to support 
the campaign of Care for Babies, more American babies will be 
born healthy and have a healthy start in life.'' This goes to 
VFW Post 1, Department of Michigan, and the Ladies Auxiliary, 
in financial support of the March of Dimes, 1993-'94.
    This award goes to North Dakota VFW and the Ladies 
Auxiliary No. 2 for the financial support of the March of Dimes 
mission for '93-'94. Congratulations. They were first last year 
and many years before, and you will be first again. 
Congratulations.
    Ms. Eillen Fulton. You-all have been so marvelous and you 
are so quiet, and we are standing up here and having our 
pictures taken. This is the last award.
    To the National Headquarters of the VFW and the Ladies 
Auxiliary for continued support of the March of Dimes Mission, 
1993-'94. Here we go. Congratulations. Thank you again for your 
help and your support. You are wonderful.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER. Tank you, Eileen. Accepting the 
award for the national organization are the two people that 
should be because they do so much for us, our Director of 
Community Activities, Mike Gormalley and, of course, our 
Assistant Adjutant General for Programs, Benny Bachand.

   PRESENTATION OF THE J. EDGAR HOOVER AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: On May 13, 1994, in a 
candlelight ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers 
Memorial in Washington, D.C., the name of Detective Evelyn Gort 
was added to the names of those officers who died in the line 
of duty.
    It was early in the morning in Coconut Grove, Florida, last 
October 30 when Detective Gort of the Metro-Dade Police 
Department, off duty and in the company of a friend, were 
approached by a man with a gun who attempted to rob them.
    As her friend handed over three dollars and the keys to his 
car, Detective Gort pulled her handgun and exchanged shots with 
the gunman before being fatally wounded.
    The gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice. He 
was later dropped off at a hospital where police arrested him 
after determining that the bullets taken from his body had been 
fired from Detective Gort's gun. His accomplice has since been 
apprehended by police. Both men have extensive arrest records.
    The recipient of many commendations, Detective Gort was 
recognized not only by her peers but those of the community 
whom she served as a dedicated and respected law enforcement 
professional.
    On three separate occasions, Detective Gort was commended 
by the Director of the Metro-Dade Police Department for her 
investigative skills leading to arrests in major fraud and 
embezzlement cases.
    Following her death, Detective Evelyn Gort received the 
Police Department's Gold Medal of Valor which stated her 
actions were well above and beyond the call of duty and were 
performed in the true spirit of the law enforcement Code of 
Ethics.
    The life of Evelyn Gort, 34 years of age, mother of two 
daughters, and an law enforcement career of seven years has 
ended. What has not come to an end is her memory.
    Today the Veterans of Foreign Wars honor her memory and pay 
tribute to her and the men and women in law enforcement who so 
unselfishly serve their communities.
    Accepting the VFW J. Edgar Hoover Award for Detective 
Evelyn Gort are her mother, Mrs. Ofelia Gonzalez, and her 
sister, Mayra Fausett.
    ``Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, J. Edgar 
Hoover Gold Medal and Citation awarded posthumously to 
Detective Evelyn Gort, Metropolitan Dade County Police 
Department.
    ``In special recognition of her exceptional career as a 
distinguished law enforcement officer as evidenced by her many 
commendations for dedicated and devotion to law enforcement, 
including the Gold Medal of Valor, distinguished officer of the 
month awards and employee excellence awards and in grateful 
appreciation for her professional excellence, personal bravery 
and courage in the face of great personal danger above and 
beyond the call of duty and in the true spirit of the law 
enforcement code of ethics for which she sacrificed her life 
resulting in the survival of her fellow officer and the 
increased safety of the public of Dade County.''
    The citation is signed today by me as Commander-in-Chief, 
and attested to by our Adjutant General, Howard Vander Clute. 
Of course, along with this award goes an honorarium of $1,500.

                      RESPONSE--MS. MAYRA FAUSETT

    MS. FAUSETT: For myself and for my family, I would like to 
thank all of your from the bottom of our hearts. You are our 
heroes. So many of you have died to make this world a better 
place as my sister did. She is my hero. She was a wonderful 
human being.
    When someone dies, often you always have to say something 
nice about them. In my sister's case, there was nothing but 
something nice. She was a person that cared more about the 
people that she served than about herself. She gave of herself 
24 hours a day.
    She gave her life to save another human being. She will 
always be with us and she will always be a memory of the Metro-
Dade-Police Force. We are so grateful for all the things that 
you have done and that everyone has done. You have made these 
ten months a little easier. Thank you.

  PRESENTATION OF VFW EMERGENCY SERVICE AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Each day, countless brave men 
and women, members of the Emergency Services in our 
communities, put their lives at risk fighting fires, providing 
rescue service, civil disaster assistance or rendering 
emergency medical care to save lives.
    The Veterans of Foreign War Emergency Services Gold Medal 
Award seeks to focus national attention on the deeds and 
sacrifices of those who so nobly meet the emergency needs of 
our nation's communities.
    Our recipient this year is a 22-year veteran of the North 
St. Paul, Minnesota Fire Department. In addition to his 
accomplishments in providing medical training and safety 
education to his community, he has been recognized by the 
citizens of North St. Paul for his dedication to the well-being 
of others, both on and off duty.
    As an example, the State Police of Minnesota presented 
their Lifesaver Award to him for saving the life of a four-year 
old boy after the car in which the child was riding crashed 
into a boat trailer at high speed. His CPR efforts restored the 
child's breathing and pulse and the boy survived.
    We are honored today to present the VFW Emergency Services 
Award to a fine example of all who serve their communities in 
emergency services with dedication, concern, and at times, 
sacrifice, Captain Thomas Korlin, North St. Paul, Minnesota, 
Fire Department.
    Please give a warm welcome to Captain Korlin. [Applause]
    ``The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
Emergency Services Award, Gold Medal and Citation awarded to 
Captain Thomas Korlin, North St. Paul Fire Department.
    ``In special recognition of his distinguished career 
spanning twenty-two years of exceptional service as a 
firefighter, engineer, tactical and training officer and 
medical officer for the Fire Department's Ambulance Service and 
in sincere appreciation for his selfless and dedicated service 
protecting life and property at great personal risk and his 
C.P.R. teaching and training of fire and ambulance personnel 
and his fellow employees.''
    This citation has been signed by myself, of course, as 
Commander-in-Chief, and attested to by our Adjutant General. It 
also includes an honorarium of $1,500.
    Captain Korlin, I understand there are five members of your 
Fire Department out in the audience with us. I am sure they 
would like to be standing up here to help you accept this 
award.

                      RESPONSE--MR. THOMAS KORLIN

    MR. KORLIN: Good morning, gentlemen. I would just like to 
inform you of one fact in anticipation of this morning. It is 
unreal for me because I am not much of a public speaker. I 
assert myself on a medical emergency call, and a fire, and I am 
here at this time very nervous.
    I will start with when I received the letter from Mr. 
LeFebvre's office in Washington, D.C. I was asked to be the 
first recipient of this award. Needless to say, I was 
flabbergasted in receiving this award, because I wasn't even 
aware of the fact that I was nominated.
    Being here to receive the award is a great honor, but it is 
honor enough in itself to know that your peers think that much 
of you to give you this nomination. I would like to especially 
take this opportunity to thank Commander of Post 1450 in St. 
Paul who was going to be here present this morning but was 
unable to attend. He called me Sunday morning and made me aware 
of the fact he was in an automobile accident and will be unable 
to attend.
    Also my Fire Chief and members of my Department, which I 
did not know were coming. I just met them maybe about a half 
hour ago. They are here. I would like to introduce them to you, 
if I may. They are Mr. Mike Chungman, Retired; Dominic 
Singotti, Captain of the Fire Department; Jerry Burnham, 
firefighter, and our illustrious Chief, David Six, and Honorary 
Member in Rio Grande, California, Mr. David Athey. Thank you, 
gentlemen, for being here.
    To just give you a little past history, after graduating 
from high school I joined the Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. 
Carrier Independence. I got married to my wife, Nancy, in 1968. 
We have two children, a son 19 and a daughter 17 years of age.
    I have always enjoyed helping people, especially those that 
are in some kind of need. So, in 1972, I joined the North St. 
Paul Fire Department. Today, I am a Captain. I am the oldest 
continuous active Emergency Medical Technician in the State of 
Minnesota. As I mentioned before, I am also a C.P.R. American 
Red Cross Instructor.
    A little history of our city. The city of North St. Paul 
has population of approximately 1,000 people. We are just in 
the suburbs of St. Paul. We have a 40-member Fire Department 
who are all volunteer except for our Chief, and we respond to 
approximately 300 fires a year.
    We man two ambulances and we respond to approximately 600 
mercy medical service calls during that year. That gives me 
ample time to do what I really like to do most. However, there 
are times even being a volunteer you feel like throwing in the 
towel.
    One I can always remember being in the back of my mind 
forever was an incident back in November, 1985. My wife and I 
had a few couples over at the house for the evening. One of 
these members, a gentleman was an Emergency Medical Technician 
and a firefighter.
    He was on call for an ambulance that night. It was a 
typical November evening, and we had just received about six to 
eight inches of snow. When the ambulance call came in that a 
pedestrian had been struck, he arrived on the scene rapidly and 
found a 13-year-old lad, who I will call Mike, lying in the 
snow-covered street with an extreme head trauma, no pulse or 
respiration.
    He was loaded in the ambulance for C.P.R. and artificial 
resuscitation where it was done by an individual that was at my 
house, who I will call Harvey. Excuse me for a minute. My 
friend, Harvey, said the young man loaded in the back of the 
ambulance had braces on his teeth.
    Subsequently it dawned on him that the individual, the 
young man he was working on, was his own son. Harvey, in turn, 
did C.P.R. on his little boy and took him to the emergency 
hospital, and they worked very diligently on Mike to save his 
young life, but they did not.
    The doctors came out of the hospital ER room and approached 
the emergency crew and informed them that there was nothing 
more they could do, and they were going to be notifying 
immediately the parents. Harvey turned and told them that there 
was no need for that, because he was his father.
    Another incident that I recall is that a young lad was run 
over accidentally in his driveway. I answered the call, and I 
was the first person on the scene. What took place was that the 
mother was washing the car and abruptly left momentarily.
    When she came back, she found that the car had rolled out 
of the driveway. The young lad was standing in the middle of 
the driveway. I got there and there was no pulse, no breathing, 
no obvious trauma to the young guy. I immediately started 
C.P.R. resuscitations on the boy.
    Again, I carried the young man to the ambulance and brought 
him to our nearest trauma center. En route to the trauma 
center, I got breathing restored in the individual, but I never 
got a pulse back on him. Needless to say, he in turn died.
    But as fate would have it, a week later, the family and I 
were up north on vacation. Coming back on the interstate, it 
was typical road construction in Minnesota during the 
summertime and the traffic was backed up probably five or six 
miles, stop and go.
    I had made the comment to my wife at that time that note of 
the traffic. Just right at the time I witnessed a car slam into 
the back of another vehicle traveling about 65 miles an hour, 
and the other vehicle was at a dead stop. Unknowingly, somehow 
I got my first aid kit out of the trunk of the car and ran down 
there to the interstate, probably 100 yards or so, where I 
found a four-year-old lad, no pulse, no breathing, and he had 
severe head trauma.
    I in turn administered C.P.R. and artificial resuscitation 
to the young boy. Because of the distance that the ambulance 
had to travel, I stayed with the young lad for about 15 
minutes. Needless to day, I did restore his breathing and his 
pulse again.
    The young boy was in critical condition for several months, 
but he made it and he is alive today. That child's respiration 
and healthy life was enough work for me. Needless to say, I 
received the Minnesota State Highway Patrol Lifesaver's Award 
for that year. The following year I received the Firefighter 
Award and Emergency Medical Technician State Award. Now, this 
one.
    I would like to thank the VFW especially for recognizing 
the efforts of our nation's firefighters. As far as I know, the 
VFW is the only organization that does.
    Last but not least, I would like to thank my family, 
especially my wife Nancy. They may not have been at the fires, 
but they have done a lot of sacrifices, so I would like to 
thank my family. Thank you, gentlemen, for this prestigious 
award.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Mr. Thomas Korlin.]
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Captain, once again, we thank 
you, and we thank the people of your profession for helping to 
save lives.

   PRESENTATION OF THE VFW AVIATION AND SPACE AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND 
                                CITATION

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: NASA's successful servicing of 
the Hubble Space Telescope represents one of the most extensive 
and difficult servicing missions ever attempted.
    After finding and retrieving the bus-size Hubble Space 
Telescope, the team of astronauts aboard the space shuttle 
Endeavor completed the servicing and repairs needed to 
refurbish the telescope.
    With more space walks than any other mission, their success 
represented the culmination of incredible efforts by both the 
scientific and NASA community.
    We are honored to have with us today mission specialist Tom 
Akers who, prior to the Hubble Space Telescope mission, had 
flown two previous flights in which he, as part of a three-
member crew, captured the stranded Intelsat satellite and on a 
second space walk evaluated space station construction 
techniques.
    Colonel Akers joined the Air Force in 1979, following four 
years as the high school principal in his hometown of Eminence, 
Missouri.
    Selected for the astronaut program in 1987, Colonel Akers 
is a veteran of three space flights.
    We are honored to present the VFW Aviation and Space Award 
to the scientific and NASA community for its combined 
contribution toward enhancing our understanding of space.
    Please join me in welcoming Lieutenant Colonel Tom Akers, 
who will accept the award on behalf of NASA and the community 
of scientists which contributed to the success of the Hubble 
Space Telescope servicing mission.
    ``The Veterans of Foreign Wars Aviation and Space Award, 
Gold Medal and Citation, awarded to The Crew of STS-61, 
National Aeronautics Space Administration.
    ``In special recognition of exceptional contributions in 
the field of space evidencing, the dedication, knowledge, 
professionalism and courage of the crew in accomplishing its 
difficult and challenging servicing mission to the Hubble Space 
Telescope, demonstrating the versatility and resourcefulness of 
men and women in space.''
    This has been signed by myself, the Commander-in-Chief, 
today, and attested to by Howard E. Vander Clute, Adjutant 
General. With this award goes an honorarium of $1,500.
    Congratulations, Colonel Akers.

