Whereas the congressionally-chartered Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (hereinafter, VFW ) has, since its founding in 1899, existed to serve United States veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their families, wherever they reside or are assigned; Whereas since 1996, Robert E. Bob Wallace, has helped lead the VFW Washington Office, which this year marks a centennial of service and advocacy in our Nation’s Capital to ensure that veterans and military communities are properly cared for by the Government that creates them; Whereas Bob received three Purple Hearts for injuries sustained in Vietnam as a member of the Marine Corps, returned home to pursue a career in banking after earning a bachelor of science degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, as well as graduating from the School for Bank Administration at the University of Wisconsin; Whereas Bob joined the VFW while in Vietnam and would be the recipient of the national organization’s 1979 Young Veteran of the Year award, as well as from his home State of New Jersey, and he would go on to appointed and to elected VFW positions, including being the first Vietnam veteran and the youngest veteran to command the VFW Department of New Jersey from 1980 to 1981, and culminating in his being elected as the VFW National Commander from 1991 to 1992; Whereas Bob has worked with five United States Presidents and a countless number of members of Congress, their staffs and fellow veterans organizations’ leadership to implement change for America’s veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their families; his is a voice of reason and motivation, coupled with a can-do attitude to meet every challenge that improves the quality of life of the military and veterans communities he serves