[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1606-E1607]
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
______
HON. DAN BURTON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following:
Ellis Island, NY, May 17.--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. This
year's event was dedicated to our armed forces.
This year's ceremony date coincides with that of National
Armed Forces Day. As such, we would like to pay special
tribute to the men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces
both here and abroad. Several of our Medalists also serve in
the armed forces; many more are honored veterans.
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.''
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 2000
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 lifethreatening medical conditions.
NECO has founded The Forum's Children Foundation, which
brings children from developing nations needing life-saving
surgery to the United States for treatment.
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 Directors.
Past Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients have included
several U.S. Presidents, entertainers, athletes,
entrepreneurs, religious leaders and business executives,
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 Mantle, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Barbara Walters,
Terry Anderson, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Senator John McCain,
Rudy Giuliani and Attorney General Janet Reno.
Congratulations to the 2003 Ellis Island Medals of Honor
Recipients:
Ruth J. Abram, President, Lower East Side Tenement
Museum, Romanian/Irish/Prussian; Danny Aiello, Actor,
Italian; Hon. Hagop S. Akiskal, Professor of
Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego,
Armenian; Hon. William Vollie Alexander, Managing
Partner, Alexander & Associates, Scottish/English/
Irish; Menelaos Anastasios Aliapoulios, M.D., Medical
Director, General Electric Company, Hellenic; Hon.
Hushang Ansary, Parman Group, Iranian; Angela Susan
Anton, CEO & Publisher, Long Island Community
Newspapers, Czechoslovakian/Italian; William Austin,
Chairman & CEO, Starkey Laboratories Inc., English;
Robert P. Badavas, Chief Operating Officer, Atlas
Venture, Hellenic; Peter Balakian, Professor, Colgate
University, Armenian; Roger Ballou, President & CEO,
CDI Corporation, English/Scottish/French; Salvatore A.
Balsamo, Chairman, Tac World Wide Companies, Italian;
Peggy L.S. Barmore, Assistant to the President, NYSUT,
African/Irish; Peter J. Barris, Managing General
Partner, New Enterprise Associates, Hellenic; Anthony
J. Bifaro, Assistant to the President, NYSUT, Italian;
Michael Bolton, Bolton Music Company, Russian/English;
Capt. Craig E. Bone, Commanding Officer & Commander of
the Port NY & NJ, Coast Guard Activities, English/
Irish/German; George Boyadjieff, Chairman, Varco
International, Inc., Bulgarian/Russian; Albert A.
Boyajian, President & CEO, Global Bakeries, Inc.,
Armenian; Albert A. Boyajian, President & CEO, Global
Bakeries, Inc., Armenian; Roscoe C. Brown, Jr.,
President Emeritus, Bronx Community College--CUNY,
African; Bishop William Brown, Pastor, Founder &
Chairman, Salvation & Deliverance Church, South
African;
John A. Canning Jr., President, Madison Dearborn
Partners, Irish/Italian; Terrel L. Cass, President &
General Manager, WLIW 21--NY Public Television, Irish/
English; Myron Z. Chlavin, CEO, Desser Tire & Rubber
Co., Austrian/Latvian; Msgr. Eugene V. Clark, Rector,
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Irish/Dutch; Maj. Gen. Richard
S. Colt, Commander, 77th Regional Support Command US
Army Reserve, Scottish; Francis X. Comerford, President
& General Manager, WNBC, Irish/Italian; Leo P.
Condakes, President, Peter Condakes Co., Hellenic;
Alexander A. Conti, Financial Representative,
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Italian; Thomas
J. Corcoran, Jr., President & CEO, FelCor Lodging Trust
Inc., English; Thomas M. Coughlin, President & CEO,
Wal-Mart Stores & Sam's Clubs USA, Irish; Hon. Anthony
J. Cutrona, Supreme Court Justice--NYS Supreme Court,
2nd Judicial Department, Italian;
Salvatore A. Davino, President, Fidelity Land Development
Corp., Italian; Commander Carlos Del Toro, US Naval
Forces, Cuban; Vincent DeMentri, Anchor/Correspondent,
WPIX-TV, Italian; John E. Durante, President, Rockledge
Equities, Italian; Umberto P. Fedeli, Jr., President &
CEO, The Fedeli Group, Italian; Charles A. Feghali,
President, Interstate Resources, Inc., Lebanese; John
J. Flynn, President, IU Bricklayers & Allied
Craftsworkers, Irish; Colonel Warren J. Foersch,
Commander, First Marine Corps District--US Marines,
French/German/Irish; Hon. James S. Gallas, US
Magistrate Judge, US District Court--Northern District
of Ohio, Eastern Division, Hellenic; Luther R. Gatling,
President, Budget & Credit Counseling Services, Inc.,
African; Richard Goldstein, Chairman & CEO,
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Russian; Hon.
