E1052 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 14, 2002 time discovering their own full potential. This half of the organization as it exists today, casting 10 1/2 hours a day to Afghanistan in organization infuses young women with core but also on behalf of its achievements during response to that crisis. Next week, we will values and sound decisionmaking. the Cold War and its importance as a fight- broadcast the Loya Jirga’s deliberations The Girl Scouts is also an educational expe- ing force in promoting freedom and democ- live! Just as importantly, we have also es- racy in the future, applying the highest jour- rience for young women. They engage in ac- tablished a program to train Afghan journal- nalistic standards of accuracy, balance, and ists in Kabul and Prague to help ensure that tivities that teach them about technology, objectivity. the new Afghanistan will be graced with a science, money management, as well as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been robust free press practicing the highest of health and fitness. All of this is accomplished battling for the cause of free speech and ex- professional standards. while these young women build friendships pression for over 50 years. In closing, it is a particular honor, both for and bonds that will last a lifetime. My colleagues and I will continue to fight me personally and for the organization I rep- The results are there as well. Over two- as long as this most fundamental of freedoms resent, to receive this award from an organi- is being controlled or suppressed in the coun- zation bearing the Roosevelt name. As Presi- thirds of Girl Scout alumni are doctors, law- tries to which we actively communicate via yers, educators and community leaders. They dent, Franklin Roosevelt instilled human radio, Internet, and television. rights in our collective consciousness and in- are out in our communities making a dif- Heading an entity called ‘‘Radio Free Eu- jected human rights into the center of our rope,’’ I am often asked, ‘‘But isn’t Europe ference and using the values they learned foreign policies. free?’’ It is true that the collapse of com- from their days as Girl Scouts to positively in- So did Eleanor Roosevelt through her tire- munism and of the Soviet Union has brought fluence our world. less work helping to create the Universal freedom to many parts of Europe that had I doubt that Juliette Gordon Low had any Declaration of Human Rights. It is no coinci- been deprived of it for too long. However, idea how successful the Girl Scouts would be dence that a 1950’s photograph of the former suppression of speech, press, and assembly, First Lady of the United States sitting in when she held that first meeting in her living sadly remains very much the rule on the Eu- front of a Radio Liberty microphone adorns room back in 1912. Mrs. Low formed the orga- ropean continent. nization in an attempt to provide young In Russia, for example, the Kremlin seems my office wall in Prague. women with the opportunity to develop phys- increasingly determined to control as much And it is Article 19 of the Universal Dec- laration that is the motto of Radio Free Eu- ically, mentally and spiritually. All one has to of the media as possible. Most recently, the government has coercively placed under its rope/Radio Liberty, indeed all of United do is to look back over the Girls Scouts’ long States international broadcasting. and illustrious history to see how successful control several prominent independent media outlets, from television to radio to It is a simple, but compelling and timeless Mrs. Low has been. print, cloaking these power grabs as business pronouncement—‘‘Everyone has the right f transactions. More ominously, over the . . . to seek, receive, and impart information course of the last two years in Russia, 36 and ideas through any media and regardless COMMENDING RADIO FREE EU- journalists have been killed or have dis- of frontiers.’’ ROPE/RADIO LIBERTY ON RE- appeared. And last week Russia’s Minister of This motto appears on our stationery, in CEIVING FREEDOM OF SPEECH the Press Lesin, in response to our daily all of our literature, on prominently placed MEDAL news broadcasts in the Chechen language, hall plaques. It symbolizes everything we warned us to stop interfering in Russia’s do- strive to achieve. mestic affairs. The more than 2,000 worldwide staffers of TOM LANTOS The President of Ukraine is no friend of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are eter- OF CALIFORNIA the first freedom. He is a likely suspect in nally grateful for receiving one of this year’s IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the death of at least two reporters who dared Four Freedom awards. I promise this Foun- Thursday, June 13, 2002 criticize his administration for corruption dation and this distinguished audience that and criminality. He is certainly responsible