III 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 257
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 7, 2004
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should 
posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom 
to Harry W. Colmery.
Whereas the life of Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kansas, 
was marked by service to his country and its citizens; 
Whereas Harry Colmery earned a degree in law in 1916 from 
the University of Pittsburgh and, through his practice of 
law, contributed to the Nation, notably by successfully 
arguing two significant cases before the United States
HCON 257 RFS 
Supreme Court, one criminal, the other an environmental 
legal dispute; 
Whereas during World War I, Harry Colmery joined the 
Army Air Service, serving as a first lieutenant at a time 
when military aviation was in its infancy; 
Whereas after World War I, Harry Colmery actively contrib-
uted to the growth of the newly formed American Legion 
and went on to hold several offices in the Legion and was 
elected National Commander in 1936; 
Whereas in 1943, the United States faced the return from 
World War II of what was to become an active duty force 
of 15,000,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines; 
Whereas Harry Colmery, recognizing the potential effect of 
the return of such a large number of veterans to civilian 
life, spearheaded the efforts of the American Legion to 
develop legislation seeking to ensure that these Ameri-
cans who had fought for the democratic ideals of the Na-
tion and to preserve freedom would be able to fully par-
ticipate in all of the opportunities the Nation provided; 
Whereas in December 1943, during an emergency meeting of 
the American Legion leadership, Harry Colmery crafted 
the initial draft of the legislation that became the Serv-
icemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the 
GI Bill of Rights; 
Whereas the GI Bill of Rights is credited by veterans’ service 
organizations, economists, and historians as the engine 
that transformed postwar America into a more egali-
tarian, prosperous, and enlightened Nation poised to lead 
the world into the 21st century;
HCON 257 RFS 
Whereas since its enactment, the GI Bill of Rights has pro-
vided education or training for approximately 7,800,000 
men and women, including 2,200,000 in college, 
3,400,000 in other schools, 1,400,000 in vocational edu-
cation, and 690,000 in farm training and, in addition, 
2,100,000 World War II veterans purchased homes 
through the GI Bill; 
Whereas as a result of the benefits available to veterans 
through the initial GI Bill, the Nation gained over 
800,000 professionals as the GI Bill transformed these 
veterans into 450,000 engineers, 238,000 teachers, 
91,000 scientists, 67,000 doctors, and 22,000 dentists; 
Whereas President Truman established the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom in 1945 to recognize notable service 
during war and in 1963, President Kennedy reinstated 
the medal to honor the achievement of civilians during 
peacetime; 
Whereas pursuant to Executive Order No. 11085, the Medal 
of Freedom may be awarded to any person who has made 
an especially meritorious contribution to ‘‘(1) the security 
or national interest of the United States, or (2) world 
peace, or (3) other significant public or private endeav-
ors’’; and 
Whereas Harry Colmery, noted for his service in the military, 
in the legal sector, and on behalf of the Nation’s vet-
erans, clearly meets the criteria established for the Presi-
dential Medal of Freedom: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
President should posthumously award the Presidential
HCON 257 RFS 
Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kan-
sas.
Passed the House of Representatives July 6, 2004. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.