[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13347]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      A TRIBUTE TO THE 2013 ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2013

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2013 
recipients of the coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Presented 
annually by the National Ethnic Coalition or Organizations (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. We 
honor these outstanding individuals because they create a better world 
for all of us in the future by the work they do today. Since the 
Medal'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.
  This medal is not about money, but about people who 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. 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. Even in the midst of 
difficult financial times, this award serves to remind us all that with 
hard work and perseverance anyone can achieve the American dream. In 
addition, by honoring these remarkable Americans, 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.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
good works of NECO, and in congratulating all of the 2012 recipients of 
the Ellis Island Medals of Honor.


              2013 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipients

       Mohamed Mike Ahmar, Varoujan Altebarmakian, MD, William C. 
     Anton, Bharat H. Barai, MD, Brian Boitano, Noreen Salah 
     Burpee, Hon. Woody Burton, Wendy Y. Chao, Melvin L. Cheatham, 
     MD, Alina Cho, Byung Chang Cho, Im Ja P. Choi, Jerry L. 
     Chong, Esq., Candice Chulee, Seamus Connolly, David C. Dauch, 
     Warren Will David, Vidyasagar Dharmapuri, MD, Alexander W. 
     Dreyfoos, Russell J. Ebeid, John David Eckstein, MD, Dr. 
     Jamshid Ehsani, Mia Farrow, Joseph Fiorentino, RADM Moira N. 
     Flanders, USN (Ret.), LTG Michael Flynn, USA, Jamshid Ghajar, 
     MD, PhD, Hossein Gharib, MD, MACP, MACE, Dore J. Gilbert, MD, 
     LTC USAR, Hubert Guerrand-Hermes, Xavier Guerrand-Hermes, 
     Yong Hwa Ha, Kenneth S. Hershon, MD, Victoria Shoghag 
     Hovanessian, Yousef Javadi, Hratch Kaprielian, Ara Kevork 
     Karajerjian, AIC, CPC, Patricia J. Kennedy, Rep. Peter T. 
     King, Michelle King Robson, Vahid Kooros, Kenneth Julius 
     Kovach, Jackson H. Kuan, MD, Christopher J. Kuelling, Esq., 
     Arthur Bihua Liu, Captain Gordon A. Loebl, USCG, Dr. J. 
     Phillip London, RADM Brian Losey, USN, James Lu, Col. Robert 
     M. Lucania, USAF (Ret.), Christine Eliska Lynn, Fasha 
     (Farshad) Mahjoor, Dertad Manguikian, MD, Yvonne Marceau, 
     Danny Masterson, Gail J. McGovern, Hon. Gregory J. Melikian, 
     USAF (Ret.), Mark R. Melton, David Merage, Gary Mervis, 
     Robert S. Milligan, H.E. Albert Alexander Montague, MG 
     Patrick A. Murphy, USA, Kikanza Nuri-Robins, EdD, MDiv, 1st 
     Lt Steven Ortiz, MA ANG, Mahendra R. Patel, Ramesh J. Patel, 
     David Anthony Pope, John Psaras, Bruce Ramer, Alma Rangel, 
     Assistant Chief Joseph J. Reznick, Monsignor Robert J. 
     Romano, Ronald J. Ross, M.D., F.A.C.R., Pardis Sabeti, MD, 
     DPhil, Homa Sarshar, Kamala Saxena, MD, Jack G. Shaheen, PhD, 
     H. John Shammas, MD, Thomas Sherak, Deputy Chief Steven J. 
     Silks, Anthony Spavone, Stephen J. Squeri, Valavanur A. 
     Subramanian, MD, Aso O. Tavitian, Silvia Tchakmakjian, George 
     Solon Tsandikos, Russell Thayer Tutt, Jr., Col. Lee A. Van 
     Arsdale, USA, (Ret.), Argyris ``RJ'' Vassiliou, Richard A. 
     Vermeil, Frank A. Visco, Wyan Hua Wang, Dionne Warwick, Wim 
     Wiewel, PhD, Dar-yih David Wu, Vahe Stephan Yacoubian, MD, 
     Christopher G. Zizza.

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