[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14996-14997]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MR. CHRIS SARACINO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 9, 2012

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of St. Louis' 
finest citizens and community leaders, Mr. Chris Saracino. Chris 
Saracino comes from a restaurant family that has been serving St. 
Louisians for over 50 years. His father Bartolino Saracino, Sr. opened 
his first restaurant in the 1960s. Chris

[[Page 14997]]

has been working in his family's business since he was a young boy.
  Currently Chris and his brothers own three of the most profitable 
restaurants in St. Louis: Bartolino's Osteria, Bartolino's South and 
Chris' Pancakes and Dining. His service to the Italian American 
Community is exemplary. Chris has been President of the Hill Business 
Association for several years, an organization residing in one of 
America's most famous Italian-American neighborhoods. As President, 
Chris has promoted and helped grow businesses on the Hill, creating 
jobs for his fellow citizens. Chris has also led the Hill Business 
Association in numerous community improvement initiatives such as 
successfully organizing neighborhood parades and festivals, raising 
money for local park improvements, and securing funding for 
beautification projects.
  Chris is very active with St. Ambrose Catholic Church where he 
volunteers helping the school prepare healthy lunches for the students. 
Imagine running a business, volunteering for community and business 
organizations, raising a family, and still having time to go to your 
church and make meals for school age children. Chris is a very special 
person.
  This is the kind of citizen our founding fathers hoped our Nation 
would have--engaged citizens in the private sector and the public 
square. This October, The Italian Club of St. Louis, celebrating its 
90th Anniversary, will recognize Chris Saracino for his outstanding 
contributions to St. Louis and the Italian-American community by 
presenting him with the Club's Italian Heritage Award. This award 
salutes Chris Saracino for demonstrating excellence in business, 
leadership in the community, and compassion for others. I congratulate 
my good friend Chris Saracino for this well deserved honor. St. Louis, 
Missouri, and America are fortunate to have such a committed and 
unselfish citizen. May he continue to lead and inspire others to do the 
same.

                          ____________________