                     RESPONSE--COLONEL THOMAS AKERS

    COLONEL AKERS: Thank you, George, It is an honor to be here 
today to represent the rest of my NASA STS-61 crew and also the 
entire NASA team who put together the mission that resulted in 
us repairing the Hubble Space Telescope just this past 
December.
    I think it is entirely appropriate, and I am very pleased 
that the VFW chose to include not just the STS-61 crew members, 
seven of us, but also the entire NASA team because, indeed, it 
was the epitome of a team effort of what we accomplished last 
December some 300 million miles in space in Europe.
    In fact, we like to tell people that we think that mission 
was so successful for three reasons. Number one, we had good 
hardware; number two, we had good preparation; and number 
three, we had good people.
    The good hardware included not only the excellent space 
shuttle that worked faultlessly. It included the Hubble Space 
Telescope that had been designed several years before and 
deployed in space in the spring of 1990, and it was designed 
for space walkers like myself to go out and work on them.
    That hardware also included over 200 tools that we had in 
the space shuttle's cargo bay to work on the telescope with. 
The good preparation also included the work of a lot of good 
people. We trained for over a year and one-half. Most of our 
training was underwater in a very large swimming pool down in 
Houston, Texas, where all of us astronauts live, and also 
several trips over to Huntsville, Alabama, to the Marshall 
Flight Space Center where we also trained in a larger pool.
    Each of us who went outside on that mission had over 200 
hours of training underwater. All that good preparation wasn't 
just training for us, it was training for the ground team. For 
each of the seven astronauts up in space, we had literally 
hundreds of people on the ground who were watching while we 
were working in space making sure that we didn't miss anything 
or do anything incorrectly.
    Finally, of course, what makes every good team is good 
people. I think we have some of the best people in the country 
working in NASA, and I am very proud to be a part of that team. 
As you all know, everyone accomplishes a lot more by teamwork.
    We like to spread the word that for astronauts there are 
thousands of scientists, technicians, engineers, custodians and 
secretaries that all go together to make up the NASA team, not 
just the ones at NASA doing the work on the mission, but the 
scientific information that that Hubble Space Telescope is 
sending back.
    That data that you have seen in the media, and certainly in 
the past month or so, you have seen what a great job the Hubble 
Telescope is now doing helping us to learn about the outer 
edges of our universe.
    Again, I would like to thank you for this award. I think it 
is also very appropriate that the $1,500 honorarium has been 
donated to the NASA Scholarship Fund, and it will help some 
young men and women as they pursue their future going to 
college and, hopefully, they will be around to help us in NASA 
to solve some of the problems we are going to encounter in the 
future as we build a space station and hope to send someone to 
Mars during my lifetime. Thank you.

      REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: For this report, I would like to 
call on the Chairman of the National Security and Foreign 
Affairs Committee, Past Commander-in-Chief Ray Soden.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: Thank you very much, 
Commander-in-Chief. To all of the outstanding delegates at this 
Convention, I would like at this time to thank the Commander-
in-Chief for giving me an outstanding group of comrades to work 
with on the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee.
    Serving alongside with me is an outstanding Past Commander-
in-Chief, Pat Carr, from the great State of Louisiana. Billy 
Ray Cameron, Past Commander-in-Chief from North Carolina, 
served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on POW/MIA. 
Unfortunately, Billy Ray heads up the Emergency Services for 
the State of North Carolina and had to return home because of 
flooding problems.
    So, in his place the Vice-Chairman, Russell Rieke, from the 
Department of Illinois, will be giving the report of the 
Subcommittee on POW/MIA. I would like to thank Ted Steadman, 
our Director, for all of his able assistance and kindness he 
have given us during our meeting.
    Most of all, Chief, I want to thank you for presenting to 
us an outstanding group of comrades dedicated to serving the 
organization, who served on the National Security and Foreign 
Affairs Committee. At this time I would like to present those 
Resolutions that were adopted.
    No. 403, The Lessons of the Cold War.
    No. 404, Limit Foreign Ownership of U.S. Businesses and 
Properties.
    No. 405, Stop Illegal Immigration at the Border.
    No. 406, Continue Castro's Isolation Until he is Removed.
    No. 407, Punish Terrorists Now.
    No. 408, Strategic Defense Should be a Strategic Priority.
    No. 409, The Future is Brighter in Central America.
    No. 410, Add the B-2 Bomber to our Arsenal.
    No. 411, Protect our Technology and Industrial Base.
    No. 412, Oppose Lifting the Defense Department Ban on 
Homosexuals in the Armed Forces.
    No. 414, Maintain an Effective U.S. Coast Guard.
    No. 415, Standing Firm for Freedom.
    No. 416, National Strategy of Peace Through Strength.
    No. 417, A Common Sense Military Balance in Europe.
    No. 419, Military Service; an Honored Profession.
    No. 420, Start for Start Treaties I and II.
    No. 421, Strengthen Intelligence Services to Prevent 
Strategic Surprise.
    No. 422, Limit U.S. Role in Yugoslav Civil War.
    No. 423, Support for the Republic of Korea.
    No. 424, Support for the Republic of China on Taiwan.
    No. 427, Grant the AFEM to Veterans of El Salvador.
    No. 430, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Navy Medal 
Augmentation Team Operation Urgent Fury. That is Grenada.
    No. 432, Surrender of U.S. Sovereignty.
    No. 433, Supporting a Korean Service Medal.
    No. 437, Oppose U.S. Forces Under foreign Command and 
Reveal Contents of Presidential Decision Directive 25.
    No. 440, No Women in Combat.
    No. 441, Demand Iraq Account for Kuwaiti Missing.
    No. 442, Support for United States Naval Training.
    No. 443, Support Retention of Selective Service.
    No. 444, Support for the U.S. Army School of the Americas.
    No. 445, Support for the Reconfiguration of Merchant 
Marines.
    No. 447, Security of the Panama Canal.
    No. 448, Merchant Marine Academy Tuition.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I move these be adopted by this 
Convention.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE TED EATON (Post 2104--Massachusetts): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. Now, on the question. Hearing nothing, 
all those in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; 
all those opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: Now, I will read those that 
were rejected.
    No. 425, Support the Exclusion of Iraqi POW's.
    No. 428, Oppose U.S. Forces Under Foreign Command.
    No. 434, Uphold Current Ban on Homosexuals Serving in the 
Active, Reserve and National Guard Forces of the United States.
    No. 436, No to U.S. Military Intervention in Haiti.
    No. 438, Congress Urged to Re-examine All-Volunteer 
Military Services.
    Those are the ones that were rejected, comrades.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE LEO RELLER (Post 2366--Indiana): I move that we 
adopt Resolution No. 436.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE LEWIS WEISHEIT (Post 1114--Indiana): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You have heard the motion and 
the second. On the question.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: That is the Resolution of No 
U.S. Military Intervention in Haiti.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: On the question.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PETER PUENTES (Post 10209--Florida): We should 
oppose the military intervention in Haiti, because Haiti is not 
Panama or Grenada, or there is no interest for the United 
States citizens that are at risk at Haiti. Also military 
intervention will not solve Haiti's political problems, which 
has been shown in previous years. We should adopt Resolution 
436, and I implore the comrades to adopt it. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE LEO RELLER (Post 2366--Indiana): This Resolution is 
very dear to the Commander-in-Chief. He has already sent three 
warnings to the White House in regards to intervention in 
Haiti. If we reject this, we will undercut his warnings.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else? Anything else? 
Comrades, you have heard the motion to adopt Resolution 436. 
All those in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; 
opposed ``no''. I guess we will have to do it again. All those 
in favor will signify by the sign of ``aye''; all those opposed 
``no''.
    Well, good morning. Please, let's hear it one more time. 
All those in favor, please stand. Now, those opposed, please 
stand. I think it is close, but I think the ``ayes'' have it. 
The Resolution is adopted.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: You win a few and you lose a 
few, you know. At this time, my comrades, I would like to 
present to you the Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on POW/
MIA, who will report in the absence of the Chairman, Past 
Department Commander of Illinois, Russell Rieke.

                     REPORT OF POW/MIA SUBCOMMITTEE

    COMRADE RUSSELL RIEKE (Post 5694--Illinois): First of all, 
let me say to our Commander-in-Chief George Cramer, from the 
bottom of my heart I would like to thank you for we adopt these 
Resolutions.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE TERRY McKINNEY (Post 886--Illinois): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. On the question. Hearing nothing, all 
those in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; those 
opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    COMRADE RUSSELL RIEKE (Post 5694--Illinois): The following 
Resolutions were rejected by the Committee.
    Resolution 429, we rejected 429 because it was, in essence, 
the same as Resolution No. 401.
    No. 431 was rejected because it was the same as 401 and 
429.
    Resolution 439 was rejected in favor of Resolution 418 but, 
in essence, was the same.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, they are automatically rejected 
if there is no one wishing to make a motion.
    I have two other things. In yesterday's paper was a news 
article about missing Vietnam veterans. ``The remains of three 
pilots shot down in the Vietnam War have been recovered and 
identified. The Pentagon has said they are Air Force Captain 
Leslie Boye, Air Force Major John Peter from Tusla, Oklahoma, 
and Navy Captain Hubert Modeen of Middleboro, Massachusetts.
    ``The remains of 335 Americans have been identified since 
the end of the war, and there are still 2,229 missing. If you 
would, sometime today stop off and see the representatives of 
our Joint Task--Full Force Accounting, and the Central 
Identification Lab.
    They have set up a booth in the display area, and we 
encourage you to visit and see how they work to try to recover 
our MIA's and our POW's. Believe you me, I stand before you, 
and I saw what the JTFFA in Stoney Beach are doing for us or 
the POW/MIA's in Vietnam. They are doing an outstanding job.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, that concludes my report.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Russ, for your work 
on the Committee. I also want to thank you for what you have 
done as the Vice-Chairman of the POW/MIA Committee. This is the 
first time that our Chair Officers over the past four years 
have had the opportunity to travel either on their own or with 
members of the State Department to investigate this issue, both 
in the United States and abroad.
    This is the first time that we have thought it was 
necessary that a member of the troops, all of you, have the 
opportunity to go as well and get first-hand information. So, 
you don't have to believe what we are telling you. I think Russ 
got that firsthand information. I want to thank you, Russ, for 
taking the time from your schedule to travel overseas for us.
    I would like to call back the Chairman of that Committee, 
who is also the chairman of the PAC and also PAC Director.
    COMRADE FRED VonHINKEN (Post 4159--Michigan): Commander-in-
Chief, I believe you went right from discussion and action on 
Resolution 436. I have a comrade here that has been standing to 
speak on another Resolution. You went right into the POW/MIA 
Subcommittee Report. This comrade has been standing here 
waiting.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: We saw people over there, but I 
didn't see anyone raise their hand at the microphone. I will 
tell you what I will do. I will go back, if you have something 
to say. I will give you that opportunity. What I would request, 
if you want to make a motion or something on a Resolution, 
please then go to the microphone. Don't just stand there so we 
don't know what is going on.
    The Chair recognizes the comrade at Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DENISE NICHOLS (Post 4171--Colorado): Excuse me, 
sir. I did talk to the Sergeant-at-Arms. We skipped over 
Resolution 425. I understand that one was turned down. I am 
Denise Nichols, a Desert Storm veteran. I would like to know 
the reason why 425 was rejected by the Committee.
    I would like to make a motion that that Resolution be 
adopted.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: First of all, you are making a 
motion that Resolution 425 be adopted?
    COMRADE DENISE NICHOLS (Post 4171--Colorado): Yes, sir.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second? Is there a 
second? Please go to the microphone.
    COMRADE RONALD RUSAKIEWICZ (Post 9460--Connecticut): I will 
second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: There is a motion and a second 
to adopt Resolution No. 425. On the question.
    Mr. Chairman, do you want to let us know what the 
Resolution is?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: Resolution No. 425 is 
Support the Exclusion of Iraqi POW's. Do you want the 
Resolution read in its entirety, or just want the ``Be It 
Resolved''?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Just the ``Be It Resolved.''
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: ``Be It Resolved, by the 
95th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, that we support the bipartisan request from the 
members of the U.S. House of Representatives and urge the 
Secretary of State, Secretary of Health and Human Services and 
the President to withdraw the refugee status to be granted to 
these former Iraqi soldiers.''
    The rationale behind the rejection was the fact of 
erroneous information that we had received. I will call on our 
Director Ken Steadman to explain the erroneous information.
    COMRADE KENNETH STEADMAN (Director of National Security and 
Foreign Affairs): Comrades, if you will recall at our last 
Convention in Dallas, we acted on this Resolution based on the 
information that we had then and, indeed, I wrote the 
Resolution in the hours just before our Committee meeting.
    However, shortly after that, when the Resolution reached 
Washington and got to the Secretary of State's desk, Junior 
Vice Commander-in-Chief Paul Spera and I went to the State 
Department to address this particular issue at which time we 
were informed, given the data which proved that the Iraqi's, 
which we had reported as being POW's and brought here as 
refugees, were, in fact, line bosses, individuals who had 
deserted the Iraqi Army and had crossed over to the coalition 
forces and provided the coalition forces with the information 
which was a value to them in defeating Iraq and the recapture 
of Kuwait.
    It was either those, a large number of them were Kurds, who 
had rebelled, if you will recall, up in Northern Iraq and were 
also rebelling down in the South. All of these people had been 
erroneous lumped in as POW's. That was the original mistake.
    I compounded it for you. I made the mistake at the 
Convention last year of reporting them as Iraqi POW's. They 
were, in fact, legitimate Iraqi refugees who were brought here, 
about 2,000 of them. I did report that, I think it was in 
October or November, when the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, 
Spera asked me to put out a paper, which I did to all 
Departments, explaining the error of that Resolution.
    Unfortunately, that Resolution was picked up again this 
year. So, it again contains erroneous information which I 
originally put out. I apologize and I thank you for hearing me 
out.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DENISE NICHOLS (Post 4171--Colorado): I am the one 
that originally brought that back up. I would like to report to 
the Convention that some of our Desert Storm veterans have gone 
to testify in Washington, D.C., which one of these Iraqi POW's 
is now located in his own hometown.
    After the publicity of his testimony, he was called by this 
Iraqi POW and kind of laughed at. He was told, ``Well, I am 
sorry you are sick, sir, but I am being taken care of by your 
government. I have food stamps, I have got welfare'' and the 
whole list of things that our government is providing. ``I am 
really sorry you are sick.''
    It didn't end there. After he testified again, the Iraqi 
POW has called him and threatened his family and the Desert 
Storm veteran. He has had to put his family in hiding, sir, so 
I really think we ought to do something about the Iraqi POW's 
that were brought to this country that are receiving better 
care than our sick Desert Storm vets and are now making 
threats.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Before I ask for any other 
comment, in my own mind, if I understand what is going on here, 
if we adopt this Resolution it keeps the Iraqi refugees out. If 
we don't adopt it, it allows them to come in. I have to agree 
with you. I think we ought to take care of our own people first 
before we worry about the rest of the world.
    Microphone No. 3.
    JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAUL SPERA (Post 144--
Massachusetts): Just for clarification, comrades. As Comrade 
Steadman said, when you passed that Resolution last year, we 
went to the State Department and we brought the matter to them, 
and they gave us certain information which indicated that the 
individuals that were allowed into this country were not, in 
fact, Iraqi POW's.
    We also got information, as Ken just stated, that some of 
them are Kurds, some were individuals who deserted and came to 
our side. Just so that you understand how we operate, we did 
not accept that information at face value. Ken Steadman has a 
wide mentor of individuals within the Defense Department and 
the State Department, and he was instructed to contact that 
network and gather as much information as he could.
    Based on that information that he received, opposition came 
up to this Resolution. I am only telling you this, not to say 
that we should not pass the Resolution, but to let you know 
that when you do pass something like this we will follow up on 
it and we investigate it independently as well as we can.
    With that in mind, I will join with the Commander-in-Chief 
in recommending that we pass this Resolution, because we have a 
lot of problems with our own people here that we need to take 
care of and maybe stop letting all the refugees in to begin 
with.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE JOHN DeBOLD (Post 364--New York): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I concur with your thoughts with regard to 
taking care of our own. As I said yesterday, and I will say it 
again until the day I die, charity begins at home and no place 
else.
    Right today, they are picking up the people that want to 
leave Cuba. What are they doing with them? They are bringing 
them to Guantanamo Bay and we have to support them also. I 
believe that----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrade, we are on a motion. 
This is unrelated.
    COMRADE JOHN DeBOLD (Post 364--New York): You are talking 
about taking care of our own. They pick up the people from Cuba 
and take them to Guantanamo Bay and we are supporting them so--
--
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrade, you are out of order. 
Anything else on the question?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE KEITH BROWN (Post 4695--Texas): I think that we are 
addressing the issue of POW's. Those other individuals who left 
their armies and came over to our side are not POW's. So, I 
support the ban of POW's.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else? If not, all those 
in favor of adopting Resolution 425 will signify by the sign of 
``aye''; those opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE RONALD RUSAKIEWICZ (Post 9460--Connecticut): I 
don't believe the great Chairman of this Committee has yet 
reported on 113 as either being approved or rejected. That was 
Concerning the Granting of Asylum or Residence, Temporary or 
Permanent, in the United States or its Territories to any 
Leader, President, Monarch or Dictator.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is that No. 413, Ron?
    COMRADE RONALD RUSAKIEWICZ (Post 9460--Connecticut): Excuse 
me, Resolution 413. I apologize.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: I did not read that 
particular Resolution. Resolution No. 413 is Concerning the 
Granting of Asylum or Residence, Temporary or Permanent, in the 
United States or its Territories to any Leader, President, 
Monarch or Dictator. We will move adoption of that Resolution.
    COMRADE RONALD RUSAKIEWICZ (Post 9460--Connecticut): We 
agree.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Ron, did you say you want to 
second that motion?
    COMRADE RONALD RUSAKIEWICZ (Post 9460--Connecticut): Yes, I 
would. That is exactly what I said. Ron Rusakiewicz, Post 9460, 
Stratford, Connecticut, seconds that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. Comrades, you have 
heard the motion and the second. On the question. Hearing none, 
all those in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; 
those opposed. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    Anything else that we may have missed? If not, I would like 
to call back up our Chairman of the PAC Committee and also the 
Director of our PAC Office.

