16202 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS August 3, 2001 the defense of the island fell upon the shoul- CONTRIBUTION OF HMONG/LAO Founded in 1682 by 40 Quakers from ders of a handful of Marines, several sailors, VETERANS Radnorshire, Wales, Radnor Township is a the Guam ancillary guard and Guam militia thriving community with a rich history. The which consisted of civilian reserve forces. The HON. TIM HOLDEN land that is now Radnor was purchased as a insular force, a locally-manned militia, were OF PENNSYLVANIA 5,000-acre parcel from William Penn at a cost the ones who faced the Japanese invasion of one British pound per 50-acre lot. Prior to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES force. Although easily overwhelmed, it is ironic settlement by the Welsh, the Lenni Lenape In- that the only ones who put up a defense Thursday, August 2, 2001 dians made their home here. against the invaders were citizen soldiers— Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute By 1717, the Welsh Friends society began members of the Guam insular guard who had and honor the important work of Hmong and to establish a government in the township. set up some machine gun nests in defense of Lao-Americans in my district in Pennsylvania They erected a meetinghouse on a former the Plaza de Espana and at the Governor’s of- for their efforts on behalf of their community in Conestoga Indian trail, now known as Con- fices. Reading and their former homeland of Laos. estoga Road. The meetinghouse served as On December 4, 1980, President Jimmy Many of them are veterans, or the family the center of the population of the Township Carter signed into law P.L. 96-600, officially members of veterans, who served with the for the next 200 years, with Radnorville grow- authorizing the establishment of the Guam Na- United States military and clandestine forces ing rapidly around it. tional Guard. Deriving honor and traditions during the Vietnam War, and who have now The power of Darby and Ithan creeks from the citizen soldiers who came before become proud U.S. citizens. helped the settlers establish tanneries, grist- them, the thirty-two charter members of the As new Americans, the Hmong and Lao mills, and sawmills, and allowed them to clear Guam National Guard together have made people from Reading, and other parts of Penn- nearby fields for farming. Land that is now possible the development of the world-class sylvania, are still very concerned about their preserved as open space at The Willows was organization for which we now take pride. suffering families and friends still being op- once the Township’s busiest commercial area. Under the leadership of Generals Robert pressed by the one-party Communist regime Thanks to its fortuitous location between Neitz, Frank Torres, Simon Krevitzky, Edward in Laos. Many of my constituents recently trav- Lancaster and Philadelphia, Radnor quickly Perez, Edward Duenas, Colonels Ramon eled from Pennsylvania to Capitol Hill to par- became a favorite passageway for travelers. Sudo and Robert Cockey and the current ad- ticipate in the U.S. Congressional forum on At one time, four inns operated in the town. jutant general, Benny Paulino, the Guam Na- Laos. At the forum, they offered testimony and One of these inns, the Sorrel Horse, is be- tional Guard has been able to develop as a evidence regarding human rights abuses in lieved to have accommodated General Lafay- world class organization. Comprised of the Laos, including: religious persecution against ette and George Washington during the en- Guam and the Guam Air Christians and Buddhists; the oppression of campment at Valley Forge. Today, this is the National Guard, this institution has now grown ethnic minorities; and the crackdown against location of the Agnes Irwin Lower School. to over 1,000 members performing missions peaceful student demonstrators. The Lao Vet- The development of America’s first toll road for the federal and territorial governments. In erans of America helped to make this effort a in 1794, Lancaster Turnpike, brought more de- addition to periodic deployments in support of success by raising awareness in Congress velopment and traffic to the town. Additional military activities all over the world, the Guam about the ongoing problems in Laos. Important traffic to the township came when the Colum- National Guard has been instrumental in re- community leaders that have participated in- bia (later Pennsylvania) Railroad laid tracks covery efforts on island in the aftermath of clude Mr. Tong Vue, Mr. Nhia Pao Vue, Rev- through the township in 