[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMENDING GARY AND IRIS GREENBAUM

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to commend two of 
Northwest Indiana's most distinguished citizens, Gary and Iris 
Greenbaum, of Munster, Indiana. On November 1, 1998, Gary and Iris will 
be honored for their exemplary and dedicated service to our community 
and to the State of Israel. Their praiseworthy efforts will be 
recognized at the Northwest Indiana-Israel Dinner of State, as they 
receive the 1998 Israel Builders of Freedom Award. The Freedom Builder 
Awards are given each year to worthy recipients who demonstrate their 
dedication and service to Israel, the State of Israel Bonds, the Jewish 
community, and our own community. The Greenbaums are most certainly 
worthy recipients of this year's award. True community activists, Gary 
and Iris give much of their time to local charities and service 
organizations. These community groups include the Munster Citizens 
Police Commission, the Northwest Indiana Jewish Welfare Federation, the 
Gleaner Food Depository, Temple Israel, Congregation Beth Israel, and 
the local Jewish Federation.
  Gary and Iris, longtime residents of Munster, hale from Gary and 
Chicago, respectively. After both graduated from Indiana University, 
they returned to Gary's native region, Northwest Indiana, and have made 
our area their permanent home. In 1971, Gary started his career as an 
insurance agent. After a few years gaining quality experience, in 1976 
he founded the Greenbaum Insurance Agency, located in Griffith, 
Indiana; Iris also works for the Agency as its most important unpaid 
worker in her dual role as office manager and insurance agent. Gary and 
Iris are the parents of two sons, Jason and Evan, of whom they are 
immensely proud. Both Gary and Iris have their own interests outside of 
work and their dedicated community activities. Gary is an antique 
automobile buff, and Iris is a master gardener; both enjoy traveling 
together. They plan on continuing their charity and community work, in 
addition to providing affordable, local insurance services to Northwest 
Indiana residents.
  In the words of Gary himself, ``I believe every Jew has the solemn 
responsibility to safeguard his brothers from oppression by helping to 
guarantee that Israel exists as a haven where any Jew can choose his 
own destiny.'' As America has served as a haven of freedom and 
opportunity for immigrants the world over, so her citizens now reach 
out and ensure that the freedom-loving peoples of the world are safe 
and secure. To quote Thomas Paine, ``Those who expect to reap the 
blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of 
supporting it.'' No one is more deserving of the opportunity and 
freedom guaranteed by America than Gary and Iris Greenbaum; their 
efforts have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in congratulating Gary and Iris Greenbaum for receiving the 
1998 Israel Builders of Freedom Award. Their dedicated service to both 
the State of Israel and our Northwest Indiana community is commendable 
and admirable. No government, leader, or military can safeguard the 
twin blessings of freedom and opportunity without the labors of 
dedicated, conscientious citizens. With their support, our world has 
become a better place, a place of freedom, democracy, and opportunity. 
Indiana's First Congressional District is proud to count two such 
dedicated, conscientious citizens, Gary and Iris Greenbaum, among her 
residents.

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