Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of the life of David Broder, who was a great servant and patriot to this country.

Mr. Broder was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois in 1929. He received his bachelor's degree in liberal arts and soon began writing for two prominent newspapers, The Chicago Maroon and the Hyde Park Herald. By 1960, he was writing for the New York Times covering the presidential race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. He soon took a job writing for the Washington Post, where he remained for more than 40 years.

Throughout his career, Mr. Broder achieved many milestones and was recognized for his superb skills in the art of journalism. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for his political commentary and was the recipient of the 4th Estate Award from the National Press Club in 1988. He was honored by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the best 50 journalists in both 2005 and 2009. Mr. Broder boasted the most appearances for a journalist on Meet the Press with over 400 since 1963.

Though David, unfortunately, left us one month ago, he will always remain in our memories because of his work and service covering the issues that matter most to this country.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembering the life of David Broder and his devotion to uncovering the truth. David was truly a remarkable individual and a phenomenal asset to all of us here in Washington and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lieutenant Nick DiMarco of the Garfield Heights Police Department and his well-deserved retirement. As a long-serving officer of the law, and the founder of the acclaimed Shop with a Cop Program, Lt. DiMarco has served the people of the greater Cleveland area with honor and professionalism.

Lt. Nick DiMarco was appointed to the Garfield Heights Police Department in 1966. On February 1st, 1986, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and on January 11th, 1990, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant. After 45 years of service, Lt. DiMarco retired from a long career of serving the public on February 16th, 2011.

Besides serving valiantly as an officer of the law for so many years, Lt. DiMarco also established the Shop with a Cop Program in 1995. The program, which occurs annually during the holiday season, raises money to purchase gifts for underprivileged children. On the day of the event, children are escorted to a major retail store via a police- accompanied motorcade and allocated $120 to shop. Each child is accompanied by a police officer from the various participating departments. The program, now in its 15th year, has helped over 1,000 children in the greater Cleveland area, and involves officers from 17 police departments who volunteer their time to share the holiday spirit with those less fortunate. This past year, the program raised $38,900; 391 children participated.

In addition to his dedicated career with the Garfield Heights Police Department, Lt. Nick DiMarco served as the President of the Fraternal Order of the Police of Ohio from 1990 to 2011, where he fought to protect the rights and privileges of law enforcement officers in Ohio.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Lt. Nick DiMarco's long career of public service and civic virtue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Leslie L. Megyeri, who is being honored by the American Hungarian Foundation. Leslie will be the recipient of the Abraham Lincoln award for his courageous actions during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

During Mr. Megyeri's adolescence he read the great Hungarian poet Petofi, whose words

he took to heart. These words were: ``Stand up Hungarians--Your Country is calling, the question is do you want to be a slave or free?'' Although he was only a teenager at the time, on October 23rd, 1956, he followed his father and took up arms against the Communists in power. However, the Soviets arrived to support the now collapsed Hungarian Communist government against the revolutionaries. He was one of 10,000 Hungarian freedom fighters who fought to defend his homeland; they were overwhelmed and Mr. Megyeri was driven into Austria.

Following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution Mr. Megyeri emigrated to the United States and embraced freedom with open arms. He attained his extension education at several American universities and worked numerous jobs. Throughout his long career he has worked as an attorney for the Federal Aviation Administration, an audit manager for the Government Accountability Office, and on several congressional committee staffs. After spending several years practicing private law, in 2003, Mr. Megyeri began his tenure as President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America.

Among other noteworthy achievements, Leslie has received the Gold Cross of Merit from the President of Hungary for his involvement in assisting Hungary in their efforts to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring an outstanding individual who has committed himself toward the cause of freedom and liberty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Cedric Thorbes, a young man who has displayed outstanding leadership. Mr. Thorbes has been named 2011's Youth Champion by Voices for Ohio's Children.

Cedric Thorbes was born in Liberal, Kansas and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He is currently a senior at Glenville High School, where he is a merit-roll student and President of his senior class. Outside of school, Mr. Thorbes can often be found giving back to his community. He currently serves as the President of the Cleveland NAACP Youth Council, Chapter President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Youth President of the Brotherhood, Respect, Intelligence, Conduct, and Knowledge (BRICK) program. Cedric has also served as a leadership ambassador for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Cedric has been recognized by the Cleveland community for his service and was the recipient of this year's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award. Cedric was also recently awarded a $25,000 scholarship after participating in the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage's ``Stop the Hate! Youth Speak Out'' essay contest.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honoring Mr. Cedric Thorbes for his unwavering dedication to leadership in his community and being named 2011's Youth Champion. I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance and recognition of the 36th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. This historical date commemorates the end of the Vietnam War, and represents the beginning of a new life for tens of thousands of Vietnamese people, as they began their hopeful journey to America.

