[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1210-E1211] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] A TRIBUTE TO THE 2007 ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS ______ HON. DAN BURTON of indiana in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 5, 2007 Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2007 recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is presented annually by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO), representing more than 250 organizations that span the spectrum of ethnic heritages, cultures and religions. Since the organization's founding in 1986, approximately 1,700 American citizens have received Ellis Island Medals of Honor, including six American Presidents, several United States Senators, Congressmen, Nobel Laureates, outstanding athletes, artists, clergy, and military leaders. As we all know, citizens of the United States can trace their ancestry to many nations. The richness and diversity of American life makes us unique among the nations of the world and is in many ways the key to why America is the most innovative country in the world. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor not only celebrate select individuals but also the pluralism and democracy that enabled our ancestors to celebrate their cultural identities while still embracing the American way of life. This medal is not about money, but about people who really seized the opportunities this great country has to offer and who used those opportunities to not only better their own lives but make a difference in the lives of those around them. By honoring these outstanding individuals, we honor all who share their origins and we acknowledge the contributions they and other groups have made to America. In addition, NECO awards one International Ellis Island Medal of Honor each year. This year's international honoree was Victor Phillip Dahdaleh, Chairman, Dadco. Mr. Dahdaleh is Canadian. And for the first time in its history, NECO presented a Global Humanitarian Award to H. E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. When the immigrant station at Ellis Island, New York, opened on January 1, 1892, it admitted 700 immigrants into the United States on just its first day of operation. By the time the center closed in 1954, 17 million immigrants had passed through its doors. The Ellis Island administration and staff, on average, processed up to 5,000 people per day. Many of these newcomers had little or no knowledge of English, hardly any money, and many arrived with only the clothes on their backs. They arrived risking their lives in exchange for freedom and a better way of life. I, once again, commend NECO and its Board of Directors headed by my good friend, Nasser J. Kazeminy, for honoring these truly outstanding individuals for their tireless efforts to foster dialogue and build bridges between different ethnic groups, as well as promote unity and a sense of common purpose in our Nation. As Rosemarie Taglione, Executive Director of NECO has said so eloquently on a number of occasions: ``NECO's message of tolerance and harmony among diverse ethnic groups is, perhaps, even more important today than it was 20 years ago.'' Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the good works of NECO, and congratulating all of the 2007 recipients of the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. I also ask unanimous consent that the names of this year's recipients be placed into the Congressional Record following my statement: Dr. Gregory Adamian, H. E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, George Altirs, Peter Arnell, Dr. Elias Ayoub, Dr. Ernest M. Barsamian, Michelle Bodden, Edgar Cahn, Leo Chen, Dr. Aram V. Chobanian, Jaekun Chung, Mario Ciano, Denis A. Cortese, MD, Hon. Leslie Crocker-Snyder, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh, Nicholas J. Daniello, MD, Dr. Joel Alan DeLisa, Kirti Desai, Dr. Akshay Desai, Michael J. Dowling, James J. Dowling, Blaise Durante, Hon. Jacob Eapen, MD, MPH, Mory Ejabat, Richard A. Elias, MD, Hani Findakly, PhD, Arthur Flegel, Jon Fortgang, Douglas Foshee, Philip Friedman, Cynthia R. Garrett, Obren Gerich, Joi Gordon, Col. R. L. Grabowski, USMC, MSGT Nicholas G. Grand, USAF (Ret.), Patrick Grant, Hon. Chuck Hagel, George Hamilton, William Harrington, Esq., Richard Heckmann, Col. Jack H. Jacobs, USA (Ret.), Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC, Ik Joong Kang, Dr. Sarkis Kechejian, Don Keenan, Do-Young Kim, David E. Kimmel, Jr., Dr. Steven S. Koh, George J. Kostas, Les Kuczynski, [[Page E1211]] Joan Kuyper-Farver, Irene Ladas, LTC. Larry H. Lang, USAF, Rep. Tom Lantos, Dr. Edwin Pak-Wah Leung, Dr. John M. Levinson, Hon. Guillermo Linares, Harvey Mackay, Patrick J. Martucci, Thomas Mattia, CPT. Gary A. Maynard, USN, Mitchell Modell, Hon. Samuel Mok, Todd Morgan, C. Warren Moses, Dr. Vance Moss, Dr. Vince Moss, Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Maureen Murphy, Fereydoun Nazem, Hon. Liet Nguyen, Col. Tracey E. Nicholson, USA, Fr. Michael O'Connell, Dr. Kiran C. Patel, Antonio M. Perez, Asst. Chief Diana L. Pizzuti, L. Rafael Reif, PhD, RADM Stephen W. Rochon, USCG, James Rogers, Michael Rogers, Hon. Carlos A. Romero- Barcelo, Ali A. Saberioon, Carlos A. Saladrigas, Dominick M. Servedio, Smita N. Shah, Donald Soffer, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Toomas M. Sorra, MD, Debra Brown Steinberg, Esq., Daniel J. Sullivan, Daniel J. Thomas, DDS, Gerald Turpanjian, Luis A. Valentin, Tai Nin Wang, Richard J. Wolff, Mahvash Yazdi, Dr. Gazi Zibari, Mira Zivkovich. ____________________