A year of service: the following are highlights of National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson's report to the delegates of the DAV's 83rd National Convention in Reno, Nevada

As we embark on a new membership year--one that offers great opportunities to advance the interests of disabled veterans and their families, we are afforded an excellent venue to evaluate how far we've come over the last 12 months. We can take pride in our accomplishments and use our successes to continue to build our bridge to the future.

Last year at the National Convention in New Orleans, the membership adopted several vital changes in our by-laws, creating a new Board of Directors to oversee the operations of the DAV and increasing the reserve funds that can be accumulated by our Chapters and Departments.

Our membership also expressed strong support for DAV's legislative goal of mandatory funding for veterans health care by staging an informational rally outside a nearby hotel in New Orleans where Administration officials were gathering. None of these officials could find the time to address the DAV National Convention only four blocks away, so we took our message to them--urging passage of legislation calling for full funding of VA health care.

An exciting concept began with the DAV's partnership with the vintage World War II B-25 bomber, the Panchito. As this historic war bird travels the nation making appearances before millions of aviation enthusiasts, the Panchito carries the DAV's message and is accompanied by a Mobile Service Office (MSO) and a Transportation Network van.

Our MSOs carry our top-notch service program to places where it's needed most. In small towns, communities, and even the most remote sandstone mesas in New Mexico, our National Service Officers (NSOs) visited six Native American pueblos last September, giving deserving veterans access to our services.

The outstanding work by our NSOs helped us celebrate another record year of increased membership which reached an all time high of 1,264,181. Working in concert with our National Membership Department, DAV recruiters and NSOs proved yet again that innovation and leadership can overcome adversity, and that membership in the Disabled American Veterans is a valuable asset.

Throughout the year, disabled service members continued to come home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and our NSOs met them offering our professional services to these brave young men and women who never thought they would need them. Our National Service staff visited the wounded in Washington, D.C., at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center to offer our professional services.

At the DAV Mid-Winter Conference, our membership made use of first-hand contact with members of Congress and staff to push for mandatory funding of VA health care, to end the disabled veteran's tax, and build support for veterans issues. Meanwhile, the DAV continued to support those service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan by hosting a special reception in their honor at our Washington Headquarters. More than 75 of those brave young men and women were guests of honor to receive our thanks for their service and sacrifice.

Out on the slopes of Colorado, there was no waiting for the 350 disabled veterans attending the 18th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Aspen. It was another "Miracle on a Mountainside," as disabled veterans learned Alpine and Nordic skiing, and enjoyed other sports. For the first time, the winter sports clinic hosted more than 20 disabled veterans from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The DAV was an important part of the World War II Memorial dedication on Memorial Day weekend this year. Many thousands of World War II veterans and their families participated in the ceremony on the National Mall in our nation's capital. And it was followed by an exciting DAV reception honoring more than 1,000 World War II veterans.

Topping off the World War II dedication, the National Service Foundation supported documentary, "The World War II Memorial--A Testament to Freedom," was nationally televised on Sunday May 30 to a huge audience. The informational program described the process of building the World War II Memorial and the stories of the men and women for which it was built.

The 2003-2004 year for the DAV is yet another milestone in our 84-year history of building better lives for disabled veterans and their families. Our mission of service and hope has been honorably fulfilled for yet another year. Each of our members, NSOs, Transition Service Officers, Chapter and Department Service Officers, support and professional staffs has earned a hearty "well done." It's been a great year, but you haven't seen anything yet.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Disabled American Veterans
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group