Joseph G. Golia, Associate Justice, Appellate Term, 2nd
& 11th Judicial District, Supreme Court of the State of
NY, Italian; John George Gonis, D.D.S., Chairman &
President, Dental Associates, LTD, Hellenic; Andy
Granatelli, Former CEO & President (Retired), STP
Corporation, Italian;
James T. Hackett, Chairman, President & CEO, Ocean
Energy, Inc., Irish/German; Val J. Halamandaris, Esq.,
President, National Association for Homecare & Hospice,
Hellenic; Thomas E. Hales, Chairman, President & CEO,
Union State Bank, Italian/Irish; Taek Sun Han, Founder
& CEO, Han Yang Supermarket/Han Yang Cultural Center/
Morning Glory Stationery World, South Korean; Michael
J. Handy, Director, Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs,
African/English/Native American; Russell Hotzler,
Interim President, York College, CUNY, Italian/German;
Sayed Jemal Houssein-Afghani, Inc., Humanitarian,
Afghan/English; Ronald C. Jones, Secretary, United
Federation of Teachers, Italian;
Georgia Kaloidis, CEO, Diskal, Inc., Hellenic; Frank S.
Kamberos, Former VP Operations, Treasure Island Foods,
Inc., Hellenic; I. Pano Karatassos, Founder/President,
Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Hellenic; Bruce E.
Karatz, Chairman & CEO, KB Home, Russian; Elaine
Kaufman, President, Elaine's Restaurant, Russian;
Stella Kim, Executive Vice President, By Design L.L.C.,
South Korean; Michael B. Kitchen, President & CEO, CUNA
Mutual Group, Canadian; Thomas M. Lamberti, Esq.,
Partner, Putney, Twonbly, Hall & Hirson, LLP, Italian;
Lou Lamoriello, President, CEO & General Manager, New
Jersey Devils, CEO, NJ Nets, Italian; Henri Landwirth,
Founder & Chairman, Give Kids the World & Dignity-U-
Wear Foundation Inc., Belgian/Polish; Stewart F. Lane,
President, Theatre Venture, Inc., Russian/Polish; A.
Alexander Lari, Founder & Chairman, Claremont Group,
LLC, Iranian; Denis Leary, President, The Leary
Firefighters Foundation, Irish;
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Chung Wha Lee, President, Lee Chung Wha Diamond
Corporation, Korean; Howard H. Lee, President & CEO,
World Journal, Chinese; Simon S. Lee, CEO & President,
STG, Inc., South Korean;
James P. Lemonias, Chairman & CEO, Whitman Company, Inc.,
Hellenic; Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, Jr.,
Superintendent US Military Academy, Scottish/Irish;
Hon. Phil Leventis, State Senator, State of South
Carolina, Hellenic; Michael Yi-Sheng Liao, VP/Chief
Information Officer, GM Asset Management, Chinese; Tony
Lo Bianco, Actor, Director and Producer, Italian;
Richard A. Loughlin, Vice Chairman, Willis, Irish;
Constantine S. Macricostas, Chairman, Founder,
Photronics, Hellenic; Sheldon Harris Malinou, DDS,
Assistant to the Director, Cabrini Medical Center,
Russian/Ukrainian; Anastasios E. Manessis, President,
Manessis Marketing Corp., Hellenic; Puzant A.
Markarian, Principal (Retired), Arlington Textiles,
Inc., Armenian; John L. Marks, Chairman & CEO, Mark IV
Realty, Inc., Hellenic; Patrick F. Martin, Chairman,
President & CEO, StorageTek, Irish; Stanley Matthews,
Founder, Matthews Diner & Pancake House, Hellenic; Hon.
