[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E594-E595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO ENRIQUE ``RICKY'' O. FERNANDEZ, RECIPIENT OF THE 1998 MAPLE 
                               LEAF AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 1998

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention Mr. 
Enrique ``Ricky'' O.

[[Page E595]]

Fernandez of Maplewood, New Jersey who is being honored with the 1998 
Maple Leaf Award on this occasion of the 30th Annual Maple Leaf Award 
Ceremony.
  Ricky Fernandez, a retired high school language teacher from the 
Dover School System, has been doing volunteer work since the 1960s when 
he joined the Kiwanis Club, an organization in which he served a term 
as President and is still a very active member. Working to benefit 
several children's causes, he devoted special energy to the Children's 
Identification Program. Ricky and fellow members of the Kiwanis Club 
provided for free Polaroid pictures and fingerprinting of children, 
creating a permanent identification of each child for the parents to 
have in case the child disappeared.
  As an active member of the VFW Post 10120, Ricky served as commander 
in 1989 and again as commander from 1996 to the present. He also served 
as commander of American Legion Post 80 in 1975. Since 1992, Ricky has 
served as the Maplewood Memorial Day Parade Chairman, ensuring that 
Maplewood organizations and residents have an opportunity to 
participate in this annual memorial event. Additionally, Ricky has 
visited numerous schools to distribute materials for, and to promote, 
the ``Voice of Democracy Contest'' sponsored by the VFW, and he visits 
hospitalized veterans regularly to play games with them, distribute 
cash canteen booklets, and provide friendship and assistance. He also 
is a volunteer as St. Barnabas Hospital where his warmth and generous 
spirit have made a significant difference in the lives of many who have 
been hospitalized.
  Ricky, a member of Maplewood Service Men's and Women's Committee 
since 1943, has served as the organization's Chairman since 1995, and 
has since revitalized this important volunteer effort. For decades, he 
has worked tirelessly to ensure that Maplewood's service personnel 
receive newspapers from home, cards, letters, and holiday gifts as 
remembrance from their hometown of Maplewood. In addition to these 
other services he has rendered to Maplewood, Ricky also serves as a 
member of the Civil Defense and Disaster Control Committee and has 
served as an active member of the Maplewood Citizen's Budget Advisory 
Committee. He continues to teach English as a Second Language at the 
Summit Y, and he is an active member in Morrow Memorial Church where he 
serves as Head Usher. He and his wife, Bette White, are both excellent 
dancers who have integrated the joy of dancing within their personal 
and professional lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me our colleagues, the family and 
friends of Ricky Fernandez, and the Township of Maplewood in 
recognizing Ricky's many outstanding and invaluable contributions made 
to the community of Maplewood and to the State of New Jersey.

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