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Extensions of Remarks E406 HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK HON. MIKE

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Extensions of Remarks E406 HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK HON. MIKE E406 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 4, 2019 occasion of his 99th birthday on April 7th, and CONSTITUENTS OF THE MONTH INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION thank him for his service to the United States FOR APRIL CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE OF Navy and to the United States of America. ROMANI AMERICANS Mr. Kowalewski enlisted as a gunner on a HON. MIKE LEVIN twin-engine PBM flying boat in October of OF CALIFORNIA HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS 1941, just two months before the ambush at IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF FLORIDA Pearl Harbor would launch the U.S. into World Thursday, April 4, 2019 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES War II. As a part of Torpedo Squadron Eight Thursday, April 4, 2019 present at the Battle of Midway, he and his Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I fellow crew members earned commendations rise today to recognize Eric and David Groos, Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, this body for bravery in engagements at Guadalcanal, two constituents from San Juan Capistrano, as has long recognized the accomplishments and Midway, and the British Solomon Islands. my Constituents of the Month for April. unique heritage of cultures that make up and Attempting to fly a mail route off the coast Each month, I recognize constituents who enrich the United States. Today, I, along with of the Fiji Islands, Mr. Kowalewski’s plane have gone above and beyond to help their my colleague Representative STEVE WATKINS stalled on takeoff and crashed into the Pacific neighbors, give back to their community, and of Kansas, am proud to introduce a resolution Ocean. He was forced to free himself from the make the country stronger. As co-founders of recognizing and celebrating the heritage of downed plane and paddle from the wreckage, a non-profit that provides under-served and at- Romani Americans. fearful the ship’s 500-pound depth charges risk youth with outdoor recreational activities, Few cultures are as geographically diverse would detonate. Madam Speaker, even after there is no question that Eric and David are as the Romani people. Tracing their ancestry receiving combat honors twice for his heroics, deserving of this recognition. to the Indian subcontinent, the Romani people Mr. Kowalewski once again piloted a U.S. The brothers’ non-profit, Great Opportuni- migrated and settled throughout Europe over Navy plane, instead hunting German sub- ties, has served over 3000 young people in the last millennia. Often, they faced scorn, ha- marines in the North Atlantic Ocean. my district, mainly coming from San Juan tred, persecution and discrimination. Neverthe- Mr. Kowalewski moved out to Alaska in Capistrano’s geographically identified gang in- less, they maintained their unique language 1967 after fulfilling his Naval service, con- duction zones where kids are most at-risk of and culture while enriching the culture and tinuing to fly as an FAA Airway Systems In- being drawn toward gang activity. Organiza- economies of the countries in which they be- spection Pilot. But whether he was piloting a tions like theirs play a critical role in gener- came citizens. They have made distinct and torpedo bomber or a twin-engine Cessna, he ating opportunity in socioeconomically dis- important contributions in many fields including always conducted himself with valor and advantaged communities, and I am extremely agriculture, art, crafts, literature, medicine, should be considered among Alaska’s finest grateful for the services they provide. military service, music, sports, and science. Eric and David provide kids in my district Naval Aviators for his service. In 2005, the European Parliament estimated with more than just recreational activities— An aviator needs quick decision-making and that there were 12 to 15 million Roma in Eu- they are providing experiences that will help a cool head to fly a plane in combat. Many of rope. Roma were among the many groups of kids develop leadership and problem-solving us will not know the kind of mental toughness people that suffered at the hands of the Nazis skills, which will serve them well throughout required to see a mission to its conclusion, and their allies during World War II. It is esti- their lives. I believe we must do more at the even under the most dire flight conditions. mated that between 200,000 to 500,000 Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor local, state, and federal levels to support orga- Romani people were killed in death camps Zygmund Kowalewski, who now at the age of nizations like theirs that provide under-served and elsewhere throughout Europe. In an at- 99, will have spent nearly one quarter of his youth with the skills they need to succeed in tempt to liquidate the so-called ‘‘Gypsy Family life’s work in service to his country having life, and that will continue to be one of my pri- Camp’’ at Auschwitz-Birkenau, on August 2 to flown missions from Dutch Harbor to the Pan- orities. 3, 1944, between 4,200 and 4,300 Romani I am proud to recognize Eric and David as ama Canal. There are few people that can men, women, and children were murdered in my constituents of the month for April, and I claim to have sacrificed as much under our gas chambers in a single night. This year am deeply grateful for everything they do to flag, and he is owed the thanks and gratitude marks the 75th anniversary of that tragic give back to our community. of all of us here in Washington and in Alaska. event. f f Roma have also been a part of every wave MARY JO GIDDINGS of European migration to North and South RECOGNIZING THE COUNCIL ROCK America. In the United States, there may be HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH SYMPHONY HON. ED PERLMUTTER as many as 1 million Americans with some ORCHESTRA Romani ancestry, whether distant or more re- OF COLORADO cent. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK Representative STENY HOYER was the first Thursday, April 4, 2019 OF PENNSYLVANIA Member of Congress to raise concern about IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise the situation of Roma, doing so in meetings today to recognize and applaud Mary Jo with Romanian government representatives Thursday, April 4, 2019 Giddings for receiving the Arvada Chamber of during a 1990 congressional visit to Romania Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise Commerce Pioneer Award. not long after the execution of Nicolae today to recognize the Council Rock High Mary Jo is a former Woman of the Year Ceausescu. In 1994, the late Congressman School South Symphony Orchestra. Beginning Award recipient and has had a positive impact Tom Lantos, himself a Holocaust survivor, April 10, 2019, the Council Rock High School on the Arvada community for nearly 50 years. convened Congress’s first hearing regarding South Symphony Orchestra will be traveling She is well-deserving of this award as she has the situation of the Romani people. That hear- throughout Spain for a nine-day tour. served as a leader in Arvada for many years ing, before the Subcommittee on International Notably, the symphony orchestra will per- and has contributed in many unprecedented Security, International Organizations and form in three public concerts: at the Teatro ways. Human Rights, received testimony from Dr. Auditorio Riberas del Guadaira in Seville, the The leadership demonstrated by Mary Jo is Ian Hancock, Andrzej Mirga, Klara Auditorio Manuel de Falla in Granada, and the exemplary of the type of positive impact that Orgovanova, and Nicolae Gheorghe. Plaza Ayuntamiento in Toledo. can be made on the Arvada community with Though a great deal has changed since These performances not only give these hard work and dedication. She has volun- then, sadly, Romani people still face wide- young students the opportunity to perform in teered at the Arvada Center since it opened in spread human rights abuses and discrimina- historic venues, but allow them to immerse 1976 and sits on the Board of Directors for the tion in employment, housing, and education. themselves in Spanish music, culture, and his- Arvada Historical Society and the Arvada Vi- However, there is greater urgency for Roma to tory. tality Alliance as well as organizes Arvada advance their causes today than ever before I would like to applaud Mr. Christopher Garden Tours. as evidenced by organizations such as the Simon, the Orchestra Director at Council Rock I extend my deepest congratulations to Mary European Roma Rights Center and the still High School South, for his visionary leader- Jo Giddings for this well-deserved recognition new European Roma Institute for Arts and ship. I wish him and all the talented musicians by the Arvada Chamber of Commerce and ap- Culture. under his direction an eye-opening and re- preciate his ongoing contributions to our com- The Helsinki Commission has maintained warding trip. munity. robust engagement on these issues and, as VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:50 Apr 05, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A04AP8.009 E04APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REMARKS.
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