E1342 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 15, 2010 provides a prohibition on racial profiling, en- required frequent trips to Washington. He has STORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE forceable by declaratory or injunctive relief. worn out many pairs of shoes walking—very SURVIVOR: VARSENIK DEMIRJIAN Second, the bill mandates training on racial rapidly—through the streets of D. C. and halls profiling issues and the collection of data on of Congress leading Farm Bureau members HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF both routine and spontaneous investigatory and staff on these visits. I know I speak on OF CALIFORNIA activities, as a condition of receiving Federal behalf of the entire South Carolina Delegation law enforcement funding. and all those that have had the pleasure of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Third, the Justice Department is authorized working with him that his warmth, enthusiasm, Thursday, July 15, 2010 to provide grants for the development and im- knowledge and passion for agriculture will be Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today plementation of best policing practices, such missed both in Washington and in South to memorialize and record a courageous story as early warning systems, technology integra- Carolina. of survival of the Armenian Genocide. The Ar- tion, and other management protocols that dis- During Jim’s retirement he will enjoy spend- menian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman courage profiling. Finally, the Attorney General ing more time with his wife and visiting with Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the is required to provide periodic reports to as- his children who both live outside of the Caro- death of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, sess the nature of any ongoing discriminatory linas. Jim has long practiced blacksmithing, and children. As the U.S. Ambassador to the profiling practices. which he plans to continue, and he will likely Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau docu- Decades ago, this country made clear pitch in with the backyard chickens his wife mented at the time, it was a campaign of through the passage of sweeping civil rights Jeanne raises. Jim also has a passion for ‘‘race extermination.’’ legislation that race should not affect the treat- cooking and hopes that more free time might The campaign to annihilate the Armenian ment of individual Americans under the law. allow him to cook more often and try new rec- people failed, as illustrated by the proud Ar- When law-abiding citizens are treated dif- ipes. A man with many hobbies, Jim looks for- menian nation and prosperous diaspora. It is ferently by those who enforce the law simply ward to listening to and performing music, par- difficult if not impossible to find an Armenian because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or na- ticularly bluegrass and old timey tunes. Since family not touched by the genocide, and while tional origin, they are denied the basic respect the age of 12, Jim has played the harmonica, there are some survivors still with us, it is im- and equal treatment that is the right of every learning from and being inspired by his blind perative that we record their stories. Through American. With the cooperation of the admin- grandfather who played. the Armenian Genocide Congressional Record istration, we have the opportunity to develop a Jim deserves thanks for all the hard work he Project, I hope to document the harrowing sto- comprehensive approach to eliminating the has done for farming and rural South Carolina. ries of the survivors in an effort to preserve practice of racial profiling. I hope that we do The Farm Bureau will have big shoes to fill. their accounts and to help educate the Mem- not miss this historic opportunity to heal the rift On behalf of the entire delegation, we wish bers of Congress now and in the future of the caused by racial profiling and restore much of Jim Griffin well in his retirement. necessity of recognizing the Armenian Geno- the community’s confidence in law enforce- cide. ment. f Below are a few of those stories: f CONGRATULATING 17 AFRICAN NA- Varsenik Demirjian, a Genocide survivor, HONORING JAMES ‘‘JIM’’ H. TIONS ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF eventually made her way to Yerevan, Arme- GRIFFIN INDEPENDENCE nia, where she lived in a comfortable, two- story home with her two sons, their wives SPEECH OF and six grandchildren. HON. JOHN M. SPRATT, JR. According to her family, she did not dis- OF SOUTH CAROLINA HON. MICHAEL E. McMAHON cuss what transpired during the genocide for IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW YORK most of her life. However, in her final years, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES she found the strength and will to tell her Thursday, July 15, 2010 children and grandchildren what happened. Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Mr. SPRATT. Madam Speaker, James Edward Djrbashian, her great grandson, ‘‘Jim’’ H. Griffin will retire on July 31, 2010, Mr. MCMAHON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to translated her experiences that took place in from the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federa- support H. Res. 1405, a Resolution recog- Adabazar, Turkey, in 1915: tion after 24 years of dedicated service to the nizing the 50th anniversary of the independ- ‘‘I had no idea what the future had in store ence and self-determination of seventeen Afri- for me. Yet, my father and mother had heard agribusiness community of South Carolina. of what happened to the Armenians in neigh- Born December 6, 1952, Jim is the young- can nations from the rule of France, and boring villages, so they asked our Arabic est of four children. His dad is 91 and still Great Britain. neighbors to take care of me, just in case lives at home in Six Mile, South Carolina. His The of America is dedicated something happened. On April 24 of 1915, mother, ‘‘Sal’’, passed away last year. to the advancement of freedom and democ- when I was only five years old, the blood- Jim met his wife, Jeanne, on a blind date 37 racy, and the African nations have proven to thirsty Turks invaded our village. Just as years