1944
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American Veterans of World War II founded in Kansas City
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1945
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First national convention held in Chicago/World War II ends
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1946
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National Ladies Auxiliary formed in Pittsburgh
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1947
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AMVETS charter legislation signed/Sad Sacks hold first scrimmage
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1948
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National Service Foundation becomes corporate subsidiary
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1949
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First memorial carillon dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery
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1950
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Charter amended to accept Korean War veterans as members
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1951
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Elliot Newcomb assumes top post in World Veterans Federation
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1952
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First headquarters dedicated on Rhode Island Ave. in Washington, DC
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1953
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Economy plan goes to Congress/Korean War Armistice signed
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1954
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First Silver Helmet award presented to Gen. George C. Marshall
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1955
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Action spurred on reburial of W.W.II unknown at Arlington Cemetery
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1956
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National Veterans Day Program hosted at Arlington Cemetery
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1957
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National Safety Program initiated
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1958
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First science scholarship presented
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1959
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Scholarships added for physical education study
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1960
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Harold Russell elected to third term as national commander
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1961
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Civil Defense assigned to DOD after nationwide awareness campaign
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1962
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USS Arizona Memorial and AMVETS Memorial Wall dedicated
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1963
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Final respects paid to President John F. Kennedy
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1964
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JFK Memorial Sports Fund honors late president
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1965
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Ground broken for new headquarters on Rhode Island Ave.
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1966
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Headquarters dedicated/Vietnam veterans accepted as members
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1967
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Drivers Excellence Program started
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1968
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First Gold Helmet Award present to President Lyndon B. Johnson
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1969
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AMVETS 25th Anniversary
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1970
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NEC meets in Berlin — seeks support for POW effort
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1971
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First thrift store open opens on Georgia Ave. in Washington, DC
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1972
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Ladies Auxiliary hosts Women's Forum on National Security
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1973
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The National AMVET resumes monthly publication as tabloid
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1974
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Ladies Auxiliary adopts John Tracy Clinic as national program
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1975
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Vietnam era ends/Amnesty-for-draft evaders legislation defeated
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1976
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Rep. Corrine C. Boggs receives First Auxiliary Humanitarian Award
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1977
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Stand taken in support of Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
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1978
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New carillon dedicated at Arlington Cemetery
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1979
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Ground broken for new headquarters on Forbes Blvd. in Lanham, Md.
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1980
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Appeals made to elevate VA/Third headquarters dedicated
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1981
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Gramm-Latta Amendment endorsed
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1982
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Because We Care Day started/Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated
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1983
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Assistance provided families of marines wounded in Lebanon
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1984
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New memorial wall dedicated/Active military accepted as members
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1985
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AMVETS National Memorial Carillon dedicated
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1986
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Statue of Liberty restored/AMVETS contributes $100,000 to project
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1987
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First Independent Budget produced/first overseas carillon dedicated
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1988
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VA achieves cabinet-level status as Department of Veterans Affairs
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1989
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AMVETS Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program started
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1990
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National guardsmen and reservists accepted as members
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1991
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Arizona Memorial Room dedicated at headquarters/Gulf War ends
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1992
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Massive veterans’ protest stops VA rural healthcare initiative
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1993
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AMVETS-Toyota Safe Driving Challenge launched
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1994
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AMVETS 50th Anniversary
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1995
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Korean War Veterans Memorial dedicated
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1996
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VAVS 50th Anniversary/Site of World War II Memorial dedicated
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1997
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New logo adopted
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1998
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Town meetings conducted nationwide on VA budget crisis
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1999
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National Headquarters renovated/Largest flying flag dedicated
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2000
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National magazine changes name to AMERICAN VETERAN
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2001
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Terrorists attack US/Veterans Day National Commemoration hosted
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2002
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Albert Geremia, last surviving founder, dies
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