108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 257
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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 EH
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;
Whereas since its enactment, the GI Bill of Rights has pro-
vided education or training for approximately 7,800,000
•HCON 257 EH
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 EH
Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kan-
sas.
Passed the House of Representatives July 6, 2004.
Attest:
Clerk.