[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 41 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NOWRUZ AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF IRANIAN-
                               AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 19, 2010

  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, on the evening of March 17, 2010, the 
Nowruz Commission held its inaugural event at the Library of Congress. 
Nowruz is recognized by many people around the world who celebrate the 
exact moment of Vernal Equinox as the beginning of a New Year. Mr. 
Nasser Kazeminy and Ms. Gissou R. Kian, serve as Chairman and President 
of the Nowruz Commission, respectively. Ambassadors and senior 
diplomats of eight nations serve on the Commission.
  Dr. Kamran Khavarani, the creator of ``Abstract Romanticism'' 
presented a special painting entitled ``The Bird of Freedom'' to the 
spirit of Thomas Jefferson. The painting was accepted by Dr. James 
Hadley Billington, the Librarian of Congress. This was witnessed by 
nearly 400 people of Iranian, Iraqi, Turkish, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, 
Russian, Ukrainian and Kurdish origins at the Coolidge Auditorium.
  This is the first time in history that an Iranian American artist has 
presented a painting to the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, the man whose 
gift of books provided the beginning for the Library of Congress. Dr. 
Kamran Khavarani deserves to be recognized for his unique gift.
  The Nowruz Commission, whose mission of bringing diverse people 
together in search of peace and friendship, deserves special 
recognition on the first day of spring, Nowruz, March 20, 2010.

                          ____________________