Legionnaires in town
for convention

More than 15,000 American Legion members and their families are in town for their 87th national convention -- the first time in 22 years the veterans association has met in the islands.

Tomorrow, more than 250 American Legion members will attend the repatriation of two sets of remains from Vietnam and Laos at Hickam Air Force Base.

The remains will then be taken to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command for identification.

The week-long national convention begins Saturday at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Speakers at a session on national security and foreign relations that day will include Adm. William Fallon, Pacific forces commander; retired Lt. Gen. Hank Stackpole, former president of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies; and William Chetfield, director of the Selective Service System.

On Sunday a memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. at the convention center. At 4 p.m. up to 6,000 people will participate in a parade in Waikiki.

Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will receive a special award from the legion at Tuesday's general session.

Addressing the convention that morning will be U.S. Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, Gov. Linda Lingle and Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

The election of a new national commander will take place next Thursday, the last day of the convention.