[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HEDY KUGLER'S ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED 
                           STATES OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very special 
occasion in the life of one of my constituents, Jadwiga ``Hedy'' 
Kugler. This year, Hedy celebrates her 50th year in the United States 
of America! And what a wonderful 50 years they have been for her and 
her family.
  Hedy's life represents the quintessential American dream. At the age 
of 13, she left the comforts of her family's Paris apartment and set 
sail for America on the SS United States with her parents Vincent and 
Maria Niziuk and her sister Marta. Although the family had very little 
at the time, they had grand dreams of a better life in America. Her 
very first glimpse of that dream was the Statute of Liberty, as her 
ship sailed into New York City on the morning of July 30, 1956.
  But her journey did not end there. Shortly after clearing 
immigration, Hedy and her family boarded a train for the long trip to 
Los Angeles to meet the family's sponsor Wanda Wegrocka. Along the way, 
Hedy saw her first television show, ``Queen for a Day,'' and had her 
first sip of Coca-Cola.
  The family finally arrived in Los Angeles on August 4, 1956, and 
settled into a new apartment and new life on Ivar Avenue in the 
Hollywood Hills. These early years were an exciting time for Hedy, as 
she explored her new homeland and made lasting friendships that 
continue to this day. Hedy also took care to make the most of every 
opportunity that America provided. She graduated high school at Blessed 
Sacrament, and went on to earn a B.A. in Mathematics from UCLA. She 
then embarked on a career as a senior instructor for IBM, where she 
spent 30 years traveling the globe teaching application and systems 
programming to IBM clients. Now in her retirement, Hedy devotes much of 
her time to helping others, volunteering at a Kaiser hospital and 
serving as a Eucharistic minister at her local church.
  Hedy has been married for 43 years to the love of her life, Bolek 
Kugler, and has two adult children, Christine and Andrew. She's now a 
proud grandmother too, or Baba as she is known to Ellie and Nate 
Kugler. I'm also proud to say that Hedy and her husband still live in 
the same Encino home that they bought nearly 35 years ago. Together, 
they continue to explore all comers of the world, from Argentina to 
Vietnam, Sydney to Krakow. Her adventurous spirit, born on the SS 
United States, continues to thrive and grow.
  Fifty years ago, Hedy came to this country with a dream of a better 
life. She has turned that dream into a successful career, a lasting 
marriage, a vast circle of friends ITom around the country, and a 
family that loves her dearly. She is truly an inspiration to all those 
who know her.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Hedy on her 50th 
anniversary in the United States. May your future years in America be 
as full and prosperous as the last five decades.

                          ____________________