[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5079]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING RON D'ELISEO ON BEING HONORED AS PERSON OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Ron 
D'Eliseo, who was recognized at a reception on February 20, 2005 at the 
Grammercy Ballroom in Pittston. The Sunday Dispatch chose Ron D'Eliseo 
as the Greater Pittston Person of the Year for 2004.
  Ron D'Eliseo and his wife Brenda have three children, Robert, Ronnie 
and Christen. Robert, who will be 9 years old in July, has autism. Ron 
chose to channel his heartache into finding a way to help others. He 
decided to raise money for autism awareness and research, organizing a 
motorcycle benefit cruise called the Ride for Robert. The benefit has 
Robert riding with Ron on his American Iron Horse Texas Chopper or his 
old Harley Davidson.
  The Earthly Angels Autism Fund of the Luzerne Foundation is a result 
of the Ride for Robert. The Ride, now in its sixth year, has helped 
raise more than $40,000. Ron's efforts have helped parents of autistic 
children understand this devastating illness. He established and 
maintains a library at Milestone's in Wyoming.
  Through Earthly Angels, Ron has helped sponsor autistic children 
learn to ride horses at a summer camp, a swimming program at the 
Greater Pittston YMCA and a music therapy program at St. Joseph's 
Center in Scranton. More recently, Earthly Angels made a donation to 
the family of an autistic boy from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, who died 
from cold weather exposure when he wandered away from home.
  Ron is planning an autism conference and dinner in 2006. Ron also is 
active in his church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Pittston.
  Ron D'Eliseo is an everyday hero who took his pain and used it to 
help others. A humble man, I know that Ron does not take credit for 
what he has done. Instead, he praises his family and friends, people 
who have supported his cause, and perhaps most of all, Robert.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating this father who has 
given so much of himself.

                          ____________________