Roslynn R. Mauskopf, US Attorney, Eastern District, New
York, Czechoslovakian; Hon. James E. McGreevey,
Governor--State of New Jersey, Irish; Raymond Melville,
Assistant Business Manager, Local Union #3, I.B.E.W.,
Irish; Robert G. Miller, Chairman & CEO, Rite Aid
Corporation, Russian/English; Veronica Montgomery-
Costa, President, Local 372 NYC Board of Education
Employees Union, African; Patrick J. Moore, President &
CEO, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Irish/
Scottish/Swedish; Donal J. Murphy, President, D.J.
Murphy Assoc, Irish;
Albin D. Obal, President, Condor Contracting Company,
Inc., Owner, Midland Enterprises, Polish; James E.
O'Connor, Chairman & CEO, Republic Services, Inc.,
Irish; James F. Orr, Chairman, President & CEO,
Convergys Corporation, Scottish/Irish/English/German;
Nacy Panzica, Chairman, Panzica Construction Company,
Italian; Steven Peter Papadatos, President, Papadatos
Associates PC Architects, Hellenic; Frank Pellegrino,
Sr., CEO, Rao's Specialty Foods, Italian; Stan
Pelofsky, M.D., President, Neuroscience Specialists,
Polish; James Tung Chiang Pi, President, Pi Trading
Company, Inc., Chinese; John Politis, President & CEO,
Apartment Realty Group, Inc., Hellenic; Gerry Puccio,
Sr., Founder, Rockleigh Country Club/CEO Carrington
Real Estate & Investment Group, Italian;
Lewis S. Ranieri, Chairman, Hyperion Partners, LLP,
Italian; Subash Razdan, Advisor, Procurement Advisory
Council, Coca Cola Company, Indian; Paul V. Reilly,
President, Chairman & CEO, Mail-Well, Inc., Irish; Mary
Lou Retton, U.S. Olympic Gold Medallist, Italian;
Richard Romanoff, President, Nebraskaland, Inc.,
Russian; E. John Rumpakis, Owner, N.E.W.S., Hellenic;
Michael Schenkler, Publisher, Queens Tribune, Russian/
Polish; Martin Scorsese, President, Cappa Productions,
Italian; Myron P. Shevell, Chairman & CEO, New England
Motor Freight Inc./The Shevell Group, Russian/German;
David J. Shim, Chairman & CEO, Riverside Park, Inc./
Kiku Restaurant Inc., Korean; Richard Silverman, Vice-
Chairman, Fleet Bank N.A., Romanian/English; Hon.
Nirmal K. Sinha, Commissioner Ohio Civil Rights,
Assistant Director Department of Public Utilities,
Columbus, Indian; Curtis Sliwa, Founder and President,
The Alliance of Guardian Angels, Italian/Polish; Thomas
A. Smith, President & CEO, Oglethorpe Power
Corporation, Norwegian/Scottish/German; Ralph
Snyderman, M.D., Chancellor for Health Affairs,
President and CEO, Duke University Health System,
Russian; Rajesh K. Soin, Chairman & CEO, Soin
International, Indian; Hon. Maria Sotiropoulos,
Protocol Officer, The White House/US Department, of
State, Cypriot; Sy Sternberg, Chairman & CEO, New York
Life Insurance Company, Romanian/Polish/Lithuanian;
Nicolas Tabbal, M.D., F.A.C.S., Plastic Surgeon,
Manhattan Eye Ear & Throat Hosp-NYU, Lebanese; Hon.
Patrick N. Theros, Ambassador, President & Executive
Director, US Qatar Business Council, Hellenic;
Demetrios E. Tsintolas, President, Tsintolas Realty
Company, Hellenic; Ben Vereen, Vereen Productions,
African; Nicholas S. Vidalakis, Co-Founder, Chairman &
CEO, VFP LLC, Hellenic; Vuksan Vuksanaj, President, New
York Travel Agency, Inc., Albanian; Mike Wallace,
Senior Correspondent, CBS News/60 Minutes, Russian;
Donald Washkewicz, President & CEO, Parker-Hannifin
Corporation, Polish/Czechoslovakian; Hon. Jim Wright,
Speaker of the House 1987-1989, Texas Christian
University, Australian/Irish/Scottish; Jeffrey Yarmuth,
President & COO, Sonny's Franchise Co., Russian/Polish;
Pan A. Yotopoulos, Distinguished Professor, University
of Florence, Hellenic; Xenophon Zapis, Radio
Broadcaster, Zapis Communications Corporation,
Hellenic; Detective Sergeant Wallace R. Zeins,
Commanding Officer, Manhattan Night Watch, NYPD,
Russian.
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