E2818 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 19, 2009 HONORING THE 102ND INFANTRY ghanistan are critical to America’s mission to RECOGNIZING IDA FIORELLA FOR AND THE 250TH ENGINEER COM- secure and keep the peace in the world’s HER UPCOMING BIRTHDAY PANY OF THE CONNECTICUT most troubled regions, and all of us from Con- ARMY NATIONAL GUARD necticut are proud to say these dedicated men HON. BRIAN HIGGINS and women are our fellow citizens.’’ OF HON. JOE COURTNEY I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF CONNECTICUT honoring these men and women who defend Thursday, November 19, 2009 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES our Nation every day. We thank them for their Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today Thursday, November 19, 2009 service and look forward to welcoming them to recognize Ms. Ida Fiorella, a longtime Buf- Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise home again after a successful deployment. falo resident who will be celebrating her 95th today to honor the deployment of 102nd Infan- birthday this December 26th. try Battalion and the 250th Engineer Com- f Ida was born in Buffalo’s West Side on De- pany. On November 15, 2009, Connecticut cember 26th, 1914. The daughter of Italian im- TRIBUTE TO CHARLES EDWARD sent off 700 soldiers from the two Connecticut migrants Joseph Pizzuto and Maria Cordaro MCNEIL National Guard units to be deployed to Iraq Pizzuto, Ida attended Buffalo’s public schools and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi and went on to work in her family-owned gro- Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. cery store at the intersection of Prospect and The logistical and tactical work that the Con- HON. JO BONNER Virginia located in Buffalo, New York. necticut soldiers will do in Iraq and Afghani- OF ALABAMA Ida’s brother Russell Pizzuto, now de- stan is critical to the Nation’s success in the ceased, served honorably and was wounded IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES two conflicts. The 102nd Infantry will deploy to in World War II; he was the father of six chil- Afghanistan to partner with the Afghan secu- Thursday, November 19, 2009 dren. rity forces to assist, train and mentor the Af- Ida and her family were parishioners at St. ghan Army, Police, and Border Police forces Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the City of Anthony’s Church where she married her hus- in order to strengthen, stabilize and legitimize Mobile recently lost a dear friend with the band, Vincent (Jimmy) Fiorella on November the Government of Afghanistan. The 250th passing of Charles Edward McNeil, and I rise 11th, 1940. Together Ida and Jim raised their Engineer Company will work in Iraq to provide today to pay tribute to his memory. Mr. McNeil three children, Russell, Bonnie, and Joseph, bridging support for theater mobility, and to was a remarkable businessman, active citizen on Buffalo’s West Side. Their marriage ensure rapid emplacement of bridging assets and committed U.S. Army Air Force pilot. He spanned 50 years until Jim passed away on in the event that routes in their area of oper- will be remembered by all as a man devoted March 19th, 1991. ations become impassable. to his family, his faith, and his country. When her children were grown, Ida went on The Connecticut National Guard currently to a successful career in retail sales. She A graduate of Marion Military Institute, Mr. has nearly 500 Soldiers and Airmen mobilized spent a number of years at Hengerer’s down- McNeil later attended the University of Ala- and deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan town, then at the Sample Shop on Hertel Ave- in support of counterterrorism missions. This is bama before volunteering for the U.S. Army nue, and finally at Joseph’s on Deleware Ave- the largest single deployment of Connecticut Air Force during World War II. A decorated nue, all located in Buffalo. Army National Guardsmen since the Korean pilot, he was captured behind enemy lines Ida is a wonderful homemaker, avid Italian War and will bring our total number of de- after being shot down by the Germans and re- cook, and premier pie maker. One of her ployed Soldiers and Airmen to 1,200. mained in captivity until the end of the war. proudest accomplishments was encouraging The 250th Engineer Company, commanded Coming home with two bronze stars, the Air all of her children to go on to receive a college by Captain Charles Taylor of Hamden is Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and two Purple education. based in my district out of New London. The Hearts, Mr. McNeil began a life of entrepre- Ida loves meeting and entertaining people unit’s motto is ‘‘No Bridge too Far,’’ which re- neurship that was as impressive as his dedi- and is very independent. Even to this day she fers to its primary mission of supporting our cation to his country. does all of her own cooking, baking, and only combat forces by literally building bridges over stopped driving after her car was no longer otherwise inaccessible terrain and rivers. In His resume included a career with Protec- road worthy. Ida still attends church and is a Iraq, the 250th will be a part of the drawdown tive Life Insurance Company, co-founder and very devoted Catholic. of our forces and equipment there—a mas- director of Commercial Guaranty Bank, board Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize sive, historic undertaking in the history of our member of SouthTrust Bank, and founding co- Ms. Ida Fiorella as she approaches the cele- military. partner in the McNeil, Jackson and Ahrens Fi- bration of her 95th birthday. I congratulate Ida This will be no easy feat—about 3.1 million nancial group. He also held membership in the for her many contributions to her family, pieces of equipment of all sorts, over 100,000 Million Dollar Roundtable since 1946. But that friends, and community and wish her many vehicles, military and civilian, 24,000 short was just the beginning. more years of happiness. tons of ammunition, over 120,000 containers Mr. McNeil also found the time to serve his f of supplies, and around 120,000 U.S. military community as president of the Mobile County personnel that have to be moved out of Iraq, HONORING THE 100TH School Board for no less than 17 years and mostly through Kuwait. ANNIVERSARY OF DRAUGAS he maintained active membership in many This past weekend, I had the honor of join- ing many of my colleagues in the Connecticut philanthropic, civic clubs and service agency boards. HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI Congressional Delegation, state officials and OF Adjutant General Thaddeus Martin in a moving An avid sportsman and outdoorsman, Mr. