[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF MYRA LENARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2000

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I honor the loving memory of Myra Lenard, 
who passed away on May 1, 2000.
  Since I was first elected to the United States Congress, I worked 
with Myra to promote freedom and democracy in Poland, particularly 
during its time under the former communist regime. Mrs. Lenard's 
mission for Poland and for many Polish Americans was to seek help and 
support for their native land. She dedicated her entire body of 
knowledge to the advancement of Poland to make it a more democratic 
nation. She was a true champion of democracy and a liberator of 
freedom. Today, I cherish the memory of our friendship.
  Casimira (Myra) Lenard was born in Poland and immigrated to Chicago 
with her parents. She became an active member in Polonia through her 
membership in the Polish National Alliance. She later became President 
of the Polish Women's Civic Club promoting scholarships for students of 
Polish heritage and advocating civic responsibility.
  In 1962 Myra's husband, Casimir (now retired U.S. Army Colonel), was 
assigned to the Pentagon and the family moved to the Washington, DC 
area. From 1962 to 1972, she oversaw the management of nine Washington, 
DC offices, and by 1972 she became owner of three personnel consulting 
firms. She was twice elected to the office of President of the Capital 
Area Personnel Services Association initiating a successful lobbying 
effort for Title 7, Civil Rights Act of 1964, and for the advancement 
of equal employment opportunities. Later she served on the Board of the 
National Employment Association in Public Relations and for three years 
was the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee covering a five-state area 
on the East Coast.
  Even with a very busy business schedule she managed to contribute her 
time to many charitable undertakings. The most notable of her 
undertakings occurred after the withdrawal of the U.S. Forces from 
Vietnam. She established a special office to find ``fee free'' 
employment for hundreds of Vietnamese refugees. Within a few months, 
her project was so successful that the city government called upon her 
expertise to develop a similar project for the District of Columbia. By 
1975, her efforts earned her the ``President's Award'' from her peers 
for ``Outstanding Service and Singular Contribution to the Community 
and to the Private Placement of Industry.'' Her determination continued 
to prevail with her assistance to the Solidarity movement in Poland.
  After leaving the placement industry in 1981, she assumed the 
position of Executive Director of the Polish American Congress (PAC) in 
Washington, DC. She continued to work with the Solidarity movement by 
coordinating the ``Solidarity Express,'' a train made up of twenty-two 
railroad cars with relief goods valued at $7 million. This was 
recognized as the premier publicized undertaking by the PAC Charitable 
Foundation (PACCF). She honored the first anniversary of Solidarity by 
organizing PAC to create the ``Solidarity Convoy'' of thirty-two forty-
foot container trucks from 32 states, of relief cargo, valued over $10 
mllion. Without losing sight of her mission, she persisted in expanding 
PAC and PACCF contacts with the Administration, the Department of 
State, the U.S. Congress and other government agencies, closely 
monitoring Capitol Hill activity related to Poland. Within a few years, 
PAC was able to lobby strongly for the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 
and the Support of Eastern European Democracy Act of 1989 (SEED ACT) 
with appropriations set aside for Poland.
  Finally, Mrs. Lenard received various awards such as: ``The PAC 
Charitable Foundation Appreciation Award,'' the ``Distinguished Service 
Award'' from the Illinois Division of the Polish American Congress, the 
``Champion of Democracy'' from the College of Democracy for her 
outstanding leadership towards the Solidarity movement, ``The National 
Citizen of the Year'' by the Polish-American Eagle of Buffalo, and the 
``Commander's Cross Order of Merit with Star'' from the President of 
Poland which is the highest foreign civilian award bestowed by the 
Polish government. All of these awards truly embody Mrs. Lenard's 
ambition and determination for what is right and just both nationally 
and internationally.
  Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Casimira (Myra) Lenard will always be remembered 
for her dedication and devotion to civic responsibility for her native 
Poland and for the United States. I offer her memory, family, and 
friends my best wishes for the advancement of freedom throughout the 
world.

                          ____________________