[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24966-24967]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN HONOR OF THE FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN VlETNAMESE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2005

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
the Friendship Foundation of American Vietnamese, as leaders and 
members of the Foundation unite with the Cleveland community in 
celebration of the grand opening of the Sai Gon Plaza Community Center.
  The Community Center, located at the intersection of West 54th and 
Detroit Avenue in Cleveland in Ohio's 10th Congressional District, was 
made possible through the determination, conviction and energy of its 
founder, Ms. Gia Hoa Ryan, who also serves as the executive director of 
the Friendship Foundation of American Vietnamese.

[[Page 24967]]

  The Sai Gon Plaza Community Center promises to exist as a vital 
source of Vietnamese culture and Asian culture, wherein a strong 
foundation of cultural preservation and intercultural exchange is 
established. This Center, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of 
Cleveland, will unite citizens of Asian heritage and will serve as a 
cultural gathering place for people from all international backgrounds. 
Also included as part of the Center will be a dedication to the people 
and neighborhoods surrounding the Center. The Center will also showcase 
a museum and exhibition center, which will be home to the Asian-
American Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition 
of Ms. Gia Hoa Ryan, Executive Director of the Friendship Foundation of 
American Vietnamese. Ms. Ryan's tireless work and focused vision, 
supported by the work and efforts of countless members of Cleveland's 
Vietnamese community and many others, have created a Community Center 
where bridges of culture will transcend language, time and distance, 
preserving and promoting the ancient cultural and historical traditions 
of Vietnamese culture--a culture that spirals back throughout the 
centuries, connecting the old world to the new, spanning oceans and 
borders--from Vietnam to America.

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