United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

Veterans Day Speeches

Veterans Day National Ceremony
Host Organizations and Principal Speakers
at Arlington National Cemetery

1954 - 2007

 Year

Speaker

Title

Remarks

Host Veterans Service Organization

2008 To Be Determined Military Chaplains Association of the USA
2007

Richard B. Cheney

Vice President of the United States

Remarks

Marine Corps League
2006

George W. Bush

President of the United States

Remarks

Military Order of the Purple Heart
2005

Richard B. Cheney

Vice President of the United States

Remarks

The American Legion
2004

George W. Bush

President of the United States

Remarks

Non Commissioned Officers Association
2003

George W. Bush

President of the United States

Remarks

Army & Navy Union
2002

George W. Bush

President of the United States Blinded Veterans Association
2001

Richard B. Cheney

President of the United States AMVETS
2000 William J. Clinton President of the United States Vietnam Veterans of America
1999 William J. Clinton President of the United States Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
1998 William J. Clinton President of the United States Catholic War Veterans
1997 William J. Clinton President of the United States American Ex-Prisoners of War
1996 William J. Clinton President of the United States Jewish War Veterans of the USA
1995 William J. Clinton President of the United States Polish Legion of American Veterans
1994 William J. Clinton President of the United States Disabled American Veterans
1993 William J. Clinton President of the United States Congressional Medal of Honor Society
1992 Anthony J. Principi Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs
not available
Legion of Valor
1991 George Bush President of the United States Paralyzed Veterans of America
1990

Richard B. Cheney

Secretary of Defense
not available
Marine Corps League
1989 Gen. Colin L. Powell Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Veterans of World War I
1988 Ronald Reagan President of the United States Military Order of the Purple Heart
1987 Caspar Weinberger Secretary of Defense
not available
The American Legion
1986 Caspar Weinberger Secretary of Defense
not available
Blinded Veterans Association
1985 Ronald Reagan President of the United States AMVETS
1984 Caspar Weinberger Secretary of Defense
not available
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
1983 Harry N. Walters Administrator of Veterans Administration
not available
Disabled American Veterans
1982 Caspar Weinberger Secretary of Defense
not available
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
1981 Caspar Weinberger Secretary of Defense
not available
Legion of Valor
1980 Max Cleland Administrator of Veterans Administration Paralyzed Veterans of America
1979 Max Cleland Administrator of Veterans Administration Marine Corps League
1978 Jimmy Carter President of the United States Veterans of World War I
1977 Jimmy Carter President of the United States Military Order of the Purple Heart
1976 Donald H. Rumsfeld Secretary of Defense
not available
The American Legion
1975 Gerald R. Ford President of the United States AMVETS
1974 Gerald R. Ford President of the United States Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
1973 Donald E. Johnson Administrator of Veterans Administration
not available
Disabled American Veterans
1972 Donald E. Johnson Administrator of Veterans Administration
not available
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
1971 Spiro Agnew Vice President of the United States
not available
Legion of Valor
1970 Donald E. Johnson Administrator of Veterans Administration
not available
Marine Corps League
1969 David Packard Deputy Secretary of Defense
not available
Military Order of the Purple Heart
1968 Gen. John P. McConnell Chief of Staff, USAF
not available
The American Legion
1967 Paul H. Nitze Secretary of Defense
not available
Veterans of World War I
1966 Gen. Wallace M. Greene, Jr. Commandant, USMC
not available
AMVETS
1965 Hubert Humphrey Vice President of the United States
not available
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
1964 John S. Gleason, Jr. Administrator of Veterans Administration
not available
Disabled American Veterans
1963 Gen. David Shoup USMC
not available
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
1962 Robert S. McNamara Secretary of Defense
not available
United Spanish War Veterans
1961 John F. Kennedy President of the United States Legion of Valor
1960 Gen. Lemuel Shepard, Jr. USMC
not available
Marine Corps League
1959 Gen. Albert Wedermayer U.S. Army, Retired
not available
The American Legion
1958 Gen. David Sarnoff USAR
not available
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
1957 Col. Joe Foss Governor of South Dakota
not available
Disabled American Veterans
1956 James Stewart USAF Reserve
not available
AMVETS
1955 Herbert Hoover Former President of the United States
not available
United Spanish War Veterans
1954 H. E. Talbot Secretary of the Air Force
not available
The American Legion