[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 6, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                       HONORING HENRY SIENKIEWICZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Williams) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor World War II 
veteran Mr. Henry Sienkiewicz of Syracuse, New York. Mr. Sienkiewicz is 
the son of Polish immigrants and has lived his entire life in his 
hometown of Syracuse.
  Mr. Sienkiewicz served his country as a bombardier on a B-17, named 
``The Saint,'' in Europe during World War II. He completed 35 brave 
missions with the 384th Bombardment Group of the 545th Squadron.
  On one such mission, on July 19, 1944, the crew was targeting a 
hydrogen peroxide and chemical works plant in Munich, Germany. Mr. 
Sienkiewicz recalls shells hitting the B-17 from every which way. He 
recalls how several of his fellow crew members were wounded, including 
the navigator, and how he helped save the lives of everyone on the 
plane when he stepped in and navigated them all back to safety. When 
faced with danger, Mr. Sienkiewicz did not cower in fear but rather did 
what needed to be done to keep fighting.
  Upon his return from the war, Mr. Sienkiewicz still felt the call to 
serve and did so for 30 years as a captain of the Syracuse Fire 
Department. During his time at the fire department, Mr. Sienkiewicz was 
known for his bravery and leadership and was even awarded a medal for 
saving a man from the second story of a burning home. While it wasn't 
easy work, Mr. Sienkiewicz felt rewarded by the opportunity to help his 
fellow neighbors and ensure the safety of his community.
  Even with all this, Mr. Sienkiewicz still wanted to do more. For over 
50 years, he sold poppy flowers outside of supermarkets to raise money 
to help support his fellow veterans and their families with medical and 
financial needs, remembering that:

     In Flanders fields the poppies blow
     Between the crosses, row on row . . .
     To you from failing hands we throw
     The torch; be yours to hold it high . . .
     We shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders fields.

  That poem really touches on his acts of service. Mr. Sienkiewicz 
dedicated his life in an inspiring way, and we can all learn something 
from his story. I commend him for his brave and selfless service to our 
great Nation, his community, and to his fellow veterans. It is a 
privilege to recognize him today, and I wish him many more joyful 
years.

                          ____________________