On April 30, 1975, the ancient city of Saigon fell to the conquest of communist troops. This action solidified the communist takeover of South Vietnam. Thirty-six years later, I rise to honor the memory and sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of South Vietnamese soldiers, American soldiers and civilians who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of liberty.

Despite the violent takeover and the rule of repression that followed, the culture, spirit and hope reflected by the Vietnamese people remained steadfast. After the fall of Saigon, thousands of Vietnamese, determined to rebuild their lives, began a treacherous exodus out of Vietnam. Their daring escape was on foot, through thick jungles and over jagged mountains. They escaped by boat, through snake- infested rivers and across turbulent seas. They became refugees in many nations, including America, with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and the hope for freedom in their hearts.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honoring and remembering the hundreds of thousands of men and women who struggle for peace and freedom, then and now. We also honor agencies and churches such as The Vietnamese Community of Greater Cleveland and St. Helena Catholic Church, which offer havens of support, services and hope to immigrants from all over the world. The Vietnamese culture, through the care and commitment of its people, has flourished in Cleveland

and across America, yet remains forever connected to its ancient cultural and historical traditions that spiral back throughout the centuries, connecting the old world to the new, spanning oceans and borders in the ageless quest for peace--from Vietnam to America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Earth Day Coalition of Cleveland, as they celebrate EarthFest 2011 on April 17, 2011--a date that also commemorates the 22nd annual celebration of EarthFest in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland's Earth Day Coalition was formed in 1990 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Earth Day in Ohio. EarthFest is now Ohio's

largest environmental educational event and the longest running Earth Day celebration in the nation. I stand in recognition of the staff and volunteers of the Earth Day Coalition for all their effort and dedication in creating such an innovative, exciting and educational event for the Greater Cleveland community to enjoy. This year, EarthFest's theme is ``Climate Change Solutions.'' Over 175 environmental exhibits are expected from environmental and community organizations, government entities and businesses. EarthFest is just one of Earth Day Coalition's many nationally-recognized programs and promises once again to be a significant aspect of the world celebration of Earth Day.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the staff, volunteers, and members of the Earth Day Coalition as we celebrate EarthFest 2011 on April 17, 2011. EarthFest 2011 promises to educate, inspire and motivate all of us to join together as a community and work toward a more healthy Earth for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio.

The Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio (AIPNO) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1983, with the mission of using its united resources and knowledge for the welfare and healthier living of the community that they serve. The organization hosts bi- annual Health-Fairs where member physicians volunteer their time and skills to those of the community free of charge. Their continued service to both the nation and the state of Ohio exemplify responsibility and civic virtue.

In addition to their health fairs, the Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio is a supporter of medical camps in India, such as the Medical and Surgical Camp of Bidada Sarvodaya Trust in Kachchh. These camps provide medical and surgical treatment to over 1200 villages and impoverished areas.

The Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio runs various continuing education and learning programs for its members and students. The organization also has its own medical journal, AIPNO Pulse, and provides medical advice to residents of Northern Ohio through their contributions to Lotus, a community publication.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor of the Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio, which works to unite Indian physicians in order to achieve their mission of providing their combined skills and knowledge for the betterment of Ohio and service to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of James Simone, a police officer with the City of Cleveland, who has announced his retirement from the Cleveland Police Department after 38 years of service.

Mr. James ``Supercop'' Simone has served with the Cleveland Police Department for 38 years. He is well known for some of the more dramatic duties he has performed as an officer of the law, such as chasing down and stopping a bank robber, or jumping into the frozen Cuyahoga River to save a woman's life.

His commander, Keith Sulzer, stated that ``In his 38 years of police service he has been a shining example of a crime fighter, a man unwavered by public opinion and politics, a man whose honor and integrity has always been above reproach. Officer Jim Simone's name will forever be spoken with reverence and the utmost respect by his fellow police officers and good citizens of the City of Cleveland.''

Mr. Simone graduated from Lakewood High School in 1966 and went on to join the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division. He served as a sergeant and received the Bronze Star for Valor, the Bronze Star for Meritorious Services, two Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat, and various other medals and ribbons commemorating his service in the military.

In 1973, Mr. Simone joined the Cleveland Police Department where he has served in

various districts under various roles, including basic patrol, detective, SWAT, and Senior Traffic Enforcement Officer. He has been awarded countless accommodations and honors which include 2010's Police Officer of the Year, and a Medal of Valor for his service. In addition, he was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for issuing dozens of citations and working to keep the streets clear of reckless and intoxicated drivers.

