Jack Butler Receives the 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2008 recipients of the coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Presented annually by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO)—a group representing more than 250 organizations that span the spectrum of ethnic heritages, cultures and religions—the Ellis Island Medal of Honor pays tribute to our Nation’s immigrant heritage, as well as individual achievement. The medals are awarded to U.S. citizens from various ethnic backgrounds who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. Since NECO’s founding in 1986, more than 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.

I 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.

Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the good works of NECO, and congratulating all of the 2008 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.