Embracing the future.

Again this year, we've captured a tremendous amount of momentum--momentum we'll need as we push to serve another generation of wartime veterans. We continue to advance our cause and have become an even stronger force for advocating our mission.

We've again been able to boost our supplemental distributions to Departments for their service programs--thanks to increased support from you--our very own DAV members.

Of course, we're very grateful for the continued support of the American people. Thanks to their generosity, we're able to continue providing--and expanding--our world-class service programs for our nation's sick and disabled veterans.

As many of you know, the DAV this year announced a unique agreement with a handful of generous legal firms to provide free representation for injured soldiers who are facing the Medical and Physical Evaluation Board process at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

At the same time, the DAV continues to strongly oppose fee-based attorney relationships with veterans.

This has caused some controversy, so it's important that we set the record straight on this issue. For decades the DAV and other veterans service organizations have provided free claims and benefits services for our nation's disabled veterans.

We strongly feel that veterans should not have to pay for these services. DAV National Service Officers and Department and Chapter Service Officers remain the premiere professionals when it comes to the unique mission of helping disabled veterans.

When it makes sense to involve commercial partners who are generously donating their services at no cost to the veteran, and we determine that the support they offer will be of a great service to veterans, we're happy to provide them opportunities to help.

However, we'll continue to oppose any policy that would undermine the level of services veterans deserve and reject any initiative that would take money out of our veterans' pockets by allowing fee-based attorney services in the VA's administrative claims process.

Let's put a few facts with this position. The records prove that, by far, DAV provides the best and most successful claims representation available from any source in this country. And, we are darn proud of our National Service Officers, Department Service Officers, Chapter Service Officers and Transition Service Officers.

As an organization, we continue to evolve. At the strategic plan meeting this spring, we worked on some important initiatives that will streamline our course of action, improve our communications and ultimately empower the organization at every level to better serve disabled veterans in our communities.

Among these changes is our continuing effort to improve our presence on the Internet and give every Chapter its own Web site. As we continue to move ahead in this direction, we're finding more ways where information technology can wisely improve our ability to serve veterans.

I encourage all of you to embrace this technology. Our Chapter Webmasters of today will secure a special place in the legacy of DAV. They are bringing our organization into this new age and keeping the organization as vital and as relevant today as it was after World War I.

I remind all of you that while some of our methods are changing, and our strategies for achieving our goals evolve, our values remain the same. We are a band of brothers, and always have been. You, the men and women who fill our ranks, remain our lifeblood. You are the reason for our achievements and the key to our future success.

Innovation, tempered with sound judgment, leadership, integrity, quality and service, is the driving force propelling us into a complex and exciting technological future.

We are embracing that future with new ideas and programs that take advantage of this unparallel advancement in information technology. But we are only at the threshold.

For the first time in our history, the opening session of the National Convention was broadcast live on the Internet. With this technology, we were joined in spirit by hundreds, if not thousands of our members who could not make our Convention in person.

The Webcast is just one of the innovations that will bring more energy into our organization and allow us to do more to serve our deserving membership.

We are exploring a variety of opportunities to employ new technology to better serve disabled veterans and their families. One possibility we are looking at is the creation of "Cyber Chapters" to involve greater numbers of members in our activities.

Imagine a member who has been housebound for years, suddenly afforded the opportunity to participate in a Chapter again or possibly for the first time; a member enabled, sharing comradeship and serving in a constructive way that heretofore could only be dreamed of.

Today dreams can become realities, and the DAV is exploring new possibilities to enhance all we do to build better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families.

You are the lifeblood of our organization and the reason we've enjoyed so many successes this year. Together, we are building a dynamic legacy for the future. And your individual commitment to tomorrow's veterans is inspiring.

Finally, I offer a salute to the brave men and women in our armed forces whose service and sacrifice have kept our nation free and secure.

Whether at war in Iraq or Afghanistan, or keeping watch in other far-off lands, or right here at home, they truly are the best of the best. May God watch over them and keep them safe from harm.