105th 11/29/06 9:17 AM Page 1 (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-147 P R O C E E D I N G S OF THE 105th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES [SUMMARY OF MINUTES] Cincinnati, Ohio : : : August 14 - August 20, 2004 105th 11/29/06 9:17 AM Page I (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-147 PROCEEDINGS of the 105th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) Cincinnati, Ohio August 14-20, 2004 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’Affairs and ordered to be printed. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2006 30-738 105th 11/29/06 9:17 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 105th 11/29/06 9:17 AM Page III (Black plate) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI April, 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 your herewith the proceedings of the 105th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 14-20, 2004, which is submitted for printing as a House docu- ment. Sincerely, JOHN J. SENK, JR. Adjutant General III 105th 11/29/06 9:17 AM Page IV (Black plate) TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2004 Call to Order . .1 Advance of Colors . .1 Invocation . .1 Pledge of Allegiance . .2 Memorial Ritual . .2 Introduction of Speaker . .4 Memorial Address . .4 Benediction . .7 Retiring of Colors . .8 JOINT OPENING SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2004 Dedication of Convention . .9 Welcome . .9 Advancement of Colors . .9 Invocation . .10 Video Presentation . .10 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Edward S. Banas, Sr. and Presentation of Convention Badge . .10 Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Banas . .11 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to Evelyn McCune, National President of the Ladies Auxiliary . .12 Response by Ladies Auxiliary National President Evelyn McCune . .13 Introduction of Past Commander-in-Chief James Nier, Convention Chairman of the 104th National Convention . .14 Response - Past Commander-in-Chief Jim Nier. .14 Presentation of Plaque to Past Commander-in-Chief Jack Carney, VFW/PAC . .15 Response - Past Commander-in-Chief Jack Carney . .16 Introduction of Honorable Charlie Luken, Mayor of Cincinnati . .17 Greetings - The Honorable Charlie Luken, Mayor of Cincinnati . .17 Introduction of the Honorable Bob Taft, Governor, State of Ohio . .18 Greetings - The Honorable Bob Taft, Governor, State of Ohio . .18 Presentation of American Flag Set to Governor Bob Taft and Mayor Charlie Luken . .19 IV 105th 11/29/06 9:17 AM Page V (Black plate) Introduction of Mr. Lin, Wen-Shan, Vice Minister, Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China . .20 Greetings - Mr. Lin, Wen-Shan, Vice Minister, Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China . .20 Introduction of the Voice of Democracy Winner - Kyle Baker . .21 Voice of Democracy Winner - Kyle Baker . .22 Presentation of 2004 All American Commanders . .24 Presentation of the National Recruiter of the Year Award, Recognition of the 2003-2004 Military Initiative Program Recruiter of the Year Award, National Convention Recruiter Award. 29 Response - Comrade John R. Lewis . .30 Response - Comrade Bruce Withers . .30 Remarks - Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Mueller . .31 Remarks - Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Furgess . .32 Introduction of the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States . .34 Remarks by the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States . .35 RECESS . .40 DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET AUGUST 16, 2004 Call to Order . .41 Invocation . .41 Introduction of Distinguished Guests . .42 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief Edward Banas, Sr. .43 Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Banas . .43 Introduction of National President of the Ladies Auxiliary . .44 Presentation of the 2004 Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Service Medal and Citation to Secretary of State Colin Powell . .45 Response - Secretary of State Colin Powell . .46 Benediction . .56 RECESS . .56 FIRST BUSINESS SESSION TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 17, 2004 Call to Order . .57 Salute to the Colors, Pledge of Allegiance and Opening Prayer . .57 Report of Committee on Convention Rules . .57 Report of Credentials Committee . .59 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual . .60 Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization . .60 Report of Committee on General Resolutions . .61 Report of the VFW Political Action Committee . .62 V 105th 11/29/06 9:17 AM Page VI (Black plate) Remarks by VFW PAC Committee Chairman Wysong . .63 Presentation of PAC Award to Commander-in-Chief Banas . .64 Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs . .65 Presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal to the Honorable Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs . .69 Remarks - The Honorable Anthony J. Principi. .70 Report of Subcommittee on POW-MIA . .72 Introduction of Comrade Robley Rex . .74 Introduction of Major General David E. Kratzer. .75 Remarks - Major General David E. Kratzer . .75 Presentation of Gold Medal of Merit to Ken Pond, American Battle Monuments Commission . .79 Response - Ken Pond . .80 Introduction of Armed Forces Award Recipients . .82 Response - Rear Admiral John Atkins . .83 Response - Major General David Kratzer . .83 Response - Colonel Michael Pannell . .83 Response - Captain Michael Price . .83 Response - Brigadier General Gregory Wayt . .84 Report of Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions . .84 Introduction of Supreme Commander of the Military Order of the Cootie . .90 Remarks - Supreme Commander of the Military Order of the Cootie, Joe Velasquez . .90 Introduction of Comrade Jan Scruggs - Founder, Vietnam Veterans Memorial . .91 Remarks - The Honorable Jan Scruggs . .92 Presentation of “Consecutive Year of Membership” Citation to Department of Arizona. .94 Introduction of Commissioner John Keys, Department of Veterans Affairs, State of Tennessee . .95 Remarks - Commissioner John Keys . .95 Introduction of Michael Quinn from UNIBIC . .97 Response - Mr. Michael Quinn . .98 RECESS . .99 SECOND BUSINESS SESSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2004 Call to Order . .100 Report of Credentials Committee . .100 Introduction of Brigadier General Stephen M. Koper, President of the National Guard Association . .100 Remarks - Brigadier General Stephen Koper . .101 Presentation of 2004 Aviation and Space Award to NASA - MARS Exploration Rover Mission . .104 Response - Matthew Wallace . .105 Presentation of 2004 Americanism Award to FedEx . .106 Response - Mr. Douglas Duncan . .107 Presentation of 2004 VFW Emergency Medical Technician Award . .108 VI 105th 11/29/06 9:17 AM Page VII (Black plate) Response - Ms. Angela Noelle . .109 Presentation of the 2004 VFW Firefighter Award . .109 Response - Mr. Roger Bortnem ..