Norm Nelson, a Korean and Vietnam war veteran from Perry, said Bush "was awesome" in his appearance. Anderson's call for anti-Bush protests had little or no impact on veterans at the convention, Nelson said. He said all of the veterans he had talked to said "how hospitable, how nice, Salt Lake is."

VFW Commander-in-Chief John Furgess, leader of the 1.8 million-member group, told the convention that like other presidents, veterans have differences with some Bush policies. In fact, Furgess handed Bush a coin symbolizing what Furgess said was the $1 billion underfunding of veterans' needs. But, Furgess said, for three years straight Bush has met personally with VFW leaders. "We appreciate that face-to-face" interaction, he said.

Besides remarks by Anderson, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, briefly addressed the convention, all praising veterans.

Hatch, who flew into Salt Lake City with Bush on Air Force One, urged the VFW to continue pressuring the U.S. Senate to pass the Hatch-sponsored constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to pass flag desecration laws.

"We're two votes short in the Senate" to passing the amendment, Hatch said. A similar bill has already passed the House. Bush, too, said he supports such an amendment.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; jloftin@desnews.com