Mr. Simone has also been an avid lecturer and instructor at various Cleveland schools and universities, including John Marshall Law School, Cuyahoga Community College, Case Western Reserve University, Lorain Community College Police Academy and SEALE Police Shooting Warrior Mind Set.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Mr. James ``Supercop'' Simone, as he retires after 38 years from a long and distinguished career as a protector and hero of Cleveland.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Jerzy J. Maciuszko, a loving father, husband, friend and scholar. His passion for literature and Polish history will benefit the world and those that knew him.

A librarian and historian, Mr. Maciuszko served as the head librarian of the Baldwin-Wallace College's Ritter Library and the Cleveland Public Library's special collections department. He was a devoted educator and chaired the Slavic and Modern Languages department at the Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania.

In 1913, Mr. Maciuszko was born in Warsaw, Poland, where he graduated from the University of Warsaw with a bachelor's degree in English. He taught English at a high school in Warsaw until 1939. Upon Germany's occupation of Poland, Jerzy was captured and spent six years in a prisoner's camp. He made the best of his situation by playing violin in the camp orchestra and writing a short story, which took top honors in a contest held by the International YMCA.

Mr. Maciuszko escaped the camp and became a liaison officer for the U.S. Army, where he helped Poles find homes outside their occupied country. When the war ended, he moved to England, where he inspected Polish schools for the British government.

In 1951, he moved to Pennsylvania and began teaching at Alliance College. Although he moved to Cleveland soon after, he returned to Pennsylvania in 1969 and became the chair of the Slavic and Modern Languages department and created an exchange program between Alliance College and Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

When he moved to Cleveland, he joined the Public Library's Foreign Language department, rising in the ranks to direct all of the library's special collections. While he was in Cleveland, he also earned a doctoral degree in library sciences at Case Western Reserve University and taught there as a professor. With his collaborative efforts, Case Western Reserve started their ethnic collection. In 1974, he moved to Berea, where he led Baldwin Wallace College's Ritter Library.

In addition to all of his achievements throughout his long career, Mr. Maciuszko was awarded many honors, including an Officers' Cross of the Order of Merit from the Polish President Lech Walesa; a Polish Heritage Award from the Cleveland Society of Poles; an Eagle Trophy from the American Nationalities Movement; and a ``Man of the Year'' award from the American Biographical Institute.

Mr. Maciuszko was also a prolific writer, and wrote many pieces on Polish history, including ``The Polish Short Story in English: A Guide and Critical Bibliography,'' a monograph on the Polish Institute of America as well as chapters for various encyclopedias. He recently finished a manuscript entitled ``Poles Apart: The Tragic Fate of Poles During World War II.''

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembering Mr. Jerzy J. Maciuszko, whose passion for history and sharing knowledge will live on for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Sergeant Timothy Leahy of the Cleveland Police Department, and to celebrate his long career and well-deserved retirement.

Sgt. Leahy served with the Cleveland Police Department for 38 years, rising from the rank of Patrolman to Sergeant. He was appointed to the force on January 16th, 1973, and has since received many awards and honors for his service. He was voted Legionnaire of the Year by the American Legion 13th District Council and he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Cleveland Police Emerald Society.

The oldest of seven, Sgt. Leahy was born into a line of Cleveland Police Officers including his father, a Lieutenant who served on the force for 43 years, and his Uncle Robert, who retired as a Captain after 37 years of service.

He has been married for 36 years to his wife, Veronica, and has had three children and seven grandchildren, to whom he is known as ``Papa.'' To his friends and family, he is known as an avid golfer and fisherman, and a devoted member of the community.

Sgt. Leahy served as a member of the Cleveland Police Funeral Detail and Ceremonial Unit for 18 years, and has received several Letters of Appreciation for his role in honoring those that have fallen in the line of duty.

He received the James P. Sweeney Founders Award as Retired/Retireable Irish Police Society Man of the Year, the Citizen Award from the Greater Cleveland Safety Forces Holy Name Society, and was awarded the Raymond ``RIP'' and Mary Reilly Memorial Directors Emeritus Award by the United Irish Societies for work with the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Sgt. Timothy Leahy as he retires from a long and honorable career of serving the citizens of Cleveland as an enforcer of the laws and protector of the people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Elaine and Larry Myers for winning the 2011 Grindstone Award which recognizes their devotion to the Berea community. Both Elaine and Larry will be honored at the 44th annual Grindstone Award Dinner.