1832. emergencies and natural disasters. They have erend Song Chai Hang, Long Yang, and oth- In 1842, the Brothers of the Order of Her- also made tremendous contributions towards ers. I am also very grateful to Mr. Philip Smith mits of St. Augustine established the Catholic mentoring and the development of the island’s for his work in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. College of St. Thomas of Villanova on one of youth and they have also assisted the local Congress with regard to Laos and Southeast the first great estates in Radnor. Today, community in its campaign against illegal Asia, and with the Asian American community Villanova University is a valued neighbor in drugs. in my district. the community, and just one of several well- known and respected educational institutions On this, their 20th anniversary, I would like Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to represent located within the township. to commend the men and women of the the Hmong and Lao-American citizens in my The history of the village of Wayne began in Guam National Guard for their contributions Congressional district, including the veterans 1865 when banker J. Henry Askin bought a towards the security of our nation and the well and their refugee families, who were staunch 300-acre parcel along the railroad. He named being of our island. I would also like to submit allies of the United States during the Vietnam this parcel Louella, for two of his daughters, for the RECORD the names of the Guam Na- War. It is important for us to recognize and and built a mansion, a Presbyterian Church, tional Guard’s 32 charter members who, twen- commend them. It is also important not to for- Lyceum Hall, and an avenue (Bloomingdale) ty years ago continued the traditions of their get their relatives and friends who continue to suffer terrible human rights abuses in Laos as of mansard-roofed villas on this property. forebears and paved the way for today’s men In the 1880’s, Louella changed hands and and women on the Guam National Guard. a result of their devotion to the cause of free- dom and democracy. was renamed Anthony Wayne after a local GUAM NATIONAL GUARD CHARTER MEMBERS To the Hmong and Lao-American commu- Revolutionary War figure. Wayne became one nity, and the Lao Veterans of America, I salute of the country’s first suburban communities to Brig. Gen. Robert H. Neitz; TSgt George R. you and thank you for your commitment to the be served by a central heating system, a pub- Quichocho; SSgt Raymond L. Taimanglo; principles of freedom, democracy, and human lic water supply, sewers, and electricity. The SrA Juan G. San Nicolas; SrA Alfred Flores; rights. I appreciate the productive role that you development of such a high-quality public SrA George C. Pablo; SrA Carlos E. are playing in our community as patriotic new works system led the township’s population to Umayam; A1C Prudencio F. Meno Americans and good citizens. double to 3,800 between 1880 and 1890. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD f By the early 1900’s Radnor Township Com- CPT Arthur W. Meilicke; 2LT Molly A. missioners knew that the township needed a Benavente; 2LT Michael G. Martinez; CW2 RADNOR TOWNSHIP CELEBRATES more elaborate governmental structure. On Charles Guantlett; W01 Charles W. Walters; CENTENNIAL YEAR March 12, 1901, they elected to adopt the sta- SSG Roland M. Chargualaf; SSG Benjamin B. tus of a First Class Township. This new form Garrido; SSG Ladislao C. Quintanilla; SSG HON. CURT WELDON of government provided representation to both Carlos R. Untalan; SGT Edward R. Blas; SGT OF PENNSYLVANIA the suburban villages of Wayne, Rosemont, Charles F. Moore; SGT Joseph J. Sablan; IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and Bryn Mawr, as well as the more pastoral SGT Thomas R. Wolford; SP4 Dedia T. districts of Villanova, Newtown Square, St. Da- Kellum; SP4 Raymond C. Benavente; SP4 Ri- Thursday, August 2, 2001 cardo Camacho; SP4 Lorenzo M. Manibusan; vid’s, and Radnor. SP4 James E. Thurman; PFC Raymond P. Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Today, Radnor Township is a culturally, eth- Cruz; PFC David G. Rodriguez; PFC Jesse R. I am proud to offer congratulations to Radnor nically, and economically diverse community. Camacho; PV1 Marceline I. Castro; PV1 Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, With its status as one of the best places to Marcie T. Paulino; PV1 Jeffrey I. Santos which is celebrating its centennial this year. live in the Philadelphia region and continued

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