The American Legion 90th National Convention Highlights
(Subject to Change)

Last update: 1:36 p.m. EDT Aug. 19, 2008

Aug 19, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The American Legion:
Saturday, Aug. 23
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10:00 a.m. Veterans Job & Benefits Fair: Convention Center, Room 213
A & B (until 4:00 p.m.)
(Open to ALL military veterans)

8:00 a.m. Color Guard Competition: Convention Center, Halls F & G,
South Building, Street Level - Until 11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. American Legion Band Competition: Phoenix Symphonic
Theater, Convention Center, Street Level
Both events provide great photo and sound opportunities.

National Security - Foreign Relations: Hyatt Regency Phoenix Hotel,
Regency Ballroom C & D, 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, West Building,
2nd Level, Room 211
9:20 a.m. Willie Clark, Director, Veterans Benefits Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs
10:00 a.m. Judge Alan G. Lance, Sr., United States Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims
10:40 a.m. Donald S. Moore, Director, VAMC, Department of Veterans
Affairs
1:00 p.m. PANEL: Traumatic Brain Injury/Mental Health
Dr. Joel Kupersmith, Office of Research and Development,
Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Kathleen Goren, Psychologist, Department of Veterans
Affairs
Dr. Marty Bushnell, Neuropsychologist, Department of
Veterans Affairs
2:00 p.m. PANEL: Seamless Transition?
Kathy Pearce, Department of Defense Advocate, Military
Severely Injured Center, Heroes to Hometowns Program
Dr. Lynda C. Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, Military Personnel Policy, Department of Defense
Laura Balun, Director, Voluntary Service Officer,
Department of Veterans Affairs
Keith M. Ductor, Program Coordinator, Wounded Warrior
Regiment, Department of Defense
3:00 p.m. Keigh Pedigo, Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Policy
and Program Management, Veterans Benefits Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs

Legislative Hyatt Regency Phoenix Hotel, Russell Rooms A & B, 2nd
Floor
9:30 a.m. Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ)

Americanism Hyatt Regency Phoenix Hotel, Regency Ballrooms A & B, 1st
Floor
9:30 a.m. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County, Arizona: Illegal
Immigration
10:50 a.m. Richard Kimball, President: Project Vote Smart

Children & Hyatt Regency Phoenix Hotel, Ellis Room, 2nd Floor
Youth
10:45 a.m. Richard Lofgren, President & CEO, Children's Organ
Transplant Association
11:00 a.m. Lee Duckworth, Vice President, Programs Development, Mercy
Medical Airlift
11:15 a.m. Chip Lohman, Youth Programs Coordinator, National Rifle
Association
11:30 a.m. Darrin Allen, Youth Development Coordinator, Operation:
Military Kids

Sunday, Aug. 24
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Economics: Convention Center, 207 Lecture Hall, West Building, 2nd
Level
9:00 a.m. Charles Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary, Veterans'
Employment & Training, U.S. Dept. of Labor
9:30 a.m. Tyler C. Smith, MS, PhD, Director, DoD Center for
Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center

Legislative Phoenix Convention Center, Room 163, South Building
10:40 a.m. Jon Towers, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

11:00 a.m. Patriotic Memorial Service: Convention Center, Halls F &
G, South Building, Street Level

4:00 p.m. American Legion Tribute to Service: U.S. Airways Center.
Indoor parade; en masse military enlistment ceremony;
U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team; Four Tops Review;
Country Artist Michael Peterson Concert. (Closed to
public, open to media).

Monday, Aug. 25
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National Security - Foreign Relations: Convention Center, Rooms 155 -
157, South Building, Street Level
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

Tuesday, Aug. 26
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9:00 a.m. Veterans Business Workshops: Hyatt Regency Phoenix in
Remington and Phoenix Rooms, 2nd level (until 4:30 p.m.)
Open to ALL military veterans.

General Session: Convention Center, Halls F & G, South
Building, Street Level
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8:30 a.m. Patriotic Opening - National Anthem sung by Captain Lisa
Kopczynski, U.S. Army National Guard in Iraq; Spirit of
Service Awards to each branch of military service;
American Legion Youth Champions
9:30 a.m. Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant, United States Marine
Corps.
10:00 a.m. John McCain, U.S. Senator (AZ)
11:30 a.m. Patriot Award to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Clinical Pastoral Division
11:45 a.m. Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary, Department of Veterans
Affairs
12:15 p.m. Distinguished Service Medal to President George W. Bush
12:40 p.m. Janet Napolitano, Governor of the State of Arizona
Phil Gordon, Mayor of the City of Phoenix
1:55 p.m. National Commander Marty Conatser's Report to Convention

Wednesday, Aug. 27 - General Session: Convention Center, Halls F & G,
South Building
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8:35 a.m. Bob Filner, Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S.
House of Representatives
9:05 a.m. Vice President Richard B. Cheney
10:05 a.m. James Webb, U.S. Senator (VA)
10:30 a.m. Barack Obama, U.S. Senator (IL)

Thursday, Aug. 28 - General Session: Convention Center, Halls F & G,
South Building
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9:05 a.m. Fourth Estate Award Presentation to KRIV-TV, Houston,
Texas
Noon Election of The American Legion National Commander for the
2008-2009 Term


Web Site: www.legion.org
SOURCE: The American Legion
The American Legion
Media Credentials: Public Relations,
Phoenix Convention Center - Media Contacts:
Joe March (Cellular), 317-748-1926
John Raughter (Cellular), 317-441-8847
Craig Roberts, 202-406-0887

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