105th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 105–214

PROCEEDINGS OF

79th NATIONAL

CONVENTION of the

AMERICAN

LEGION

Orlando, Florida

September 2–4, 1997
1997 : 79th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION : 1997
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1

46–666 1998

105th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 105–214

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 79TH NATIONAL CONVENTION

OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

COMMUNICATION

FROM

THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE

COMMISSION, THE AMERICAN LEGION

TRANSMITTING

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 79TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE

AMERICAN LEGION, HELD IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA FROM SEPTEMBER 2, 3 AND 4, 1997 AS WELL AS A REPORT ON THE ORGANIZATION’S ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR PRECEDING THE CONVENTION, PURSUANT TO 36 U.S.C. 49

FEBRUARY 24, 1998.—Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and

ordered to be printed

(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE AMERICAN LEGION,

Washington, DC, January 30, 1998.

Hon. NEWT GINGRICH,

Speaker, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: In compliance with current public law we

herewith transmit for printing as a House document: a financial

statement and independent audit of The American Legion, proceedings of our 79th annual National Convention held in Orlando, Florida from September 2, 3 and 4, 1997 as well as a report on our organization’s activities for the year preceding the Convention.

Sincerely,

STEVE ROBERTSON,

Director, National Legislative Commission.

Enclosures.

(V)

CONTENTS

Page

National Conventions and Officers of The American Legion, 1919–1997 ........... 00

TUESDAY SESSION—SEPTEMBER 2, 1997

Call to Order—National Commander Joseph Frank ............................................ 1

Invocation—National Chaplain Dr. Charles H. Richmond .................................. 1

Greetings:

Honorable Glenda E. Hood, Mayor of Orlando .............................................. 5

Ray Weaver, Department Commander, Florida ............................................. 6

Robert Proctor, Pres., American Legion Nat’l. Convention Corporation ...... 6

Presentation—Plaque to City of Salt Lake City, UT by Past Nat’l Commander

Ludwig .................................................................................................................. 7

Report of Committee—Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section 1 .................... 8

Reading of Convention Call—National Adjutant Robert Spanogle ..................... 10

Report of Committee—Legislation and Rules ....................................................... 12

Greetings—Mrs. Phyllis Bachman, National President, American Legion Auxiliary ...................................................................................................................... 13

Addresses:

Honorable Hershel Gober, Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs ................. 14

Honorable Newt Gingrich, Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives ........... 19

Honorable Chuck Hagel, United States Senate (NE) .................................... 25

Honorable Charles Canady, U.S. House of Representatives (FL) ................ 30

Honorable Michael Bilirakis, U.S. House of Representatives (FL) .............. 34

Presentation—Certificate of Appreciation to Nat’l Chaplain Dr. Richmond ...... 39

National Commander’s Convention Report ........................................................... 40

Report to Committees:

Finance .............................................................................................................. 45

Americanism ..................................................................................................... 46

Awards:

Frank Belgrano, Jr .................................................................................................. 48

Ralph T. O’Neil Education ...................................................................................... 49

William Randolph Hearst Americanism Trophy ................................................... 49

Presentation—Representatives of The American Legion Youth Programs ........ 50

Presentation—Ken Wechselberger, Asst. Genl. Sales Manager, Buick Motor

Division ................................................................................................................. 53

Message to Convention—George W. Bentley, Society of American Legion

Founders ............................................................................................................... 54

Presentation—International Amity Award to Carlos Garduno, Dept. of Mexico .......................................................................................................................... 54

Addresses:

A.W. (Akmal) Khan, Dominion President, Army, Navy and Air Force

Veterans in Canada ...................................................................................... 57

Joseph Kobolak, Dominion President, Royal Canadian Legion .................... 57

Graham Downing, Chairman, Royal British Legion ..................................... 58
Page

VI

Addresses—Continued

Lt. General Chao Yu, Vice Chrmn., Veterans Affrs. Commission, Republic

of China ......................................................................................................... 59

Lt. General Choi Kap-Jin, Vice President, Korean Veterans Association ... 61

Presentation—Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion ... 62

WEDNESDAY SESSION—SEPTEMBER 3, 1997

Call to Order—National Commander Joseph Frank ............................................ 64

Special Report—Major Gen. Patrick Brady (USA Ret.), Chrmn, Citizens Flag

Alliance ................................................................................................................. 65

Addresses:

Mr. John Schneider, Actor/Singer ................................................................... 70

Honorable Orrin Hatch, United States Senate (UT) ..................................... 71

Honorable Max Cleland, United States Senate (GA) .................................... 73

Honorable Sanford Bishop, U.S. House of Representatives (GA) ................. 75

Award—Employer of The Year ............................................................................... 81

Report of Committee:

Employment and Veterans’ Preference and Other Economic Matters ......... 83

Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section III ................................................. 95

Presentation—Department Membership Awards ................................................. 96

Addresses:

Vernon Peterson, Department Commander of Utah ..................................... 97

Dr. Bernard Rostker, Special Asst. for Gulf War Illnesses, Dept. of Defense ............................................................................................................... 99

