[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           IN CELEBRATION OF LAWRENCE MEINWALD'S 83D BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to call to the 
attention of our colleagues the birthday of an outstanding American and 
a resident of the town of Goshen in Orange County, NY, Mr. Lawrence 
Meinwald. On June 18, 1997, Mr. Meinwald will be celebrating his 83d 
birthday.
  Mr. Meinwald was an immigrant from Warsaw, Poland, who came to the 
United States in 1920, when he was just a young boy. Mr. Meinwald spent 
10 days on Ellis Island, being forced to remain there until our 
Government decided if the young immigrant should be permitted to stay. 
Luckily for him and for us, they allowed Mr. Meinwald permanent entry 
into the United States, where he has remained ever since.
  Fourteen years ago, Mr. Meinwald and his wife, Carolyn, took a trip 
to Goshen, NY, looking for a haven from the hectic atmosphere of city 
life. They fell in love with the quaintness and historic character of 
the Goshen area and decided to make this country retreat their new 
home.
  Shortly thereafter, Mr. Meinwald and his wife set out to restore and 
revitalize their new community. The couple chose selected buildings in 
the village of Goshen which, although long neglected, had much promise 
for enhancement due to their architectural excellence and historic 
beauty.
  Eight commercial buildings have been completely restored since Mr. 
Meinwald's arrival in 1983. Mr. Meinwald has installed elevators in all 
eight of the buildings, as well as creating other structural mechanisms 
designed to preserve the historical nature of the area. The most recent 
is an office building at 1 Railroad Avenue, so called due to its close 
proximity to the old Erie Railroad train station.
  In celebrating Mr. Meinwald's 83d birthday, it is important to note 
that he has been a tremendous asset to the Goshen community and to our 
entire region. In his restoration of the eight historic buildings in 
the village, he has provided both a great service to his community or 
his home and at the same time has found the small-town atmosphere that 
he was looking for.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite our colleagues to join with me in extending 
birthday greetings to an outstanding citizen of our community, Lawrence 
Meinwald of Goshen, NY.

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