[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROCCO SICILIANO

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, today I wish to commemorate the life of 
Rocco Siciliano, of Beverly Hills, CA. This combat-decorated veteran of 
World War II served his Nation as an infantry platoon leader in the 
10th Mountain Infantry Division in Italy, earned the Bronze Star for 
Valor, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Army Special 
Commendation Medal. He and thousands of his fellow countrymen served as 
soldiers in the liberation of Europe under Supreme Allied Commander 
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a fellow Kansan and personal hero of 
mine. Rocco later served in President Eisenhower's administration, 
first as an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Labor from 
1953 to 1957, then as Special Assistant to the President for Personnel 
Management policies from 1957 to 1959. This leads me to the reason I 
rise today.
  Rocco Siciliano, after decades of service to our Nation in many 
significant roles and having secured many accomplishments over his 
illustrious career in both the public and private sectors, was elected 
chairman of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission in 2001. 
Joined on the commission by fellow decorated World War II combat 
veterans, Senators Daniel Inouye and Ted Stevens, Rocco led the 
commission whose congressionally mandated mission is to create a 
national memorial to our 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Rocco 
successfully led the Commission for 14 years before stepping down as 
chair in 2015. As Rocco's successor as chair of the Commission, I feel 
I must recognize him for his significant accomplishments. During his 
tenure, Rocco guided the commission through the processes of memorial 
site selection and the design competition. His remarkable and steadfast 
work has helped the commission get us to this memorable juncture. The 
memorial to Ike is under construction in our Nation's Capital, between 
4th and 6th Streets on Independence Avenue, Southwest. Rocco continues 
to serve as chair emeritus on the commission as one of the four 
Presidentially appointed commissioners. The commission seeks to 
dedicate the completed memorial to Ike on May 8, 2020, the 75th 
anniversary of V-E Day.
  Speaking on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, I wish to 
recognize Rocco's patriotism, leadership, perseverance, and tenacity 
that have been of great benefit to our Nation. He has been a valued 
colleague in this monumental endeavor, and I stand to honor him today.

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