H*3540 Concurrent Resolution, By Bales
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO WELCOME THE NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN
 LEGION, THE HONORABLE CHARLES E. SCHMIDT, TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND INVITE HIM TO
 ADDRESS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT 12:30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017.

   01/24/17  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 22)
   01/24/17  Senate Introduced (Senate Journal-page 25)
   01/24/17  Senate Referred to Committee on Invitations
                     (Senate Journal-page 25)
   03/02/17  Senate Polled out of committee Invitations
                     (Senate Journal-page 15)
   03/02/17  Senate Adopted, returned to House with concurrence
                     (Senate Journal-page 16)

TO WELCOME THE NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE HONORABLE CHARLES E. SCHMIDT, TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND INVITE HIM TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT 12:30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017.

Whereas, from March 5 to March 8, 2017, the Honorable Charles E. Schmidt, national commander of the American Legion, will pay a visit to the great State of South Carolina, a sojourn the South Carolina General Assembly trusts will be a pleasant one; and

Whereas, in September 2016, Charles Schmidt was elected national commander of the American Legion during the 98th national convention of America's largest veterans' organization; and

Whereas, Mr. Schmidt enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1965 and served on active duty until his retirement in 1993. During that time, he advanced from administrative clerk to distinguished graduate of the Air Force Officer Training School, earning a commission and assignments to executive support officer positions at major headquarters. His Air Force assignments took him to Oregon, California, Montana, Nebraska, Colorado, England, Germany, the Philippines, and Vietnam; and

Whereas, as an active-duty servicemember, he joined Story-Hardin Post 164 in Craig, Missouri, in 1984. After his military retirement as a major, he was employed by the Air Force Total Quality Management Program at Lowry Technical Training Center in Denver; and

Whereas, he transferred his American Legion membership to Harney County Post 63 in Burns, Oregon, when he moved to Oregon for a fifteen-year career at the Greater Oregon Federal Credit Union. He retired from the credit union as executive vice president. As an American Legion "Paid Up for Life" member, Mr. Schmidt served as the Department of Oregon commander (2004-2005), and he has served at every level of the American Legion, including his work as a national executive committeeman (2005-2016); and

Whereas, while serving in the Air Force, he earned, among other awards, a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor device and two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with a bronze star, Vietnam Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm; and

Whereas, Charles Schmidt resides in Hines, Oregon, with his wife, Linda. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Andria and Cori, and rejoice in two fine sons-in-law, Peter and Anthony, as well as six delightful grandchildren, Madeline, Alex, Adam, Raymond, Nicholas, and Thomas; and

Whereas, with more than 24,000 members in South Carolina and 2.2 million members nationally, the American Legion is one of the most influential and prestigious organizations in the United States; and

Whereas, speaking before a joint session of the General Assembly is an honor reserved for leaders of national prominence and a privilege well merited by the Honorable Charles E. Schmidt. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, welcome the national commander of the American Legion, the Honorable Charles E. Schmidt, to South Carolina and invite him to address the General Assembly in joint session in the chamber of the South Carolina House of Representatives at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Charles E. Schmidt.