104th 11/29/06 9:08 AM Page 1 (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-146 P R O C E E D I N G S OF THE 104th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES [SUMMARY OF MINUTES] San Antonio, Texas : : : August 23 - August 29, 2003 104th 11/29/06 9:08 AM Page I (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-146 PROCEEDINGS of the 104th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) San Antonio, Texas August 23-29, 2003 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’Affairs and ordered to be printed. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2006 30-737 104th 11/29/06 9:08 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 104th 11/29/06 9:08 AM Page III (Black plate) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 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 104th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in San Antonio, Texas August 23-29, 2003, which is submit- ted for printing as a House document. Sincerely, JOHN J. SENK, JR. Adjutant General III 104th 11/29/06 9:08 AM Page IV (Black plate) TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2003 Call to Order . .1 Advance of Colors . .1 Invocation . .1 Pledge of Allegiance . .2 Memorial Ritual . .2 Memorial Address . .2 Benediction . .5 Retiring of Colors . .5 JOINT OPENING SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2003 Dedication of Convention . .6 Advancement of Colors . .6 Invocation . .6 Video Presentation . .7 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief . .7 Introduction of the Honorable Rick Perry, Governor of Texas . .8 Greetings - The Honorable Rick Perry, Governor of Texas . .8 Presentation of American Flag Set . .9 Ladies Auxiliary Patriotic Instructor . .9 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to Betty Morris, National President of the Ladies Auxiliary . .10 Response - Ladies Auxiliary National President Betty Morris . .10 Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to the 103rd National Convention Committee . .11 Remarks - Past Commander-in-Chief Holt . .12 Greetings - Honorable George W. Bush . .13 Introduction of General Teng, Tsu-Lin, Chairman of Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China . .14 Remarks by General Teng, Tsu-Lin . .14 Introduction of Chancen Flick, 2003 Voice of Democracy Winner . .16 Presentation by 2003 National Voice of Democracy winner, Chancen Flick . .16 Introduction of Rear Admiral Anthony Dymock for Presentation of Commander- in-Chief’s Special Award . .18 Response - Rear Admiral Anthony Dymock . .18 Introduction of the Honorable Ed Garza, IV 104th 11/29/06 9:08 AM Page V (Black plate) Mayor of San Antonio . .20 Greetings - The Honorable Ed Garza, Mayor of San Antonio . .21 Introduction of Senator John Kerry . .21 Remarks - Senator John Kerry . .22 Introduction of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld . .29 Remarks by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld . .30 Introduction of 2003 All American Commanders . .34 Introduction of All American District Commanders . .36 Introduction of All American Department Commanders . .36 Presentation of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award to Dr. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor to the President of the United States. .38 Response - Dr. Condoleezza Rice . .39 Benediction . .43 RECESS . .43 DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET AUGUST 25, 2003 Invocation . .44 Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem . .45 Introduction of Distinguished Guests . .45 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Raymond Sisk . .47 Introduction of Ladies Auxiliary President Betty Morris . .47 Remarks - Ladies Auxiliary National President Betty Morris . .48 Presentation of the 2003 VFW Armed Forces Award to General Richard B. Myers . .48 Response and Principal Address - General Richard Myers . .50 Benediction . .55 RECESS . .55 FIRST BUSINESS SESSION TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 26, 2003 Call to Order . .56 Salute to the Colors, Pledge of Allegiance and Opening Prayer . .56 Report of Committee on Convention Rules . .56 Report of Credentials Committee . .58 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual . .59 Introduction of the Honorable Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs . .70 Remarks - The Honorable Anthony Principi . .70 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual (Cont’d.) . .76 Introduction of the Honorable Jim Marshall, Congressman of Georgia . .78 Remarks - Congressman Jim Marshall . .79 Introduction of the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator of Texas . .84 V 104th 11/29/06 9:08 AM Page VI (Black plate) Remarks - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison . .84 Introduction of Fernando “Fred” Garcia, Supreme Commander of the Military Order of the Cootie . .86 Response - MOC Supreme Commander Fred Garcia . .86 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual (Cont’d.) . .87 Presentation of Plaque to all Korean War Veterans . .90 Introduction of Ken Pond, Executive Director, American Battle Monuments Commission . .91 Remarks - Kenneth S. Pond, the American Battle Monuments Commission . .91 Introduction of Harvey Klee, Chapel of Four Chaplains . .93 Presentation by Harvey Klee, Chapel of Four Chaplains . .93 Presentation of “Consecutive Year of Membership” Citation to Department of Arizona . .95 Response - Comrade Dennis Kane . .95 Presentation of Membership Recruiters Awards . .96 Response - Bruce Withers . .96 Presentation of the MIP Recruiter of the Year Award . .96 Remarks - Comrade John R. Lewis . .97 Presentation of National Convention Recruiter Award . .97 Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization . .98 Report of Committee on General Resolutions . .98 Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs . .100 Report of POW/MIA Subcommittee . .101 Report of Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions . .103 Benediction . .105 RECESS . .106 SECOND BUSINESS SESSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2003 Call to Order . .107 Opening Prayer . .107 Salute to the Colors and Pledge of Allegiance . .107 Report of Credentials Committee . .107 Presentation of 2003 VFW Americanism Award to Darryl Worley . .108 Response - Darryl Worley . .108 Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Abbott Laboratories, Inc . .109 Response - Mr. Matthew Weinstein, Abbott Laboratories . .110 Introduction of Honorable Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary Emergency Preparedness and Response . .110 Remarks - Mr. Michael Brown . .111 Presentation of the 2003 Aviation and Space Award to Crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Posthumously . .113 Response - Mr. James Jennings . .114 Presentation of 2003 Hall of Fame Award to Cristy Lane . .115 Response - Ms. Cristy Lane . .116 Presentation of National Veterans Service VI 104th 11/29/06 9:08 AM Page VII (Black plate) Post Service Officer of the Year Award to Delbert Shelley . .116 Response - Comrade Delbert Shelley . .117 Introduction of Lieutenant General Michael D. McGinty, USAF (Ret.) CEO, Air Force Aid Society . .117 Remarks - Lieutenant General McGinty . .118 Presentation by Political Action Committee . .122 Salute to the Colors and Benediction . .123 RECESS . ..