[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9528]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. ROSS P. MARINE, HONORARY CONSUL 
                        FOR THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 19, 2007

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my 
constituents, the Honorary Consul for the Slovak Republic, Mr. Ross P. 
Marine, for his tireless efforts to bring an important exhibition, 
focused on the fate of Slovak Jews during World War II, to the Kansas 
City area. Mr. Marine is a dynamic member of the Consular Corps of 
Greater Kansas City. And for this reason, the Greater Kansas City 
Metropolitan Area is very fortunate to have the vital and active 
Consular Corps of Greater Kansas City, which has been instrumental in 
fostering cultural exchanges while building economic partnerships 
between our area and other countries. Time and time again, Mr. Ross P. 
Marine has proven himself to be one of our most active and dedicated 
Honorary Consuls in our region.
  Years ago, while working for the Truman Medical Center East, Ross 
became involved in a health partnership program in the Republic of 
Slovakia, whose mission was to work with abused women and people 
addicted to drugs and alcohol. In the 3 years that followed, Ross 
became acquainted with the people and culture. He made many friends and 
in February 2001, he was honored with the title of Honorary Consul, for 
the four-state region of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. 
Currently, Ross Marine continues to be one of our metropolitan area's 
most important links to Eastern Europe. He has brought exhibits, 
business opportunities and international relationships with the Embassy 
of the Slovak Republic to the people of Missouri's Fifth District. At 
Ross Marine's request, the Slovak Ambassador to the United States made 
an official visit to Kansas City for the re-dedication of the Liberty 
Memorial in 2006, the only national World War I monument in the United 
States.
  Ross's latest endeavor was to spearhead efforts to bring the 
exhibition ``The Tragedy of Slovak Jews'' to Kansas City. This 
important exhibit is the first exhibition to illustrate the betrayal 
and atrocities committed towards Slovak Jews during World War II. 
Prepared and presented in cooperation with the National Czech and 
Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this important exhibit 
was brought to the Kansas City area with the further assistance of the 
Czech and Slovak Club of Kansas City, the Jewish Community Center of 
Greater Kansas City, and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in expressing our heartfelt gratitude 
to Mr. Ross P. Marine for his relentless efforts in extending goodwill, 
not only within the areas surrounding the Fifth Congressional District 
of Missouri, but to the global community. I urge my colleagues to 
please join me in expressing our appreciation to Mr. Marine and his 
endless commitment to the Slovak community. He is a true role model, 
not just to the Slovak-American community in Missouri, but to our 
entire society.

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