1Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the organizing of the
2Veterans of Foreign Wars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, September 14 through 17, 2014, marks the 100th
4anniversary of the consolidation of three organizations created
5by Spanish-American War veterans into the Veterans of Foreign
6Wars (VFW) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and

7WHEREAS, For four days in 1904, veterans traveled from all
8areas of the United States to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to unify
9United States veterans under one organizational umbrella of a
10nationalized Veterans of Foreign Wars by drafting a constitution
11and bylaws, and

12WHEREAS, During the VFW convention, then Commander-in-Chief,

1Rice W. Means, of Denver, Colorado, entreated his comrades to
2instill in all Americans "a patriot spirit and devotion to the
3flag"; and

4WHEREAS, Mr. Means challenged those in attendance, "We who
5have seen service in foreign wars, know of the horrors of
6unpreparedness for war. It would be a crime to send our young
7men unprepared into another warfare as we were. We want peace,
8but if war is thrust upon us, we want to be prepared for it.";
9and

10WHEREAS, The VFW offers many programs to veterans who have
11served overseas during an operation or conflict with hostile
12fire or imminent danger, such as the National Military Services,
13Operation Uplink, Military Assistance Program, Unmet Needs and
14National Veterans Services; and

15WHEREAS, Over the years the VFW has been directly involved in
16communities through VFW Posts, Men's and Ladies' Auxiliaries,
17VFW community service programs, citizen education programs,
18youth scholarship programs, safety programs and the VFW National
19Home for Children; and

20WHEREAS, The VFW fought for military pensions after World War
21I, planned the establishment of the Veterans Administration in
221930, lobbied for the GI Bill of Rights after World War II,
23helped develop the national cemetery system for veterans and
24contributed millions of dollars to cancer research since the
251950s; and

26WHEREAS, The VFW has challenged elected officials when
27veterans of our country are not being taken care of, such as the
28underfunding of health care within the Veterans Administration;
29therefore be it

30RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate the

1100th anniversary of the organizing of the Veterans of Foreign
2Wars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.