[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E56-E57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  ELLIS ISLAND MEDALS OF HONOR AWARDS CEREMONY--NECO CHAIRMAN WILLIAM 
    DENIS FUGAZY LEADS DRAMATIC CEREMONY ON ELLIS ISLAND, NY, MAY 6

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, standing on the hallowed grounds 
of Ellis Island--the portal through which 17 million immigrants entered 
the United States--a cast of ethnic Americans who have made significant 
contributions to the life of this nation were presented with the 
coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor at an emotionally uplifting 
ceremony.
  NECO's annual medal ceremony and reception on Ellis Island in New 
York Harbor is the Nation's largest celebration of ethnic pride. 
Representing a rainbow of ethnic origins, this year's recipients 
received their awards in the shadow of the historic Great Hall, where 
the first footsteps were taken by the millions of immigrants who 
entered the U.S. in the latter part of the nineteenth century. ``Today 
we honor great ethnic Americans who, through their achievements and 
contributions, and in the spirit of their ethnic origins, have enriched 
this country and have become role models for future generations,'' said 
NECO Chairman William Denis Fugazy. ``In addition, we honor the 
immigrant experience--those who passed through this Great Hall decades 
ago, and the new immigrants who arrive on American soil seeking 
opportunity.''
  Mr. Fugzay added, It doesn't matter how you got here or if you 
already were here. Ellis Island is a symbol of the freedom, diversity 
and opportunity--ingredients inherent in the fabric of this nation. 
Although many recipients have no familial ties to Ellis Island, their 
ancestors share similar histories of struggle and hope for a better 
life here.
  Established in 1986 by NECO, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay 
tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural 
mosaic. To date, approximately 1,300 American citizens have received 
medals.
  NECO is the largest organization of its kind in the U.S. serving as 
an umbrella group for over 250 ethnic organizations and whose mandate 
is to preserve ethnic diversity, promote ethnic and religious equality, 
tolerance and harmony, and to combat injustice, hatred and bigotry. 
NECO has a new goal in its humanitarian mission: saving the lives of 
children with life-threatening medical conditions. NECO has founded the 
Forum's Children Foundation, which brings children from developing 
nations needing life-saving surgery to the Untied States for treatment. 
This year alone, NECO's efforts have helped save the lives of twelve 
infants from around the world.
  Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients are selected each year 
through a national nomination process. Screening committees from NECO's 
member organizations select the final nominees, who are then considered 
by the Board of Directors.
  Past Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients have included several 
U.S. Presidents, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, religious 
leaders and business executive, such as William Clinton, Ronald Reagan, 
Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, George Bush, Richard Nixon, George Pataki, 
Mario Cuomo, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Michael Douglas, Gloria Estefan, 
Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Elie Wiesel, Muhammad Ali, Mickey 
Mantel, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Barbara Walters, Terry Anderson and 
Dr. Michael DeBakey.
  Congratulation to the 2000 Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients.

