PROCEEDINGS of the National Executive Committee of THE AMERICAN LEGION National Headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana May 7 – 8, 2014 Table of Contents Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Invocation .......................................................................................................................... 1 POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony ................................................................................ 1 Roll Call ............................................................................................................................ 2 Announcements: National Adjutant Wheeler .................................................................... 4 Opening Remarks: Daniel M. Dellinger, National Commander ........................................ 4 Resolution No. 1: Call for Resignation of Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, Under Secretary for Health and Under Secretary for Benefits ................................... 7 Greetings: Nancy D. Brown-Park, National President, American Legion Auxiliary ....... 11 Report: Subcommittee on Resolutions............................................................................. 12 Memorial Resolutions: .................................................................................................... 12 Eulogies: Past National Commander Richard M. Pedro .......................................................... 13 Past National Vice Commander Dale R. Salmen ..................................................... 17 Past National Vice Commander Robert E. Vass ...................................................... 19 Reports: Membership & Post Activities Committee .............................................................. 19 Final Report of the 2013 National Convention ........................................................ 24 National Historian .................................................................................................... 25 Media & Communications Commission .................................................................. 26 Convention Commission ......................................................................................... 29 Resolution No. 12: 2017 National Convention Contract ................................................. 31 Reports: Oklahoma Reorganization Committee ..................................................................... 32 Appeals Committee ................................................................................................. 33 Wednesday Afternoon Session Reports: Finance Commission ............................................................................................... 39 Emblem Committee ................................................................................................. 44 Revenue Enhancement Committee .......................................................................... 45 Marketing Committee .............................................................................................. 47 Resolutions: No. 2: Air Force Academy Awards Update ............................................................. 49 No. 3: The American Legion Poppy Program ......................................................... 49 No. 4: Testing of Revenue Enhancement and/or Marketing Programs .................... 51 No. 5: Soldier's Wish Project ................................................................................... 52 No. 6: Home Depot Renovation Project .................................................................. 57 No. 7: Authority for The American Legion to Enter into Agreement with Founding Fathers Products............................................................................................... 59 No. 8: American Legion Boys Nation Contracts ..................................................... 60 No. 9: Authorization to Negotiate Agreement to Live Webcast The American Legion Baseball World Series on ESPN3 ........................................................ 60 No. 10: Authorization to Enter into an Agreement with Baseball Factory .............. 61 Reports: TBI/PTSD Committee ............................................................................................. 62 Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission ...................................................... 68 iii Resolutions: No. 13: Department of Veterans Affairs Cease Using Social Security Numbers on Veteran Identification Cards ............................................................................ 79 No. 14: Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability ......................................... 80 No. 15: Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Programs ............................ 81 No. 12: 2017 National Convention Contract............................................................ 82 Thursday, May 8, 2014 Invocation ........................................................................................................................ 85 Roll Call .......................................................................................................................... 85 Reports: 100th Anniversary Observance Committee ............................................................. 87 Veterans Employment & Education Commission ................................................... 94 Internal Affairs Commission ................................................................................. 106 Resolutions: No. 16: Membership Recruitment of Active Duty and Reserves ........................... 134 No. 17: Paul H. Griffith National ROTC & JROTC Program ............................... 135 No. 18: Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial .......................................................... 136 No. 19: Post Submission of Narrative Reports ...................................................... 136 No. 20: Place Polar Bear Monument on National Register of Historic Places ....... 137 No. 21: 100th Anniversary Commemorative United States Postal Service Stamp . 138 No. 22: Gold Star and Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel Lapel Buttons ............ 139 Report: Americanism Commission ................................................................................ 142 Resolutions: No. 23: Commending Children's Organ Transplant Association ........................... 151 No. 24: Commending Operation: Military Kids .................................................... 152 No. 25: Commending the JAYC Foundation ......................................................... 152 No. 26: Commending Mercy Medical Airlift ........................................................ 153 No. 27: Commending Special Olympics ................................................................ 154 No. 28: Commending Ronald McDonald House Charities Pop Tab Collection Program ......................................................................................................... 155 No. 29: Commending Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) ...................... 155 No. 30: Change the Name of The American Legion Junior Law Cadet Program to Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Program ....................................................... 156 No. 31: Expressing Support for the Ideals and Goals of Citizenship Day ............. 157 No. 32: The American Legion Baseball Regional Tournament Sites and Dates 2015 and 2016...................................................................................... 158 No. 33: Rescinding Americanism Non-Legislative Policy Resolutions ................. 158 No. 34: Rescind Resolution No. 46, Fall 2011 National Executive Committee ..... 159 Reports: National Security Commission .............................................................................. 160 Legislative Commission ........................................................................................ 169 Confirmation of Interim Appointments ......................................................................... 190 Confirmation of Cancellation of Post and/or Squadron Charters ................................... 192 Confirmation of Dates for Future Meetings ................................................................... 195 Final Report: Subcommittee on Resolutions ................................................................. 197 Resolution No. 11: Rescinding of Non-Legislative Resolutions.................................... 197 Closing Remarks: Daniel M. Dellinger, National Commander ..................................... 199 Benediction .................................................................................................................... 200 Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. 201 Index .............................................................................................................................. 205 iv PROCEEDINGS of the NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Wednesday, May 7, 2014 ... At 9:00 a.m., the National Executive Committee of The American Legion was called to order by National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger. NATIONAL COMMANDER DELLINGER: The Colors of our country being in place, hand salute. ... The National Executive Committee stood and rendered a salute to the Colors. NATIONAL COMMANDER DELLINGER: Two. I now call on National Chaplain Daniel A. McClure from Iowa for the invocation. Invocation Daniel A. McClure, Iowa, National Chaplain Let's pray together, shall we? Heavenly Father, we stand before You a grateful people, grateful for life, grateful for a great nation, and the beauty of our land and for the