[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11959]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE SERVICE OF MR. RYSZARD ``RICHARD'' LABA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2017

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ryszard 
``Richard'' Laba, a longtime resident of Northbridge, Massachusetts who 
served as a United States Army Military Policeman in Vietnam.
  Mr. Laba was born in Poland and moved to the United States at 16 to 
live with his brother in Worcester, Massachusetts. At 21, he was 
drafted into the Army and served honorably in Vietnam between 1967 and 
1969. Wounded in combat and exposed to the dangerous chemical Agent 
Orange, Mr. Laba returned home to Massachusetts.
  Back home, Mr. Laba was a hard worker and a family man who loved his 
community. He served as an assistant foreman at the Worcester Gear 
Company for 39 years, retiring in 2003. He passed away on September 10, 
2012 at the age of 66. He is survived by his wife Margaret, who has 
worked tirelessly to raise awareness about Vietnam veterans, like her 
husband, who have experienced the debilitating effects of Agent Orange.
  Mr. Laba may not have been born an American, but he was so proud of 
his adopted country. His selflessness is an example for all who aspire 
to public service.
  Mr. Speaker, while we cannot change the past, we can make every 
effort to express our most sincere gratitude to all Vietnam veterans 
and their families that are with us today.
  On behalf of the people of Massachusetts, please join me in extending 
my deepest thanks to Richard Laba for his courageous service to our 
country. It is imperative that we continue to remind future generations 
of the character and integrity of those who served during the Vietnam 
War. I know my House colleagues will join me in remembering Richard, 
along with all those who served with him in Vietnam.

                          ____________________