we shall energetically continue our mission Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, although free- for a culture of fear that pervades the of promoting freedom and democracy today dom and democracy are integral elements in Ukrainian media environment. — in order to expand freedom and democracy the political systems of many countries, basic The nation of Belarus is now under the tomorrow. freedoms are still denied in many others and thumb of the dictator Alexander Thank you very much. are not fully institutionalized in still others. Lukashenka, a man who openly expresses ad- THOMAS A. DINE, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty targets these miration for Stalin. Lukashenka ceaselessly President, RFE/RL, Inc. harasses the press; deaths and disappear- areas, including Eastern Europe, the Middle ances of journalists have taken place in f East, Central Asia, Russia, and other former Belarus as well. RECOGNITION OF CHIEF DEPUTY communist states, in order to promote free And a final contemporary example of the speech and political dialogue. dismal condition of freedom of expression in- DANNY CHANDLER For more than fifty years, the organization side today’s Europe exists in the Balkans, has tirelessly supported free-thinking, freedom where Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bos- HON. SAM JOHNSON nia are still not out from under the intimida- of expression, and democracy. Recently, the OF TEXAS tion and controlling state grip of the broadcasts have even been expanded to in- Milosevic era. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES clude and specifically target areas with large In response to the specific challenges we Thursday, June 13, 2002 Muslim populations. In recognition of this his- face in this young century, Radio Free Eu- tory of work, the Franklin and Eleanor Roo- rope/Radio Liberty has expanded the scope of Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, sevelt Institute awarded the ‘‘Freedom of its broadcasting across Europe and Asia. it is an honor to bring to the attention of my Speech Medal’’ to Radio Free Europe/Radio These broadcasts address the most difficult, colleagues a True Texas Hero, Chief Deputy Liberty on June 8. but perhaps the most thrilling, battle yet for Danny Chandler. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Radio free speech: in areas populated by Muslims in On behalf of the people of the Third District Southeast Europe, Russia, the northern and of Texas, I want to congratulate him on his Free Europe/Radio Liberty on receiving this southern Caucasus, Central Asia and South- award and recognize its outstanding work in west Asia. promotion to be the first-ever Director of the promoting freedom. I earnestly commend the The terrorist attacks of September 11th Office of Security and Emergency Manage- following acceptance speech given by my dear highlighted for all of us the importance of ment in Dallas. friend Thomas A. Dine, the President of RFE/ the Muslim world in today’s geopolitical America is a whole different country since RL, Inc., and request that the speech be landscape. Accordingly, a majority of Radio September 11. This is a different kind of war placed in the RECORD. Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s current 33 lan- with a different kind of enemy. That is why guages are targeted to peoples that practice Dallas has taken the lead to win the war for ACCEPTING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH MEDAL, the Islamic religion. ROOSEVELT STUDY CENTER MIDDELBURG, Our broadcasts now include Albanian and freedom, both at home and abroad. I know he THE NETHERLANDS Bosnian to the former Yugoslavia; Tatar and will do a fine job heading that effort. Thank you for this wonderful, deeply Bashkir to Russia’s Volga River region; Cri- The Commissioners Court of Dallas County meaningful award. It is a great, great honor mean Tatar to Ukraine; Avar, Chechen, and could not have picked a better leader. Starting to receive the Roosevelt Foundation’s 2002 Circassian to Russia’s North Caucasus; Azeri as a Deputy Sheriff in 1973, Chief Chandler Freedom of Speech medal. No name better to Azerbaijan and Northern Iran; the lan- dedicated 29 years of his life to the Dallas animates and exemplifies the work of Radio guages of Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Tajik, County Sheriff’s Department. Free Europe/Radio Liberty and its daily and Uzbek to Central Asia; Farsi throughout commitment to freedom and democracy than Iran; Arabic to Iraq; and now Dari and A highly decorated officer, he has put the Roosevelt. Pashtu to Afghanistan. lives and safety of others before his own. It’s As President of Radio Free Europe/Radio I am particularly proud of the latter two, no wonder that Dallas Morning News named Liberty, I accept this award not only on be- Dari and Pashtu, in which we are now broad- him a ‘‘Special Angel.’’

