[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN TRIBUTE TO ANTONIO MELONI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Antonio Meloni, a tireless, energetic and effective civic activist. 
Antonio Meloni is devoted to his community and his family, and in 
recognition of his selfless dedication to the well-being of others, he 
was honored by the Taminent Regular Democratic Club of the Borough of 
Queens in New York City at its 76th Annual Dinner Dance.
  A resident of Astoria for forty-two years, Antonio Meloni has 
distinguished himself for his outstanding service to the community. He 
has been a leader in local crime-fighting and neighborhood 
beautification efforts, working with at-risk youth in the Second Chance 
Task Force, serving as an instructor in women's self-defense courses, 
and working to prevent and clean up the urban blight of graffiti. Mr. 
Meloni has been extraordinarily active in numerous civic organizations, 
ranging from the Astoria-Long Island City Kiwanis Club; the 114th 
Precinct Community Council; the local New York City Community Emergency 
Response Team; the Variety Boys and Girls Club; the Knights of 
Columbus; the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where he serves as a 
Minister of Welcome; the Astoria Civic Association, which he currently 
serves as Vice President; and Queens Community Board 1, on which he has 
chaired the Public Safety Committee for many years, among many other 
organizations. Of Antonio Meloni's many accomplishments in service to 
the community, one of which he is particularly proud is the design and 
completion of the ``Greater Love Than This'' memorial to veterans of 
our nation's armed forces, a monument that is located next to the 
existing World War I Memorial in Astoria Park. In recognition of his 
many civic contributions, Mr. Meloni has been honored over the years by 
former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the New York State Crime 
Prevention Coalition, the New York City Council, and numerous community 
organizations.
  Next year will mark two full decades of distinguished service by 
Antonio Meloni as Executive Director of Immigration Advocacy Services. 
In this capacity, he has developed and managed countless worthwhile 
initiatives that have provided essential services to new arrivals to 
our nation's greatest city. While devoting his time and attention to 
this incredible range of activities, Antonio Meloni has also remained 
devoted to his beloved family, including his wife Denise and his two 
children Michael and Angela.
  In being honored by the Taminent Regular Democratic Club, Antonio 
Meloni's achievements were recognized by one of the largest and most 
vibrant political and civic organizations in our nation's greatest 
city. The Taminent Club represents voters in the neighborhoods of 
Astoria and Long Island City in the New York State Assembly's 36th 
District and is led by its able District Leaders, the Honorable Gloria 
DeMarco Aloise and the Honorable George Onorato, a distinguished New 
York State Senator. The Taminent Club proudly carries the banner of the 
world's oldest political party in one of the most diverse counties in 
the United States of America. Borough of Queens.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in 
recognizing the outstanding contributions to our cultural and civic 
life made by Antonio Meloni.

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