PROCEEDINGS of the 101st Annual National Convention of THE AMERICAN LEGION Indianapolis Convention Center Indianapolis, Indiana August 27, 28, 29, 2019 Table of Contents Tuesday, August 27, 2019 Call to Order: National Commander Reistad ..................................................................... 1 Invocation .......................................................................................................................... 1 Pledge of Allegiance .......................................................................................................... 2 POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony ................................................................................ 2 Preamble to The American Legion Constitution ............................................................... 2 Centennial Time Capsule ................................................................................................... 2 The American Legion Youth Champions .......................................................................... 6 2018 American Legion Baseball All-Academic Team Captain ................................. 6 2019 Boys Nation President ...................................................................................... 6 2019 Eagle Scout of the Year .................................................................................... 7 2019 Junior Shooting Sports Precision Champion ..................................................... 8 2019 Junior Shooting Sports Sporter Champion ........................................................ 8 2019 National Oratorical Contest First Place Winner ................................................ 9 Presentation: Spirit of Service Awards .............................................................................. 9 Special Remembrance ..................................................................................................... 12 Address: Charles W. Ray, Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard ................... 13 Jim McCloughan, Medal of Honor Recipient .......................................................... 17 Greetings: Kathy Dungan, National President, American Legion Auxiliary ............................. 19 Greg K. Gibbs, Past National Commander, Sons of the American Legion .............. 21 Address: Honorable Donald M. Benton, Director, U.S. Selective Service System.......... 21 Presentation: The American Legion Distinguished Service Medal ................................. 24 Address: Honorable Michael R. Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State .......................................... 25 David K. Rehbein, Chairman, 100th Anniversary Observance Committee ............. 29 Welcome: Honorable Todd Young, United States Senate ........................................................ 31 Honorable Mike Braun, United States Senate .......................................................... 32 Honorable Andre Carson, United States House of Representatives ......................... 33 Honorable Eric Holcomb, Governor of the State of Indiana .................................... 34 Honorable Joseph Hogsett, Mayor of the City of Indianapolis ................................ 34 Rodney E. Strong, 2018-2019 Indiana Department Commander ............................. 35 James E. Koutz, President, National Convention Corporation of Indiana ............... 35 Presentation: Jane McKnight, Past Department President of Kentucky, American Legion Auxiliary .................................................................................................................. 36 Address: David Ryder, Director, United States Mint ...................................................... 37 Presentation: The American Legion Riders ..................................................................... 38 Greetings: Dana Simmons, Executive Vice President, USAA .................................................. 41 Vincent 'BJ' Lawrence, Past National Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars ...... 43 Mrs. Una Cleminson, National Chairman, The Royal British Legion ..................... 44 Bruce Julian, Dominion 1st Vice President, The Royal Canadian Legion ................ 45 Ronald Smith, Dominion President Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada ......................................................................................................................... 47 Lee, Weng-Chung, Deputy Minister Veterans Affairs Council, Republic of China 48 Tsai Ing-wen, President, Republic of China ............................................................ 48 John T. 'Jack' Manning, President General, National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, ...................................................................................... 50 iii Jared S. Lyon, President, Student Veterans of America, ......................................... 51 John Rowan, National President, Vietnam Veterans of America............................. 53 National Commander’s Report to Convention ................................................................. 55 Call for Convention ......................................................................................................... 58 Reports: Convention Committee on Credentials & Rules ...................................................... 59 Convention Committee on Finance ......................................................................... 61 Wednesday, August 28, 2019 Call to Order: National Commander Reistad ................................................................... 63 Invocation ........................................................................................................................ 63 Pledge of Allegiance ........................................................................................................ 63 Presentations: Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion ................ 64 Address: Honorable Robert Wilkie, Secretary, United States Department of Veterans Affairs ...................................................................................................................... 65 Presentation: The American Legion Patriot Award, Mitchell E. Daniels, President, Purdue University .................................................................................................... 69 Report: Convention Committee on Internal Affairs ......................................................... 70 Presentations: 2019 National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year .............................................. 75 2019 National Firefighter of the Year ...................................................................... 76 Report: Convention Committee on Legislation ............................................................... 77 Presentation: Plaque to the City of Minneapolis .............................................................. 77 Address: Theodore Roosevelt IV, Chairman, 100th Anniversary Observance Honorary Committee ............................................................................................................... 78 Presentations: Department Membership Awards ............................................................................ 81 Daniel J. O’Connor Americanism Trophy ............................................................... 83 Report: Convention Committee on Americanism ............................................................ 84 Presentations: Frank N. Belgrano, Jr., Trophy ................................................................................ 85 Ralph T. O’Neil Education Trophy ......................................................................... 85 Garland Murphy, Jr. Award ..................................................................................... 85 U.S. 'Udie' Grant Legacy Award ............................................................................. 86 Child Welfare Foundation Meritorious Achievement Award .................................. 86 Child Welfare Foundation Excellence Award ......................................................... 86 Child Welfare Foundation Presentation to the National Commander ...................... 86 Certificate of Appreciation ...................................................................................... 87 Donations to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation ...................................... 87 Report: Convention Committee on Veterans Employment & Education ......................... 88 Presentations: Employer of the Year Award for Hiring Veterans ................................................... 91 Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist of the Year Award ....................... 91 Report: Convention Committee on Constitutional Amendments ..................................... 92 Presentation: Philip B. Onderdonk, Jr. Religious Liberty Award .................................. 108 Address: Major General Jan Edmunds, USA (Ret ), Chairwoman, Women in Military Service Memorial Foundation ................................................................. 110 David J. McIntyre, Jr., President and CEO, TriWest Healthcare Alliance ............. 112 Eddie Holbrook, Chairman, American Legion World Series Committee .............. 115 Honorable Michael R. Pence, U.S. Vice President ................................................ 116 iv Thursday, August 29, 2019 Call to Order .................................................................................................................. 123 Invocation .....................................................................................................................