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106th 11/29/06 9:20 AM Page 1 (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-148 P R O C E E D I N G S OF THE 106th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES [SUMMARY OF MINUTES] Salt Lake City, Utah : : : August 20 - August 25, 2005 106th 11/29/06 9:20 AM Page I (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-148 PROCEEDINGS of the 106th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) Salt Lake City, Utah August 20-25, 2005 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’Affairs and ordered to be printed. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2006 30-739 106th 11/29/06 9:20 AM Page II (Black plate) 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 American 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), respec- tively, shall be printed annually, with accompanying illustrations, as sepa- rate House documents of the session of the Congress to which they may be submitted. [Approved October 2, 1968.] II 106th 11/29/06 9:20 AM Page III (Black plate) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, OCTOBER, 2005 Honorable Dennis Hastert The Speaker U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. 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 Salt Lake City, Utah, August 20-25, 2005, which is submitted for printing as a House Document. Sincerely, Allen “Gunner” Kent Adjutant General III 106th 11/29/06 9:20 AM Page IV (Black plate) TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2005 PAGE Call to Order . .1 Advance of Colors . .1 Invocation. .1 Pledge of Allegiance . .1 Introduction of Speaker . .2 Memorial Address . .3 Benediction . .4 Retiring of Colors . .5 JOINT OPENING SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2005 Dedication of Convention . .6 Welcome . .6 Advancement of Colors . .6 Invocation . .7 Pledge of Allegiance . .7 Video Presentation . .7 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief John Furgess . .8 Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Furgess . .8 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to JoAnne Ott, National President of the Ladies Auxiliary . .11 Response - Ladies Auxiliary National President JoAnne Ott . .12 Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to the 105th National Convention Committee . .12 Response by Past Commander-in-Chief John Wasylik . .13 Greetings - Honorable Rocky Anderson, Mayor of Salt Lake City . .13 Introduction of the Honorable Jon Huntsman, Jr., Governor of the State of Utah . .15 Greetings - The Honorable Jon Huntsman . .15 Presentation of American Flag Set to Governor Jon Huntsman . .17 Introduction of Minister Kao, Hua-chu, Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China . .17 Greetings - Minister Kao, Hua-chu . .18 Presentation of Distinguished Service Medal and Citation to Past Commander-in-Chief Edward S. Banas, Sr. .19 Response - Past Commander-in-Chief Banas . .20 Presentation of the 2005 VFW Hall of Fame Award to Pat Tillman (posthumously) . .20 Response - Mr. Alex Garwood . .21 Introduction of the Voice of Democracy Winner - Spencer Driscoll . .23 Voice of Democracy Winner - Spencer Driscoll . .23 IV 106th 11/29/06 9:20 AM Page V (Black plate) Introduction of Gennady Shorokhov, Vice President, Combat Brotherhood . .25 Response by Gennady Shorokhov . .26 Presentation of to the 2005 All American Commanders . .27 Presentation of the James E. VanZandt Citizenship Award . .28 Response - Mr. Carl Liebert, III . .29 Introduction of Chris Connington, Director Brand Marketing, Vermont American Power Tool Accessories and Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey, Unmet Needs Spokesperson . .30 Response - Mr. Chris Connington . .31 Introduction of the Honorable Orrin Hatch . .34 Greetings - The Honorable Orrin Hatch . .34 Introduction of President George W. Bush . .35 Speaker - The Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States . .36 NOON RECESS . .42 Credentials Report . .42 Report of Convention Rules . .43 Presentation of the National Recruiter of the Year Award . .49 Response - Comrade Peter Mascetti . .50 Presentation of the Challenge of the Future Awards . .50 Response - Comrade Robert Mulligan . .50 Response - Comrade Wilbur Dudley . .51 Response - Comrade Daniel Boyer . .51 Response - Comrade Lonnie Garza . .51 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual . .51 RECESS . .66 DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET AUGUST 22, 2005 Call to Order . .67 Welcome . .67 Invocation . .67 Pledge of Allegiance . .67 Introduction of Distinguished Guests . .68 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Furgess . .68 Introduction of National President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW . .69 Response - Ladies Auxiliary President JoAnne Ott . .69 Presentation of the 2005 Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Service Medal and Citation to the Honorable Tom Ridge . .69 Remarks by the Honorable Tom Ridge . .70 Benediction . .75 RECESS . .75 V 106th 11/29/06 9:20 AM Page VI (Black plate) FIRST BUSINESS SESSION TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 23, 2005 Call to Order . .76 Salute to the Colors, Pledge of Allegiance and Opening Prayer . .76 Report of Credentials Committee . .76 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal and Citation to George D. Kim . .76 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal and Citation to Republic of Korea Armed Forces . .78 Response - Major General Keun . .79 Presentation by Jim Chancellor . .82 Presentation of the VFW Aviation and Space Award . .83 Response - General Marcotte . .84 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal and Citation to the Defense POW/MIA Office . .85 Response - Comrade Adrian Cronauer . .86 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal and Citation to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command . .86 Response - Brigadier General Michael Flowers . .88 Introduction of the Honorable James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs . .89 Remarks by Secretary Jim Nicholson . .89 Introduction of Terrance O'Mahoney, Chairman President's National Hire Veterans Committee . .96 Remarks - Terry P. O'Mahoney, Chairman of the President's National Hire Veterans Committee . .96 Presentation of Americanism Award to Mr. Dick Morris . .100 Response - Mr. Dick Morris . .101 Presentation of 2005 VFW Armed Forces Award to United States Special Operations Command . .102 Response - Sergeant Major Michael Hall . .102 Presentation to Commander-in-Chief Furgess by the 2004-2005 Department Commanders . .104 Introduction of Supreme Commander Tom Tweet of the Military Order of the Cootie . .104 Remarks by MOC Supreme Commander Tom Tweet . .105 Presentation of "Consecutive Year of Membership" Citation to Department of Arizona . .106 Response - Comrade William Chagnon . .106 Presentation of Award to Commander-in-Chief Furgess by the VFW Political Action Committee . .107 Presentation of the National Veterans Service Post Service Officer of the Year Award . .108 Response - Comrade John Soraghan . ..