                   PRESENTATION BY THE PAC COMMITTEE

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SODEN: That is what happens when 
you are looking at those slot machines popping all night long. 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, this morning it gives me a great 
deal of pleasure, on behalf of the PAC Board, the Director and 
myself to present this to you for your support that you have 
given the PAC.
    This is presented to George R. Cramer, Commander-in-Chief, 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, in appreciation for your support to 
the VFW-PAC 1993-94.
    Chief, I really want to sincerely thank you for allowing me 
the privilege to serve this year as the PAC Chairman. I present 
this to you with our most profound thanks.
    Chief, I just want to add one thing. Bob Currieo has served 
as Director of the PAC for five years. He will be leaving that 
position to assume a new position with our organization. I 
sincerely would like each and every one of you to join with me 
in thanking Bob for the outstanding leadership and direction he 
has given to the Political Action Committee.
    Bob, thank you very, very much. [Applause]
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF BOB CURRIEO: Thank you.

       INTRODUCTION--HARRY G. SUMMERS, JR., COWLES HISTORY GROUP

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: At the 92nd VFW National 
Convention, the VFW presented its prestigious VFW News Media 
Award to a distinguished author and journalist.
    Retired Army Colonel Harry G. Summers, a syndicated 
columnist, editor and author of the ``Korean War Almanac'', has 
served on the faculties of the U.S. Army War College and the 
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
    Beginning as an Infantry Squad Leader in the Korean War, he 
rose through the ranks, building a distinguished military 
career, as a Battalion and Corps Operations Officer in the 
Vietnam War and later as a negotiator in meetings with the Viet 
Cong and North Vietnamese.
    His articles on strategy and his commentary on military 
issues have appeared in syndicated columns across the nation 
and in such renowned military journals as ``Army, Military 
Review'' and ``The Naval Institute Proceedings.''
    Colonel Summers is a nationally-syndicated columnist and 
editor of ``Vietnam'' magazine. Harry Summers knows of what he 
writes. He served with the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th 
Infantry Division in Korea, 1950-51, and in Vietnam with the 
2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, 1966-67.
    Among his decorations and awards are the Combat Infantry 
Badge for both Korea and Vietnam, the Silver Star, the Bronze 
Star for Valor, and two Purple Hearts. He is a member of VFW 
Post 8065 in Bowie, Maryland.
    Comrades and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, will you please 
join me in welcoming a distinguished journalist and soldier, 
Colonel Harry G. Summers, Jr.

                  REMARKS BY COLONEL HARRY G. SUMMERS

    COMRADE HARRY SUMMERS (Post 8065--Maryland): I was 
impressed at the dinner the other night when the Past Commander 
was speaking and someone in the wings said, ``Cut to the 
chase.'' Well, it is pretty easy to cut to the chase when you 
are talking about the future of the United States military and 
the future of the United States.
    As you know, we are in disarray. We are in disarray not so 
much on the fighting ability of our armed forces because we 
probably have the best armed forces we have ever had. I had the 
great opportunity to interview General Fred Franks. Some of you 
may know he led the 7th Corps attack in the Gulf.
    He lost a leg in Vietnam, and he left and spent 22 months 
in the hospital, and came back with an artificial leg, and he 
led the attack in the Gulf War. He is a great soldier. He is 
head of the Army Training Doctrine Command at the present time. 
He couldn't say enough good things about the soldiers that we 
have today.
    As an Army Colonel to be named the General in charge of war 
strategy at the Marine Corps University, to sort of test the 
thesis, you can tell a Marine but you can't tell him much. I 
must say I am very impressed with the Marine Corps in 
everything they do, including education. They are a great group 
of students.
    Anyway, the military we have today is in great shape. The 
challenge is keeping it in great shape. Even the President has 
said that we probably have cut as far as we can go, and I think 
that is certainly true. We are now probably at the rock bottom 
if we are going to protect the United States and defend its 
interests in the world.
    I think it was particularly apropos this vote just a few 
moments ago on the Resolution to oppose invasion of Haiti. One 
of the things that has come back to the great truth is that the 
United States was called 160 years ago a treatarian military. 
What does it mean?
    It means 160 years ago that the military no longer belongs 
to the king, it no longer belongs to the chief executive, it 
belongs to the people. The people have learned from the French 
Revolution and our people have learned from the American 
Revolution.
    The American military belongs to the American people. It 
belongs in particular to the American people who know something 
about it, you, sitting in the audience. The people who know 
what the military is, certainly in its ranks know what it could 
do and what it can't do.
    As General Shalikashvili recently said concerning Bosnia, 
``You just can't build a democracy on the point of a bayonet.'' 
The Iraqi military is the one telling people that. One of the 
strange things we have had since the end of the Cold War, for 
the want of a better name, we can call it intervention doves.
    People don't know a damn thing about the military and will 
be against the military intervention and every intervention we 
have ever had, and now are screaming to invade Bosnia, invade 
Haiti, invade wherever. I mean, it is absolutely amazing.
    Being from Maryland, and the people from Maryland will 
probably appreciate this, the strangeness of the political 
climate now. When Barbara Mikulski ran for the Senate last 
time, she has been opposed to the military and in the beginning 
she had a Schwarzkopf of Maryland. I thought you can't beat 
that, I must say.
    The idea that the intervention of doves is somehow the 
military can do everything. They can build nations, they can do 
this and that and the other, and Haiti at least being one. Of 
course, President Clinton ran on precisely that platform, the 
platform that the military of the future, the primary job would 
be peace keeping, the primary job would be intervention under 
the U.N. auspices, would be intervention in all the troubled 
spots around the world.
    We have got troubled spots around the world. We always have 
had and we always will be. The interesting thing is when the 
Presidential Directive 13, which was the alkaline of this new 
military under U.N. command in intervening around the world, he 
ran into a fire storm from whom, the American people, who said 
no way.
    It really should not have surprised me being from Arkansas, 
I must say. The last time I was at the Embassy in Saigon in 
1975, I must say a terse moment, my counterpart said, ``How can 
you do this? How can you abandon an ally in time of need?'' I 
said rather cynically, ``Look, I am from Ohio and I must say 
not only Ohians don't give a damn about Vietnam, they are not 
too keen on New York and San Francisco, either, when it comes 
down to it.'' I think that has generally been true.
    One of the last speakers said Americans should take care of 
Americans first. That is hardly a new idea. George Washington 
said this in his Farewell Address, the idea that Americans 
should look to Americans first. I think that is generally true, 
and the idea that the United States somehow is going to be the 
world's policeman or the world's nanny is just not going to get 
it.
    It is not going to get it, because the military doesn't 
belong to the President, the military belongs to you. You are 
the people who determine whether or not it is going to succeed. 
Now, if you sought this vote, it is not that lopsided, it is a 
concern we are concerned about humanitarian need and helping 
people in need.
    We primarily are concerned with taking care of ourselves. I 
think that is the way it should be. That is the way it is going 
to be. As we look to the foreign policy and military policy of 
the United States, what is in terrible disarray now is this 
whole idea that President Clinton campaigned on that military 
is going to be the world peace keepers and to look after all 
the ills of the world.
    The American people have said we don't want our sons and 
daughters doing that. We don't want to see them committed in 
all these places around the world. The interesting thing to me 
was that after all this luster, we are going to do this and do 
that, Senator Byrd from West Virginia stands up in the Senate 
last year and said get the troops out of Somalia by 31 December 
or I am going to get off this war.
    An interesting aside, he said, ``I want to send them the 
basic high school civic lesson that we have three branches of 
Government and the Congress controls the purse strings.'' 
Wouldn't you think an Oxford Rhodes Scholar would understand 
that and it wouldn't have to be explained to him?
    I am not picking on Clinton but all the presidential 
administrations, especially the imperial eunuchs that surround 
him and the things they do. He said, ``I am going to give them 
a wake-up call.'' The Senate just did it again, as you know, 
and said that the Resolution on the U.N. Resolution on Haiti 
was not going to cut it. That was not sufficient basis for the 
President to use it. The House of Representatives had already 
passed that.
    I guess one of the best messages today is that the people 
are back in charge. The American people, and the people forget 
this, the American people gave it to us on faith in Vietnam for 
31 months. They supported the war overwhelmingly for 31 months, 
the same period of time for the Invasion of North Africa, the 
VEA in Europe.
    After 31 months, they said either win the damn thing or get 
the hell out. When the administration was not able to do 
either, that was the end of the public support for the war. 
They are not going to be this patient in the future. We see it 
with Bangladesh, we see it with Somalia, with Bosnia, and we 
are seeing it now in Haiti.
    The American people's patience on this sort of thing is 
very, very short. That is sort of the bad news about the 
defense of the United States today. When it comes to the peace 
side of the question, we are floundering because as Ambassador 
Hinton said the other day, we don't know what the hell we are 
doing. We have no plan.
    The good news is that we are where it counts, and we were 
where it counts in World War II, Northeast Asia and the Middle 
East where we have true vital interests. Its interest is so 
vital that we will go to war for you and have gone to war for 
you in World War I and World War II in Europe, and the war in 
Asia in World War II, and Korea and Vietnam.
    In those areas, where we have true vital interests, the 
President has been remarkably firm. That has not shown. I must 
say he has not much credit for it. President Carter came in the 
campaign for withdrawal of forces from North Asia and was told 
by the Soviet Union and China and Japan that was not a very 
smart idea since it was destablizing all of Southeast Asia. 
President Clinton has continued to station 100,000 troops in 
the Western Pacific.
    The question comes, will we defend Korea? Those of you who 
are Korean veterans know it was an academic question. We are 
going to defend Korea as long as that division sits there. The 
President has also said you were in a dread fall in Europe on 
NATO, whether or not NATO would survive.
    The President did guarantee the floor of 100,000 troops for 
NATO for several years. As we have had since 1949, we have 
enabled Presidents in the Gulf, and they are still there. The 
good news is that we are really where it counts, where vital 
interests are truly involved our defense is still pretty 
strong.
    In these areas, the touchy areas of the world, the 
humanitarian areas of the world, the other ideal that the 
United States is the world's savior, there is no consensus 
among the American people that we ought to do that. The first 
thing that the President has got to do, or any President has 
got to do, is to go out to you and convince you that it is 
worth putting your sons' and daughters' lives at risk.
    If you can't do that, we are not going to do it. That is 
the great secret, it seems to me, in the American military is 
that it does really belong to the American people. We take a 
real interest in what it is doing. At the end of the Vietnam 
War, as you may remember, there was a lot of that.
    It said if we can't get rid of the draft, then we would 
have this great mass of people out there of volunteers. The 
people that said that they didn't know who they were and didn't 
even know anybody who knew who they were. We could just commit 
them anywhere, to do anything and we could get away with it.
    When we talk about Foreign Legion, well, they learned in 
Beirut that doesn't happen. Nobody asked whether it was 240 
soldiers or Marines killed at Beirut or whether they were 
draftees or enlistees. They were Americans and in the defense 
of their country. That was the key question.
    We saw it again in Bangladesh when they drug those bodies 
through the street. Nobody asked whether they were draftees or 
enlistees. They were people who put their lives on the line for 
the United States.
    One of the great blessings is that the American military, 
as I said earlier, belongs to the American people. That is your 
job and my job as a member of the VFW as well, to make sure 
that the President never forgets that, never forgets who the 
military belongs to. It belongs to you and it is your support 
that makes it what it is today. Thank you very much.
         PRESENTATION OF LIFE MEMBERSHIP TO MAJOR BUDDY MERRITT

     COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Last night, the VFW held its 
first annual Patriotic Rally. Much of the success of the rally 
can be contributed to ``the tribute to America'' by Major Buddy 
Merritt who produced and directed this tribute because of his 
love for this organization at a greatly reduced cost to 
himself.
     His grandfather, Dr. Virgil Samuel, was VFW Surgeon 
General during the World War I, and he has performed at VFW 
functions at the Southern Conference. Major Merritt is a 
veteran of the United States Navy where he served in the Cuban 
blockade and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
     He is currently a member of the Army National Guard and 
was a helicopter pilot. He most recently went to the Persian 
Gulf with the Department of Defense and worked with the armed 
forces radio and television network where he provided moral 
support to our troops.
     Major Merritt, to show you our appreciation for what you 
do to promote Americanism and good will, it is my pleasure on 
behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to 
present to you your Life Membership in the VFW.

                    RESPONSE BY MAJOR BUDDY MERRITT

     COLONEL MERRITT: I am really humbled by this. My 
grandfather was Surgeon General during World War I at the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and my great-great-grandfather was a 
Brigadier General who fought at Gettysburg and commanded the 
Iron Brigade at the Gettysburg battle.
     I am the namesake of both of those gentlemen. I carry that 
in my blood. We had a little conversation at the hospitality 
suite last night. In that conversation I said to the gentleman 
I was speaking with, ``You know, probably in this room right 
now are men and women whose ancestors are like mine. Maybe they 
weren't Generals, maybe they were Sergeants, maybe they were 
Privates, maybe they fought at Gettysburg or maybe they fought 
in the American Revolution.''
     ``I think that one of the things that makes America great 
is that their blood flows in their veins.'' Maybe that is why I 
love you and the VFW. I can't tell you how highly I regard 
this. God bless you and I thank you very, very much.
     COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you for the great rally 
last night.
     I would like to call on Cleve Cox, Adjutant Quartermaster 
of North Carolina.

          PRESENTATION TO ADJUTANT GENERAL HOWARD VANDER CLUTE

     COMRADE CLEVE COX (Department of North Carolina): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief and Fellow Delegates:
     I would like to ask Mr. Vander Clute if he would come 
forward, please. Last April at the Adjutant Quartermasters' 
Conference we decided to provide to you plaques from each of 
the Conferences upon your retirement. This force represents 
each Conference, with Bill Radigan from the Big Ten, Jack Mack 
from the Western Conference, Bill McArthur from the Eastern 
Conference, and me from the Southern Conference.
     I might add at this time I am the junior member with 30 
years. Radigan has 42 years and Jack has 36 years and McArthur 
with 33.
     ADJUTANT GENERAL VANDER CLUTE: I am the junior member.
     COMRADE CLEVE COX (Department of North Carolina): Howard 
says he is the junior member. Since I am making the first 
presentation, I would like to ask all the Quartermasters from 
the Southern Conference to stand, please. Howard, in addition 
to this plaque, I am also very proud to present this check from 
the Adjutant Quartermasters which represent the monies that 
were left over from the purchase of the plaques.
     I understand that you and Susan are planning a trip to 
Europe next spring, and perhaps this check will make the trip 
more enjoyable.
     Now, Bill McArthur representing the Eastern Conference.
     COMRADE BILL McARTHUR: I would like all the Adjutant 
Quartermasters from the Eastern Conference to please rise. I am 
representing them in presenting this section. It is a four-
section plaque. I am representing the East. Of course, since 
Howard is from the East, Howard and I go back a long way. To 
me, he has been an outstanding Adjutant General.
     I didn't think he was going to be one. He certainly proved 
me wrong. He was a terrific Adjutant General.
     COMRADE JACK MACK (Department of Utah): I am the Adjutant 
Quartermaster from the Western Conference, and I would like for 
all the Adjutant Quartermasters of the Western Conference to 
please stand up because all of you guys contributed to this 
award.
     COMRADE BILL RADIGAN (Post 3061--South Dakota): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief and Comrades: I would ask the Adjutant/
Quartermasters of the Big Ten Conference to stand and join with 
me as I make this presentation to a great individual who has 
served our organization well.
     Will all the Big Ten Adjutant/Quartermasters please rise. 
Howard, it is my pleasure to present you with this plaque. Now, 
comrades, my colleagues, the Department Adjutant Quartermasters 
have given me a great honor here today. I have been selected to 
present the final plaque from us to Howard.
     It is also an honor but is bothering me a bit. This man 
has served us very well. Those of us who have been Adjutant/
Quartermasters during his term of office know that there are 
three things always true about this gentleman. One thing is 
when you call and tell his secretary you have a problem, he 
will not forsake you. He will answer you. He will call you back 
and discuss it with you.
     Number two, we all know when we have a problem that they 
may get sticky and they may get difficult and maybe a lot of 
conversation and there may be some feelings. Number three, we 
all know when it is all over, this comrade will walk up to us, 
shake our hand and tell us we have got to go on with the 
business of running this organization.
    He made it very plain to us in the years that he served us, 
nearly 14, that we were Lieutenants and he was on our side. 
Howard, I don't think there is anyone in this audience that has 
served under you as an Adjutant/Quartermaster that doesn't feel 
that way and that we hate to see you go, but we want you to 
know that we realize you had an awesome job, you had tremendous 
responsibilities.
    We think you handled them well and you treated us fairly. I 
would like every individual in here who has during Howard's 
term of office been either a Department Adjutant or a 
Department Quartermaster to stand as we present this plaque to 
him, which I am going to take the privilege to read.
    ``Howard E. Vander Clute, Jr., presented in appreciation of 
your many years of support and assistance as the Adjutant 
General. From your friends, State Adjutants and Quartermasters, 
August, 1994.''
    I have had fewer honors and privileges that have affected 
me more, Howard. I am glad I got to present this to you in 
recognition of all you have done for our great organization. We 
all thank you.

            RESPONSE BY ADJUTANT GENERAL HOWARD VANDER CLUTE

    ADJUTANT GENERAL VANDER CLUTE: To receive such an honor 
from distinguished Adjutant/Quartermasters representing each of 
the conferences is an honor that, first, I didn't expect, and 
secondly, I desire to share it with others.
    Number one, I hate to have attention directed away from the 
Commander-in-Chief as he conducts this Convention, because I 
know how important it is to him and to all of you. I thank you 
for allowing this to occur, Commander-in-Chief, this morning.
    I have a high regard and a deep respect for all of those 
members of this organization that serve, first of all, as 
Department Adjutant-Quartermasters, because I know the 
hardships they must endure in that position. In most instances, 
they are understaffed, simply because there is not that kind of 
revenue in the Departments to provide for the staff that is 
necessary.
    Secondly, I suspect that most or probably most are under-
compensated for what they do. It is a 24-hour job attending to 
the business of this organization, in each of our individual 
Departments, and to stand here and receive recognition from 
four Department Quartermasters who have service far beyond that 
which I have rendered to this organization, believe me, I have 
deeply felt emotion that I perhaps cannot explain.
    As I stand here this morning and tell you again as I told 
you Monday when many of you were in attendance, that was an 
emotional high for me. I have been on an emotional high this 
entire week. Please let me repeat to you once again that my 
service to this organization was exciting, was memorable, was 
something that I will never forget.
    My entire adult life has been spent in the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars and my life is long from being over, and I expect 
to dedicate the rest of my life, compensated or not 
compensated, because there are so many of you out there who 
work so hard for this organization with very little recognition 
and very little compensation, only the self-satisfaction of 
knowing that you are working for your country, you are working 
for your fellow veteran and for his survivors. That should be 
self-satisfaction enough for all of us.
    However, I had the addition of being compensated for what I 
did. I initially had the privilege of going many places to 
represent you, which I was proud to do. I have been proud to 
serve every Commander-in-Chief that I have served.
    I think this organization has been most fortunate to, 
first, have those Adjutant/Quartermasters working for us in the 
field, such as they have, and secondly, the kind of quality of 
leadership that we have been blessed with over the years. Thank 
you very, very much.
    [Whereupon, the assembly extended a prolonged rising 
ovation to Adjutant General Vander Clute.]

PRESENTATION OF VFW ARMED FORCES AWARD, GOLD MEDAL AND CITATION TO THE 
                   JOINT TASK FORCE--FULL ACCOUNTING

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Veterans of Foreign Wars has 
been in the forefront of the POW/MIA issue for the last two 
decades, demanding that it remain the highest national 
priority.
    The VFW was the first to call for an independent public 
commission to look into all allegations and give the true facts 
to families, veterans and the American public. Resolution of 
this important issue will not be made in Washington but in the 
field.
    For the past two years, we have been most fortunate to have 
with us U.S. Major General Thomas Needham, Commander of Joint 
Task Force--Full Accounting.
    Working out of his headquarters in Hawaii and with tams 
throughout Southeast Asia, he is the point man of an important 
mission. His job is to determine the fate of and make as full 
an accounting as possible of Americans still unaccounted for 
from the Vietnam War.
    Because of the tireless efforts of General Needham and his 
dedicated staff, the VFW is presenting to Joint Task Force--
Full Accounting this year's Armed Forces Award.
    Ladies and gentlemen, a special welcome for General Thomas 
Needham.
    ``The Veterans of Foreign Wars Armed Forces Award, Gold 
Medal and Citation awarded to Thomas H. Needham, Major General, 
United States Army, and the Men and Women of Joint Task Force--
Full Accounting.''
    ``In special recognition of General Needham's leadership 
and devotion to duty and the dedication of those men and women 
of Joint Task Force--Full Accounting, who have endured exposure 
to disease, inhospitable climates and torturous terrain in 
pursuit of their mission to fully account for our missing 
comrades in Southeast Asia thus fulfilling our government's 
initiative to attain the fullest possible accounting of our 
missing men and that this issue will remain for all of us a 
non-negotiable matter of honor.''
    This has been signed today by me as Commander-in-Chief, and 
attested to by Adjutant General Vander Clute.
    General Needham, I personally want to thank you and the 
young men and women of Joint Task Force--Full Accounting for 
what you have done to try to get an accounting of all our 
missing people.
                       RESPONSE--GENERAL NEEDHAM

