[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3890-3891]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF MR. A.J. O'NEILL'S COMMITMENT TO AMERICA'S BIG 3 
     AUTOMAKERS, THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SUPPORT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 18, 2010

  Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. A.J. 
O'Neill, a Berkley native and Royal Oak resident, for his community 
activism dedicated to highlighting the importance of our domestic 
automotive manufacturing industry to our economy and communities. As a 
Member of Congress it is both my privilege and honor to recognize Mr. 
O'Neill, today as he prepares to hold the 2nd Annual ``Assembly Line 
Concert'' at his cafe to support our American Big 3 Automakers and 
their employees.
  On April 1st of 2007, Mr. O'Neill opened his cafe in downtown 
Ferndale. From day one, Mr. O'Neill made a commitment to his community 
to do what he could to make Southeast Michigan a better place.
  In late fall of 2008, during the Auto crisis, Mr. O'Neill started the 
``I Pledge America'' campaign. The pledge is simple, ``I promise 
America that, on my honor, when I buy a new vehicle, it will be a 
Detroit-born, Big Three (Ford, GM or Chrysler) automobile.'' I am proud 
to count myself among the over ten thousand signatories to this pledge.
  After seeing the success of the ``I Pledge America'' campaign, Mr. 
O'Neill was inspired to do more. Starting on March 20th, 2009, and 
continuing 24 hours a day 7 days a week until April 1st, 2009, Mr. 
O'Neill hosted the first annual ``Assembly Line Concert.'' The concert 
was a 288 hour marathon, featuring over 300 bands performing in honor 
and support of the domestic auto industry, with proceeds donated to the 
families of laid off auto workers. Due to the incredible success and 
length of this concert, Mr. O'Neill established a new Guinness World 
Record for the ``longest continuous music concert by multiple 
artists.''

[[Page 3891]]

  Today represents the start of a new chapter in Mr. O'Neill's story as 
he hosts the ``Second Annual Assembly Line Concert.'' This concert will 
exhibit 312 hours of continuous music performed by well over 300 bands 
and musical artists. Mr. O'Neill is poised to break his own Guinness 
record for the longest continuous music concert, with proceeds once 
again going to the families of struggling auto workers in Southeast 
Michigan.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Mr. A.J. 
O'Neill's dedication to the domestic auto industry, its tens of 
thousands of employees and retirees and the communities of Southeast 
Michigan as we work to rebuild and revitalize Michigan together.

                          ____________________