113th Congress, 1st Session house Document 113–35 P R O C E E D I N G S OF THE 113TH NA TIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) Reno, Nevada ::: July 21 – 25, 2012 113th Congress, 1st Session house Document 113–35 P R O C E E D I N G S of the 113TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES (SUMMARY OF MINUTES) Reno, Nevada July 21 – 25, 2012 June 13, 2013–Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and ordered to be printed. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2013 81–453 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 May, 2013 Honorable John Boehner 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 113th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held in Reno, Nevada, July 21-25, 2012, which is submitted for printing as a House document. Sincerely, Allen “Gunner” Kent Adjutant General III TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE ..................................................... PAGES SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2012 Call to Order ....................................................................................1 Advance of Colors ............................................................................1 Pledge of Allegiance .........................................................................1 Invocation ........................................................................................2 In Memoriam - John W. Mahan .........................................................2 Memorial Ritual ................................................................................2 Symbolic Tribute ...............................................................................4 Memorial Address .............................................................................4 Benediction ......................................................................................7 Retiring of Colors ..............................................................................7 RECESS ....................................................................................................7 JOINT OPENING SESSION MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012 Call to Order ....................................................................................8 Welcome by National Convention Chairman Jack McMindes ...........8 Advancement of Colors ....................................................................9 Invocation ........................................................................................9 Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem .......................................9 Video Presentation ............................................................................9 Introduction of Commander-in-Chief DeNoyer and Presentation of Official Convention Badge .................................10 Remarks - Commander-in-Chief DeNoyer .......................................10 Introduction of “No One Does More” video ...................................13 Presentation of VFW Gold Medal of Merit and Citation to Gwen Rankin, National President of the Ladies Auxiliary .......13 Response – Ladies Auxiliary President Rankin .................................14 Introduction of the Honorable Bob Cashell, Mayor of Reno, Nevada, and the Honorable Geno Martini, Mayour of Sparks, Nevada .........................................................15 Greetings - Reno Mayor Bob Cashell and Sparks Mayor Geno Martini .............................................................................15 Presentation of Gold Medal and Citation to Montford Point Marine Association............................................................16 Remarks - Dr. James T. Averhart, Jr., National President ...................17 Presentation of Armed Fores Award to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center ............................................................18 Response – Colonel Barbara Holcomb ............................................19 Presentation of the Americanism Award ..........................................19 Response – Mr. Joe Galloway ..........................................................20 Introduction of Deputy Minister, Veterans Affairs Commission, Chin, Hsiao-hui, Republic of China ...........................................21 Greetings – Chin, Hsiao-hui, Deputy Minister, Veterans Affairs Commission, Republic of China ........................22 Introduction of Voice of Democracy Winner ...................................23 Voice of Democracy Winner Presentation .......................................24 IV Introduction of Ekaterina Gennadievna Priezzheva, Co-Chair of the U.S. Russian Commission on POW/MIAs, Ministry of Defense, Russian Federation......................................25 Greetings - Ms. Ekaterina Priezzheva ..............................................26 Department of Arizona Consecutive Years of Growth Citation .........26 National Recruiter Award to Jack Turner ..........................................27 Presentation of Legacy Life Contest Winners ...................................27 Presentation of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award to General Raymon Odierno ..........................................................28 Response - General Raymon Odierno .............................................29 Presentation of Awards to 2011 All American Department, District and Post Commanders ...................................................31 Presentation of All American Triple Crown Awards ..........................36 Presentation of Teacher Awards .......................................................37 Introduction of Debra Howell, Monte Cristo Elementary School ................................................37 Remarks - Debra Howell, Teacher Award ........................................38 Presentation of the National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year, Kelly McDermott .........................................39 Presentation of the Teacher Award to George Zorman, Mountain Home High School ....................................................40 Response - Mr. George “Bud” Zorman ............................................41 Presentation of Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Project .....43 Remarks - Comrade Sidney Linver ..................................................44 Introduction of Richard Cesler - Washington State Veterans Cemetery .....................................................................45 Remarks - Comrade Richard Cesler .................................................45 Introduction of President Barack Obama ........................................47 Address - President Barack Obama .................................................47 RECESS ..................................................................................................54 FIRST BUSINESS SESSION MONDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 23, 2012 Call to Order ..................................................................................55 Presentation of the Certificate of Appreciation to the 112th National Convention Committee ......................................55 Report of Convention Credentials ...................................................55 Report of Committee on Convention Rules .....................................56 Report of Committee on Finance and Internal Organization ..............................................................................58 Report of Committee on National By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual .................................................................61 Report of Committee on General Resolutions .................................73 Report of Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs ............................................................................77 Report of Subcommittee on POW-MIA ...........................................80 Report of Committee on Veterans Service Resolutions .....................81 Closing Ceremonies ........................................................................86 Benediction ....................................................................................86 RECESS ..................................................................................................86 V SECOND BUSINESS SESSION JULY 24, 2012 Call to Order ..................................................................................87 Opening Prayer...............................................................................87 Salute to Colors and Pledge of Allegiance .......................................87 Report of Credentials Committee ....................................................87 Introduction of VFW National Home Representatives .....................88 Remarks - Board President David