    GENERAL NEEDHAM: Commander-in-Chief Cramer, Senior Vice 
Commander-in-Chief Kent, Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Spera, 
our Distinguished Guests, Members of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, Ladies and Gentlemen:
    Thank you for this generous introduction and welcome. I am 
deeply honored to finally stand before you today. As the 
President said so well during the 50th Anniversary of D-Day 
earlier this summer, you are those who when you were young 
saved the world. You are also those who responded whenever your 
country called.
    In addition, the list of previous recipients of this award 
is most impressive. To be perfectly honest, I feel unworthy to 
be listed among them. However, I am most pleased to accept this 
award not as a recognition of what I have done, but rather as 
an acknowledgement of the magnificent work and the untold 
sacrifices made by the men and women of the Joint Task Force--
Full Accounting and the Central Identification Lab in Hawaii 
and the United States Pacific Command.
    A few of you know the full story of the efforts your 
Government has made to resolve the Vietnam POW/MIA issue. 
Fortunately, some of you have just recently, as of last month, 
seen our troops in action, have visited some of the isolated 
sites that the Joint Task Force--Full Accounting routinely 
inhabit.
    You have seen some of the unbelievable terrain and some of 
you have seen the hardship these members endure on a daily 
basis. This is something that I have been trying to communicate 
at every opportunity that I have had. So, if you will indulge 
me for a few moments while I take this opportunity to brag on 
the men and women assigned to the Joint Task Force--Full 
Accounting.
    The Joint Task Force--Full Accounting's undertaking is 
massive, it is intense, it is even more importantly working. 
The Task Force team has just one goal in mind and that is to 
answer truthfully the foremost questions directed by such as 
yourself that family members have on their mind.
    What happened to those Americans still unaccounted for? If 
they died, where are their remains? Each member of the Task 
Force, from senior officer to the junior enlisted person, feels 
a close kinship with you and with the family members. In a 
sense, they work for you and they know it.
    This provides an almost unbelievable motivation, a greater 
motivation than I have experienced in 33 years in uniform. 
Working under intense pressure and extremely dangerous 
environments and arduous conditions, these men and women, 
military and civilian, are performing magnificently and they 
never complain.
    I must be honest they have achieved much more than we 
thought possible two years ago. The answers, the facts are 
passed on to you and, most importantly, to the families are 
truthful. But more than 8,000 occasions in the past 30 months, 
the Task Force has passed on meaningful data to family members 
about their loved ones.
    The Joint Task Force--Full Accounting teams have 
investigated more than 1,500 cases in China, Vietnam, Laos and 
Cambodia, and more than 180 sites, both fresh and burial sites 
in those four countries, have been excavated. More than 240 
sets of remains, with the potential of being those unaccounted 
for Americans, have been returned to U.S. soil.
    The intense investigation of the priority structure the 
cases. Those cases, where we believe that the U.S. individual 
was alive at the time of the loss have been investigated. Those 
members have been reduced from 135 to 55. The remains of 38 
individuals also have been identified and returned to their 
families.
    The truth about the Joint Task Force--Full Accounting and 
its work is once we were granted the kind of access to the 
counties necessary, we aggressively reacted and pursued every 
opportunity to gain insight and information about the more than 
2,000 Americans still unaccounted for as a result of the 
Vietnam War.
    More families know more about their loved ones today, and 
that is a real measure of our success. The effort has not been 
easy, inexpensive or risk-free. The Task Force team members are 
working in some of the most difficult terrain in the world. 
They routinely deal with exposure to disease, very arduous 
circumstances and, yes, even hostile fire.
    They spend 200 days a year separated from their families 
and they get little notice. To rectify that somewhat, I have 
brought along with me a representative group of dedicated, 
committed, hard-working troops who comprise the Joint Task 
Force--Full Accounting and the Central Identification Lab.
    These folks are the ones that deserve your applause and 
recognition. I would ask them over to my left to stand as I 
read their name. Please stand up on the stage so you can see 
them.
    First, Major Roger Overture with the United States Air 
Force; Master Sergeant Scott Marx, United States Air Force; 
Sergeant First Class Steve Thompson, United States Army; Mr. 
Ray Spock, Department of the Navy, civilian; Captain Kenneth 
Regis, United States Army, Central Identification Laboratory.
    These folks are the ones that do the work and represent the 
350 personnel assigned to the Joint Task Force--Full Account 
and Central Identification Lab that every day of the year are 
working. I not only thank them in your behalf, but I thank them 
for the service they have given to our country. Thank you very 
much.
    So, if you will allow me, I will accept this award in their 
behalf. General Vessey, who was awarded the Presidential Medal 
of Freedom two years ago for his service as a presidential 
emissary to Vietnam regarding the POW/MIA issue said he wished 
he could cut the medal into 150 pieces to share it with the 
Joint Task Force--Full Accounting.
    At that time I was appreciative, but not knowing how 
precisely he felt, but today on behalf of the Joint Task 
Force--Full Accounting, the Central Identification Lab and the 
men and women of the Pacific Commands who are working in 
Hawaii, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, I thank you for 
this honor and ask that you never forget the sacrifice and 
their devotion to duty.
    Keep supporting our government as it works to resolve this 
extremely difficult and emotional POW/MIA issue. Thank you very 
much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, General Needham. We 
personally thank your young men and women who work with you at 
the JTFFA.
    I would like to call next on the Veterans Service Committee 
Chairman, Past Commander-in-Chief Cooper T. Holt, for his 
report.

                REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON VETERANS SERVICE

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: Thank you, Commander-in-Chief 
Cramer. Commander, I have certain comments I wish to express at 
this time. I would like to thank you for appointing me as 
Chairman of our Veterans Service Resolutions Committee. I want 
you to know I have truly enjoyed the challenge and all our 
Committee members, all 145 of them, were extremely active in 
all deliberations.
    I wish to express my deep appreciation to the Washington 
office staff for their cooperation and expertise. Of course, I 
speak of Jim Magill, Director of our VFW National Legislative 
Service, Fred Juarbe, Director of our VFW National Veterans 
Service and other staff members, Commander-in-Chief, who made 
our job much easier, including Bill Dozier, Field 
Representative from the National Veterans Service, Jay Boone, 
Appeals Consultant of the National Veterans Service, John 
Dublin, Field Representative of the National Veterans Service, 
William Bradshaw, Senior Field Representative of National 
Veterans Service, and Jimmy Lee Wallace, who has been my right 
hand and Special Assistant of National Veterans Service.
    Sid Daniels, Director of National Veterans Employment, Ted 
Simco, Field Representative of National Services. Robert Mahan, 
Assistant Director of National Legislative Services, Jim 
Jewell, Field, Representative of the National Veterans Service, 
and Rodney Graham, Military, National Veterans Service.
    My comrades, all these individuals are seated on the 
platform and I would appreciate it if you would give them a 
hand. They have done a fine job for you. [Applause]
    Delegates to this Convention, our Committee on Veterans 
Service Resolutions considered 125 Resolutions. The Committee 
members were divided into four separate subcommittees. The 
Subcommittee 1, VA Medical Programs, Ray O'Neill, from 
Michigan, served as the Chairman. Bill Kirsop from Florida 
served as Vice-Chairman.
    Subcommittee 2, Veterans Benefits and Entitlements, Richard 
Branson from Georgia served as its Chairman, and Carlo DiGrazia 
from Illinois served as Vice-Chairman.
    Subcommittee 3, from National Employment, Tony Iuo served 
as Chairman and Gary Kurpius from Alaska served as Vice-
Chairman. Our Subcommittee 4, on Other Benefits, Alfred Simmons 
from Maryland served as Chairman, and Tom Hanson from Minnesota 
served as Vice-Chairman.
    Comrades, all of these Committee members, at least to my 
opinion, served with distinction. They performed their duties 
over and above the call of duty. Commander-in-Chief, you also 
appointed Harvey ``Bulldog'' Smith from Georgia as Vice-
Chairman of our Committee, truly an energetic VFW member.
    ``Bulldog'' certainly gave of his time and efforts toward 
the successful conclusion of our Committee work. He is a credit 
to our VFW, he is dedicated to our cause, and I certainly 
enjoyed working with him. ``Bulldog'', take a bow, please. Give 
him a hand. [Applause]
    Now, Commander-in-Chief, with your permission I will begin 
the report of our Committee by reading those Resolution numbers 
that were approved by our Committee, and secondly, I will 
submit to the delegates attending this Convention the 
Resolutions that were approved, as amended.
    Finally, I will submit the Resolutions that were 
recommended for rejection or were rejected in favor of other 
Convention Resolutions. We have a booklet for those of you who 
are trying to keep up with us on the Resolution actions.
    Now, for the first group. Those Resolutions that were 
approved by Committee action, and if any delegate would like 
any of these Resolutions to be set aside, please make a note of 
the Resolution number and request such action after I complete 
the report of this particular group of Resolutions.
    If you are ready, I am ready, and we shall take off. These 
are the Resolutions that have been recommended for approval: 
Nos. 601, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 612, 616, 
617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 
631, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 642, 643, 645, 
646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 659, 660, 
661, 662, 665, 667, 668, 673, 676, 678, 680, 686, 688, 689, 
690, 691, 693, 694, 701, 702, 703, 709, 712, 713, 716, 720 and 
724 which is not in your packet, and the title of that is VA 
Grave Markers.
    They have been recommended for approval. Now, those are the 
ones that the Committee has recommended approval of. Are there 
any set asides? Are there any set asides?
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOHN LUTZ (Post 6640--Louisiana): I would like to 
have set aside Resolution 650.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: Are there any more set 
asides? Commander, I move that all the Resolutions recommended 
for approval by your Committee, except the one set aside, be 
accepted by the delegates attending this 95th National 
Convention.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, there is a motion. Is 
there a second?
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE TORCHY DAMES (Post 2260--Wisconsin): Commander-in-
Chief, I will second that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion. On the question. Hearing nothing, all those in favor 
will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; opposed ``no''. The 
``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOHN LUTZ (Post 6640--Louisiana): Comrades, I am 
currently stationed at Travis Air Force Base and I am Operating 
Supervisor of the David Grant Medical Center. I am also in a 
joint planning venture group with the DOD and the VA. I would 
like to make a few remarks about Resolution No. 650. What is 
most important is perhaps the bottom line.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: Excuse me. Let me tell you 
that Resolution 650 is Health Reform Regarding VA and DOD 
Health Care, for those of you that don't know what he is 
talking about.
    Go ahead, sir.
    COMRADE JOHN LUTZ (Post 6640--Louisiana): My name is John 
Lutz, Post 6640, Louisiana. I am currently on active duty at 
Travis Air Force Base. The bottom line is this. The VA and the 
DOD joint ventures is not the complete picture. When you speak 
of health care reform in the VA and the DOD, it cannot be in a 
vacuum with health-care reform that we hear and talk about 
every single day and the dialogue that is going on currently in 
Washington.
    We have to realize that it is our responsibility, just as 
William Bennett said the other day, to take it upon ourselves 
to educate ourselves. What is it that is happening, what is 
required? Having been a part of the joint planning group at 
Travis, I can tell you that it is a much more complex problem 
and what we really need is an understanding.
    What I would like to do very quickly is just give you, 
comrades, a quick education on what health care reform means to 
the VA and the DOD and civilians. The bottom line, the VA and 
the DOD have been mandated by Waashington to compete against 
the civilian counterparts. You think about that.
    As the beginning of this Resolution 650 says, that the VA 
Health Care System is the largest health-care system in the 
country with 172 hospitals and an operating budget of $15 
billion. According to Representative Montgomery, it will soon 
be $16 billion a year, the system that accesses 10 percent of 
the 60 million plus veterans in this country.
    In the DOD, we have never done much with cost containment, 
particularly as well as our civilian counterparts. In other 
words, what I am telling you is that the lean green machines 
are not in the VA or the DOD. If we are given a mandate to 
compete against them, it will probably be a slaughter.
    For myself, on active duty, I was never guaranteed health 
care for the past 17 years for my wife or my children. It has 
always been conditional on space availability. When I retire in 
a few years, as a retiree, it will be conditional. It will not 
be a guarantee. It will be only on space availability.
    Keep in mind what I am saying as far as competing against 
civilian counterparts. These men tell us we have an over-
abundance of beds in our----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrade Lutz, the Chair is 
becoming confused. One, I am not sure if you are speaking in 
favor or against this Resolution. Two, I think that you are 
introducing subjects into what you are saying that are not 
pertinent to this current Resolution.
    COMRADE JOHN LUTZ (Post 6640--Louisiana): Comrade, this is 
the closest thing I saw in 650 of what you have on your agenda 
where I can address what actually is happening in the field in 
a VA-DOD facility. I am here to tell you that, yes, it is 
working.
    We are trying to make it work very well. But it is just a 
small part of the picture and that it would behoove the VFW and 
all the comrades here to understand that there is really a much 
greater concern personally.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrade, are you speaking in 
opposition to this?
    COMRADE JOHN LUTZ (Post 6640--Louisiana): I am not. I am 
supporting it, but I am saying it does not cover the full 
picture.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: In that case, you were out of 
order. I will have to ask you to stop. Now, what I need to do 
is to have somebody make a motion to adopt Resolution 650.
    COMRADE JOHN LUTZ (Post 6640--Louisiana): I will make the 
motion to adopt.
    COMRADE DEWAIN WEST (Post 2874--Wisconsin): I will second 
that motion, if there is a motion on the floor.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. On the motion. All those in favor will 
signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The 
``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: For the second group, those 
Resolutions that were approved, as amended, again, I will read 
the Resolution number and if any delegate would like any of the 
Resolutions to be set aside, please make a note of the 
Resolution number and request action after I complete the 
report of this group of Resolutions.
    These are the Resolutions approved, as amended. I will tell 
you most of them really include dotting the I, and crossing the 
T and trying to make the Resolution read better. These are the 
Resolutions approved, as amended. They are Nos. 611, 613, 614, 
615, 632, 641, 644, 656, 657, 658, 663, 666, 672, 679, 687, 
699, 700, 704, 711, 714, 721.
    We have a 725 that is not in your packet. It is entitled 
Amended Tax Returns for Military Retirees. Now, those are the 
Resolutions relative to approved as amended. Are there any set 
asides? Are there any set asides?
    Commander-in-Chief, this concludes the Resolutions that the 
Committee recommended be approved as amended. At this time I 
would like to ask the delegates if there are any Resolutions in 
the group to be set aside?
    I heard none, therefore, I move that all Resolutions 
recommended for approval, as amended, except the set asides, 
which we have none, be accepted by the delegates attending this 
95th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOHN SAUNDERS (Post 4809--Virginia): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and second. On the question. Hearing nothing, all those 
in favor will signify by the usual sign of ``aye''; those 
opposed ``no''. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: I will get into the rejected 
ones. Finally, for the last group of those Resolutions that 
were recommended for rejection or rejected in favor of other 
Committee Resolutions. According to the Convention Rules that 
you adopted, I must read the number and the title of these 
particular Resolutions.
    Here we go on the rejected Resolutions, or rejected, as 
amended. No. 602, Approve One-Member Decision at the Board of 
Veterans Appeals. It was rejected simply because it is already 
accomplished by Public Law 103-221.
    No. 629, Tinnitus. That was rejected because it is 
accomplished by proposed regulatory changes already.
    No. 630, Herbicide Exposure, rejected in favor of 
Resolution No. 630.
    No. 664, Veterans' Re-employment Rights Protection, 
rejected in favor of Resolution No. 680.
    No. 669, Guarantee Full-Strength Chaplain Service, rejected 
in favor of Resolution No. 666.
    No. 670, Military Funerals, rejected in favor of Resolution 
721.
    Resolution 671, Establish a Federal Legislative Chairman in 
all 50 States, rejected because the Committee felt that it was 
a duplicated service provided by individual Departments and the 
VFW Action Corps.
    No. 674, Remove Means Tests, rejected because we feel it is 
contrary to the VFW position on eligibility reform.
    No. 675, National Fund Expenditures Saved From Reduction of 
Defense Expenditures be Dedicated and Expended to Provide 
Needed Benefits and Services to the Nation's Veterans and their 
Families, rejected in favor of Resolution 613.
    No. 677, Military Hospital Closures. This was rejected in 
favor of Resolution 610.
    Resolution 681, Prevent VA Functions Being Further 
Splintered. This was rejected in favor of Resolution 625.
    Resolution 682, Nursing Home at VA Hospital Fort Harrison. 
This was rejected because we feel that is a local issue.
    Resolution 683, Need for Another VA Domiciliary Facility. 
This was rejected again because we feel it is a local issue.
    No. 684, Reinstate the VA Transportation System. This was 
rejected, not germane to the VA programs.
    No. 685, Elimination of the VA Pauper's Oath for Hospital 
Admission. This was rejected again because it is contrary to 
the VFW policy on eligibility reform.
    No. 692, Civil Service Employment Practices 
Standardization, rejected because we feel that it requires 
further development.
    No. 695, Entitlements and Benefits of Retired U.S. Military 
Personnel. This was rejected because the Committee feels that 
it creates another special category of veterans.
    No. 696, Reinstatement of U.S. Veterans Employment Rights 
and Entitlements Affected by CINCUSNAVEUR Policy. This was 
rejected because we feel that it needs further development.
    No. 697, Veterans Federal Employment Preference by General 
Accounting Office a Priority. This was rejected because it 
requires further development, in our opinion.
    No. 698, Commissary and Post Exchange Privileges for U.S. 
Military Retirees Residing Overseas, rejected in favor of 
Resolution 689.
    Resolution 705, Funding for VA Hospitals, rejected in favor 
of Resolution 608.
    Resolution 706, Maintain Hospital and Commissary 
Facilities, rejected in favor of Resolution 610.
    Resolution 707, Enforce Compliance of Veterans Preference 
Laws, rejected, in our opinion, because it requires further 
development,
    Resolution 708, Abolish the Means Test as a Criteria for VA 
Medical Services, rejected because the Committee feels it is 
contrary to VFW eligibility reform.
    No. 710, Guaranteed U.S. Armed Forces Medical Support for 
Retirees, rejected in favor of Resolution 609.
    No. 715, Rebuilding/Reinstatement of Complete Inpatient/
Outpatient Services at Sepulvedva V.A.M.C., rejected because it 
is unsafe, in our opinion, to reveal and not cost effective.
    No. 717, Eliminate Social Security Law Inequities Known as 
``The Notch'', rejected in favor of Resolution 639.
    No. 718, Establish a New U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Northern Virginia, rejected again 
because we feel it is a local issue.
    No. 719, To Help the Victims of Agent Orange and other 
Defoliants, rejected in favor of Resolution 660.
    I have two Resolutions that are not in the packet, and 
again we recommend rejection.
    No. 722, The Gulf War Veterans Blood Ban, rejected. The 
Committee felt it was not VFW policy to dictate medical 
determinations.
    No. 723 is not in the packet and it is entitled ``VA Grave 
Markers,'' rejected in favor of Resolution 724.
    Commander, this concludes the Resolutions that are 
recommended for rejection by your Committee. I again ask the 
delegates if there are any Resolutions from this group which 
they wish to set aside.
    Back to No. 630, Herbicide Exposure, we rejected it in 
favor of 660. That is 630. We rejected it in favor of No. 660.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
Resolutions of the Committee to reject, which will 
automatically be done unless you make a motion to adopt.
    The Chair recognizes Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE ERNEST GLYNN (Post 7327--Virginia): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I wish Resolution 717 be set aside.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You will have to make a motion 
to adopt Resolution 717.
    COMRADE ERNEST GLYNN (Post 7327--Virginia): I make a motion 
to adopt Resolution 717.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE RICHARD PIGNONE (Post 3173--California): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am Richard Pignone, Post 3173, Commander 
of the Department of California, seconds that motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second to adopt Resolution 717. On the question.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE ERNEST GLYNN (Post 7327--Virginia): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I wish to inform my comrades about this 
very important question. You have no Resolution in my humble 
opinion before this Convention today more important to every 
man, woman and child in America than the Social Security 
``Notch Law''.
    In the law originally of 1937, one percent of the wages, up 
to $3,000, was deducted. This has been amended through the four 
decades of this operation so that now 7.65 percent from 
employers and 7.65 percent from employees, a total of 15.3 
percent, and this money has been more than adequate to 
carefully fund the Social Security operation.
    However, in 1977, the Social Security ``Notch Law'' was 
erroneously conceived to be going bankrupt in the year 2020. 
Therefore, those persons born after 1 January, 1917, and later 
amended through the year 1921 and 1926, were cheated out of 
their earned employment benefits, otherwise known as Social 
Security ``Notch Law'', to the total of $2,200 and more.
    Currently, there is more money in the Social Security 
``Notch Law'' than is needed to pay-as-you-go basis. Resolution 
No. 639, which was adopted by your Committee, and I respect the 
operations of that Committee, it is not definitely positive. I 
offer these to be positive, be done by the 16,000 delegates to 
this Convention, because the Social Security Administration, as 
of August 15, 1994, was established as an independent agency.
    By that action, 12 persons have now been nominated to a 
Commission of outside experts that will meet in Washington, 
D.C., on the 16th of December. I am on the Speaker's list for 
that to tell them that we think that here in this Convention 
that the Social Security ``Notch Law'' should be amended to do 
three things: restore the benefits of those in the ``Notch 
Law'' four percent, 1917 through 1926, to those that were 
existing in turn to entitlements before that 1977 law went into 
effect.
    Secondly, those government agencies, those state agencies, 
those persons, those individuals who made the loan from the 
Social Security ``Notch Law'', escrow account, should be 
invited to pay back the money they borrowed from that. If you 
make me a loan, Comrade Commander-in-Chief, and I say I am 
going to pay it back, by George, I think you have a right to 
expect me to pay it back.
    I think that we should have a right to ask the General 
Accounting Office to say who done those wrongs, where they are, 
and invite them now to pay that back and put it into the fund 
before we start cheating people in the sundown of their life 
out of the money they thought they were going to have, the 
money that they were planning to give to their children.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, if we have the integrity of 
this great organization totally strong, if we have the 
integrity, and if we have the courage to go forward with this 
and say we feel this way, not only for the members of our 
organization and our sisters in the Auxiliary, let us do the 
honorable thing and quit cheating those people by the Federal 
Government.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrade, I think we got your 
point. I will give you two minutes to summarize what you are 
trying to say.
    COMRADE ERNEST GLYNN (Post 7327--Virginia): All right. Two 
minutes in summary, let's restore what they said they were 
going to have. Let's have an actuary to complete what they will 
have to pay and be on a pay-as-you-go basis. From the actuaries 
that I have been told are in the Congressional Record, people 
who are actually in the field as actuaries, say that five 
percent from the employer and five percent from the employee, a 
total of ten percent, is adequate.
    Let's go back on that, and two years from now let's take 
the crystal ball and let's throw away the broken mirrors, and 
let's go on the actual facts that are reported at that time and 
say whether we need it or whether we don't need it, not when 
somebody is running for office.
    Remember, 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives 
and one-third of the members of the Senate stand for election 
between now and November of this year. Give them the message 
when they ask for your vote to do something for us and quit 
cheating us, and send down the word. I heartily thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: My comrade, I think we all agree 
with you and the reason, as you so strongly put it, the reason 
that the Committee rejected this Resolution was in favor of 
Resolution No. 639, which they felt had a stronger message than 
Resolution No. 717.
    I will call on the Chairman to speak to that at this time.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: I am not the speaker, I just 
agree with everything that the comrade said. We just got a 
better Resolution. That is all.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else? The motion is to 
adopt 717. As I said, we have passed 639, which is already 
stronger. So all those in favor of adopting Resolution 717 will 
signify by the sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The 
``nays'' have it. It is so ordered.
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JIM LINEBERGER (Post 4103--California): I make a 
motion to adopt Resolution No. 722.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: There is a motion on the floor. 
Is there a second?
    COMRADE WAYNE THOMPSON (Post 6061--Colorado): I second the 
motion. Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I understand there will be 
an amendment offered. I suggest it be offered and we take it 
with the amended Resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, there is a motion and 
a second on the floor. Let me ask you, are you making a motion 
to amend what he just said or what?
    COMRADE JIM LINEBERGER (Post 4103--California): Yes, I am.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Go ahead and make your motion to 
amend.
    COMRADE DENISE NICHOLS (Post 4171--Colorado): Commander-in-
Chief, I am Denise Nichols, Post 4171, Colorado. Our amendment, 
if you have the Resolution, if you will read it first, then I 
will offer the amendment.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Go ahead and read it.
    COMRADE JIM LINEBERGER (Post 4103--California): What I am 
going to do, Commander-in-Chief, is read the original 
Resolution first, and I will attempt to read the proposed 
amendment that was handed to us earlier.
    Resolution No. 722, Gulf War Veterans Blood Ban.
    ``WHEREAS, in 1991, a coalition of nations led by the 
United States participated in Operation Desert Shield Storm to 
liberate the nation of Kuwait from Iraqi armed forces; and
    ``WHEREAS, upon return home from the Southwest Asia Theater 
of Operations, many veterans began to experience a moderate 
amount of severe health problems, commonly known as Gulf War 
Syndrome; and
    ``WHEREAS, the cause of the veterans health problems may 
result in multiple exposures to smoke, pollution, pesticides, 
chemical and biological weapons, experimental vaccines, 
depleted uranium and leishmaniasis; and
    ``WHEREAS, as several hundred veterans have died of Gulf 
War Syndrome and many spouses, children and family members of 
Persian Gulf veterans are also experiencing symptoms of the 
Gulf War Syndrome;
    ``NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National 
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 
that we support national and state legislation to ban blood, 
plasma, tissue, sperm, egg and organ donations from Persian 
Gulf veterans, and that the ban should remain in place until 
such time that medical research can prove without a shadow of a 
doubt that the Gulf War Syndrome is not a communicable 
illness.''
    Now, the proposed amendment, I am just going to attempt to 
read the ``Be It Resolved.''
    ``BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that we support 
national and state legislation to seek and support the 
immediate testing of Desert Storm veterans for biologic, 
chemical and radiation exposure; and
    ``BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
of the United States supports a national policy and efforts to 
protect the public from exposure to the Persian Gulf War 
veterans based on the findings of test results, and that the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States support 
reinstating a ban on blood and body donations from this group 
of veterans until all medical and health questions on 
biological exposure are answered.''
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: That is the amendment that you 
are speaking about. Is there a second to the amendment?
    COMRADE JOHN SPORTSMAN (Post 6747--California): I second 
the amendment as read.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You have heard the amendment to 
the motion. Now, on the question. This is on the amendment. 
Does someone want to say something on the amendment?
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DENISE NICHOLS (Post 4171--Colorado): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am a nurse and I have a Master's Degree. 
I have served in Desert Storm. I have been very active in this 
issue over the past year and one-half, and have made many trips 
to Washington at the National Institute of Health and Senator 
Riegle's hearings.
    Senator Riegle has produced a report about this that was 
released on May 24th. It is quite large. His work is not done. 
I can't tell you some of the things I know from him, because we 
have to let the Senator handle this from the best possible way.
    He addressed the issues of biological chemical 
contamination. He felt that the Vietnam vet that is his staffer 
on this, who served in Vietnam who wrote this report, they 
definitely feel that we probably had a biological chemical 
exposure. They are calling us the toxic cocktail veterans.
    We have people that are showing symptoms that did not go 
over there. We have people that dealt with our equipment when 
it came back from the Gulf that never went over there. A 
Vietnam veteran out of Sharp Army Depot that dealt with our 
equipment is having problems.
    I can tell you more, but I am kind of held back because 
Senator Riegle's staffers asked me to hold back a little bit. 
Also, we have veterans' families, the spouses reporting 
problems. We have the children being born, which you are 
already aware, similar to Agent Orange problems, with birth 
defects, health problems.
    I have a daughter who will turn eight on November 4th, 
Election Day. She was four when I left. Guys, I am a little 
worried she is showing some of the symptoms I first 
experienced. I am trying to remain calm, professional about it. 
This is not an unusual story across the nation.
    I spend a lot of money on phone bills talking to vets and 
trying to support them and all hope that things will move 
ahead. We need the VFW to champion our cause. You are comrades 
from previous wars who have bits and pieces from radiation from 
Agent Orange.
    We need your expertise to help us champion this cause. We 
are very concerned about the public health. We don't want to 
contaminate you by you getting blood or by you having an organ 
that may be donated by a vet. A lot of our vets are not as 
fully informed as the ones of us that are going to Washington 
and speak out.
    We are standing out there and being brave. We are putting 
our lives out there again, and we need you behind us. I 
remember the motto of this organization and the Malta Cross, 
``To Honor our Dead is for us to Serve the Living.'' Let's do 
it now and protect the public.
    Redbook just had an extremely excellent article come out 
this September. This brand new article, we have had it on major 
news shows, we have had it on major magazines. What more can we 
do to get the issue out there? We are the ones suffering. We 
are asking you to support us.
    I can go on and on. I will tell you that we had no 
biological warning devices, we had no protection from that 
equipment. On February 9th, Senator Riegle released, and 
included on the May 24th report, pages upon pages of biological 
agents that this country alone, not to mention France, England 
or any other country, had sent to Iraq up until eight days 
before Sadam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
    We had no detection equipment, no protective gear for them. 
Let's do the right thing. Please, VFW comrades, support me in 
this. I want to protect you and your loved ones. I want to get 
the answers from the Desert Storm vets. We have got to work at 
maximum speed if this is a biological issue.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. Before we go into any 
further debate, I would like to call on the Chairman of the 
Committee to explain the Committee's reasons for rejection.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: On the subject we are 
debating now, she is doing an excellent job of it, No. 722, the 
Gulf War Veteran Blood Ban, we rejected it. The Committee 
rejected it simply because it is not VFW policy to dictate 
medical determination.
    Now, furthermore, we all know on the Committee that this 
Resolution came from the Department of California, adopted at 
their Convention. It was assigned to the Medical Group 
Subcommittee 1. The subcommittee recommended, after a lot of 
study, rejection of this Resolution as it is not VFW policy to 
dictate medical determinations.
    This determination, in our opinion, is in the purview of 
the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, the 
National Institute of Health and the American Medical 
Association. It is also noted in Committee deliberations that 
the discussions phase of this Resolution, if approved as 
written, a Persian Gulf veteran would be barred from donating, 
for example, an organ, kidney, et cetera, to a family member 
who might perish without such donation.
    The ``Be It Resolved'' also states that medical research be 
able to ``prove without a shadow of a doubt'' that Gulf War 
Syndrome is not a communicable disease or illness. There is 
absolutely no absolutes in medical research.
    Commander-in-Chief, that is the reason for the Committee's 
action.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE RICHARD PIGNONE (Post 3173--California): I rise in 
favor of this proposal by the lady. The only thing I can see 
wrong with it is that they are the ones that are carrying this 
disease. They are trying to tell us, comrades, not to use their 
blood, not to use their parts in order to protect us.
    This thing has been going on down in Washington, D.C. It 
may not be our policy, but we are signing up these young people 
and we have got to show them that we stand by them. If they are 
asking us to help in this cause, I see no reason that we 
shouldn't, because it will affect us if we say go ahead and 
give us their blood and give us their body parts and our 
children and our families can suffer.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JIM LINEBERGER (Post 4103--California): I am Jim 
Lineberger, once again, Post 4103, South San Francisco and 
District Manager of District No. 12, Northern California. It 
was through my District and the Department of California that 
this Resolution was presented.
    Before getting into my reasons for your support of this 
Resolution, I would like to say at the outset that over the 
past couple of days, those of us who have been directly 
concerned and involved in this Resolution have approached many 
Departments, State Departments at this Convention.
    I want to thank you very, very much for your courtesies, 
for your understandings and I hope, comrades, when it comes 
down to the vote that you will support California because we do 
feel very, very strongly about this issue. Now, the matter at 
hand, in fact, in my District, the Department of California, I 
have over 1,500 Desert Storm and Persian Gulf veterans who are 
members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    They have come to the Department of California by way of 
the 12th District and said this is something that is sorely 
needed. We don't profess to be physicians, chemists or anything 
of the sort. We are interested in humanitarian aspects of this.
    We are simply trying, as Commander Pignone pointed out, to 
carry out the wishes of those in our ranks who are personally 
acquainted with this problem. I would also like to advise that 
in the last three days I have had an opportunity to speak 
personally with the closest aide and advisor to Congressman 
Montgomery.
    I want to say this, that the House of Representatives and 
the Congress of the United States has appropriated $56 million 
to look into this problem. This Bill has now been approved by 
the House. It has been passed on to the Senate. It will no 
doubt be decided by a Committee of the Senate and the House.
    We know that there are a lot of Desert Storm and Persian 
Gulf veterans out there. We want to protect them and we want to 
protect you. There will be others speaking on this Resolution. 
Please give us your support and your consideration. We thank 
you so much for your attention.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOHN BURNS (Post 2097--Connecticut): I wish to 
speak in favor of the motion. It was many years ago when the 
State of Connecticut brought a Resolution on Agent Orange 
defoliant and it is the National Officers on the Committee that 
voted against it.
    With a lengthy debate on the floor, we were the first 
veterans organization to go on record favoring legislation for 
Agent Orange. I wish we would be the first organization going 
on record in favor of this Resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE FLOYD VOLKER (Post 1660--California): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, my name is Floyd Volker, Post 1660, 
Sacramento, California, District 17. First of all, the 
amendment does not dictate to the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
about taking this on personally and making themselves 
vulnerable.
    What it does is it takes our veterans that come to us for 
help, and what we are doing is supporting the legislative 
branch and getting behind them to get that blood tested. To 
answer the question that our young men that came back from the 
Persian Gulf, and some of them don't even talk about it, we are 
answering their pertinent question, that they want to be tested 
and they want to be known.
    That is the main point here. They are just asking for it. 
We didn't know how to do it. We came here and we talked to the 
experts. A lot of the Commanders are behind it. Let's make the 
VFW support it and get that money appropriated and get the men 
in to be tested for the specific things we are asking for. 
Thank you very much.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE RICHARD FITZGERALD (Post 7721--Florida): I stand to 
support this with a very free statement of an adage taught to 
me many years ago, that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound 
of cure. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anyone else?
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DEAN LUNDHOLM (Post 5888--California): I am the one 
that wrote the original Resolution. I will have to apologize 
for not knowing what the VFW policy is. We have not been in the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars very long. We are begging for your 
help to know why we are sick, why our spouses are sick, why our 
children are sick.
    Do they want to pay us off with compensation? Yes, we need 
compensation. My only income is $100 a month in food stamps, 
which I have got to sit there in Safeway and be degraded every 
time I use them. Yes, it is a little personal issue. Yes, it is 
a little touchy issue.
    These wounds are fresh and salt doesn't help. We want to 
protect the American people. That is what we signed up to do. 
We want the VFW to be the crusaders in this battle, regardless 
of what their past policy has been.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you.
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE JOHN STEPHENSON (Post 3031--Arkansas): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, I am a Vietnam veteran and I would like to 
speak in favor of this. The CDC years ago, or not even that 
long ago, came out and took millions of our taxpayers' dollars 
only to turn around and tell the government they weren't 
qualified to do a study on Agent Orange.
    If they are not qualified to do a study on Agent Orange, 
they sure are not qualified to do one on the Gulf problem. We 
need the medical people to find out what in the world is wrong 
with this problem and get it corrected now.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE CLYDE DAVIS (Post 1604--Illinois): Comrade 
Commander-in-Chief, Clyde Davis, Post 1604, Department of 
Illinois. I move the previous question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. Is there a second to 
move the question?
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE FRANZ WEDEMANN (Post 2828--California): I second 
it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, there is a motion and 
a second to get on with the vote. We are just voting on the 
amendment first, to get the amendment on the floor for a vote. 
All those in favor will say ``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The 
``ayes'' have it. It is so ordered.
    We will now vote on the amended Resolution. It was 
incorporated with the ``Therefore, Be It Resolved.'' All those 
in favor of the amended Resolution, as it was read here, 
signify by the sign of--we have stopped debate already.
    COMRADE JACK VRTJAK (Post 1612--Illinois): The motion was 
to put the question. We should have been voting on putting the 
question, not voting on the amendment. We should be voting on 
the amendment as the second vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: We were now voting on the 
amended motion, is that correct? You-all are starting to 
confuse me. I thought this motion was to adopt the Resolution, 
as amended, correct? All those in favor of adopting the 
Resolution as amended, as it was amended, signify by the sign 
of ``aye''; all those opposed to the contrary. The ``ayes'' 
have it. It is so ordered.
    No. 720 has been adopted as amended. Are there any further 
motions to adopt Resolutions that were suggested for rejection?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE DOMINIC RAMONO (Post 7330--Connecticut): Commander, 
under a personal privilege, I was on the floor prior to the 
count of the vote on the Social Security ``Notch Law'', 
Resolution 717. I would like to speak in favor of 717, because 
there was only one speaker.
    Irregardless of that, whether I get recognized to speak 
after the vote, I am here to question the vote. It was a voice 
vote. It seemed like the ``ayes'' have it, and I am asking for 
reconsideration of that vote.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Chair was not in doubt. That 
Resolution 717 was rejected. If you want to move for 
reconsideration, you have to be on the prevailing side.
    COMRADE DOMINIC RAMONO (Post 7330--Connecticut): I am 
asking for a recall.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You did not vote in favor of 
rejection, right? Then you cannot do that. Is there anyone 
else, someone who would like to perhaps make a motion to adopt 
a Resolution that we rejected on Veterans Service? There is 
nothing.
    Are you done, Mr. Chairman?
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HOLT: Yes.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To you 
and your Committee, you are now discharged.
    I would like to call on the Director of Parades, Bob Brady, 
for his awards.
    COMRADE GLENN TUCKER (Post 7327--Virginia): Comrade 
Commander, I rise for a point of personal privilege, if you 
please.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: State your rank, serial number 
and state your point.
    COMRADE GLENN TUCKER (Post 7327--Virginia): I am from Post 
7327, Springfield. I stood at this microphone purposely to ask 
that Resolution No. 718 be set aside so that I could bring 
something before this Convention. It is a separate Resolution 
and it has not been discussed here on the Convention floor.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Are you making a motion?
    COMRADE GLENN TUCKER (Post 7327--Virginia): I make a motion 
to grant us that privilege.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: To adopt 718, is that what you 
are saying?
    COMRADE GLENN TUCKER (Post 7327--Virginia): Yes, 718, a 
motion to adopt.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    COMRADE DOMINIC RAMONO (Post 7330--Connecticut): I second 
it.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I will take the second. But if 
you don't mind, I would like a point of personal privilege 
since I introduced somebody to do some awards, I will not 
forget you. I want you to do these awards. Some of these units 
have early flights this afternoon, and we would like to give 
them their awards before they leave. We will bring this right 
back after the awards.

