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111th Congress, 2nd Session House Document 111-132 P R O C E E D I N G S of the 110TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) Phoenix, Arizona August 15-20, 2009 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and ordered to be printed. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2010 57-406 I 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 Ameri- can 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 docu- ments of the session of the Congress to which they may be submitted. [Approved October 2, 1968.] II LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI March, 2010 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 110th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in Phoenix, Arizona, August 15- 20, 2009, which is submitted for printing as a House document. Sincerely, Allen “Gunner” Kent Adjutant General III TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE...................................................... PAGES SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2009 Call to Order ....................................................................................1 Advance of Colors ............................................................................1 Pledge of Allegiance .........................................................................1 Invocation ........................................................................................1 Memorial Ritual................................................................................1 Symbolic Tribute...............................................................................3 Introduction of Speaker.....................................................................3 Memorial Address.............................................................................4 Benediction ......................................................................................8 Retiring of Colors..............................................................................9 RECESS....................................................................................................9 JOINT OPENING SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009 Call to Order ..................................................................................10 Introduction of National Convention Chairman James R. Currieo ...10 Remarks by National Convention Chairman Currieo.......................10 Advancement of Colors ..................................................................11 Invocation ......................................................................................11 Pledge of Allegiance .......................................................................11 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner, 7YLZLU[H[PVUVM6MÄJPHS*VU]LU[PVU)HKNL)LSSHUK.H]LS ........12 Remarks - Commander-in-Chief Gardner........................................12 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to Dixie Hild, National President of the Ladies Auxiliary............15 Response – National Ladies Auxiliary President, Dixie Hild............16 Introduction of the Honorable Janice Brewer, Governor of Arizona..................................................................17 Greetings – The Honorable Janice Brewer.......................................17 Introduction of the Honorable Phil Gordon, Mayor of Phoenix.......18 Greetings – The Honorable Phil Gordon .........................................18 Presentation of American Flag Set to Governor Janice Brewer and Mayor Phil Gordon by the Ladies Auxiliary .........................................................................20 Signing of Community Covenant ....................................................21 Introduction of Major General Craig Whelden................................21 Remarks – Major General Craig Whelden, Community Covenant Task Force...................................................................22 Presentation of the 2009 VFW Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award to General Michael V. Hayden ............................24 Response – General Michael V. Hayden..........................................26 RECESS..................................................................................................28 Introduction of President Barack Obama ........................................28 Remarks by President Barack Obama..............................................28 Introduction of General Ruslan Aushev, President of the War Veterans Committee, Russian Federation .......................36 IV Greetings by General Ruslan Aushev, President of the War Veterans Committee, Russian Federation .......................37 Presentation of 2009 VFW Hall of Fame award to Ms. Connie Stevens....................................................................40 Remarks – Ms. Connie Stevens .......................................................41 0U[YVK\J[PVUVM*VSVULS+H]PK.YPMÄ[O+PYLJ[VY Freedom Team Salute.................................................................44 9LTHYRZ¶*VSVULS+H]PK.YPMÄ[O ...................................................44 Introduction of Hans Song, Director of Overseas Liaison, Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China ......................................................................47 Greetings – Mr. Hans Song, Veterans Affairs Commission................47 Presentation of Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal of Merit to Mike DeRosa ................................................................49 Response – Mr. Mike DeRosa .........................................................50 Introduction of the 2009 Voice of Democracy Winner Natale Szabo.............................................................................50 2009 Voice of Democracy Winner Natale Szabo ............................51 Presentation of Awards to 2009 All-American Commanders ...........53 RECESS..................................................................................................54 FIRST BUSINESS SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009 Presentation of National Recruiter of the Year Award ......................55 7YLZLU[H[PVUVM*LY[PÄJH[LVM(WWYLJPH[PVU[V[OL 109th National Convention Committee......................................55 Response – Past Commander-in-Chief John Carney.........................56 Report of the Convention Credentials .............................................56 Report of Convention Rules ............................................................57 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual .................................................................59 Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization..............................................................................80 Report of Committee on General Resolutions .................................81 Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs............................................................................90 Report of Subcommittee on POW-MIA ...........................................94 Report of Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions.....................95 Closing Ceremonies........................................................................98 Benediction ....................................................................................98 RECESS..................................................................................................98 SECOND BUSINESS SESSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2009 Call to Order ..................................................................................99 Opening Prayer...............................................................................99 Pledge of Allegiance .......................................................................99 Introduction of Victor Biggs, Executive Director, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.....................99 Response – Mr. Victor Biggs, Executive Director............................100 V Report of Convention Credentials Committee ...............................102 VFW Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal of Merit to Helen Kogel Denton ................................................................102 Response – Sister Helen Kogel Denton .........................................104 Distinguished Service Medal and Citation to Past Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki ........................................104 Response – Past Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki....................105 Introduction of the Honorable Harry Mitchell, Congressman from Arizona......................................................106 Response – Congressman Mitchell................................................106 VFW Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal of Merit to Dr. James Wright......................................................................109 Response – Dr. James Wright ........................................................110 Introduction of Secretary