[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 92 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING WILLIAM VEGH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 2009

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening in recognition 
of Holocaust survivor and longtime Mahoning Valley resident Mr. William 
Vegh of Youngstown, Ohio, who passed away Friday, June 5, 2009. Mr. 
Vegh was born in Aspa, Czechoslovakia on November 21, 1928. Mr. Vegh 
and his wife Lucille, married on June 29, 1952, have three children, 
seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He came to the United 
States in 1948, and worked in the Mahoning Valley for 38 years. He was 
an active member of the El Emeth Synagogue where he attended services 
daily.
  Mr. Vegh lived through one of the worst horrors visited upon our 
modern era: The Holocaust. Held in Auschwitz and various other 
concentration camps, he lost his mother, sister and four of his 
brothers. After being liberated by the allied forces and settling in 
Ohio, he dedicated his life after retirement to speaking and educating 
those around him about the Holocaust and the concentration camps in 
which he was kept. His utter dedication to this goal helped to ensure 
that the people of the Valley would never forget both him and the 
events he endured.
  And his ability to inspire did not stop at the borders of Mahoning 
Valley. His story was documented by the Steven Spielberg Shoah 
Foundation, a non-profit organization based out of California dedicated 
to ``overcoming prejudice, intolerance and bigotry''. He also received 
many awards and recognitions including the Marvin and Sarah Itts Award 
for Distinguished Community Service, B'Nai Brith Guardian of the 
Menorah, J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award, Heroes of Mahoning Valley/
American Red Cross, the Janusz Korczak Humanitarian Award, the 2000 
Triumphant Spirit Award and was an Honoree of the Youngstown Area 
Fraternal Brotherhood. These awards recognize his notable ability to 
connect with people and inspire them through education.
  I would like to commend Mr. William Vegh for inspiring us all with 
his incredible story and all he has done for the community. I am very 
proud to have represented him and I wish all the best for his family.

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