          NATIONAL MARCHING UNITS AND PARADE COMMITTEE WINNERS

    COMRADE ROBERT BRADY (Post 7090--Pennsylvania): Commander-
in-Chief, our awards to the units that won during the period of 
our contest that started Monday through Wednesday are as 
follows:
    The winner of our Senior VFW Color Guard was Aurora Silver 
Rifles, VFW Post 2629, Aurora, Ohio.
    The Senior Ladies VFW Auxiliary Color Guard was District 6 
VFW Ladies Auxiliary Department of Arkansas.
    The winner of our Junior ROTC Color Guard, Regulation 
Drill, was won by the male unit from Upson Lee High School, 
NJROTC, VFW Post 6447, Thomaston, Georgia. Accepting for them 
will be the Department Commander since this unit had to fly 
home yesterday.
    The winner of our Junior ROTC Armed Drill Team was from 
Griffing High School, Male, Army JROTC, sponsored by VFW Post 
5448 and 8480, Griffin, Georgia.
    The winner of our Junior ROTC Unarmed Drill Team was the 
female unit from Basix High School, VFW Post 3848, Henderson, 
Nevada. This is a Marine Corps Junior ROTC Unit.
    The winner of the Junior Open Field Contest, from Rubidoux 
High School, Air Force Junior ROTC, VFW Post 8632, Riverside, 
California. Rubidoux is also declared the National Champion 
Overall Junior ROTC Unit as they achieved the highest scores 
during the period of our contests.
    The Best All-Girl Junior ROTC Color Guard was the All-Girl 
Unit representing Griffin High School Army Junior ROTC, VFW 
Posts 5448 and 8480, from Griffin, Georgia.
    This is the Best All-Girl Junior ROTC Rifle Drill Team. 
This was won by Upson Lee High School Junior ROTC, VFW Post 
6447, Thomaston, Georgia. Accepting is the Department 
Commander.
    A Special Judge's Award goes to the Top Hats, VFW Post 92, 
New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
    At the Patriotic Rally last evening, the Best Appearing 
Senior Men's VFW Color Guard, the Silent Sixteens, VFW Post 
6933, Darien, Connecticut.
    Last night at the Patriotic Rally, the Best Appearing 
Senior Ladies VFW Auxiliary Color Guard was the Happy Dayettes, 
VFW Post 7591 Auxiliary, Madison, Wisconsin. Do we have a 
representative from Wisconsin that will accept, please?
    Assisting us this morning was the First Sergeant Dusalle of 
the Eighth Division. Thank you for your attention and that is 
the extent of my report, Commander-in-Chief. For those of you 
who might be interested, the Ritual Team contest will begin at 
2:00 o'clock. We have three teams. The contest will be held in 
this hotel in Ballroom B. Thank you.

     REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON VETERANS SERVICE RESOLUTIONS (CONT'D.)

