organizing a strong program for furthering the employment of the handicapped in New Mexico and especially disabled veterans. The leadership which he gave our endeavors has had a lasting impact on our committee. It is a fitting tribute to his memory to have his name used on the Washington D.C., veterans' hospital. If it is not too late, we would certainly like to have our endorsement included in the hearings on this Senate bill. Sincerely yours, PAUL T. DAVIDSON, HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS, OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT, Hon. RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, Chairman, Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee, DEAR SENATOR YARBOROUGH: It has come to my attention that S. 788, a bill to name the new Veterans' Administration hospital in the District of Columbia after the late Maj. Gen. Melvin J. Maas, USMCR, is before your Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee for consideration. General Maas, as you know, was one of our truly great marines and a cherished friend. We are extremely proud of all that his memory symbolizes in courage, compassion, and wise leadership. Should your commitee consider it appropriate, naming the hospital as a memorial to General Maas would serve as a reminder to us all of his strength of character which we strive to emulate. Sincerely, WALLACE M. GREENE, Jr., GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF THE HANDICAPPED. RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, STATE OF HAWAII, Honolulu, Hawaii, July 8, 1965. Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, DEAR SIR: The proposition to designate the veterans' hospital in Washington as the "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital" has been most adequately supported by testimony given by Wiliam P. McCahill, executive secretary of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. We endorse that testimony in its entirety and can find no words to better express the high esteem in which General Maas was held by all of us in Hawaii who had any contact with him. It is requested, therefore, that you add the name of Hawaii's Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped to what must be a long list of endorsers of this richly deserved monument to the memory of Maj. Gen. Melvin J. Maas as contained in S. 788. Respectfully yours, J. A. MCCONNELL Chairman, Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Hon, RALPH YARBOROUGH, Chairman, Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, Old Senate Office Building. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: During my experience as a member of the congressional Marine Corps Club, I came to know the late Gen. Melvin J. Maas who has contributed immeasurably to the Marine Corps Reserves and also to the benefit of our handicapped citizens. It would seem to me most appropriate and fitting that the Veterans' Administration hospital in the District of Columbia should be named the "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital" in accordance with the provisions of S. 788. I am hopeful that your committee will give favorable consideration to this Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, DEAR SENATOR YARBOROUGH: The AFL-CIO sincerely supports S. 788, a bill to name the veterans' hospital in the District of Columbia the "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital." No one has done more to raise the stature of the disabled, both here and abroad, than the late general and it is proper that his name be memorialized in a manner befiting his efforts. While it is true he built his own lasting memorial in the hearts of the disabled men and women he helped, I truly believe this memorial would be an added incentive to those who follow in his footsteps as leaders in the fight to aid our Nation's handicapped. Sincerely, GEORGE MEANY, President. THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON July 7, 1965. Senator RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, Senate Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR YARBOROUGH: Speaking for the North Dakota Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, I am pleased to add our testimony in support of S. 788, designating the VA hospital in Washington, D.C., the "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital." It was my pleasure to know Mel Maas for only a short while, but during this time, I was so impressed with the tireless devotion and energy which Mel displayed in working for the handicapped. His courage and "matter-of-fact" manner in which he accepted his own blindness has certainly been an inspiration to many blind persons. There is so much that could be written of the "numerous efforts on behalf of the handicapped" that were instituted by General Maas but this is intended as only a brief statement in favor of this bill to perpetuate the memory of this great man who did so much for so many with no thought of reward to himself. Sincerely yours, ERMA G. OVERBY, Chairman. TENNESSEE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON Hon. RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: It has come to our attention that the Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs has under consideration the naming of the new Veterans' Administration hospital in the District of Columbia. It is our further understanding that a bill has been properly introduced into the Congress designating that the new facility be named the "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital." Even though we be a bit far removed this is a facility in which, in the future. many good Tennesseans could well be involved in one way or another. Many hundreds of Tennessee people learned to know and love Melvin Maas during his tenure of service as Chairman of the President's Committee on Em ployment of the Handicapped. He made speeches on behalf of our disabled that are still recalled and referred to as masterpieces. His hours of consultation and "shop talk" on behalf of our State program for the disabled proved always wise, helpful, and inspiring. Once people knew him and heard him the perpetual question of "When will General Maas be back?" was an expected thing. The Tennessee Governor's committee, 112 men and women-and representing every segment of citizenry of the Volunteer State-desire to go on record with our Congress in recommending that the memory of this great American be perpetuated in the manner under consideration. The "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital”—located in our Nation's Capital— would be a memorial cherished and appreciated by American people from coast to coast. Sincerely, ERNEST F. RICHARDS, Executive Secretary. E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO., INC., Re Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital. DEAR SENATOR YARBOROUGH: As a member of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and having been associated with Gen. Melvin J. Maas for almost 10 years, I highly recommend that the new VA hospital in Washington, D.C., be named in memory of General Maas. As an industrial representative, I am extremely aware of General Maas' dedication to the handicapped and his all-out efforts over many years to achieve equal opportunity employment for all disabled-and in particular, disabled veterans. I cannot urge your committee too strongly to consider this opportunity to name one of the VA hospitals in his honor. Sincerely, Hon. RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, J. H. SEARS, Manager, Personnel Services Section. ANODYNE, INC., Miami Beach, Fla., July 6, 1965. Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR SENATOR: The chronological events leading up to the present consideration of designation of the new VA hospital as the Melvin J. Maas Memorial are profound indeed, but nowhere do they, or can they, carry the real dedication. Some 40 years ago I had the occasion to meet and talk with a sightless lad who earned his living by playing a banjo in the heart of the financial district in New York City. The warm, cheerful, and most sincere outlook of that musician had an electrifying effect in that it taught me unseen values, ultimately resulting in the building and operation of a highly successful manufacturing facility dedicated to the employment of the handicapped-the only publicly owned facility so originated in the United States. These philosophies are most thoroughly described in Operation Palm Tree herewith. This charming musician has long since passed on to his forefathers, but his spirit shall live with me forever, as I am sure it will with many, many others who enjoyed his noontime recitals on this busy thoroughfare. The banjo player's operation was in a limited four-block area, yet his message was carried by many. The worldwide message of General Maas, which for years has influenced the thoughts and deeds of so many, should above all things become a permanent part of the lives of men of good will everywhere. What could be more fitting than to carve his name in permanency for those he loved and served so well, and for those yet to come-the veterans hospital. Most sincerely, EUGENE T. TURNEY, Jr. NATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION, Hon. RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, DEAR SENATor YarborouGH: I want to add the voice of the National Rehabilitation Association as one urging the committee to report favorably S. 788, designating the VA hospital in Washington, D.C., as the "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital." Since the contributions of this man to the welfare of veterans, as well as the rehabilitation of handicapped of all classes, is so well-known to you, I do not see any point in elaborating upon it. Naming this hospital for General Maas will be a fitting tribute to him. With best wishes, I am, E. B. WHITTEN, Hon. RALPH W. YARBOROUGH, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA, INC., Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, MY DEAR SENATOR YARBOROUGH: I would respectfully urge favorable action in support of S. 788, a bill to name the Veterans' Administration hospital in the District of Columbia, the "Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital." For many years, I had the privilege of working with General Maas as a member of the President's Committee for Employment of the Handicapped, and in this relationship became aware of the great service General Maas rendered to the handicapped of our Nation. In my judgment, no more fitting memorial to his memory could be created than to name an institution of continuing service in memory of this great humanitarian and leader. I trust the committee will take favorable action on this proposal. Sincerely yours, P. J. TREVETHAN. Senator YARBOROUGH. The next statement will be that of Mrs. Geraldine B. Chittick, National Chairman of Legislation, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. (The statement follows:) PREPARED STATEMENT FROM GOLD STAR WIVES OF AMERICA, INC., PRESENTED BY MRS. GERALDINE B. CHITTICK, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF LEGISLATION The Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., meeting for its 20th annual convention in New York City, July 2–5 1965, expressed their appreciation to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Veterans Subcommittee of the Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee for giving consideration to the bills to increase payments under the War Orphans' Educational Assistance Act (H.R. 205 and S. 2067). It has come to our attention that a number of children of deceased servicemen, because of certain technicalities, have been considered ineligible under the present law. In many cases, this situation may have resulted from a difference in administrative interpretation of the intent of the law, since, in similar cases, some have been considered favorably and other unfavorably. For example: 1. In several instances the serviceman had been on leave at the time of his death. The widow was given compensation as a widow of a deceased serviceman; however, the children have been considered ineligible for the war orphans' educational assistance program. 2. A serviceman was given a medical discharge. As children of a disabled veteran, his children would have been eligible for educational assistance. Now that the serviceman is deceased, his children have been considered ineligible. In these cases, also, the widows have been receiving compensation on the basis of the service-connected illness of the husband 3. The son or daughter of the serviceman began his education before his 23d birthday, and the payments were stopped on the 23d birthday, although benefits had not been received for the 36 months. 4. A son of a deceased serviceman was receiving benefits from the educa tional assistance program. He discontinued his education for a period 1 year for physical reasons. Now he has been told that he will not be able to continue his education beyond his 23d birthday. We believe it was the intent of the War Orphans' Educational Assistance Act to provide educational assistance for 36 months of full-time pursuit to sons and daughters of men who died in service or as a result of a service connected disability. Because of inconsistences which have resulted in the interpretation of the eligibility requirements of the present law, we recommend that any child of a man who died in service or as a result of a service-connected disability from the pre-World War I period until July 31, 1967, be considered eligible for benefits under the War Orphans Educational Assistance Act. We also recommend that any child of a decseased serviceman be eligible for a full 36 months educational assistance as long as education is begun before the 23d birthday. Senator YARBOROUGH. I thank the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts for his fidelity to these hearings and for being present today. His presence was very necessary and crucial today since the chairman was called away to other subcommittee hearings. We will declare this oral hearing today closed. (Whereupon, at 11:30 o'clock the subcommittee adjourned.) |