                    Medalist List: Ellis Island 2000

       Richard A. Abdoo, Business Leader, Lebanese.
       Anthony R. Abraham, Business/Community Leader, Lebanese.
       Dr. William A. Athens, Physician/Surgeon, Hellenic.
       Nelson Viriato Baptista, Business Leader, Portuguese.
       Amin J. Barakat M.D., Physician, Lebanese.
       Edward J. Bergassi, Business Leader, Italian.
       Bharat B. Bhatt, Business Leader, Indian.
       Norman P. Blake, Jr., Business Leader, English/German.
       Gunter Blobel, M.D., PhD, Scientist, German.
       Jules J. Bonavolonta, Business Leader, Italian.
       Patricia R. Brandrup, Business Leader, English.
       Hon. Jesse Brown, Business Leader, African.
       Art Buchwald, Syndicated Columnist, Austrian/Hungarian.
       Gerard L. Cafesjian, Investor/Philanthropist, Armenian.
       Dr. Vincent J. Calamia, Physician & Business Leader, 
     Italian.
       Charles V. Campisi, Chief of Internal Affairs, Italian.
       Carlos H. Cantu, Business Leader, Mexican.
       Elvira M. Carota, M.D., Physician/Educator/Humanitarian, 
     Italian.
       David E.A. Carson, Business Leader, English.
       Frank Carucci, Educator, Italian.
       Margo Catsimatidis, Advertising Exec./Philanthropist, 
     Russian.
       Leonard A. Cecere, Attorney, Italian.
       Michael Chakeres, Business Leader, Hellenic.
       Alvah H. Chapman, Jr., Business/Community Leader, English.
       Dr. Ben John Chen, Community/Business Leader, Chinese.
       George C. Chryssis, Community/Business Leader, Hellenic.
       Sam C. Chung, Banker, Korean.
       John R. Climaco, Attorney, Italian.
       Vance D. Coffman, Business Leader, German/English.
       Paul F. Cole, Labor Leader, Irish/German.
       Evanthea Condakes, Community Leader, Hellenic.
       James Costaras, Educator, Hellenic.
       Stephen J. Dannhauser, Esq., Attorney, German/Irish.
       James DeCuzzi, NYC Commissioner, Italian/British.
       James F. Demos, Community Leader, Hellenic.
       James L. Doti, Educator, Italian.
       Hon. Dennis C. Droushiotis, International Business Leader, 
     Cypriot.
       Walter E. Dunn, Jr., Labor Leader, Irish.
       Joseph P. Dunne, Law Enforcement Officer, Irish.
       Jean C. Emond, M.D., Surgeon/Humanitarian, Canadian.
       Gaetana Enders, Author/Community Leader, Italian.
       Jack W. Eugster, Business Leader, Swiss.
       John D. Feerick, Lawyer, Irish.
       Steven Fisher, Business Leader, Russian.
       John S.T. Gallagher, CEO Healthsystem, Columbian/Irish.
       John E. Callagher, Sr., Business Leader, Irish.
       Laurance W. Gay, Business Leader, Italian/Irish.
       Louis C. Generali, Business Leader, Italian.
       Liz Giordano, Business/Community Leader, Italian.
       Robert C. Golden, Business Leader, Irish.
       Alan Harvey Goldfield, Business Leader, Austrian.
       Hon. Norman Goodman, Attorney/Government Official, Russian/
     English.
       Milton Gralla, Publisher, Polish.
       Hans G. Hachmann, Attorney, German.
       Michael Haratunian, Business Leader, Armenian.
       Dr. L.P. Hinterbuchner, Educator/Physician, Slovak.
       Dr. Eugene M. Holuka, Dip. of Internal Medicine, Ukrainian.
       James J. Houlihan, Business Leader, Irish.
       Raffy A. Hovanessian M.D., Community Leader, Armenian/
     Lebanese.
       Henry J. Humphreys, Community Leader, Irish/English.
       Hon. Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney, Irish.
       James S. Isray, Business Leader, Polish/Hungarian.
       Mjr. Gen. Robert R. Ivany, Maj. Gen.--United States Army, 
     Hungarian.
       Jay S. Jacobs, Business/Civic Leader, English/German.
       Dr. William A. Athens, Physician/Surgeon, Hellenic.
       Thomas H. Jacobsen, Business Leader, Norwegian.
       Willie James, Labor Leader, African.
       Albert Joseph, Business Leader, Lebanese.
       William H. Joyce, Business Leader, Swedish/Irish.

[[Page E57]]

