The American Legion 91st National Convention Highlights
(Subject to Change)
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being issued by American Legion:
Saturday, Aug. 22
11:00 a.m. Veterans Job & Benefits Fair: Galt House Exhibit Hall, 2nd Floor (until 4:00 p.m.)
(Open to ALL military veterans)
8:00 a.m. Color Guard Competition: Convention Center, Hall 2D, Level 2 – Until 11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. American Legion Band Competition: Convention Center, Cascade Ballroom, Level 1
Both events provide great photo and sound opportunities.
National Security — Foreign Relations: Convention Center, Level 2, Rooms 210 & 211
1st Floor
9:15 a.m. U.S. Army Soldier Panel
10:00 a.m. Stephen T. Ganyard, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Plans, Programs and Operations, Political-Military Affairs
10:45 a.m. Col. Felix L. Santiago, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
11:15 a.m. Bron R. Mogenis, Dept. of Homeland Security/FBI – Counterterrorism
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation: Convention Center, Level 2, Room 209
8:45 a.m. Philip Longman, Author: Best Care Anywhere — Why VA Healthcare is Better Than Yours
9:15 a.m. Laura Balun, Director, voluntary Service Office, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
9:45 a.m. John Wordin, Executive Director, Ride to Recovery
10:15 a.m. Mike Dusenbury, Southern Area Director, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
10:45 a.m. Dr. Jan E. Kemp and Michelle Cartagena, VA National Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Canandaigua VAMC, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
1:40 p.m. Dr. Garald Cross, Acting Under Secretary for health, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
2:10 p.m. PANEL: Consolidation/Rural Health Care
Thomas J. Pamperin, Deputy Director, Compensation and Pension Service, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Robert W. Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary for Information & Technology, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Mike Dusenbery, Southern Area Director, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
3:25 p.m. PANEL: System Worth Saving/Rural Health Care
Kara Hawthorne, Director, Office of Rural Health, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Tony Guagliardo, Director of the Health Eligibility Center, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
John Dandridge, Jr., Network Director (VISN 9), Dept. of Veterans Affairs
John Hickey (IN), SWS Task Force Member, The American Legion
Todd White (WY), SWS Task Force Member, The American Legion
Legislative: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 114
9:30 a.m. Martin Herbert, Staff Director, House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation
Economics: Convention Center, Room L6
8:45 a.m. John McWilliams, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS), Dept. of Labor
9:15 a.m. Susan Schieren, Manager, GE Energy Global Commercial Leadership Program
9:45 a.m. PANEL: Veterans Employment
Joseph Kennedy, Deputy Associate Director, OPM – Moderator
Greg Alleyne, Deputy Director, National Veterans Employment Program, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Terrance Glover, Program Manager, Strategic Recruiter, IRS
Paul Plasencia, Veterans Outreach Program Manager, Dept. of Homeland Security
Patrick Arnold, Loan Specialist VA (Housing)
11 a.m. – 4:15 Workshops with Reps. From Homeland Security, GE, and SBA.
Americanism: Galt House Grand Ballroom C, 2nd Floor
8:30 a.m. Joint Meeting with Children & Youth
9:30 a.m. Nathaniel Stiefel, Chief of Staff, Office of Citizenship, U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services
10:50 a.m. Marianne Lodmell Young, 1999 recipient of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship
Children & Youth: Galt House, Jones Room, 3rd Floor
10:45 a.m. Richard Lofgren, President & CEO, Children’s Organ Transplant Association
11:00 a.m. James H. Smith, Vice-President, Mercury Medical Airlift
11:15 a.m. Rich Fellingham, National Partnership Advisor, Special Olympics North America
11:30 a.m. Darrin Allen, Youth Development Coordinator, Operation: Military Kids
Sunday, Aug. 23
Economics: Convention Center, Level 1, Rooms 102 & 103
9:15 a.m. Keith Wilson, Director Education Services, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
9:45 a.m. Tyler C. Smith, MS, PhD, Director, DoD Center for Deployment health Research, Naval Health Research Center
Legislative: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 110
10:40 a.m. Nancy Hogan, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
11:00 a.m. Patriotic Memorial Service: Convention Center, Hall 2D, Level 2
4:00 p.m. American Legion National Convention Parade
Monday, Aug. 24
National Security — Foreign Relations: Convention Center, Level 2, Rooms 210 & 211
9:00 a.m. POW/MIA Forum (until 2:00 p.m.) – RADM Donna L. Crisp, Commander Joint Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command
Economics: Convention Center, Level 2, Rooms 207 & 208
Tuesday, Aug. 25
9:00 a.m. Veterans Business Development Workshops: Convention Center, Level 1, Rooms 105-108 (Open to ALL military veterans) Until 4 p.m.
General Session: Kentucky International Convention Center, Hall 2D, Level 2
8:45 a.m. Patriotic Opening — Signing of national community covenant between the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and American Legion National Commander
9:15 a.m. Admiral Michael Mullen, U.S. Navy, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
10:20 a.m. Gen. David H. Patraeus, Commander, U.S. Central Command
10:45 a.m. Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
11:15 a.m. Rep. Chet Edwards, U.S. House of Representatives
11:35 a.m. Patriot Award to Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, USM (Ret.)
11:55 a.m. Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor
12:20 p.m. Rep. John Yarmuth, U.S. House of Representatives
12:25 p.m. Mayor Jerry Abramson, City of Louisville
1:50 p.m. National Commander David K. Rehbein Report to Convention
Wednesday, Aug. 26
9:00 a.m. Veterans Business Development Workshops: Convention Center, Level 1, Rooms 105-108 (Open to ALL military veterans) Until 4 p.m.
General Session: Kentucky International Convention Center, Hall 2D, Level 2
8:35 a.m. Rep. Bob Filner, Chairman, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives
8:55 a.m. Rep. Tim Walz, U.S. House of Representatives
9:15 a.m. Karen Gordon Mills, Administrator, U.S. small Business Administration
9:35 a.m. Judge Edward F. Butler, President General, Sons of the American Revolution
9:50 a.m. Maj. Gen. Craig B. Whelden, USA (Ret.), Sec. Of the Army’s Representative for Community Covenant
10:05 a.m. Alan Sears, President and CEO, Alliance Defense Fund
10:35 a.m. Laurie Ott, CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project
10:55 a.m. Sloan D. Gibson, President, United Services Organization (USO)
11:05 a.m. Dr. James Jay Carafano, Senior Research Fellow, Defense and Homeland Security, The Heritage Foundation
1:15 p.m. Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Thursday, Aug. 27 – General Session: Kentucky International Convention Center, Hall 2D, Level 2
9:05 a.m. Fourth Estate Award Presentation to USA Today
Noon Election of The American Legion National Commander for the 2009-2010 Term
Media credentials and contacts: Public Relations, Louisville Convention Center – Craig Roberts 202-406-0887, Joe March (Cellular) 317-748-1926, or John Raughter (Cellular) 317-441-8847.
