103rd 11/29/06 9:23 AM Page 1 (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-145 P R O C E E D I N G S OF THE 103rd NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES [SUMMARY OF MINUTES] Nashville, Tennessee : : : August 24 - August 30, 2002 103rd 11/29/06 9:23 AM Page I (Black plate) 109th Congress, 2nd Session.......................................................House Document 109-145 PROCEEDINGS of the 103rd ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) Nashville, Tennessee August 24-30, 2002 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’Affairs and ordered to be printed. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2006 30-736 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 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI December, 2002 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 103rd National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in Nashville, Tennessee August 24-30, 2002, which is sub- mitted for printing as a House document. Sincerely, JOHN J. SENK, JR. Adjutant General III TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2002 Call to Order . .1 Advance of Colors . .1 Invocation . .1 Recognition of Mrs. Ted C. Connell . .2 Memorial Ritual . .3 Symbolic Tribute . .4 Memorial Address . .4 Retiring of Colors . .6 JOINT OPENING SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2002 Dedication of 2002 VFW National Convention . .7 All American Commanders and Outstanding Community Service Posts . .7 Advancement of Colors . .7 Invocation . .8 Video Presentation . .9 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief James N. Goldsmith . .9 Presentation of Convention Badge to Commander-in-Chief Goldsmith . .10 Opening Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Goldsmith . .10 Introduction of the Honorable Bill Purcell, Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee . .15 Greetings - The Honorable Bill Purcell, Mayor, Nashville, Tennessee . .15 Introduction of Commissioner John Mogan, Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs . .16 Greetings - Commissioner John Mogan, Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs . .16 Presentation of American Flag Sets . .17 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to Ladies Auxiliary President Diana Stout . .19 Response - Ladies Auxiliary President Diana Stout . .20 Introduction of General Lee Sang-Hoon, Korean Veterans Association . .21 Greetings - General Lee Sang-Hoon, Korean Veterans Association . .21 Presentation of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award to General Anthony C. Zinni . .23 Response - General Anthony C. Zinni . .24 Introduction of 2002 Distinguished All American Commanders . 25 Introduction of the 2001-2002 Honor All American Commanders . .27 Presentation of Membership Recruiters Awards . .28 IV Introduction of Voice of Democracy Winner - Allegra Guarino . .29 Voice of Democracy Winner - Allegra Guarino . .29 Introduction of Vice-President Richard B. Cheney . .31 Remarks - Vice-President Richard B. Cheney . .32 RECESS . .40 DISTINGUISHED GUESTS BANQUET AUGUST 26, 2002 Invocation . .41 Pledge of Allegiance . .41 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief James N. Goldsmith . .44 Remarks by Commander-in-Chief Goldsmith . .44 Introduction of National President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Diana Stout . .46 Remarks - National President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Diana Stout . .46 Introduction of Lieutenant General Chi-Liang Wu, Vice-Chairman, Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China . .47 Response - Lieutenant General Chi-Liang Wu . .48 Presentation of the VFW Armed Forces Award to General Thomas A. Schwartz . .49 Response - General Thomas A. Schwartz . .51 Benediction . .56 RECESS . .57 FIRST BUSINESS SESSION TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 27, 2002 Call to Order . .58 Salute to the Colors, Pledge of Allegiance and Opening Prayer . .58 Report of Credentials Committee . .58 Report of Committee on Convention Rules . .58 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual . .61 Presentation of “Consecutive Year of Membership” Citation to Department of Arizona . .67 Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization . .68 Introduction of H. Steve Mason, Supreme Commander of the Military Order of the Cootie . .79 Response - MOC Supreme Commander Steve Mason. .79 Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs . .80 Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to the 102nd National Convention Committee . .83 Introduction of Lieutenant General Michael D. McGinty, Air Force Aid Society . .84 Remarks - Lieutenant General Michael McGinty, USAF (Ret.) . .84 Remarks - Ms. Chris Burnett . .86 Presentation by 2001-2002 Department Commanders . .88 Presentation of the James E. Van Zandt Citizenship Award . .90 V Response - Mr. Thomas M. Coughlin . .91 Report of Committee on General Resolutions . .92 Introduction of Colonel Frederick Johnson, Chapel of Four Chaplains . .96 Presentation by the Chapel of Four Chaplains . .96 Presentation from the Political Action Committee to Commander-in-Chief James Goldsmith . .97 Introduction of Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Labor . .99 Keynote Address - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao . .100 Presentation by Comrade Donna Evick . .104 Benediction . .104 RECESS . .104 SECOND BUSINESS SESSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2002 Call to Order . .105 Salute to the Colors and Pledge of Allegiance . .105 Opening Prayer . .105 Report of Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions . .105 Report of Credentials Committee . .107 Report of Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions (Cont’d.) . .108 Presentation of Commander-in-Chief’s Special Award to Jan Scruggs . .109 Response - Comrade Jan Scruggs . .109 Introduction of Honorable Edward A. Powell, Jr., President and CEO of the United Service Organization . .111 Remarks - The Honorable Edward A. Powell . .112 Presentation of the VFW Hall of Fame Award to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders . .114 Response - Ms. Kelli Finglass . .115 Presentation of the Post Service Officer of the Year Award to Leland Edwards . .117 Response - Mr. Leland Edwards . .118 Presentation of the VFW Americanism Award to United States Representative Ike Skelton . .118 Response - The Honorable Ike Skelton . .119 Introduction of the Honorable Anthony J.Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs . .120 Remarks by the Honorable Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs . .121 Presentation by the Department of Michigan . .129 RECESS . .130 Presentation of $850,000 Check for World War II Memorial . .130 Remarks by Senator Bob Dole . .131 Closing Prayer . .136 RECESS . .136 VI THIRD BUSINESS SESSION THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2002 Call to Order . .137 Salute to the Colors and Opening Prayer . .137 Pledge of Allegiance . .137 Report of Credentials Committee . .137 Presentation of James C. Gates Distinguished Service Award . .137 Response - Mr. Michael A. Olen . .138 Presentation of National Large Employer of the Year Award . .139 Response - Mr. Joseph Lowman . ..