    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Now, if the maker of the motion 
is still here, the one that set aside 718, are you still here? 
Let me say that in checking with the Sergeant-at-Arms at the 
microphone, you were present at the time we asked for any 
additional Resolutions to be either set aside or to be voted 
upon and have been rejected.
    Because I have already discharged the Committee and because 
I think that we have given you ample time to respond to 
anything, I am going to rule your motion out of order. I will 
do this, I will give you two minutes to say anything you want 
pertaining to that Resolution as a point of personal privilege.
    That is only to speak about it. We will not take any action 
on it. I am sure that you are going to speak for two minutes. 
The microphone is now on.
    COMRADE GLENN TUCKER (Post 7327--Virginia): I rise to ask 
that reconsideration be given even though the Committee may 
have been discharged. We have asked repeatedly in these 
Conventions for----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Sir, the motion was rejected. To 
bring it up under reconsideration, you would have to be on the 
prevailing side of the rejection. I do not think you are. Do 
you have anything else?
    COMRADE GLENN TUCKER (Post 7327--Virginia): No, I couldn't 
because there was a little confusion at this podium. I do wish 
to speak on this Resolution. That is one of the things I came 
to this Convention for.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: I will give you two minutes; you 
have used 20 seconds.
    COMRADE GLENN TUCKER (Post 7327--Virginia): 220,000 now 
veterans live in the 50-mile radius of the Washington Monument. 
We have been promised a VA medical facility to serve those war 
wounds, disease and injuries, created or aggravated by a 
military service. No such facility exists.
    We are told we can go to Baltimore, Martinburg, Richmond or 
Irving Street. Those are areas of high crime, those are areas 
where it is a financial hardship for the individual veterans to 
go or ask a member of his family to transport him there. It is 
risky to be in the District of Columbia after dark. We no 
longer have the financial resources to pay for our own medical 
attention.
    We have asked in this Resolution to have a medical 
facility, to be owned and operated by the U.S. Department of 
Veterans of Foreign Affairs, be established in the vacant 
facilities now available in the federal domain in that area 
before they hand it out to private industry or for breeding and 
development of those people who are interested in making a fast 
buck.
    I ask this Convention, I ask your Committee, I ask everyone 
in the Veterans of Foreign Wars to consider the need, the 
hardship and the physical problem these persons have. There are 
more than 150,000 veterans over the age of 65 that live in my 
own County of Fairfax, Virginia.
    Now, 880,000 people live there. The criteria established in 
1960 is out of date and must be revised. The VA knows that. 
They say, ``Well, Glenn, you have the requirements''----
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you, my comrade. I have 
given you two minutes and I believe the delegation at this 
Convention have already voiced their opinion on this 
Resolution.
    I next call on the Chairman of the General Resolutions 
Committee, Past Commander-in-Chief Jack Carney.

               REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON GENERAL RESOLUTIONS

    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN CARNEY: Boy, it is refreshing 
to follow the Veterans Service Committee. It is great. I would 
like at this time to recognize the Committee, and certainly I 
want to give recognition to our Vice-Chairman Norman G. Staab 
from Kansas.
    Certainly, Commander-in-Chief, I want to thank you very 
much for appointing such a professional, knowledgeable and 
dedicated Committee as this General Resolutions Committee. I 
will now present the Resolutions that have been approved for 
you at this time.
    Resolution No. 301. Resolution 303 was amended. Resolution 
304, Resolution 309, Resolution 310, Resolution 311, Resolution 
319, Resolution 320, Resolution 322, Resolution 323, as 
amended; Resolution No. 324, Resolution No. 325, Resolution 
327, Resolution 329, Resolution 330, Resolution 331, and a new 
Resolution that was presented to our Committee this morning, 
Resolution 332, National Convention Parade Alternatives. These 
are the ones that we recommend approval.
    Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I move that these Resolutions 
be approved.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Is there a second?
    Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE DAVID GREANEY (Post 7420--California): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Comrades, you have heard the 
motion and the second. Are there any Resolutions that you would 
like to have set aside?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PHIL ANDERSON (Post 284--Washington, D.C.): I would 
like to set aside Resolution 310.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else?
    Microphone No. 2, I am not sure if you want to be 
recognized or just exercising.
    COMRADE JOSEPH RELLS (Post 856--Texas): The last 
Resolution, 332 that was brought in this morning, can we have 
that read? I am not familiar with it.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: I will read the ``Be It 
Resolved.''
    ``BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that a Patriotic 
Rally be held as an alternative to the Annual Military Parade 
at the 96th National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona; and
    ``BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Council of 
Administration be empowered to decide annually if a military 
parade or an alternative form of patriotic salute will be held 
during the next National Convention and that such decision be 
made at the October meeting of the National Council of 
Administration and promptly promulgated throughout the 
organization in the General Orders and the VFW Magazine.''
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else? We will now vote 
on the question. All those in favor of the Committee's 
recommendation for the Resolutions to be adopted, with the 
exception of Resolution 310, will signify by the usual sign of 
``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The ``ayes'' have it. It is so 
ordered.
    Now, would somebody like to bring up Resolution 310 for 
debate?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PHIL ANDERSON (Post 284--Washington, D.C.): 
Resolution 310 is, in fact, a political instrument involving a 
sensitive and highly political issue. It is not germane to the 
long-standing policy and principles of the VFW. In order to 
maintain our political neutrality, I move rejection of 
Resolution No. 310. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The motion is out of order. We 
understand your debate. We already have a motion on the floor 
to accept. You should be debating why you don't want it 
accepted. Anything else?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE CLAUDIO PEDERY (Post 5471--Washington, D.C.): 
Comrade Commander-in-Chief, I would like to give you a brief 
background why I am opposed. We revolted against Great 
Britain's taxation without representation. Ladies and 
gentlemen, we pay tax in the District of Columbia, but we don't 
have representation in the Congress. We don't have a delegate. 
Comrades and Commander-in-Chief, we need that. We would like to 
oppose that opposition.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Do you suggest that this 
Resolution not be accepted? Let me read the ``Be It Resolved.''
    It says, ``BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National Convention 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that we 
oppose statehood as an unconstitutional approach and ask our 
Representatives in Congress to strongly defeat any act that 
they may be confronted with in the future.''
    Anybody else?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE PHIL ANDERSON (Post 284--Washington, D.C.): We 
oppose that, Commander-in-Chief. I guess we have 700,000 people 
in the District of Columbia. Many of us are Veterans of Foreign 
Wars. Why don't you help us defeat this Resolution? We need 
also representation in Congress. Thank you.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. Anyone else?
    Microphone No. 1.
    COMRADE STAN KOLNIAK (Post 2238--Louisiana): I speak in 
favor of the Resolution. Could we have that Resolution read in 
its entirety? I think that it would explain many of the issues 
that would be questionable to the comrades present.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: ``WHEREAS, the majority of 
the citizens in this beloved Republic honor and adhere to the 
United States Constitution; and
    ``WHEREAS, a certain segment of politicians in Congress and 
the news media are promoting efforts to establish another state 
forum our Federal District of Columbia; and
    ``WHEREAS, granting statehood to the nation's capital is 
inconsistent with Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the 
Constitution which designates a neutral district outside the 
boundaries of any State where the capital city is to be 
located; and
    ``WHEREAS, if the District of Columbia were to be granted 
statehood, the specific terms of Maryland's secession of 1791 
would be violated inasmuch as the State of Maryland seated land 
to fulfill the land requirement of the federal district serving 
as the national seat of government and not for any other 
purpose; and
    ``WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1 of the 
Constitution states that no new state shall be formed or 
erected within the jurisdiction of any other State; and
    ``WHEREAS, if the call for lack of representation was real, 
then an alternative consideration could be to retrocede the 
District of Columbia back to the State of Maryland, save a 
reduced Federal Enclave, and those current citizens that were 
seated into Maryland would enjoy a full and equal voice in 
national affairs; and
    ``WHEREAS, this ten-mile square area lacks the economic 
base to support a state and does not contain an independent 
economy to sustain its own government furthermore shows its 
impractical application, so be it now, therefore,
    ``BE IT RESOLVED, by the 95th National Convention of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States that we oppose 
statehood as an unconstitutional approach and ask our 
Representatives in Congress to strongly defeat any act that 
they may be confronted with in the future.''
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE THOMAS PIERCE (Post 9566--Massachusetts): While I 
agree with all of the statements that were just made as part of 
that Resolution and I don't disagree with the gentleman who was 
in favor of not defeating this Resolution, I do think that it 
ought to be defeated.
    I think that the reason it should be defeated, it is a 
political problem, and I don't think that the VFW wants to be 
entering into political problems that don't have to deal with 
veterans.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 3.
    COMRADE JOHN LEWIS (Post 4061--Colorado): I move the 
question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Let me do one thing before I 
accept Microphone No. 3's motion. The gentleman asked at 
Microphone No. 1 that the Resolution be read first. He didn't 
have an opportunity to speak on the motion. I will allow 
Microphone No. 1 to speak.
    COMRADE STAN KOLNIAK (Post 2238--Louisiana): Thank you, 
Chief. First of all, comrades, this is not a political 
question. The political question is on the other side of the 
proposal to make a statehood out of federal territory. This is 
unconstitutional.
    You cannot form a state from a federal enclave. This 
proposal of statehood of being made by a single vote of 
Congress. That is not correct. It cannot be. I think that it is 
a Resolution that pretty well bears out the reasons for it. It 
is a Constitutional question.
    The support of the Resolution, as voted in the Committee, 
was to mainly retain what we had today, period. In addition, 
just think of our own state. What type of industries and how 
many industries does it have? They are many and various. D.C. 
does not.
    In other words, would you concur in voting a statehood for 
very large city? I mean, that area is not even as large as the 
county that you live in. What is that going to open up? In 
addition, the 23rd Amendment that was voted on is contrary to 
statehood.
    In other words, that amendment was voted and delegated 
three votes, delegate votes, electoral votes. They acknowledged 
in their amendment, if you look up the history of that, that 
amendment acknowledges the existence of a federal enclave and 
no state could be formed from it.
    So, I mean there are many areas. Our forefathers brought 
about and created this seat of government, period. Are we going 
to turn around and stand against them? Not in any way unless we 
retain the status of what we have today as being the seat of 
government from the federal government. And in addition some of 
these people mentioned, you know, they don't have negative 
voices, and so on. Maryland voted and gave us this seat. If 
they want any kind of voting privileges, they can always 
recede.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: The Chair will now accept the 
motion made from Microphone No. 3 to move the previous 
question. Is there a second to move the previous question?
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE RUSSELL VILLWOCK (Post 3579--Illinois): I second 
the motion to move the previous question.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Thank you. Comrades, all those 
in favor of moving the previous question will signify by the 
sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The ``ayes'' have it. It 
is so ordered.
    We will now have the motion before us. The motion is to 
adopt this Resolution, which keeps the District of Columbia the 
way it is today. If you vote ``yes'', that is the way it is. If 
you vote ``no'', what you are saying is that you want the 
District of Columbia to become a state.
    All those in favor of adopting the motion will signify by 
the sign of ``aye''; those opposed ``no''. The ``ayes'' have 
it. It is so ordered.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: The Committee has 
recommended rejection of the following Resolutions:
    Resolution 302, Resolution 305; Resolutions 306, 307, 308, 
312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 321, 326, 328.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Unless someone moves to adopt 
one of these rejected Resolutions, they will be rejected.
    Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE LARRY BENDER (Post 788--Iowa): I make a motion that 
General Resolution No. 302 be approved.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: There is a motion. Is there a 
second?
    COMRADE ROBERT MATHIESEN (Post 8486--Iowa): I second the 
motion.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: You have heard the motion and 
the second. Now, on the question.
    PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CARNEY: Comrade Commander-in-Chief, 
the Committee recognizes the fact of the POW/MIA stamp and they 
also recognize the fact that on November 24, 1970, a stamp was 
issued in recognition of the POW/MIA and that the Resolutions 
that have been introduced to this Convention have not been all-
inclusive of World War II and Korea. For that reason, the 
Committee defeated the Resolution.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Microphone No. 2.
    COMRADE LARRY BENDER (Post 788--Iowa): I will make this 
short. Resolution No. 302 does not encompass all. It does not 
take anybody out. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and delegates to 
this Convention have always been the champion of the POW/MIA 
issue.
    Unless we forget our comrades now, there have been reissues 
of other stamps in the past and there will be in the future. To 
remain to keep this issue before our assistants, I ask this 
motion be adopted.
    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CRAMER: Anything else? Any further 
discussion? All those in favor of adopting Resolution 302 will 
signify by the sign of ``aye''; all those opposed ``no''. The 
``nays'' have it.
    Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for your work and the 
work of the Committee. Unfortunately, I can't discharge you. 
You have to get your full eight hours of day. You get all the 
catch-alls that might come up right now.
    Next I would like to call on Howard Vander Clute to give 
the Report on the Buddy Poppy Display Winners.

              PRESENTATION OF BUDDY POPPY DISPLAY WINNERS

    ADJUTANT GENERAL VANDER CLUTE: This concerns the Buddy 
Poppy Display Winners. Let me tell you that we have 83 displays 
in the contest this year. That is the highest number of poppy 
displays that we have had in recent reporting at our National 
Conventions.
    Let me tell you that 50 percent of those 83 displays used 
painted and/or dyed poppies in the display. I just bring this 
to your attention because of the action of this Convention 
yesterday.
    Public Promotion of Poppy Sales, this is Category 1, 
window, booth, parade or Post displays, sales promotion, in 3rd 
Place is Wichita Memorial Post & Auxiliary 3115, Wichita, 
Kansas.
    In 2nd Place is Grand-Mesa Post & Auxiliary 9221, 
Cedaredge, Colorado.
    In 1st Place, naturally, Reddy-McClellan Post & Auxiliary 
8789, Bowie, Texas.
    In Category 2, Memorial or Inspirational Display, for 
example, wreaths, memorial tablets or plaques, patriotic or 
devotional themes, in 3rd Place is Howard M. Black Post and 
Auxiliary 1508, Lake Elsinore, California.
    In 2nd place, Casper Memorial Post and Auxiliary 9439, 
Casper, Wyoming.
    In 1st Place, naturally, Cole-Miers Post and Auxiliary 
3619, DeRidder, Louisiana.
    Category 3, Artistic or Decorative Use of Poppies. This is, 
for example, Post Home displays, table centerpieces, corsages, 
pictures, plaques, models, scenes, hats and novelty pieces, 
almost anything other than the two before mentioned are in this 
category.
    In 3rd Place, General W.W. Atterbury Post and Auxiliary 
3420, Newark, Delaware.
    In 2nd Place, Klemenic Nail Smith Post & Auxiliary 4663, 
Clifton, Colorado.
    And in 1st Place,