EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

September 10, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1449 

TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN LEIDE 

WILLIAM DEFUSCO 

HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize Captain Leide William DeFusco of 

Pueblo, Colorado. Capt. DeFusco served as a 

police officer, SWAT team member and field 

training officer for over twenty years. Capt. 

DeFusco was tragically killed in the line of 

duty, while conducting a narcotics investigation over the San Isabel Forest. 

Born in Pueblo on September 15, 1968, 

Capt. DeFusco attended Trinidad State Junior 

College, where he was elected Student Body 

President and graduated with a degree in 

criminal justice. Capt. DeFusco then accepted 

a position at the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, and excelled as a dedicated officer, trainer and detective. 

Later, Capt. DeFusco achieved the rank of 

Commander in the SWAT team and succeeded as a lead instructor. Capt. DeFusco 

leaves behind his wife, Wendy, four beloved 

children and a host of family and friends, including those fellow officers with whom he 

was proud to serve. 

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize 

Capt. Leide William DeFusco. I rise today on 

behalf of the citizens of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, who are proud to call such 

a courageous man one of their own. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF NAVY WEEK 

2012 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

honor of 2012 Navy Week, held from August 

27th through September 4th in the Greater 

Cleveland, Ohio area—just one of 15 cities selected from across the nation. 

In each of the 15 cities, Navy Week events 

for local residents will include the Blue Angels 

Navy Flight Demonstration Team; the Leap 

Frogs Navy Parachute Team; visiting ships 

from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and 

the Royal Canadian Navy; Navy Band musical 

performances; Admirals and several other 

senior leaders within the Navy who will interact with local business, government, and educational leaders; Navy simulator and interactive displays; visits to area schools; community service projects; and visits with local veterans. 

Navy Week in Cleveland was a special 

event as it ran in conjunction with the commemoration of the bicentennial of both the 

War of 1812 and our country’s national anthem, ‘‘The Star Spangled Banner.’’ Cleveland 

Navy Week included a special ceremony held 

on Sunday, August 26th aboard the USS COD 

Submarine Memorial to honor two local Ohioans, World War II veteran James Tedrick and 

Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Michael 

Dobec, with combat medals presented by 

Senator Sherrod Brown. A few of the other 

special events included a performance at the 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by the Navy 

Band, a Navy diver demonstration in the shark 

tank at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, and 

Navy sailors working together with Habitat for 

Humanity to help build a home in Lakewood, 

Ohio. 

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me 

in honoring the celebration of the 2012 Cleveland Navy Week. 

f 

THE DEATH OF LARRY GRANT 

HON. LAURA RICHARDSON OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, it is my 

regrettable duty to report the death of a great 

American, Larry Grant. Mr. Grant died on August 22, 2012 in Torrance, California. He was 

86. Perhaps more than any other person, Mr. 

Grant was responsible for founding the parade 

commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King that 

was the first in Los Angeles and became one 

of the largest in the nation. 

Mr. Grant was instrumental in starting the 

Kingdom Day Parade where thousands of 

spectators lined the streets to celebrate civil 

rights leader Dr. King. With a deep love for his 

country, Mr. Grant was driven by passion to 

create a platform to showcase past and 

present black leaders in the community and 

hopefully inspire the youth. Mr. Grant traveled 

the three-mile route in South Los Angeles with 

a procession of colorful floats, marching bands 

and dance troupes trailing behind. 

Mr. Grant created the yearly event as an 

entertaining way to unite the community. It 

also became a means of mending wounds. In 

the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, 

when tensions were still thick between Korean 

store owners and black residents, Grant appointed a Korean taekwondo master to serve 

as co-chair. 

Mr. Grant was one of the pioneers of Black 

bankers in the State of California. After serving 20 years in the Army, including World War 

II and the Korean War, he earned a degree in 

banking from the University of Maryland. He 

was the President and CEO of Pacific Coast 

Bank in San Diego, California where he started banking in 1964 until his retirement in 

1984. 

In 1979, his colleagues encouraged Mr. 

Grant to form the nonprofit National Cultural 

Corp. A year later Mr. Grant threw the first 

King parade in San Diego, before the civil 

rights activist’s birthday was recognized as a 

national holiday. Mr. Grant was eager to bring 

the parade’s success to Los Angeles. On January 20, 1986, Los Angeles hosted the first 

Kingdom Day Parade. It was also the first year 

that King’s birthday was celebrated as a federal holiday. 

I remember fondly Mr. Grant’s devotion to 

keeping the legacy of Dr. King alive through 

the annual Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles. He earned the love and respect from 

countless people through his selfless acts. Mr. 

Grant was a leader in the community and was 

instrumental in sharing Dr. King’s philosophy 

with future generations. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence 

in memory of Larry Grant. 

f 

IN HONOR OF MAYOR VINCENT 

SCRIBONI 

HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, September 10, 2012 

Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

honor Mayor Vincent Scriboni for his years of 

tireless public service to the Borough of 

Oaklyn, New Jersey. Mayor Scriboni was a pillar of his community who devoted his time to 

the community as a Councilman and Mayor. 

Mayor Scriboni dedicated his life to serving 

his community members and our country. As 

a Navy veteran from World War II, Mayor 

Scriboni served with distinction in order to protect the freedoms that all of us as American 

citizens cherish. 

Serving in the U.S. Navy was only the beginning of Mayor Scriboni’s service to the Nation. He served as a Councilman for seventeen years and Mayor of Oaklyn for eight 

years. During his time in office, Mayor Scriboni 

was known as the ‘‘People’s Mayor’’ because 

of his can-do attitude and willingness to volunteer to take on community projects. Among his 

many accomplishments, Mayor Scriboni managed Oaklyn’s budget and was able to renovate the public works department without creating a deficit. In addition, Mayor Scriboni 

combined the two fire companies of Oaklyn, 

making the fire company more efficient and 

cost effective while still meeting the needs of 

residents. In concert with these efforts, Mayor 

Scriboni organized a coalition of local mayors 

that could share equipment and services. The 

coalition also saved the town money because 

the townships could make joint purchases on 

new equipment. Mayor Scriboni’s excellent 

budgetary skills allowed him to increase the 

police force from six members to eleven members, which increased safety in the town. 

Furthermore, Vincent Scriboni was a member of several organizations dedicated to giving back to the Oaklyn community, including 

serving as commander of his VFW Post 4463 

and participating in the Oaklyn chapter of 

American Legion Riders, Post 84. Mayor 

Scriboni led the efforts to help fellow veterans 

get the care they needed by providing transportation to the VA Hospital. Along with his 

VFW Post, the Mayor also participated in Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy, which are 


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