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and well attended ‘‘send off’ ceremony for the McNeil exemplified the indomitable spirit of our 102nd and 250th. The ceremony, of course, Gulf Coast community. His love of life and tire- Thursday, November 19, 2009 was one of mixed emotions. On the one hand, less devotion to uplifting the lives of so many Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today these men and women represent the best of around him will be missed. to honor the Draugas newspaper on its 100th what our State and Nation has to offer. They Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join year of daily publication. Draugas was founded in Wilkes-Barre, have trained and worked to be the very best me in remembering a dedicated and generous in 1909 as a Lithuanian lan- at what they do—and we are so proud of community leader and a dear friend. Our con- them. However, on the other hand, Con- guage Roman Catholic paper and moved to dolences go out to his wife, Evelyn Adelia necticut is sending its own to do a hard and in 1916. The location changed a few Bell; his children, Millie McNeil, Marilyn dangerous job. times in its early years, but Draugas has been Peyronni, Charles McNeil and John McNeil; The eyes of Connecticut and the families of located at 4545 W. 63rd St. in Chicago since these soldiers are on them, eagerly awaiting and his seven grandchildren and five great 1957. Many Lithuanian- live on the their safe return. But soon, the eyes of the grandchildren. Southwest Side of Chicago and in the sur- world will be on them. And all of us in Con- Mobile—and indeed our entire state—lost a rounding suburbs I represent, and they greatly necticut will be so proud to watch the work true leader and our thoughts and prayers are appreciate the reporting and cultural com- that they do. Their missions in Iraq and Af- with his family. mentary that Draugas provides.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:50 Nov 20, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A19NO8.022 E19NOPT1 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REMARKS November 19, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2819 Draugas serves approximately 10,000 daily STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN Twenty-five years ago, Reverend Jackson readers. It is the only Catholic paper to be JOHN LEWIS ON THE GLOBAL took an historic step when he ran for Presi- published daily in both the and SYMPOSIUM OF PEACEFUL NA- dent of the United States, becoming only the Canada, and the only paper outside of Lith- TIONS second African-American to run for that office. uania to be published in Lithuanian. In an ef- He received over eighteen percent of the total Democratic primary vote and won five pri- fort to reach younger generations of Lithua- HON. JOHN LEWIS OF maries and caucuses. nian-Americans, Draugas plans the publication The numbers, while impressive, don’t begin IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of an English language edition in the near fu- to convey the broad impact of his candidacy. ture. Thursday, November 19, 2009 Reverend Jackson motivated millions of new An event honoring the newspaper’s 100th Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I voters to register to vote and become en- anniversary took place in Willow Springs on rise today to recognize the Global Symposium gaged in the electoral process. His example of October 17 and a Bishops Conference and of Peaceful Nations and the countries award- hope and achievement reaffirmed the self- Catholic Mass were held in Chicago on Octo- ed for being the most peaceful in the world. worth of an entire generation of young African- American men and women. His candidacy ber 18 to honor Draugas and ’s mil- Let me begin by congratulating those Na- was not a compromised, watered-down one. It lennium. tions that were selected to participate in the Symposium—Australia, Botswana, Canada, demanded publicly that the national political I ask you to join me in honoring Draugas for Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Den- agenda include the issues affecting a ‘‘Rain- its dedication to reporting, community service, mark, Japan, Malawi, New Zealand, Norway, bow Coalition’’ of individuals, including African- and the preservation of Lithuanian culture Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Slovenia, South Americans, Hispanics, Arab-Americans, Asian- around the world. Korea, Uruguay, and Vietnam. Americans, Native Americans, gays, lesbians, Earlier this year, I led a congressional dele- farmers, the poor and the working class, and f gation to India to commemorate the 50th anni- it started a whole new public dialogue. versary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Reverend Jackson challenged us to think HONORING REVEREND E. Coretta Scott King’s visit to follow in the foot- bigger and inspired many others to pursue ca- THURMAN WALKER steps of Gandhi. Soon afterwards, my good reers in public service. He paved the way for friend Mrs. Harriet Fulbright, widow of the late, many of us in this body to run for political of- great Senator J. William Fulbright, and her fice and laid the foundation for the candidacy, HON. CHARLES A. GONZALES staff introduced me to the Global Peace Index nomination and election of President Barack and the Symposium. Obama, our most recent historic candidacy OF TEXAS Mahatma Gandhi once said,’’Peace will not and election. