Minister Tseng remarked that the Veterans Affairs Commission was established in 1954, from the framework of the US Veterans Affairs Department at the initial stage. In the following years, certain adjustments catering to local conditions were made to come up with the current scale. The VAC also maintains frequent interactions with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS through exchanging visits at the executive level and other activities.

After listening to the briefing, the couple raised several questions. General Casey asked about the benefits and services offered to the veterans, the total number of veterans, if it includes those from the World War II, and the care for veterans with disabilities; Casey also asked to know the toughest issue Minister Tseng ran into since taking office. Mrs. Casey was interested to know the benefits of veterans’ dependents, particularly after the veterans pass away. Minister Tseng gave detailed answers one by one. General and Mrs. Casey both believe that ROC government provides humane and comprehensive services to its veterans.

Before the meeting concluded, Minister Tseng pinned a gold VAC logo insignia on General Casey’s lapel as a gesture to demonstrate that General Casey has become an eternal friend of VAC.  

On 27^th March, The VIPs visited several facilities in Kinmen Island and laid wreath to the monument of Lt. Col. Alfred Medendorp (1907-1954), Military Assistance Advisory Group, U.S. Army of the United States. The VIPs called on Vice President Vincent C. Siew at the President’s Office in the morning of 28^th March, 2011. Vice President Siew remarked that the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has long enjoyed a reputation of veterans services in the United States, and has been a consistent supporter of the ROC over the past 50 years. Vice President Siew also implied that VFW has two posts in Taiwan and both sides enjoyed very close relationship for decades. By VAC’s delegation attending VFW Annual Conference in each year, we, ROC government, do appreciate your communities and government agencies of United Sates put lot of efforts for caring veterans. Also, he mentioned that Caring veterans is our priority, too. Because we want to show our thankfulness for their services and hope they could be the pillar of social stability after their retirement. For the peace of Taiwan Strait, Vice President Siew urged the VIPs to persuade US government to approve Defensive Arms Sales to Taiwan continually by “Taiwan Relations Act”. Commander-in-Chief Eubank expressed his appreciation to Vice President Siew for taking time out of busy schedule to meet with them. He also expressed that VFW would keep on supporting ROC.

In the afternoon, the two VIPs paid a visit to VAC and called on Minister Tseng, Jing-ling. Minister Tseng. After the VAC multimedia briefing, the VIPs learned the functions and policies of VAC. They expressed their admiration for VAC’s achievements in outstanding veterans’ services, which was modified from the American VA System.

The VIPs visited Taipei veterans Hospital, Taipei Veterans Home and Taoyuan Training Center during their stay. Especially, they were impressed for Taipei Veterans Hospital’s scale and quality of nursing care for veterans. They also tried the traditional Chinese medical treatment in the Taipei Veterans Hospital. During their tight schedule, the visitors also took time to visit CKS Memorial Hall and Yingge Pottery Street during their stay in Taiwan, ROC.

Minister Tseng pointed out the long standing friendship between ROC and Thailand started in the 1970s, when King Bhumibol Adulyadej invited VAC’s agricultural experts to support the Royal Project Foundation for improving the life of mountain villagers of Northern Thailand. Prince Bhisatej Rajani, Chairman of Royal Project Foundation of Thailand visits Taiwan at least once for every two years regularly in the past 40 years, for agricultural technology exchange. Minister Tseng also introduced the ROC veterans service system, and emphasized that the ROC defense system can only be successfully complete when the veterans service system is seamlessly supporting the military system. The Employment Assistance Programs, Medical Care, Home Care, Educational Assistance, and other general services provided by VAC encourage the general civilians to be more willing to join the military service.

After the VAC multimedia briefing and Q&A, the VIPs learned the functions, policies and funding sources of VAC. They expressed their admiration and highly complimented the VAC’s comprehensive achievements in serving veterans.

Minister Tseng hosted the party. He appreciated various veterans’ organizations that had interacted closely with the VAC in 2010. Thanks to their assistance, VAC attended the annual convention of the Department of Pacific Areas, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and annual conventions of the AMVETS, VFW, and American Legion, and the World Veterans Federation. In the meantime, the VAC had also received Commanders-in-chief, and Ladies Auxiliary Presidents of the above mentioned three veterans associations, and the Commander of the Department of Pacific Areas of VFW, as well as leaders of other world veterans’ service organizations.

Minister Tseng also introduced to the participants that the Veterans Affairs Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Project Foundation of Thailand to promote agricultural exchanges between the two units last November. In his December trip to Thailand, with the company of HSH Prince Bhisatej Rajani and Executive Director Wiboon Khusakul, Minister Tseng visited the Royal Agricultural Station Ang Khang to witness the achievements by the joint efforts of the two organizations.

On behalf of all the distinguished guests, Executive Director Wiboon Khusakul of the Thailand Trade and Economic Office commented in fluent Chinese Mandarin that the VAC functions like a bridge between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and other countries, which is the embodiment of the ROC flexible diplomacy. Executive Director Wiboon wished the VAC major breakthroughs in the Year of the Hare, and the ROC peace and prosperity.

The party went on in a cozy air. The atmosphere was further warmed up as guests from each country showed their fortes. Col. Eduarto, the military attaché from Paraguay and his wife sang a Chinese song “Heart of Gratefulness.” The representatives from AIT of the United States sang in chorus “Friends.” Dr. L.J. Lamb, the former vice chairman of the American Legion Foreign Affairs Committee, shared with everybody his joke-telling talents.

       AMCF was founded in 1930 and headquartered in Colorado, USA. Under the motto of “All one in Christ Jesus,” their members believe that “God is not impressed by military power or rank or economic wealth, or social station, or ecclesiastical position, or educational level, or magnificent buildings or beautiful cathedrals, or eloquent public prayers, or great conferences, or long pilgrimages. What God desires are men and women whose hearts are warm and responsive toward Him, and whose lives are living demonstrations of His respect for the value and dignity of every human life.”

Minister Hu vows to continue the good care for all the veterans who have contributed their prime life defending this country, and he also looks forward to continuing the sound relationship that VAC has built up with veterans organizations of other countries in the past years. The immediate past Minister Kao Hua-chu also expressed his sincere thanks for the kindness and friendship that all VAC¡¦s brotherhood organizations in other countries have extended to VAC during his term of 2 years and 8 months here.