30722 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 22 November 8, 2007 and without penalty to purchase long-term march through the bitter, piercing cold of win- INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION care insurance. The government does have an ter. Major Watson was stronger than most TO PROVIDE FEDERAL TAX RE- important role to play in encouraging higher and, when necessary, carried his fellow pris- LIEF TO RECIPIENTS OF DIS- utilization of long-term care insurance. oners on his back to keep them from being BURSEMENTS FROM THE HOKIE During Long-Term Care Awareness Week, I summarily executed. While at ‘‘Camp 2,’’ our SPIRIT MEMORIAL FUND would encourage all citizens interested in re- man from Missouri fixed a sawmill for his tirement planning to visit North Korean captors with the ultimate plan to HON. RICK BOUCHER www.longtermcare.gov, where the government make bunk beds for his fellow POWs in order OF VIRGINIA hosts a national clearinghouse for long-term that they no longer had to sleep on the cold, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES dirt floor. He succeeded in making 300-bunk care information. Thursday, November 8, 2007 f beds and saved many lives in the process. Ul- timately, the prisoners were returned to the Mr. BOUCHER. Madam Speaker, I am HONORING MAJ WILLIAM C. WAT- Chinese, under whose control Major Watson pleased today to join with my colleagues from SON FOR HIS TIRELESS PATRI- spent the remainder of his 837 days in cap- Virginia, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. OTISM AND UNRELENTING HER- tivity. SCOTT, and Ms. DRAKE in introducing legisla- OISM Forever dedicated to our Nation, Major Wat- tion to exclude from Federal income taxes dis- son chose to remain in the military after the bursements from the Hokie Spirit Memorial HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER end of the Korean conflict and was once again Fund received by the victims of the tragedy at deployed, this time to Vietnam. After a year in OF MISSOURI Virginia Tech. Virginia’s Senators are intro- Vietnam, he returned home and retired from IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ducing identical legislation in the Senate. the U.S. Army, only to continue his public The tragedy at Virginia Tech was of a scale Thursday, November 8, 2007 service as Mayor of Peculiar, MO, for 8 years. and senselessness which defies explanation. Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise Of the 7,190 U.S. prisoners-of-war, 2,730, or In the days following April 16, 2007, this great today in recognition of the valiant services of 38 percent died, mostly at the hands of the tragedy was followed by an even greater out- all peacetime and wartime veterans now resid- North Koreans. pouring of support for the Virginia Tech com- ing in the Fifth Congressional of Mis- So traumatic an experience won Major Wat- munity from across the nation. Thousands of souri which I proudly represent. We find in son neither a hero’s welcome, nor the respect individuals and organizations generously con- these bravest of men and women the best of he deserved upon returning to his station at tributed sizable donations to assist the victims what we all wish to be—generous, compas- Ft. Riley, KS. Instead, he was greeted with and their families in their time of need. sionate, and dedicated. Yet, too often we for- charges against him of providing comfort to The university established the Hokie Spirit get that in many of our veterans burn the ex- the enemy while a prisoner-of-war, his fate left Memorial Fund as the vehicle to accept and to a board of inquiry. This insult stemmed from periences of the worst our world has to offer, distribute these donations, and last month Vir- Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy’s accu- the memory of enduring the atrocities of war ginia Tech disbursed nearly $7 million from sations that the Army was soft on communists. for our country. These are America’s patri- the fund to the families of the deceased vic- The board of inquiry gave only vague charges ots—our true heroes. While each of their sto- tims and to the injured students. It is the fami- of misconduct, claiming that his actions were ries is uniquely American, it is my privilege to lies’ and university’s desire that these funds treasonous because he did not actively resist share the story of one Missouri veteran who be exempted from Federal income tax, and the enemy, when it was irrational and futile to has the distinction of serving in three of our this measure takes the entirely appropriate do so. Major Watson contacted fellow pris- country’s most brutal conflicts. step of providing this exemption. oners, who came to his defense. The board of Twenty-five-year Army veteran MAJ William I look forward to working with my colleagues inquiry never gave Major Watson a verdict, C. Watson grew up in Marceline, MO. He was in the House of Representatives to obtain ap- leaving him waiting for 6 months to finally let proval of this measure. recruited by the University of Missouri Football him know that, while there was no ruling as to f Coach Don Faurot and played in the 1942 his case, he was no longer under the re- Sugar Bowl. While at the University of Mis- straints of an inquiry. TRIBUTE TO DR. OTTO VON souri, he joined the Army Reserve. Through Of war, World War II GEN Omar Bradley HABSBURG ON HIS 95TH BIRTHDAY his ROTC training at the University of Mis- once said, ‘‘the world has achieved brilliance souri, Major Watson earned the rank of sec- without wisdom, power without conscience. ond lieutenant in his infantry unit. Two weeks HON. TOM LANTOS Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical OF CALIFORNIA after the Sugar Bowl, Major Watson found infants. We know more about war than we IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES himself in the Army, near the end of World know about peace, more about killing than we Thursday, November 8, 2007 War II. He was stationed in Korea, and upon know about living.’’ Madam Speaker, to grow returning from his tour of duty, Major Watson as a Nation, we must learn the stories of our Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on Novem- chose to stay in the Army Reserves. He mar- veterans, such as that of Major Watson. I ber 20, Dr. Otto von Habsburg—a man of ried Fran, a widow whose first husband was honor him and all veterans today for their pa- courage and intellect and a great friend of the killed in the Philippines during World War II, triotism and heroism. Their sacrifices are the United States—will celebrate his 95th birthday. and settled down as a family man, making a heritages that add to the rich tapestry that is I extend to him on this occasion my very living as a carpenter. our Nation’s history. Please join me in encour- warmest greetings. Although he and I come In October 1950, Major Watson received a aging our Nation to never forget and learn from the most different Central European letter from the United States Army ordering from our veterans’ stories. While we continue backgrounds imaginable, we have become him to report for a physical. He was assigned to fight, our prayers and deepest gratitude are friends over the years and I hold him in the to Fort Riley, KS, on October 20, 1950, the with those who endeavor for the strength and highest regard. day Fran and his third child were born. Within longevity of our American way of life. Our land Dr. von Habsburg, who is in every way an 7 short months, on May 15, 1951, he was of freedom and opportunity, democracy and extraordinary human being, was born in 1912 taken prisoner. He had been engaged in an justice, remains just that because of the serv- into one of Europe’s oldest and most distin- intense battle against the Chinese. It is re- ice men and women like those in Missouri’s guished royal families. He is the eldest son of ported that the Chinese sent 64,000 troops to Fifth District who tirelessly engage in the Charles, the last Emperor of attack 3,000 Allied soldiers. For the Chinese, struggles to end that which threatens our sta- and the last of Hungary and , it was a costly battle and has been dubbed bility. Let us honor the selfless sacrifices of and his wife, Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. the ‘‘May Massacre,’’ as the Chinese lost over our veterans by striving for peace and diplo- Although he has renounced all claims to the 48,000 troops. The Chinese turned over their macy in all that we do. May God continue to Austrian throne, Dr. von Habsburg retains the prisoners to the North Koreans, including bless MAJ William C. Watson and all of our hereditary titles of Archduke and Crown Major Watson, and for the next 120 days, the veterans as they remind us of the price we of Austria and Crown Prince of Hungary and once 300-pound soldier was reduced to a pay for our liberty and the debt owed to those Bohemia. mere 180 pounds. The prisoners were forced who gave so much of themselves to protect Madam Speaker, I met Otto von Habsburg into starvation and a devastating 900-mile and ensure the prosperity of our great Nation. shortly after I was elected a Member of the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 14:02 Sep 08, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR07\E08NO7.000 E08NO7 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD November 8, 2007 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 22 30723 Congress a quarter century ago. At that time, unblinking opponent of racism and totali- began in 1968, just one year after he grad- I was the chairman of the U.S. delegation tarianism. I salute him as he celebrates his uated from Syracuse University. which met twice a year with a delegation of 95th birthday, and I thank him for all the good Klurfeld’s first job at Newsday was as a the European Parliament. At the time Otto was that he has done in this world. local reporter, where he covered various news a representative of to the European f stories on Long Island. But he quickly rose Parliament, and the Ambassador of Austria through the ranks at the paper, where his ex- brought him to meet me in my office in the TRIBUTE TO BHAVANI K.D. traordinary reporting propelled him into several Longworth Building. We both felt an immediate KAKANI FOR RECEIVING THE 2007 key positions. He led Newsday’s Albany bu- bond, and have maintained a cordial relation- ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION AWARD reau, and he served as the newspaper’s ship ever since. Washington bureau chief between 1980 and We have met on numerous occasions in HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR. 1986. After his exceptional leadership during Brussels and Strasbourg, and we have met OF ALABAMA these stints, Klurfeld was appointed editor of frequently here in the United States when he IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the editorial pages in December 1987. has visited our country. His son Gyorgy was James Klurfeld’s constant pursuit of journal- Thursday, November 8, 2007 married in Budapest in 1997, and my wife An- istic excellence has earned him numerous nette and I attended their wedding in the Ba- Mr. CRAMER. Madam Speaker, it is with honors and recognitions. He was a member of silica of St. Stephen. Just a few years ago on great honor that I rise today to congratulate the Newsday investigative team that won the his last visit to the United States, I was my friend, Mrs. Bhavani Kakani of Huntsville, 1970 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, as well pleased to welcome and pay tribute to Dr. von Alabama, for receiving the 2007 Arthritis Foun- as the New York State Publisher’s Association Habsburg at a special meeting here in the dation Humanitarian Award. This award is and Deadline Club award in the same cat- United States Capitol. given annually to a person in the Huntsville egory. The awards were for a 3-year effort Madam Speaker, although he became community who has displayed exemplary com- that disclosed political corruption in several Crown Prince of Austria, Hungary and Bohe- munity leadership. townships on Long Island. He also won the mia when he was just 4 years old when his fa- Mrs. Kakani is a distinguished community Sigma Delta Chi National Reporting Award ther became Emperor, and he continues to advocate and civic volunteer who has given with other members of the Washington bureau hold a