ago while she was attending Winthrop be open to the process of democratization, de- my parents predicted, my mother quickly University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Jim spite the many obstacles that have stood in told me to run to the closet and to stay there. convinced Jeanne to transfer to Clemson, their way. These nations have fought, strug- ‘‘Panic-stricken, I curled up in the dark where he was studying, and they were mar- gled, and died for independence, just as our closet and in a blink of an eye I heard loud ried while still in college on June 30, 1973. ancestors did, and for these reasons the screaming and a loud bang! Out of fear, I Their first home was a prefab (tin house) used United States shares a bond with the African dropped the bag of gold coins my mother had to house military in World War II. They have continent and its diverse inhabitants. given me. The clinking sound alerted the sol- two children, Jesse (Charlyn) Griffin of Roa- The United States is dedicated to strength- dier because I heard the clicking of his boots noke, Virginia and Johanna (Rich) Pressley of ening its relationship with the African continent on the hardwood floor coming closer and Indianapolis, Indiana. Jim and Jeanne cur- and the seventeen nations recognized through closer. Thankfully, as he was approaching rently reside at their home in Lexington Coun- this resolution can serve as partners in this the closet, one of his superiors called him down and he left the house without finding ty, South Carolina. endeavor. I also would like to take the time to me. As my eyes closed, I slowly fell asleep. Jim began his career after college as a honor all those Americans on the ground that ‘‘After a very long time it seemed, I heard teacher, but soon discovered teaching was not are working to advance democracy, civic free- a voice calling, ‘Varsenik, Varsenik!’ his true passion. He then worked in manufac- dom and formulating the conditions to foster ‘‘The familiar voice comforted me and gave turing and as an association manager until he stable economic growth. me courage to rush out of the closet. landed himself at the Farm Bureau in 1983. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join ‘‘My heart sunk when I saw the tears in He did leave the Farm Bureau for a couple of me today in celebrating the 50th anniversary Hassan’s and his wife’s eyes. years to work with Habitat for Humanity, which of these seventeen nation’s independence ‘‘ ‘I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, has long been an important cause to him. But while pledging a renewed commitment to fur- but your parents have been murdered,’ ’’ Has- san told me. the farmers of South Carolina needed him and thering the significant relationship we have ‘‘Since that day, my life had never been his love of the agricultural community drew maintained with our counterparts on the Afri- the same. I lived with Hassan and his wife him back to the Farm Bureau. can continent. for a few months. They gave me my own Jim is now retiring from the position of Na- I invite the members of the House to join room and fed me well. I didn’t mind living tional Legislative Coordinator—a position that me in supporting H. Res. 1405. with them, but the thought of my parents

VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:31 Jul 16, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A15JY8.025 E15JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REMARKS July 15, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1343 being dead hurt me greatly. One morning as During his Presidency at SCU, he was par- An additional 45 teachers will be taking part my eyes just opened, Hassan came running ticularly concerned with concentrating SCU’s in this summer’s program. With plans to select to my room and told me to wear my clothes efforts around themes such as connecting stu- a teacher from every Congressional district and quickly hide in the closet. As I did what he said, I heard a knock on the door. It was dents with the world, increasing student diver- over the next several years, the House Fel- an American’s voice. As I closed the closet sity and education for all, and utilizing of Sil- lows Program will impact thousands of high door, flashbacks of my mother screaming icon Valley’s vast resources. His dedication to school teachers and their students and will en- went through my head. It seemed like only a the success of SCU clearly led the university ergize thousands of students to become in- few moments had passed by, and before I to become one of the Nation’s preeminent formed and active citizens. knew it, the closet door swung open. There Jesuit Catholic universities. As a former U.S. history teacher, I believe were two men. One seemed to be an Amer- Fr. Locatelli was a man who brought about strongly in the importance of civic education. ican, and the other was an Armenian. I positive change with a continued and com- We must continue our efforts to get our youth couldn’t resist not answering the questions mitted focus on educating students about pov- the Armenian man asked me, and eventually involved in the political process in districts he nicely asked me to pack my belongings erty and injustice. One of his significant ac- across the country. Educating teachers about because he was going to take me to a Red complishments was creating a program to help the ‘‘People’s House’’ is one of the best ways Cross orphanage in Jerusalem. That was the students understand poverty by working in to do that. I congratulate the following edu- last time I saw Hassan. urban schools and women’s centers in El Sal- cators who are participating in the 2nd session ‘‘In the orphanage, I learned to read and vador. of this summer’s 2010 House Fellows Pro- write English and Armenian, cook and knit. His unrelenting commitment to ethics and gram: I made a couple of friends, but none were social justice and his desire to help create ever close to me. Ms. Amy Allaire (Olver, MA–01), Ms. Eliza- ‘‘After living in the orphanage for twelve young leaders with the qualities of com- beth Kocharian (Roybal-Allard, CA–34), Mr. years, my teacher gave me a reason to smile petence, conscience and compassion is what Christopher Gill (Maloney, NY–14), Ms. Jac- again. She called me up and said, ‘You are I admire him most for. He dedicated his life to queline Hilgen (DeGette, CO–01), Mr. Jacob nearing the age of 18 and I have very good creating a more just and understanding world. Blum (Fortenberry, NE–01), Ms. Nicole Kaplan news for you, Varsenik. Your uncle from Many will remember his tenure at SCU for (Israel, NY–02), Mr. Curtis Roddy (Hodes, Greece has somehow contacted our Orphan- the buildings he helped build and the thou- NH–02), Ms. Margaret Lane (Eshoo, CA–14), age and we have agreed to let you decide if sands of students he loved and helped men- Mr. Leon Stall (Smith, NE–03), Ms. Cindy Mar- you want to leave.’ tor, but most of all, Paul should be remem- ‘‘Of course, I was grateful for receiving tinez (Eshoo, CA–14), Ms. Shirley news that would spark a ray of hope in my bered for his commitment to service and mak- Riefenhauser (Hinchey, NY–22), Mr. Darrick melancholic life. ing other’s lives better. There is no question Hayman (Larsen, WA–02), Mr. Nick Santana ‘‘The remaining weeks at the Red Cross or- that his life has touched many and his good (Filner, CA–51), Ms. Stacie Banks (Franks, phanage were very delightful, because I knew works will continue to flourish even in his ab- AZ–02), Ms. Eleesha Tucker (Holmes Norton, that in a week or so I would be in a beautiful sence. DC–At-Large), and Mr. Ben Snedeker (Tiberi, country, Greece, with people I can call fam- Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join ily. As the time approached for me to leave, OH–12). me in sending our condolences to Fr. Paul Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues I thanked everyone in the orphanage house Locatelli’s family, his Jesuit brothers and the and the teachers for all they had done for to join me in thanking the Office of the Histo- me. entire SCU community and in remembering a rian for sponsoring this program. Thanks to ‘‘What I found in Athens was my future remarkable public servant, educator and Dr. Robert Remini and Dr. Fred Beuttler for husband, Hakop, whom I married a few years friend. their outstanding leadership, and Dr. Thomas later. We had three children and our family f survived during the harsh times of the WWII Rushford, Mr. Anthony Wallis and Mr. Ben- era, when the Nazis occupied Greece. Finally CONGRATULATING THE PARTICI- jamin Hayes for providing the crucial staff sup- after the war, we decided that it is time to PANTS OF THE HOUSE FELLOWS port. return to our real homeland, Armenia. In PROGRAM Thank you also to the Office of the Historian 1947, we boarded another ship which took us interns: Ms. Jacqueline Burns, Mr. Michael to Yerevan. HON. JOHN B. LARSON Karlik, Ms. Madeleine Rosenberg and Ms. ‘‘I knew that this was my very last des- Debbie Kobrin. tination.’’ OF CONNECTICUT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f f Thursday, July 15, 2010 HONORING THE 15TH ANNIVER- HONORING THE LIFE OF FATHER SARY OF THE RINGLING BROS. PAUL LOCATELLI Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the par- AND BARNUM AND BAILEY CEN- ticipants of the House Fellows Program. The TER FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVA- HON. ZOE LOFGREN House Fellows Program, run by the Office of TION OF CALIFORNIA the House Historian, is a unique opportunity IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES for a select group of secondary education HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM Thursday, July 15, 2010 American history and government teachers to OF FLORIDA Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam experience firsthand the inner-workings of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Speaker, I rise today in memory of Father Congress. These educators have dem- Thursday, July 15, 2010 Paul Locatelli, my friend and one of Silicon onstrated excellence in the classroom, are Valley’s most distinguished and respected fig- dedicated to educating our nation’s youth and Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I rise to ures. are truly deserving of our recognition. honor the 15th Anniversary of the Ringling Paul, a member of the Santa Clara commu- One of the goals of the House Fellows Pro- Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Ele- nity for over half a century, was the President gram is to develop curriculum on the history phant Conservation (CEC). This state of the of for twenty years and, and practice of the House for use in schools. art facility is located on 200 acres in Polk most recently, the school’s sitting Chancellor. During the program, fellows prepare a brief County, Florida—within the 12th Congres- Paul also served the International Society of lesson plan on a Congressional topic of their sional District, which I have the honor of rep- Jesus, headquartered in Rome, as Secretary choosing, which is then shared with the other resenting. of Higher Education. fellows. These plans will become part of a The Ringling Bros. CEC is a facility dedi- Growing up as the middle son on a ranch in larger teaching resource database on the cated to the research, reproduction, and retire- the town of Boulder House. During the school year following their ment of Asian elephants. Since this facility Creek, Paul learned the lesson of a service at participation in the House Fellows Program, opened in 1995, it has tirelessly worked to ful- an early age. He graduated from SCU in 1960 each Fellow is responsible for presenting his fill its mission to ‘‘preserve and sustain the en- and earned a doctorate in business adminis- or her experience and lesson plans to at least dangered Asian elephant.’’ tration from the University of Southern Cali- one in-service institute for teachers of history In addition to the important care and re- fornia in 1971. In 1974 he joined SCU as an and government. search performed at the Ringling Bros. CEC, professor and that same year he The House Fellows Program began in 2006, it is also home to the most successful Asian became an ordained priest and earned his and since then 75 teachers from across the elephant breeding program in the Western master of divinity from the Jesuit School of country have participated in this innovative Hemisphere. In fact, their most recent calf was Theology at Berkeley. program. just born on April 3, 2010, and is appropriately

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