[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 164 (Monday, October 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15503-S15504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             HARRY KIZIRIAN

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, later in the evening or possibly tomorrow 
the Senate will approve H.R. 1606, a bill to name the post office at 24 
Corliss Street in Providence, RI after a renowned Rhode Islander and a 
proud American--Harry Kizirian. Senator Pell and I introduced the bill 
earlier this year, and Representatives Jack Reed and Patrick Kennedy 
introduced identical legislation in the House of Representatives, which 
also has been approved.
  I greatly appreciate the help of Senator Stevens, chairman of the 
Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Post Office and Civil Service, in 
helping to obtain approval of our proposal in an expeditious manner.
  Harry Kizirian is a household name in Rhode Island because of his 
lifelong career in the Postal Service but, even more so, because of his 
involvement with and commitment to his community. He has served on the 
board of directors of Butler Hospital, Big Brothers of Rhode Island, 
the Providence 

[[Page S 15504]]

  Human Relations Commission, Rhode Island Blue Cross, and the Rhode 
Island Heart and Lung Associations.
  Over the years he has earned countless awards and citations for his 
community involvement. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of 
Fame and received the Roger Williams Award. He served on advisory 
boards for Rhode Island College, Providence Heritage Commission on R.I. 
Medal of Honor Recipients, the Disabled American Veterans, and the 
Marine Corps League.
  The lessons learned from Harry Kizirian are lessons of fortitude, 
valor, strength of character, and perseverance.
  While Harry was just a boy in school, at Mt. Pleasant High School in 
Providence, he went to work part time as a postal clerk. He was 15 
years old and his father had died, so Harry took responsibility for 
supporting his family. He did so while keeping his grades up and 
participating in athletics. Twenty years later, at 35, Harry was named 
postmaster of Rhode Island, a position he held for more than 25 years.
  Like many young men at the time, Harry's job was interrupted by World 
War II. The day after high school graduation Harry enlisted in the 
Marine Corps. He fought on Okinawa with the 6th Marine Division. He was 
awarded the Navy Cross--the second highest honor a marine can receive--
for his valor on Okinawa.
  Harry and a group of marines were pinned down by a Japanese machine 
gunner. Harry got up and ran toward the machine gun. He was shot in the 
legs. Despite his injuries, he pulled himself forward and eliminated 
the enemy position. This extraordinary act of valor sent Harry 
Kizirian, a teenage boy, to a hospital in Guam with the Navy Cross, a 
Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart with a gold star.
  Harry Kizirian was seen by millions of Americans as the face of the 
war in the Pacific. Before he was injured, a news photographer captured 
his image, the image of a boy in battle, for the cover of the New York 
Times Sunday magazine. Last November, I was present when Harry was 
honored by his old Atwood-Bucci Detachment of the Marine Corps. The 
famous photograph was prominently displayed on the podium.
  After the war, Harry returned to Providence and to his job at the 
post office. He was a substitute clerk. By 1954 he was made foreman. He 
was named assistant superintendent during the transition from the old 
postal system to the turnkey mechanization system. The Providence post 
office on Corliss Street was the first post office in the country to 
use the turnkey system. The turnkey system was the first fully 
automated system for sorting the mail. Until that point, all of the 
mail was sorted by hand. The new system was not easily implemented, but 
once again Harry rose to the challenge. In 1961, Harry was rewarded for 
his hard work and dedication. He was named postmaster of Rhode Island.
  What better way to honor the life and lessons of Harry Kizirian than 
to name the post office of Corliss Street for him. I am delighted that 
the Senate has voted unanimously to name our historic post office in 
Providence ``The Harry Kizirian Post Office Building.'' Again, many 
thanks to Senators Stevens and Pryor for their help.

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