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3/3/76 - Remarks at the Dedication of the National Service Headquarters of the Disabled American Veterans
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1252720
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3/3/76 - Remarks at the Dedication of the National Service Headquarters of the Disabled American Veterans
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Veterans
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1976-03-03
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1976
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1976-03-03
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 24, "3/3/76 - Remarks at the Dedication of the
National Service Headquarters of the Disabled American Veterans" of the President's
Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 24 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
REMARKS AT THE DEDICATION OF THE DISABLED
AMERICAN VETERANS NATIONAL SERVICE
HEADQUARTERS, MARCH 3, 1976
SML
PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
THANK YOU, LYLE.
(Lyle Pearson, National Commander,
introduces you.)
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE
FYI -- INVITED
SENATOR HARTKE
SENATOR HANSEN
SENATOR THURMOND
CONGRESSMAN ROBERTS
CONGRESSMAN HAMMERSCHMIDT
CONGRESSMAN TEAGUE
ADMINISTRATOR ROUDEBUSH
MRS. SCHULTZE
(PHONETICS: SCHULTZ)
(Commander, DAV
REVEREND ELSON
Auxiliary)
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
-|-
I AM VERY PROUD TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY,
TAKING PART IN THE DEDICATION OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN
VETERANS NATIONAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
-2-
IN AUGUST OF 1974, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE AS
VICE-PRESIDENT OF ADDRESSING YOUR FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL
CONVENTION IN NEW ORLEANS
AT THAT TIME YOUR NATIONAL
COMMANDER GRACIOUSLY OFFERED ME AN INVITATION
-3-
HE SAID I WOULD BE WELCOME AT ANY GATHERING OF THE
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
AT ANY PLACE
I CAN THINK
OF NO TIME OR PLACE OR OCCASION MORE APPROPRIATE
FOR ME TO ACCEPT THAT INVITATION THAN TODAY
-4-
THE COMPLETION OF THIS IMPRESSIVE NEW
NATIONAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS IS THE PROUD CLIMAX
TO YOUR FINE HISTORY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A HISTORY
THAT STRETCHES BACK FOR FIFTY-SIX YEARS
-5-
AS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II, I HAVE LONG
ADMIRED AND RESPECTED THE OUTSTANDING ROLE THE D-A-V
HAS PLAYED IN OUR NATIONAL LIFE
THE D-A-V, WITH
OVER HALF A MILLION DEDICATED MEMBERS, HAS COMPILED
AN ENVIABLE RECORD OF CONSCIENTOUS AND COMPASSIONATE
RESPONSE TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF DISABLED VETERANS
AND THEIR FAMILIES
-6-
YOUR EFFORTS HAVE GREATLY INCREASED THE
EDUCATIONAL,
MEDICAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO DISABLED VETERANS
YOU HAVE PERSONALLY
ASSISTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL VETERANS
AND THEIR FAMILIES IN RECEIVING THE BENEFITS WHICH THEY
HAVE EARNED
-7-
WORKING WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION,
YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF YOUR AUXILIARY HAVE PROMOTED
THE REHABILITATION AND WELFARE OF HOSPITALIZED VETERANS
AND YOUR UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOY SCOUTS
OF AMERICA MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF HANDICAPPED
BOYS TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF SCOUTING
-8-
THROUGHOUT ALL THESE PROGRAMS,
YOU DISPLAY A STRONG \ HEALTHY AND VIBRANT PATRIOTISM
YOU ARE RIGHTFULLY PROUD
-
AS I AM,
OF THE GREAT COUNTRY
WE WE RE CALLED UPON TO DEFEND
+
AND DID
-9-
YOURS WAS THE ULTIMATE INVOLVEMENT
YOU GAVE YOUR
MUSCLE, YOUR BLOOD YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR YEARS
IT IS A PRICELESS GIFT AMERICA MUST NEVER FORGET
AS PRESIDENT. \ AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF \ AND AS CITIZEN --
I SALUTE YOU FOR IT
-10-
ONE OF YOUR NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
HAS BEEN TO SERVE, AND TO INVOLVE IN YOUR WORK,
DISABLED VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM CONFLICT
I UNDERSTAND MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF YOUR 280 NATIONAL
SERVICE OFFICERS STATIONED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TODAY
ARE VIETNAM VETERANS
-11-
