[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17386]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING THE RAOUL WALLENBERG LIVING MEMORIAL AT THE AMERICAN SWEDISH 
                  INSTITUTE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong support for the 
American Swedish Institute's work to establish a Raoul Wallenberg 
Living Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The institute was founded by 
Swan J. Turnblad, a successful Swedish businessman in 1929. Mr. 
Turnblad donated his mansion to become an internationally recognized 
museum as well as the home to an educational center offering a variety 
of programs designed to celebrate the best of Swedish culture. Today 
the American Swedish Institute seeks to develop a dynamic combination 
of educational opportunities and art that will honor, celebrate and 
perpetuate the legacy of one of the world's most courageous citizens, 
Raoul Wallenberg.
   Mr. Speaker, it was exactly 60 years ago that Raoul Wallenberg, a 
son of a distinguished Swedish family, risked his life during World War 
II, when he left behind the comfort, the safety and the security of 
neutral Sweden to travel to Nazi-occupied and war-torn Hungary to save 
innocent lives. Through his extraordinary bravery, ingenuity and 
compassion he saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from the 
horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.
   I believe that the legacy of Raoul Wallenberg's courageous actions 
during World War II that saved thousands of potential Holocaust victims 
in Budapest is worthy of celebration, preservation and a continued 
public dialogue. As an international hero, every child needs to know 
the story of Raoul Wallenberg, and how his choices can play an 
important role in their own lives.
   The Raoul Wallenberg Living Memorial intends to provide educational 
opportunities that celebrate the life, contribution, and spirit of 
Raoul Wallenberg, as well as other historic and current figures that 
embody Raoul Wallenberg's extraordinary courage.
   The goal of the American Swedish Institute and the Raoul Wallenberg 
Living Memorial is that every student will complete their Minnesota 
high school experience knowing the name and legacy of Raoul Wallenberg, 
and the impact one person's humanity can have. The American Swedish 
Institute will be the home of and catalyst for a nationally recognized 
educational program that inspires young American students to live by 
the vision and inspiration embodied in the life and example of Raoul 
Wallenberg.
   Mr. Speaker, Raoul Wallenberg will always stand as a reminder of the 
difference one person with courage can make and a great role model for 
the next generation who recognized that true satisfaction comes only 
from serving others, in this case in sacrificing his own life so others 
may live.
   I am confident that the Raoul Wallenberg Living Memorial will 
inspire young students by his story to become better, more unselfish, 
more caring human beings that are willing to transcend the barriers of 
race, religion, or nationality in their concern for others. It is 
therefore important to support projects like this so that the memory, 
legend and life of Raoul Wallenberg will not be forgotten. The vision 
he had for what one person can do in the face of injustice must be 
integrated in the moral fabric of every community, state, and nation.

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