Lt. Genl. Claude Kicklighter (Ret.), Deputy Under Secretary of the Army 102

Honorable Buddy McKay, Lieutenant Governor of Florida .......................... 105

General John Shalikashvili, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff ...................... 107

Mr. Michael Bennett, Author .......................................................................... 111

Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught (USAF Retired), President, Women

in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation .............................. 113

Diane Carlson Evans, Chair & Founder, Vietnam Women’s Memorial

Project ............................................................................................................ 115

Mr. Peter C. Lemon, Author ............................................................................ 117

Honorable Alexis Herman, Secretary of Labor .............................................. 120

Mr. Bruce Henderson, Seabury & Smith ........................................................ 125

Bill Plackett, Account Executive, Kirke-Van Ordel ....................................... 126

Report of Committee—Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation ................................ 127

Presentation—Distinguished Service Award to Honorable Robert Dole,

Former United States Senator (KS) ................................................................... 137

Addresses:

Maj. Genl. John Herrling (Ret.), Sec., American Battle Monuments Commission ........................................................................................................... 139

Herman Harrington, Member, World War II Advisory Committee ............. 142

Report of Committee—Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation (cont.) .................... 143

Presentation—William F. Lenker Natl. Service Award to Department of Florida .......................................................................................................................... 148

Report of Committee—Credentials and Internal Affairs, Section II ................... 148

Special Report—National Emergency Fund, by Herman Harrington ................. 151

Report of Committee—Children and Youth .......................................................... 154

Presentation: Garland Murphy Award to Department of Florida ....................... 155

Report of Committee—Foreign Relations .............................................................. 156

Presentation—Natl. Law Enforcement Officer of the Year .................................. 163

Report of Committee—Constitutional Amendments ............................................. 164
Page

VII

THURSDAY SESSION—SEPTEMBER 4, 1997

Call to Order—National Commander Joseph Frank ............................................ 169

Address—Honorable William Cohen, Secretary of Defense ................................. 170

Presentation—Fourth Estate Award ...................................................................... 176

Report of Committee—National Security .............................................................. 177

Presentation—National Vice Commanders to Outgoing National Commander . 191

Election of National Commander ........................................................................... 197

Address—National Commander, Joseph J. Frank ................................................ 205

Election of National Vice Commanders ................................................................. 209

Greetings—Mrs. Barbara Kranig, President, American Legion Auxiliary ......... 213

Benediction—Outgoing National Chaplain, Dr. Charles Richmond .................... 214

APPENDIX

Annual Awards ........................................................................................................ 215

THE AMERICAN LEGION 79TH ANNUAL REPORT

Foreword, National Adjutant Robert W. Spanogle ............................................... 221

Excerpts from the Constitution of The American Legion ..................................... 222

National Executive Committee ............................................................................... 224

Reports of National Vice Commanders:

Robert L. ‘‘Bob’’ Bowen, Virginia ..................................................................... 226

Albert M. Robotti, New Jersey ........................................................................ 229

Wilson R. Timmons, Florida ............................................................................ 231

Orland H. Taylor, Hawaii ................................................................................ 232

Roger L. Wild, Nebraska .................................................................................. 233

Reports:

National Chaplain ............................................................................................ 234

National Historian ............................................................................................ 235

National Judge Advocate ................................................................................. 237

Administrative Services ................................................................................... 249

Library, Museum and Internet Operations ............................................. 250

Management Information Services .......................................................... 253

Americanism Commission ................................................................................ 254

Counter-Subversive Activities Committee ............................................... 258

Education Committee ................................................................................ 259

The American Legion Citizens Flag Alliance .......................................... 261

Children & Youth Commission ........................................................................ 264

American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc ................................... 273

Convention Commission ................................................................................... 00

Economic Commission ...................................................................................... 00

Employment Committee ........................................................................... 00

Veterans Preference Committee ............................................................... 00

Finance Commission ........................................................................................ 00

Emblem Committee ................................................................................... 00

American Legion Life Insurance Committee .......................................... 00

Foreign Relations Commission ........................................................................ 00

Internal Affairs Commission ........................................................................... 00

Constitution and By-Laws Committee .................................................... 00

Resolutions Assignment Committee ........................................................ 00

Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials Committee ...................................... 00

Membership and Post Activities Committee ........................................... 00

The Sons of The American Legion ........................................................... 00

Legislative Commission ................................................................................... 00

National Security Commission ........................................................................ 00
Page

VIII

Reports—Continued

National Security Commission—Continued

Aerospace Committee ................................................................................ 00

Defense Civil Preparedness Committee .................................................. 00

Law and Order Committee ....................................................................... 00

Merchant Marine Committee ................................................................... 00

Military Affairs Committee ...................................................................... 00

Naval Affairs Committee .......................................................................... 00

National Security Council ......................................................................... 00

Public Relations Commission .......................................................................... 00

American Legion Magazine Commission ........................................................ 00

Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission .......................................... 00

Report of the National President of the American Legion Auxiliary ........... 00

Consolidated Financial Statements with Supplementary Information ........ 00
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