[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19004]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        IN HONOR OF MATHEW LOBAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mathew Lobas, of 
Parma, Ohio, who was recently elected National Commander of the Polish 
Legion of American Veterans, U.S.A. (PLAV). He took the Oath of Office 
on August 22, 2000 at the National Convention in Tunica County, 
Mississippi.
  Mathew Lobas demonstrated his dedication to his country more than 50 
years ago when he served in the United States Naval Construction 
Battalion in Southeast Asia during World War II. He joined the Polish 
Legion of American Veterans (PLAV) following his honorable discharge 
from the Navy in August 1946. Throughout his 54 years of membership 
within the PLAV, Lobas has held a number of important positions, 
ranging from Post Commander to State Commander to National First Vice 
Commander. He has continuously advanced PLAV's issues at the local, 
state and national levels. In 1994, he was awarded a Certificate of 
Recognition for his outstanding service in helping to start new posts 
in Florida and Nevada.
  In addition to his noteworthy work on behalf of PLAV, Lobas is 
remarkably active in numerous other organizations in the Cleveland 
area, such as the American Legion, the VFW, the Joint Veterans 
Commission of Cuyahoga County, and the Memorial Day Association of 
Greater Cleveland, where he is responsible for the placement of 
American flags at the grave sites of deceased veterans. He also 
dedicates many hours to the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma, 
Ohio, where he served as President of the Parish for over six years.
  Mathew Lobas currently resides in Parma, Ohio with his lovely wife of 
50 years, Olga; they have two children and four grandsons.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to join me in congratulating Mathew Lobas on his 
election as National Commander of the Polish Legion of American 
Veterans, U.S.A. I thank him on behalf of the Cleveland community for 
his lifetime of commitment to service and volunteerism.

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