The list of benefits the Myers have bestowed upon the Berea community is long. Larry established the Berea Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. Both Larry and his wife have served on the Athletic Booster committee year after year. Elaine has held numerous positions on organizations such as the Committee for Good Schools, the Coe Lake Nature Trail Committee, the Education Foundation Auction Committee and she worked for the Suicide Prevention Education Alliance, an extremely noble cause.

Within the community, Larry and Elaine are known as Mr. & Mrs. Pancake, since both co-chair the Annual Kiwanis Pancake Festival and the Committee for Good Schools Pancake Breakfast.

As one member of the Berea community has said, ``Larry and Elaine Myers truly make Berea a better city in which to live and give truth to the line, a small city is like a big family.''

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition on these two truly remarkable individuals. Through their devotion and love for their community both Elaine and Larry have truly made their mark and improved the Berea community.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today in honor of retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Dale Anderson, for his multi-faceted combat tour during WWII and his ongoing dedication to the development of aircraft in the decades that followed.

Mr. Anderson spent the early part of WWII as a test pilot. In 1944, he was deployed to England with, and operated tactically, the first squadron of B-17 aircraft that were developed specifically for use against German V-1 and V-2 rocket launching sites in Normandy. Mr. Anderson personally trained all flight crews of the Eighth Air Force. In 1945, he was assigned to the 99th Bomb Group in Italy, serving as Commander of the 346th Squadron and later as Deputy Group Commander. All told, Mr. Anderson has flown near 40 missions and served to advance the technology that protects our nation and pilots to this day.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Dale Anderson for his valiant service and dedication to advancing aeronautical technology. Lastly, it is no small feat that in addition to his life of service, Mr. Anderson will turn 101 in November, and is still flying!

Mr. Speaker, I stand in honor of Harold S. Stratton for his service to our country in WWII and for his work with engineering outfits in their effort to rebuild parts of Europe following the war.

Harold served with the 9th Armored Division, Company B, 6th Army Infantry Battalion. After crossing the Rhine River and engaging German resistance, Harold was wounded when mortar shells peppered the trees and landscape around his company. After a month long recovery in Liege, Belgium, Harold returned to his outfit which had moved to Czechoslovakia where he served out the end of the war and then began work rebuilding airfields with the engineering core. He was awarded the Purple Heart and is one of three Stratton brothers to serve in WWII along with 1st Lieutenant Royal Stratton and Sergeant Leighton Stratton.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Harold S. Stratton and the Stratton brothers for their collective service to our country and for embodying the character and mettle that has come to define members of our ``greatest generation.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Mary Holt, who was a dedicated neighbor to her community and a pioneer for many.

Mary was born Asheville, North Carolina and later moved to the Fremont area in Ohio. She began her career working at a record shop and her skills eventually attracted the attention of the radio station WSRS. She jumped to a different radio station in 1952, and by the end of the decade she worked for multiple radio stations and all three local television networks. Eventually her duties entailed news, fashion, and music.

She was also active in her community. She ran for city council, organized the Black Political Women of Cleveland and a Grandmother's club. She also volunteered in many social organizations. It was not uncommon to find her reading to wounded veterans, or teaching reading and writing at community centers. In recognition of her many accomplishments she was honored with the Trail Blazer Award from the Cleveland chapter of the National Council of Negro Women and was named to the short list of the Plain Dealer's leading African-American Clevelanders.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life of Mary Holt. Her life was marked by dedication to community and pioneering for both women and African Americans. Her devotion and duty to her community should set an example to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Slovenian Workmen's Home, an establishment that has been very dear to the Cleveland community for well over 85 years.

The idea of this home first came about on November 10, 1916. The original purpose of the home was to accommodate the various fraternal, cultural, social, and civic activities in which more than a dozen Slovenian groups a participated. The building was finally completed in 1926 and consisted of an auditorium, recreation hall, library, business offices, and meeting rooms. As the years passed, the establishment began to expand to include a school in 1931, a gymnastic group in 1932 and a junior chorus in 1934; A year after that a bar was added and by 1939 the building had eight bowling alleys.

When the 1940s arrived, the use of the 'Home' changed due to World War II. It opened its doors to the Red Cross, war bond drives and any other program that assisted America's war effort. By the time 1945 came around, 'Home' changed its charter from a corporation to a non-profit organization.

The Slovenian Workman's Home has always been a welcoming location for workers' unions, at one point providing roof and shelter to any of the 23 unions that met on the premises.

As the years passed, the Slovenian Workmen's Home began to be bought out and other establishments began to move in. However, by the 1990s, efforts were underway to recover and restore the remaining area of the original home.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join in recognition of this phenomenal establishment. It has been a consistent part of the fabric of the Cleveland community for many years, and many years to come.