number of impressive noble titles, what countless hours to numerous community and in 1982, and he was the recipient of the 1988 truly distinguishes Otto von Habsburg is not state-wide organizations and boards. In these American Society of Newspaper Editors Distin- who he was at birth, but who he became in roles, she has led efforts to raise funds and guished Writing Award for editorials on the the course of his long and distinguished life. awareness for health programs across our Iran-Contra hearings. In addition, the staff of After growing up as an exile in Switzerland State, including ending child abuse and ne- Newsday’s editorial and viewpoints pages won and Spain, the young Otto studied for his glect, and inspiring self-worth and confidence several major awards under his leadership. Ph.D. in political science at Belgium’s famous in young women. In addition, I have worked These included everything from brilliantly writ- Catholic University of Louvain. As an astute directly with Mrs. Kakani through her many ten editorials to exceptionally creative car- and principled conservative, he understood years of service on the National Children’s Ad- toons. early on the true nature of the Nazi movement vocacy Center’s board of directors. Over the years, Klurfeld has become incred- and became its staunch opponent. Mrs. Kakani is the cofounder and president ibly knowledgeable about local and national While doing research in Berlin in the early of the AshaKiran, a non-profit organization issues and is an expert on foreign affairs mat- 1930s for his Ph.D. dissertation, Dr. von dedicated to educating, empathizing, and em- ters, most notably through his extensive trav- Habsburg was invited on two separate occa- powering foreign born immigrants. Since its els around the globe and from his work with sions to meet with Adolf Hitler, who for polit- founding, AshaKiran has provided multilingual, the Council on Foreign Relations. To this ex- ical reasons, sought to create the appearance multicultural, and crisis referral services to nu- tent, he has provided Newsday readers with of an association between himself and the heir merous individuals in North Alabama. extraordinary insights into politics, national se- to the Austrian and Hungarian thrones. Madam Speaker, in addition to her remark- curity and international policy through the in- ‘‘I had the great advantage of having al- able advocacy across the community, she has formative and lively column he has written in ready read Mein Kampf from start to finish and worked with the Intergraph Corporation, as a the paper each week. knew what his plans were,’’ Dr. von Habsburg registered cytologist technician, and office Klurfeld’s achievements in the news busi- later recalled. ‘‘All of this only reinforced my manager for her husband’s medical practice. ness have also extended beyond print jour- refusal to meet him. On the other hand, it Mrs. Kakani and her husband, Dr. Rao nalism. For the past 12 years, he has asked would have been an interesting experience. In Kakani, have also raised 3 children. the tough questions on The Cutting Edge, a fact, this was the only interesting conversation Madam Speaker, Bhavani Kakani’s leader- weekly television program on WLNY/TV55 that I ever avoided in my life.’’ ship and her strong dedication to the commu- focuses on Newsday’s Sunday editorials, a In the immediate aftermath of the fall of nity should serve as a model for others to fol- show in which I have been honored to appear. France to the Nazi armies, Dr. von Habsburg low. On behalf of the people of North Ala- I was also privileged to be part of some of his worked with Aristide de Sousa Mendes, the bama, I congratulate Mrs. Kakani for being many appearances on Long Island’s public Portuguese consul in Bordeaux, to secure named the 2007 Arthritis Foundation Humani- broadcasting station, WLIW/Channel 21. In ad- travel papers for an estimated 20,000 Jews tarian Award Winner. dition, he has provided exceptional analysis and others liable to be persecuted by the f and commentary on other broadcast outlets in- Nazis. For his trouble, he was sentenced to cluding the CW11 in New York City. death by the Nazis. Fortunately, it was in IN RECOGNITION OF JAMES James Klurfeld’s exit from Newsday is the absentia—Dr. von Habsburg had escaped KLURFELD end of an era for journalism on Long Island, from Europe in the nick of time and spent the in New York City and across the Nation. We war years here in the United States. HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN will miss his leadership, his quest for the truth After the war, he returned to Europe, where OF NEW YORK and his shaping of local and national policy he became a leader of the Paneuropean IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES debates. Union, served for 20 years as a member of But fortunately, Klurfeld will not be going far. the European Parliament and emerged as a Thursday, November 8, 2007 He will remain on Long Island, where he will champion of human rights. He was famous Mr. ACKERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise pass on the craft he has mastered to the next for, among many other things, ensuring that today to pay tribute to James Klurfeld, vice generation of journalists as the interim director there was always an empty chair inside the president and editorial page editor of of the Center for News Literacy at Stony Parliament building as a symbol of the Euro- Newsday, who last week retired after nearly Brook University’s School of Journalism. He pean nations that were dominated at that time 40 years of outstanding and tireless work at will also continue to write his weekly column. by totalitarian and illiberal ideologies. the paper. Although we are sad to see him retire as Dr. von Habsburg, who is the author of 27 James Klurfeld was born in 1945 in New Newsday’s editorial page editor, we are com- books in 7 languages, is a passionate sup- York City and is a 1963 graduate of Syosset forted to know that many students of jour- porter of freedom and liberty and an High School. His illustrious career at Newsday nalism will learn the press trade from one of

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