[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14702]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      A TRIBUTE TO THE 2009 ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 2009

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
the 2009 recipients of the coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor. 
Presented annually by the National Ethnic Coalition (NECO), the Ellis 
Island Medal of Honor pays tribute to our Nation's immigrant heritage, 
as well as individual achievement. The medals are awarded to U.S. 
citizens from various ethnic backgrounds who exemplify outstanding 
qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while 
continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. Since 
NECO's founding in 1986, more than 2,000 American citizens have 
received Ellis Island Medals of Honor, including six American 
Presidents, several United States Senators, Congressmen, Nobel 
Laureates, outstanding athletes, artists, clergy, and military leaders.
  As we all know, citizens of the United States can trace their 
ancestry to many nations. The richness and diversity of American life 
makes us unique among the Nations of the world and is in many ways the 
key to why America is the most innovative country in the world. The 
Ellis Island Medals of Honor not only celebrate select individuals but 
also the pluralism and democracy that enabled our ancestors to 
celebrate their cultural identities while still embracing the American 
way of life. This medal is not about money, but about people who really 
seized the opportunities this great country has to offer and who used 
those opportunities to not only better their own lives but make a 
difference in the lives of those around them. By honoring these 
outstanding individuals, we honor all who share their origins and we 
acknowledge the contributions they and other groups have made to 
America. I commend NECO and its Board of Directors headed by my good 
friend, Nasser J. Kazeminy, for honoring these truly outstanding 
individuals for their tireless efforts to foster dialogue and build 
bridges between different ethnic groups, as well as promote unity and a 
sense of common purpose in our Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
the good works of NECO, and congratulating all of the 2009 recipients 
of the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. I also ask unanimous consent that 
the names of this year's recipients be placed into the Congressional 
Record following my statement.
  Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA (Ret), Hon. Eduardo Aguirre, Imam Shamsi 
Ali, Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, Robert V. Allegrini, Hon. Victor G. Atiyeh, 
Archbishop Vicken N. Aykazian, Sir Julian Bachynsky, Ralph M. Bahna, 
George S. Barrett, Edward J. Bergman, Hamid Biglari, Carolyn A. 
Blashek, Paul F. Boulos, PhD, Lt.Gen. Ted F. BowIds, USAF, CAPT Patrick 
C. Burns, USN, Dr. Samia E. Burton, Otto B. Candies, John J. Casey, Ali 
Cayir, Sant Singh Chatwal, Dr. Walter. R. Chitwood, Jr., Joseph Ilhawn 
Cho, Edward T. Cloonan, Duane E. Collins, David F. D'Alessandro, Shiv 
C. Dass, Kiran R. Desai, Robert D. Donno, Rayna Dubose, Emilio Estefan, 
Jr., Charles Fazzino, Sean T. Flanagan, John S. Gonsalves, James B. 
Hayes, CAPT Gregory P. Hitchen, USCG, W. Andrew Hodge, MD, Forough B. 
Hosseini, Susan Pien Hsu, PhD, Taffy A. Jowdy, James M. Kalustian, 
Rabbi Alvin Kass, Fred Kavli, Lisa Kazor, Kevin A. Kistler, Carol N. 
Lambos, Esq., BG James B. Laster, USMC, Leon Y. Lee, Oh Young Lee, 
Sandra Lee, Francine A. LeFrak, Nooshin Malakzad, Bishop Gregory J. 
Mansour, George D. Martin, Hon. Grace Meng, Thomas L. Mills, Esq., 
Joseph H. Moglia, Dr. Reza Momeni, Dr. Uma Mysorekar, Tavit 0. 
Najarian, ScD, John F. Nickoll, Michael K. O'Malley, Rev. Timothy 
O'Neill, George Pagoumian, Young J. Paik, Hon. Mary Mitzi Purdue, 
Moises Perez-Martinez, Natale A. Picco, Jr. John Podesta, Linda Ann 
Pope, William A. Pope, David M. Puckett, Phil T. Pulaski, Hon. Bijan 
Rafiekian, Maj. Dan Rooney, USAF, Gaetano G. Scavone, Salman T. Sesi, 
Esq., Dr. Jatin P. Shah, Liu Tee Shuh, Brian J. Smith, Col. Stephen 
Smith, USA, Steven N. Stein, Carol K. Strauss, Chester A. Szarejko, 
Oscar S. Tatosian, Joseph J. Thoams, DDS, William H. Tilley, Lenny 
Tilman, Lana Todorovich, Chiling Tong, Pauline A. Turley, Anthony M. 
Valletta, Kathleen Waldron, PhD, Kevin M. Wall, The Venerable Lama Pema 
Wangdak, Jeffrey N. Watanabe, Esq., Gary E. Weksler, Sally Tsui Wong-
Avery

                          ____________________