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6/4/2013 - WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 almost a year ago on the grounds that lying was protected speech, but justices on both sides of the 6-3 decision also provided a roadmap requiring any future legislation to be narrower in focus than just to penalize people for simple lying. Yesterday, the president signed the new Stolen Valor Act of 2013 into law. Said John E. Hamilton, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U...

5/23/2013 - The national commander of America’s largest and oldest major combat veterans organization is applauding Congress this week for passing the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, which now heads to the White House for the president’s signature. John E. Hamilton, a triple Purple Heart recipient who leads the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, said Congress followed the roadmap laid out by the U.S. Supreme Court when they overturned the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 last...

1/24/2013 - WASHINGTON — The following statement is by the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, John E. Hamilton, of St. Augustine, Fla., a Marine Corps rifleman in Vietnam and triple Purple Heart recipient: “The military services will be charged with phasing in this policy change to allow women greater access to frontline career fields, and the implementation will be under intense scrutiny by advocates and critics alike. To the Veterans of Fore...

1/31/2013 - WASHINGTON — Last year was a banner year for America’s largest combat veterans’ organization. In 2012, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States helped 125,000 veterans to recoup more than $3.7 billion in earned compensation and pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This exceeds 2011’s record totals by 23,000 and almost $1.7 billion, and provides further proof that all eligible veterans and transitioning military members should seek help from an accre...

3/22/2013 - Mr. Leslie MoonvesPresident & CEO, CBS Corporation51 West 52nd StreetNew York, NY 10019 Dear Mr. Moonves: Anger pointed directly at CBS is the reaction of the 2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and our Auxiliaries. You may not have known what the “Amazing Race” producers had planned for Sunday night’s show, but you certainly do now. I urge far greater executive oversight over what’s aired under the CBS logo. It’s been 40 years since...

3/1/2013 - WASHINGTON — More than 600 members of the nation’s oldest and largest major combat veterans’ organization are arriving in Washington this weekend to urge their members of Congress to protect the Department of Veterans Affairs budget from sequestration, as well as Defense Department quality of life programs for the troops and their families. Armed with the VFW Legislative Priority Goals for 2013, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. will visit every congressional o...

3/7/2013 - WASHINGTON — The national commander of America’s oldest and largest major combat veterans organization is applauding yesterday’s introduction of S. 470 to lower the Pentagon’s new Distinguished Warfare Medal to below the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in the military order of precedence. The Senate bill is a companion to H.R. 833 that was introduced in late February to correct what immediately became an extremely unpopular decision by former Secretary of Defense Leon Panet...

3/15/2013 - WASHINGTON — The national commander of the nation's largest war veterans organization is outraged that a TIME magazine columnist has called for the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. “Freedom of the press isn’t a license for Joe Klein to twist reality about someone who has volunteered virtually his entire life to serve his country,” said John E. Hamilton, who leads the 2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliari...

3/5/2013 - WASHINGTON­ — During today’s testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees, the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) pledged the organization will not let America’s veterans be forgotten by Congress or the Administration. Today’s testimony comes just days after the announcement of mandatory Department of Defense budget cuts brought on by sequestration. “The VFW is deeply concerned about the impact...

2/14/2013 - America’s largest combat veterans’ organization is in total disagreement with the Pentagon’s decision to have its new Distinguished Warfare Medal outrank the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. “It is very important to properly recognize all who faithfully serve and excel, but this new medal — no matter how well intended — could quickly deteriorate into a morale issue,” said John E. Hamilton, national commander of the 2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and...