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107th_covers 6/21/07 10:41 AM Page 1 110th Congress, 1st Session ......................................................House Document 110-40 P R O C E E D I N G S OF THE 107th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES [SUMMARY OF MINUTES] Reno, Nevada : : : August 26 - August 31, 2006 107TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 107th_backstrip 6/21/07 10:58 AM Page 1 107th_covers 6/21/07 10:41 AM Page I 110th Congress, 1st Session ......................................................House Document 110-40 PROCEEDINGS of the 107th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) Reno, Nevada August 26-31, 2006 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and ordered to be printed. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2007 36-122 107th 5/25/07 1:05 PM Page II U.S. CODE, TITLE 44, SECTION 1332 NATIONAL ENCAMPMENTS OF VETERANS’ ORGANIZATIONS; PROCEEDINGS PRINTED ANNUALLY FOR CONGRESS The proceedings of the national encampments of the United Spanish War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Amer- ican Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans of World War I of the United States, Incorporated, the Disabled American Veterans, and the AMVETS (American Veterans of World War II), respectively, shall be printed annually, with accompanying illustrations, as separate House doc- uments of the session of the Congress to which they may be submitted. [Approved October 2, 1968.] II 107th 6/22/07 3:11 PM Page III LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, RENO, NEVADA, April, 2007 Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Speaker U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Madam Speaker: In conformance with the provisions of Public Law No. 620, 90th Congress, approved October 22, 1968, I am transmitting to you herewith the proceedings of the 106th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in Reno, Nevada, August 26-31, 2006, which is submitted for printing as a House Document. Sincerely, Allen “Gunner” Kent Adjutant General III 107th 5/25/07 1:05 PM Page IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE PAGES SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2006 Call to Order . .1 Advance of Colors . .1 Invocation. .2 Memorial Ritual . 2 Symbolic Tribute . .3 Introduction of Speaker . .3 Memorial Address . .4 Benediction . .5 RECESS . .6 JOINT OPENING SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006 Advancement of Colors . .7 Invocation . .7 Pledge of Allegiance . .8 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Mueller and Presentation of the Official Convention Badge . .8 Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Mueller . .9 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to National President Sandy Germany . .10 Response – National President Sandy Germany . 11 Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to the Convention Committee Response – Comrade Donald Myers . .12 Greetings – Councilman Dave Aiazzi . 12 Introduction of General Kao, Hua-chu, Minister, Republic of China Veterans Affairs Commission . 13 Greetings – General Kao, Hau-chu. 13 Presentation of Distinguished Service Medal and Citation to Past Commander-in-Chief John Furgess . .15 Response – Past Commander-in-Chief John Furgess . .16 Presentation of 2006 VFW Citizenship Award . .17 Response – Mr. Kenneth Behring. .17 Introduction of Voice of Democracy Winner – Kate Siegel . .19 Voice of Democracy Winner . .20 Presentation of Awards to 2006 All-American Commanders . .22 MIP Conversion Contest Winners. .25 Presentation of 2006 VFW Armed Forces Award . .25 Response – Lieutenant General Harold Moore . .26 Introduction of the Honorable Richard Cheney, Vice-President of the United States . .27 Remarks by Vice-President Cheney. .27 IV 107th 5/25/07 1:05 PM Page V Presentation of the National Recruiter of the Year Award . 35 Appreciation by the Departments of Mississippi and Louisiana . .35 Introduction of R. Lee Ermey. 37 Response – Comrade R. Lee Ermey . .38 RECESS . .40 FIRST BUSINESS SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006 Call to Order . 41 Report of Convention Rules Committee . .41 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual . .43 Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization. .48 Report on Committee on Veterans Service Resolution . .49 Report of the Credentials Committee . .56 Report of Committee on General Resolutions. .56 Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs . 58 Report of Subcommittee on POW-MIA . .62 Benediction . 64 RECESS . .64 DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006 Welcome . .65 Invocation . .65 Introduction of Distinguished Guests . .66 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Mueller . .67 Remarks - Commander-in-Chief James Mueller . .67 Introduction of National President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW . .68 Remarks – Ladies Auxiliary President Sandy Germany . .68 Presentation of the VFW Hall of Fame Award . .69 Response – Mr. Charlie Daniels . .69 Presentation of the VFW Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award . .70 Response – Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld . .72 Benediction . 76 RECESS . .77 V 107th 5/25/07 1:05 PM Page VI SECOND BUSINESS SESSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2006 Call to Order . .78 Opening Prayer . .78 Pledge of Allegiance . .78 Report of Credentials Committee . .78 Presentation to Commander-in-Chief Mueller by the 2005-2006 Department Commanders . .78 Presentation by Jim Chancellor to Commander-in-Chief Mueller . .79 Introduction of Supreme Commander of the MOC . .81 Remarks – MOC Supreme Commander Lyons . .81 Patriots Pin Donation . .82 Introduction of Mr. Joe Galloway . .83 Army Memorial Project . 83 Introduction of James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs . .88 Remarks by VA Secretary James Nicholson . .88 Presentation of Distinguished Service Awards and Citations . .94 Response- Comrade Darrell Bencken . .94 Response – Comrade Cecil “Buck” Caruso . .95 Response – Comrade Michael L. Furgal . .96 Response – Past Commander-in-Chief Gwizdak . .96 Introduction of Jack Nicholson, Director of the American Battle Monuments Commission . .97 Remarks – Brigadier General Jack Nicholson . .97 Presentation of the Challenge of the Future Awards . .101 Response – Comrade Robert Mulligan . .102 Response – Comrade Stephen Schlueter . .102 Presentation of the 2006 Americanism Award . .102 Response – Dr. Richard Carmona . .103 Presentation of Award by Political Action Committee . .110 Presentation of “Consecutive Years of Membership” Citation . .110 Presentation of VFW Distinguished Service Medal and Citation to Leo Andrew . .111 Response – Comrade Leo Andrew . .112 Presentation of VFW Distinguished Service Medal and Citation to Larry Gniotczynski . ..