VerDate 112000 02:36 Jun 15, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A13JN8.020 pfrm04 PsN: E14PT1 June 14, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1053 Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to rec- They have helped protect the very freedoms On the night of Sept. 4, 1944, Army Pvt. ognize the courage and service of Chief Chan- we all hold dear. Rather than simply pushing Merli was manning a machine gun when Ger- dler. His selfless sacrifice, hard work and dedi- them out the door upon retirement, we should man forces attacked near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium. The outnumbered U.S. forces began cation to his community are an example to us reward their service by providing modest as- their retreat, but Pvt. Merli held his posi- all. The people of Dallas and the surrounding sistance for their final change of station move. tion, providing cover fire. Under attack with communities are blessed to have his leader- That is exactly what Military Retiree Disloca- his fellow soldiers dying around him, he ship and commitment to our neighborhoods. tion Assistance Act does. played possum. Chief, you have my admiration and support f When the Germans turned their attention as you protect our Great State in the fight for to the retreating men, Pvt. Merli rose from freedom. A TRIBUTE TO FLORUS WILLIAMS the ground and fired, repeating the ploy God bless you and God bless America. again and again. When he returned from World War II, his f HON. SAM FARR duty became serving other veterans. For 34 THE MILITARY RETIREE OF CALIFORNIA years, he was an adjudication officer at the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VA Medical Center in Plains Township. DISLOCATION ASSISTANCE ACT When veterans, unaware of Mr. Merli’s Thursday, June 13, 2002 record, talked about their war experiences, HON. WALTER B. JONES Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise he never mentioned his own. ‘‘He never put himself or his experiences OF NORTH CAROLINA today to honor Mr. Florus Williams who against anyone else’s,’’ explained friend and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES passed away in April. Mr. Williams, a highly Marine veteran Ike Refice. ‘‘You never saw Thursday, June 13, 2002 decorated community member for many years, him point to himself or say ‘Look at me. I is survived by his wife of 63 years, Frances, have this medal.’’’ Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, four children, 20 grandchildren, and 17 great- Not much changed in the time since he re- I rise today to introduce a common sense grandchildren. ceived a hero’s welcome in Scranton in 1945 piece of legislation to help our military retirees. Mr. Williams was born in Fresno, CA, on or walked the beaches of Normandy with As my colleagues know, service members and January 2, 1916, but he lived in Pacific Grove, Tom Brokaw in 1984. their families will move many times in a typical in my district, for 79 years. He served on the In 1945, he told a cheering crowd of 500 peo- military career. These permanent changes of ple at the Hotel Casey that he’d ‘‘rather be Pacific Grove City Council from 1971 to 1986 on the battlefield any day than make a station or PCS often involve considerable ad- and served as mayor of Pacific Grove from ditional expense, including the loss of rental speech.’’ 1976 to 1986. Mr. Williams also served as Yet, in a letter he sent to admirers, he deposits, connecting and disconnecting utili- foreman of the Monterey County Grand Jury wrote that he may have been motivated by ties, and wear and tear on household goods. from 1987 to 1988 and was a member of Ma- ‘‘my dead buddies or my hatred of war.’’ To help defray these additional costs, Con- sonic Lodge 331 in Pacific Grove. He was NBC News anchor and author Tom Brokaw gress in 1955 adopted the payment of a spe- also a recipient of the Masons’s Hiram Award remembers Mr. Merli always talking of other cial allowance—a dislocation allowance. This soldiers, rather than himself. for his excellent service to the community. ‘‘He was a reluctant warrior, full of mod- was done to recognize that duty station Mr. Williams was known for his firm convic- changes and resultant household relocations esty and humility,’’ Mr. Brokaw said. ‘‘The tions. He truly believed in his work, and fact that he went to a church and prayed for are due to the personnel management deci- worked to improve the quality of life on the men he had killed through the night was sions of the armed forces and not the indi- Central Coast. His admirable career of public typical of him.’’ vidual service members. This amount was in- service was dedicated to the citizens of Pacific Mr. Merli was an inspiration for Mr. creased in 1986 and again in recent years. Grove, and his contributions have made a sig- Brokaw’s book ‘‘The Greatest Generation.’’ The two met often. When Mr. Brokaw began This is an important benefit for our military nificant impact. I, along with the Central Coast members. writing his book about ordinary people doing community, would like to honor the life of Mr. extraordinary things, he said he was think- However, as important as this benefit is, Florus Williams, whose dedication and con- there is a category of service members who ing about Gino Merli. tributions will be greatly missed. ‘‘I came to love him,’’ Mr. Brokaw said. are not eligible to receive the dislocation al- f Mr. Merli helped change how local people lowance—the military retiree. This is despite defined ‘‘American.’’ the fact a vast number are subject to the REMEMBERING WORLD WAR II During World War II, Italy’s alignment same expenses as their active duty counter- HERO GINO MERLI, MEDAL OF with Axis countries stoked anti-Italian and part. In August 2000, the Marine Corps Ser- HONOR WINNER antiimmigrant sentiments. Italian Ameri- geant Major Symposium recommended the cans often found their patriotism questioned. payment of dislocation allowances to retiring Gino Merli’s heroics helped many in Lackawanna County see beyond ethnicity, members, who in the opinion of the Sergeants HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI OF PENNSYLVANIA said his son, Gino Merli Jr. Major, bear the same financial consequences ‘‘When people saw my father come home on relocating as those still on active service. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and heard what he did, it changed their per- Military retirees must often seek employ- Thursday, June 13, 2002 ception about what it means to be Amer- ican,’’ he said. ‘‘People saw the first- and ment not knowing what opportunities exist in Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today the civilian world, where those opportunities second-generation immigrants sacrificing to honor the memory of a great American, life and limb for the United States and for are located, what the pay will be, or what pos- Gino J. Merli of Peckville, PA. Mr. Merli sibilities are available for spousal employment. freedom.’’ passed away Tuesday at the age of 78, and In 1994, Mr. Refice and Mr. Merli visited Retirees are sometimes faced with the pro- with his passing, we have lost a true American Europe to retrace their steps through Eu- spective employers who offer less wages hero. rope. Oddly, the rural area where Mr. Merli knowing they are in receipt of retirement pay, I would like to insert here the two articles held back Nazi troops was unchanged. They met a Belgian man who, at the age of and falsely believing that retirees don’t need which appeared in the Scranton Times and the same salary as civilians for the same posi- 16, watched Mr. Merli confound the Nazis Tribune on Wednesday about Mr. Merli, who again and again. During their visit, the town tion. Additionally, the military retiree will have exemplified the best of America’s ‘‘Greatest to meet the same financial demands for mort- put a monument in the village common Generation.’’ thanking Mr. Merli. gages, insurance, taxes, and food on a small- In his final days, he still shied away from WWII HERO GINO MERLI DIES er income. speeches. But he did like to stand before a For those reasons, I am introducing the Mili- (By David Falchek) crowd for one purpose, Mr. Refice said. He tary Retiree Dislocation Assistance Act. This Gino Merli didn’t embrace fame or his role enjoyed leading a crowd in the Pledge of Al- legislation would help ease the transition into of war hero. legiance. retirement by amending 37 USC § 407 to au- Yet he accepted them as he lived his life, Lately, Parkinson’s disease and a heart thorize the payment of a dislocation allowance with a sense of duty. ailment held him back. So the man who rarely talked about the to all members of the armed forces retiring or As a final encore last Saturday, the His- event that earned him the Medal of Honor tory Channel showed Roger Mudd’s special transferring to an inactive duty status such as responded to every letter praising him for on the Big Red One, the first infantry divi- the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Reserve. his heroic deeds. sion, which featured Mr. Merli. The vast majority of these retirees have given Mr. Merli died Tuesday at his Peckville In letters he sent to admirers, Mr. Merli our Nation over 20 years of dedicated service. home. He was 78. wrote:

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