[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S9772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     
     
               50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GHAZAL FAMILY'S IMMIGRATION
     
       Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise today in recognition of the 50th 
     anniversary of the arrival of the Ghazal Family to the United States, a 
     family whose legacy is inextricably intertwined with that of my State 
     of Rhode Island.
       On December 11, 1972, as the threat of violence and conflict in 
     Lebanon festered, the Ghazal family set off for the United States. 
     Arriving at Logan Airport, four young boys and two intrepid parents 
     were immediately confronted with their first challenge: adapting from 
     Beirut's sunny and warm weather to the blistering cold of New England 
     in the winter. Driving south and settling in Rhode Island did little to 
     change the weather.
       But as so many immigrants did before them, the family began to put 
     down roots in Rhode Island, settled down and made a name for themselves 
     in their newly adopted country. The Ghazals were sponsored and 
     primarily welcomed and hosted by their maternal uncle, the late Very 
     Reverend Abdulahad Gabriel Doumato, then the pastor of St. Ephraim's 
     Syriac Orthodox Church in Central Falls, RI, and his wife Victoria, as 
     well as many other Doumato uncles, aunts, and cousins, who had made 
     their own journeys to Rhode Island starting in 1952.
       The Ghazal family swiftly became an active part of their communities 
     like so many before them and so many since. Four generations later, the 
     family has grown to 36 with 11 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 
     and perhaps there are more to come. They understand and emphasize the 
     importance of hard work, a good education, and service to other.
       There is even a Senate wrinkle to the story of the Ghazals. One of 
     their sons, Jay, worked for my predecessor Senator Claiborne Pell for 
     12 years and met his wife Maria here in the Senate when she worked for 
     Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. They, like the other members of the 
     Ghazal family, have dedicated their lives to mission-driven work. Given 
     this family's history, I am confident that future generations of the 
     Ghazal family will equally cherish and treasure the American ideals 
     their predecessors have adopted and continue to believe in the American 
     dream.
       And as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this exceptional family's 
     arrival in America, it is a welcome reminder to honor the legacy of 
     those families who are celebrating their 75th, 100th, and even 1st such 
     anniversary. The story of America has always been and continues to be a 
     story of immigration. I am proud that so many immigrant families, like 
     the Ghazal family, call Rhode Island home. Their contributions enrich 
     our communities and broaden our experiences. Their influence has helped 
     define what it means to be a Rhode Islander and an American.
       Finally, I extend my best wishes to the Ghazal family for the next 50 
     years of their journey in America and thank them all for their rich 
     contributions to Rhode Island and our country.
     
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