[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  A TRIBUTE TO THE ORDER OF AMERICAN HELLENIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSIVE 
                 ASSOCIATION (AHEPA) CHAPTER NUMBER 78

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 1998

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to commend the Order of 
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Ahepa), Chapter 
Number 78, who in conjunction with the Daughters of Penelope, Mentor 
Chapter Number 81, will be hosting the 68th Hoosier District Number 12 
Annual Convention in Merrillville, Indiana this weekend, June 19-21, 
1998. On Saturday, June 20, as part of the convention's festivities, 
the following six outstanding members of the Order of Ahepa, and the 
Northwest Indiana community will be receiving their prestigious Fifty 
Year Member Pins: Mr. Spiro Cappony, of Griffith; Mr. James Kallimani, 
of Gary; Mr. Deno Manolopoulos, of Valparaiso; Mr. Nick Pangere, of 
Merrillville; Mr. John Trakas, of Crown Point; and Mr. Tony Zerites, of 
Crown Point.
  Each of these six men has dedicated fifty years of service to all 
facets of the Order of Ahepa, his community, and the noteworthy 
humanitarian charities and activities to which the Order or Ahepa 
donates effort, time, and money. These loyal and dedicated individuals 
share this prestigious honor with approximately fifty-seven additional 
Chapter 78 members who have already attained Fifty Year Member status.
  The Order of Ahepa is an international fraternal order with chapters 
in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahama 
Islands. It was founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, to help immigrants 
from Europe, especially Greece, assimilate into the American way of 
life. It taught the new arrivals the customs and language, and helped 
them to become good, productive citizens in their new, adopted country. 
Today, the Order of Ahepa is still concerned with aiding immigrants, as 
well as monitoring the current events in Greece, becoming involved with 
the region's community, and supporting the aging members of the 
Northwest Indiana Greek community. Nationally, the Order of Ahepa works 
with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development 
(HUD) to build and maintain senior citizen apartments. Chapter 78 of 
the Order of Ahepa, based in Merrillville, is quite proud of the three 
50-unit buildings that it maintains in conjunction with HUD and the 
Town Board of Merrillville. Indeed, I commend the Order of Ahepa for 
providing a safe, clean living environment for area seniors.
  Besides the outstanding senior housing program, Chapter 78 of the 
Order of Ahepa supports many other charitable organizations, including 
food pantries at the St. Constantine Cathedral in Merrillville and 
another one in Hobart, and St. Basil's Academy in Boston, 
Massachusetts. Besides helping other charitable organizations, the 
local Order of Ahepa Chapter directly helps such groups as Hearing 
Impaired Children in the Catholic Diocese of Gary; the Merrillville and 
Hobart Police Departments; the Hobart Fire Department's school fire 
safety awareness programs; the Greek Orthodox Cathedral; Our Lady of 
Perpetual Help's Ministry to the Physically and Mentally Challenged; 
and Holy Cross College in Boston.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me saluting Spiro Cappony, James Kallimani, Deno Manolopoulos, Nick 
Pangere, John Trakas, and Tony Zerites, of the Chapter 78 Order of 
Ahepa, for their distinguished service, dedication, and leadership. 
Through their hard work and commitment, they have furthered the goals 
of the Order of Ahepa in bringing together the members of the Greek 
community for the betterment of everyone in Northwest Indiana.

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