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES come out of a clash of arms but out of justice Rev. Jackson’s place in American history lived and done by unarmed nations in the face was legend long before his presidential can- Thursday, November 19, 2009 of odds.’’ As Mrs. Fulbright explained the sym- didacy—through his activism at North Carolina A & T University and leadership of civil rights Mr. GONZALEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise posium and the GPI, I was impressed by the methodology of the research, the focus on demonstrations in Greensboro, North Carolina, today with a heavy heart, to report the passing his work with Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. of the Revered E. Thurman Walker after a peace, and the true commitment to improving the global community. at the S.C.L.C. and the formation of Operation long illness. For more than 22 years, Rev- Every year Vision of Humanity researchers PUSH and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. But erend Walker was a leader in the city of San develop the Global Peace Index, GPI, based his presidential run twenty-five years ago so- Antonio, first as assistant pastor and for the on a variety of economic and analytical fac- lidified his place in history and continues to be past 16 years as the senior pastor of Antioch tors. The results are based on a variety of an inspiration for all Americans today. Missionary Baptist Church. economic and social indicators that rank over Rev. Jackson, thank you for all that you have done. Under Reverend Walker’s leadership, Anti- 140 countries on their peacefulness and och grew to three thousand members and evaluate the economic benefit of peace. The f opened the Christian Academy, a private Global Symposium of Peaceful Nations then HONORING ANNE BURKHOLDER school at the Church, in 1995, and the Antioch brings together representatives from the two most peaceful countries in each of the nine Community Transformation Network, an orga- HON. ADRIAN SMITH global regions on the GPI. OF NEBRASKA nization dedicated to community service, in While here, the delegates engage in com- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2000. Reverend Walker was the spiritual lead- prehensive dialogue about how to build and er of his congregation, but he insisted that the maintain peace. The countries that participate Thursday, November 19, 2009 church play a role in the whole community and in the forum have unique histories, perspec- Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I in the daily lives of all San Antonians. The tives, and domestic and regional realities, but rise today in honor of Anne Burkholder, the church has been a pillar in the San Antonio they must be commended in their significant Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Beef community for a long time, but its role and progress in combating domestic poverty and Quality Assurance Program Producer of the reach increased under Reverend Walker as making strides towards creating more peaceful Year, for her dedication to ensuring Nebraska well. He forged alliances with other churches, communities. Together, we have a collective beef producers, practices ensure safe, whole- particularly through the Community Churches responsibility to combat poverty and violence some, and quality beef and beef products. Anne is a wife, mother of three young chil- for Social Action, and with other religious and and promote peace, diplomacy, and stability. dren, and a cattle feedyard owner and oper- social service organizations and with the city’s I hope that all my colleagues will find time to review the report and the Symposium sum- ator with 3,000 head of cattle. Anne grew up political and business leaders. As his wife, Jo mary. Again, let me commend the Global in urban West Palm Beach, Florida, before Angelia Walker, recalled his words, ‘‘If the Symposium for this international forum high- moving to Cozad, Nebraska where she be- church is doing nothing to serve and minister lighting the strategies and benefits of global came a key producer in Nebraska’s cattle in- to the community then we might as well lock peace. dustry. up the doors, close down and go home!’’ f After she married her husband, Anne went Reverend Walker gave a voice to so many from a neophyte ranch hand to becoming part REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, SR. different groups of people in San Antonio’s owner and manager of one of the most pro- community, uniting people around their shared gressive cattle feeding operations in Ne- HON. MELVIN L. WATT braska. ideals and helping them to productive discus- In her work, she has experienced every as- sions even when their views diverged, always OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pect of the feedyard business—from operating seeking out the best path for every one. He the feed truck, scooping bunks, cattle nutrition touched the lives of so many men, women, Thursday, November 19, 2009 plans, vaccinations, you name it. Her deter- and children during his too short life. Though Mr. WATT. Madam Speaker, today I rise to mination and dedication to her family, commu- he may be gone, that legacy will live on for- recognize to honor the outstanding achieve- nity, and industry are nothing short of impres- ever. ments of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. sive.

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