       Dr. Kirk P. Kalemkeris, Doctor/Author/Community Leader, 
     Hellenic.
       Sok Hui Kang, Community Leader/Activist, Korean.
       Mike Kojaian, Business Leader, Armenian.
       George P. Kokalis, Community Leader, Hellenic.
       Elyse Kroll, Business Leader, Russian/English.
       Glenn Kummer, Business Leader, Swiss/German.
       Leonard A. Lauder, Business Leader, Hungarian/Czech/
     Austrian.
       Hon. Peter K. Leisure, Sr. District Judge, English/French.
       Alfred Lerner, Business Leader, Russian.
       Leo Liebowitz, Business Leader, Romanian/Polish.
       Anthony J. Limberakis M.D., Nat'l Cmdr Order of St. Andrew, 
     Hellenic.
       Dr. Herbert London, Educator, Russian/Polish.
       Robert Lopez, Business Leader, Puerto Rican.
       Susan Lucci, Emmy Award Winning Actress, Italian/Swedish.
       Robert W. Mahoney, Business Leader, Irish.
       Gerald F. Mahoney, Business Leader, Irish/Scottish.
       Hon. Guy James Mangano, Presiding Justice, Italian.
       Colonel William J. Martinez, Commander, Spanish/Mexican.
       James S. Mavromatis, Special Agent, Hellenic/Yugoslavian.
       Hon. John McCain, United States Senator, Scottish/Irish.
       Royce Neil McNeill, FSA Scot, Scottish Clan Leader, 
     Scottish.
       C. Dean Metropoulos, Business Leader, Hellenic.
       William D. Modell, Business Leader, Hungarian.
       Zena, Mucha, Government Relations Specialist, Ukrainian.
       Hon. Michael B. Mukasey, Chief Judge, So. District NY, 
     Russian/Polish.
       Joseph P. Nacchio, Business Leader, Italian.
       Fred Nauman, Labor Leader, German.
       Joseph Neubauer, Business Leader, Israeli.
       Peter M. Nicholas, Business Leader, Hellenic.
       Hugh O'Brien, Philanthropist/Educator/Performer, Irish/
     German/Scottish.
       John Pappajohn, Business Leader, Hellenic.
       Ike Pappas, Television Journalist, Hellenic.
       Nazario Paragano Sr., Builder/Real Estate Broker/Banker, 
     Italian.
       Hon. Michael L. Pesce, Adm. Judge, Italian.
       Thomas M. Reich, Attorney, Russian.
       Hon. Janet Reno, Attorney General of the U.S., Danish.
       Chita Rivera, Entertainer, Puerto Rican.
       Douglas L. Rock, Business Leader, Austrian.
       John Roland, TV News Anchorman, German.
       Hon. Eugene T. Rossides, Business/Community Leader, 
     Cypriot/Hellenic.
       John P. Rousakis, Community Leader, Hellenic.
       T. Timothy Ryan, Jr., Investment Banker, Irish.
       George E. Safiol, Business Leader, Hellenic.
       Edward M. Salem, Community Leader/Humanitarian, Lebanese.
       Tamir Sapir, Business Leader, Russian.
       Albert Schwartzberg, Business Leader, Russian.
       Cristina Schwarz, Spanish Language TV Executive, Argentina/
     Austria/Chile/Croatia.
       Irving J. Shulman, Business Leader, Russian.
       Nathaniel L. Sillis, Business Leader, Lithuanian/Polish.
       Sam Simonian, Business Leader, Lebanese/Armenian.
       Louis H. Siracusano, Sr., Entrepreneur, Italian.
       David S. Slackman, Business Leader, Polish.
       Richard A. Smith, Business Leader, German/Dutch/English.
       Salvatore F. Sodano, Business/Community Leader, Italian.
       Taraneh Sohrab, Banker, Persian.
       Harold A. Sorgenti, Business Leader, Italian.
       Hon. Eliot Spitzer, NYS Attorney General, Austrian/French.
       Robert G. Stanton, Conservation Leader, African.
       Jerry Stiller, Polish.
       Thomas C. Sullivan, Business Leader, Irish.
       Dr. William A. Athens, Physician/Surgeon, Hellenic.
       Sidney Taurel, Business Leader, Spanish.
       W.R. Timken, Jr., Business Leader, German.
       Joe Torre, New York Yankees Manager, Italian.
       William Ungar, Business Leader, Polish.
       Hon. Thomas Von Essen, NYC Fire Commissioner, German.
       Michael Wach, Television Executive, Polish/Russian.
       LaDane Williamson, Business Leader, English/Italian.
       Gary Winnick, Global Financier/Philanthropist, Eastern 
     European.
       Barry Zorthian, Communications Consultant, Armenian.

       

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