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Table of Contents Foreword ......................................................................................................................... vii National Convention and Officers of The American Legion, 1919-2007......................... ix Proceedings of the 89th National Convention Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Call to Order National Commander Paul A. Morin........................................................... 1 Invocation...........................................................................................................................2 Pledge of Allegiance ..........................................................................................................2 POW/MIA Empty Chair Ceremony ...................................................................................2 Voices—A Tribute to the American Veterans, James McEachin.......................................3 The American Legion Youth Champions...........................................................................4 Presentation of the Spirit of Service Awards......................................................................7 Address: George W. Bush, President of the United States .............................................. 12 Michael Peterson, Entertainer...........................................................................................19 Address: General Charles C. Campbell ............................................................................21 Greetings: JoAnn Cronin, National President, American Legion Auxiliary.....................26 Presentation: Terry Woodburn, Illinois Department Adjutant, Legion Riders .................27 Address: The Hon. John Ensign, United States Senator ...................................................30 Address: The Hon. Jim Gibbons, Governor of the State of Nevada .................................32 Greetings: The Hon. Robert Cashell, Mayor of Reno, Nevada ......................................34 Tony Vaughn, Commander, Department of Nevada.....................................34 Dale ‘Tiny’ Salmen, President, The American Legion Convention Corporation of Nevada ..............................................................35 Address: Raymond P. Giehll, Jr., Newly Elected National Commander, Sons of The American Legion....................................................................................35 Eulogy: Past National Commander John M. ‘Jack’ Carey ...............................................36 National Commander Paul A. Morin Report to Convention.............................................37 Address: Lt. General Jack C. Stultz, Chief of the United States Army Reserve...............40 Address: Brigadier General Michael C. Flowers, United States Army.............................43 Call for Convention..........................................................................................................46 Presentation: The American Legion Distinguished Service Award..................................47 Greetings: Mr. Lin, Wen-shan, Deputy Minister, Veterans Affairs Commission of the Republic of China......................................................................................49 Admiral Kim, Hon-Yeol (Ret.), Vice Chairman, Korean Veterans Association. ...............................................................................................50 Mrs. Patricia Varga, Dominion Vice President, The Royal Canadian Legion........................................................................................................50 Janusz Krupski, Minister of Veterans Affairs, The Republic of Poland .......51 Certificate of Appreciation ...............................................................52 Presentation: Plaque of Appreciation to Salt Lake City....................................................53 Report: Convention Committee on Credentials and Internal Affairs (Section I) .........54 Convention Committee on Legislation and Rules...........................................55 Convention Committee on Finance ................................................................56 Announcements: Robert W. Spanogle, National Adjutant ...............................................58 Wednesday, August 29, 2007 Call to Order.....................................................................................................................59 Invocation.........................................................................................................................59 Address: General David H. Petraeus, Commander, Multi-National Force in Iraq (via video).....................................................................................................60 iii The Hon. R. James Nicholson, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs..65 The Hon. Bob Filner, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs ...69 The Hon. Harry Walters, President, Veterans Coalition, Inc ........................73 Bruce A. Wilcox, President General of The National Society of The Sons Of The American Revolution ....................................................................78 Special Presentation: The Prestigious Patriot Award .......................................................79 Report: Convention Committee on Credentials and Other Internal Matters (Section III) ......................................................................................................83 Presentation: Department Membership Awards ...............................................................84 Presentation: National Emergency Fund Awards.............................................................86 Presentation: National Recruiter of the Year....................................................................87 Report: Convention Committees on Employment and Veterans Preference and Other Economic Matters...................................................................................88 Presentation: Employer of the Year Awards for Hiring Veterans ....................................95 American Legion Local Veterans Employee Representative of the of the Year Award ...................................................................................96 Disabled Veterans Outreach Program of the Year Award ...........................97 Employment Service Office of the Year......................................................97 Homeless Veterans Outreach Award ...........................................................98 The Older Workers Award ..........................................................................98 Report: Convention Committee on Americanism.............................................................99 Presentation: The Frank N. Belgrano, Jr. Trophy...........................................................101 William Randolph Hearst Americanism Trophy .......................................101 2006 National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year................................102 Auction: Legion Rider Vest............................................................................................103 Report: Convention Committee on Children and Youth.................................................104 Presentation: Garland Murphy Award............................................................................106 Special Presentation: The U.S. ‘Udie’ Grant Legacy Award..........................................106 Report: Convention Committee on Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation........................107 Presentation: William F. Lenker National Service Trophy.............................................113 Report: Convention Committee on Credentials and Other Internal Matters (Section II).....................................................................................................115 American Legion Racing................................................................................................119 Report: Convention Committee on Constitutional Amendments ...................................120 Thursday, August 30, 2007 Call to Order...................................................................................................................123 Invocation.......................................................................................................................123 Presentation: The American Legion Fourth Estate Award .............................................123 Presentation of Statement of Support Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve......125 Report: Convention Committee on Foreign Relations....................................................127 Report: Convention Committee on National Security ....................................................131 Special Order of Business: Election of National Officers ..............................................151 Presentation: Plaque and Colors to Outgoing National Commander..............................149 Election of the National Commander of The American Legion .....................................151 Administering the Oath of Office to the National Commander......................................158 Acceptance Speech: Newly Elected National Commander ............................................159 Presentation: Colors To Incoming National Commander...............................................167 Greetings: Jan Pulvermacher-Ryan, National President, American Legion Auxiliary ...168 Benediction ....................................................................................................................170 Announcement of Annual Recipients ..............................................................................171