[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31518]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING VIC CIBELLI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2007

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Victor H. Cibelli, 
who passed away on Monday, November 12. I consider myself privileged to 
call him a friend, and I extend my condolences to his family on their 
loss.
  Vic was a leader. A Navy veteran of the Korean war, he spent decades 
fighting for veterans as an officer in the VFW, the Jewish War 
Veterans, and the Combined Veterans Association of Illinois. I was 
fortunate to be able to rely on Vic for advice on a range of veterans' 
issues, and he always stood ready to help me organize an event to honor 
veterans or to promote their causes.
  From teaching school children about citizenship and history, to 
organizing a service to honor the World War II warship Dorchester's 
four chaplains who gave their lives so others could survive, or running 
a Patriot's Pen student writing competition, no task was too big or 
small for Vic to help enrich his community.
  People cherished the opportunity to work with Vic, and took pleasure 
in coming together for a good cause at his invitation. While Vic took 
the work of improving the lives of veterans and their families 
seriously, his generosity of spirit and infectious humor made the work 
enjoyable for him and everyone around him.
  Madam Speaker, the Veterans community and the Fifth District of 
Illinois have lost a great advocate and a true friend. My deepest 
sympathies go to Vic's widow Mary, to his children and grandchildren. 
We will all miss him.

                          ____________________