THAT CLEARLY SHOWS YOUR SUCCESS IN MEETING
THE NEW CHALLENGES CONFRONTING OUR VETERANS
WE HAVE THE SAME OBLIGATION TO THE SERVICEMEN OF THAT
LONG AND DIVISIVE CONFLICT AS TO ANY OTHERS
THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY WELL IN WAR, AND IT IS ONLY
RIGHT THAT WE SERVE THEM WELL IN PEACE
-12-
BY MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, WE CAN ENSURE THAT VETERANS
WILL GET THE HELP THEY DESERVE
THAT IS WHY, EVEN WITHIN THE TIGHT CONSTRAINTS
OF MY FEDERAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1977, I HAVE PROPOSED
A RECORD AMOUNT OF OVER 4 BILLION DOLLARS FOR V-A
MEDICAL CARE
-13-
I HAVE REQUESTED FUNDS FOR MORE THAN 9,000
NEW V-A MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN MY BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEARS
1976 AND 1977, TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE QUALITY OF CARE SURVEY
AND THOSE BUDGETS PROVIDE
SOME 600 MILLION DOLLARS FOR V-A MEDICAL CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS
-14-
WE ARE PROVIDING MORE FUNDING,
MORE PEOPLE
AND BETTER FACILITIES TO GIVE ELIGIBLE VETERANS THE
HIGHEST-QUALITY, FASTEST SERVICE POSSIBLE
-15-
IN ADDITION, MY NEW V-A BUDGET WILL PROVIDE 8 BILLION
DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION AND PENSION BENEFITS TO ALMOST
5 MILLION VETERAN FAMILIES IN FISCAL YEAR 1977
YOU DESERVE NOTHING LESS
I WILL DO ALL THAT I CAN
TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU RECEIVE NOTHING LESS
-16-
I BELIEVE THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HAS
DONE A FINE JOB OVERALL UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF MY GOOD FRIEND DICK ROUDEBUSH,
THE V-A HAS MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN SERVING VETERANS
-17-
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THIS PROGRESS
CONTINUES, WITH THE HELP OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS
FROM YOUR NEW HEADQUARTERS YOU WILL BE IN A VERY GOOD
POSITION TO CONTINUE SERVING THE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS
OF DISABLED VETERANS
-18-
THIS NEW BUILDING IS A MONUMENT TO THE
SACRIFICES MADE BY THOSE VETERANS, AND TO THE SERVICES
YOU HAVE RENDERED THEM
BUT IT IS MORE THAN THAT
IT IS A LIVING, VITAL, DYNAMIC HEADQUARTERS WHERE
YOU WILL CONTINUE THOSE SERVICES
-19-
HERE IS A BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED
WITH SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF DISABLED VETERANS
LIKE YOUR ORGANIZATION, IT IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT
ACCESSIBLE TO THEM, WHATEVER THEIR INFIRMITY
-20-
WE MUST CONTINUE TO ELIMINATE THE CRUEL
BARRIERS THAT PREVENT DISABLED VETERANS
AND TOO MANY
OTHER DISABLED AMERICANS
FROM LEADING THE RICH LIFE
THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ENJOY IN OUR GREAT COUNTRY
-21-
MANY OF THESE BARRIERS ARE PHYSICAL
YOUR EFFORTS AND THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO TRAIN
AND REHABILITATE THE DISABLED ARE TRAGICALLY UNDERMINED
IF THE DISABLED INDIVIDUAL CANNOT ENTER AND USE PUBLIC
BUILDINGS OR PLACES OF BUSINESS
-22-
I AM WELL AWARE OF THE SAD FACT THAT MANY
THINGS THE REST OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED
LIKE A NARROW
DOORWAY OR A FLIGHT OF STEPS
-
CAN BE LIKE SIGNS
SAYING "DISABLED -- KEEP OUT
WE MUST WORK
TO REMOVE THESE SIGNS -- AND WE ARE
-23-
WE ARE MOVING STEADILY TOWARD MAKING
FEDERALLY OWNED AND LEASED BUILDINGS PHYSICALLY
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY AMERICAN
-24-
A RECENT MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE
ON THE SUBJECT OF ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS, EXPLORED
THIS PROBLEM WITH ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS.
BY REMOVING PHYSICAL BARRIERS, WE CAN ALSO HELP REMOVE
THE SOCIAL BARRIERS WHICH ALL TOO FREQUENTLY CONFRONT
THE DISABLED
-25-
AS WE DEDICATE THIS BUILDING, LET US
DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PROTECTING THE FREEDOM FOR WHICH
VETERANS GAVE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIVES
LET US ALSO DEDICATE OURSELVES TO UNDERSTANDING AND
RESPOND ING TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF DISABLED VETERANS
-26-
A FREE SOCIETY OWES AN ENDURING DEBT TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT
TO KEEP IT FREE
LET US MATCH THAT SACRIFICE WITH
OUR DETERMINATION THAT ALL VETERANS SHALL INDEED,
LIVE A LIFE THAT IS SECURE, SATISFYING AND TRULY
INDEPENDENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
END OF TEXT