E2344 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 9, 2008 

Dr. Biscet was released from prison early in 

2003, for a few weeks only, before being rearrested and subsequently sentenced to 25 

years in the Communist gulag due to his 

peaceful pro-democracy activities. 

A few days ago, I was honored to receive 

a congratulatory letter from Ms. Elsa Morejon, 

Dr. Biscet’s courageous and admirable wife. 

Oscar Elias Biscet personifies the opposition 

to the brutal totalitarian regime of Fidel Castro 

and his brother, who the dictator has given 

some additional titles to because of the ailing 

tyrant’s failing health. Dr. Biscet is an admirer 

of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, 

Jr. 

A physician by training, he began his opposition to the totalitarian regime by speaking out 

against the regime’s ‘‘forced abortion when 

there is any indication whatsoever that the 

pregnancy may have an abnormality’’ policy. 

Biscet described that policy as inhuman. He 

was immediately fired from his job at the hospital, prohibited from practicing his profession 

as a physician, and his wife was also fired 

from her job as a practicing nurse. Within 

hours, the couple and their son were summarily evicted from their apartment and their 

physical possessions thrown into the street. 

Fortunately, an elderly patient of Elsa’s allowed the family to move into her house. Dr. 

Biscet continued peacefully denouncing the totalitarian regime’s absolute denial of human 

rights to the Cuban people—and because of 

that he has been unjustly and cruelly imprisoned for 9 years, and counting. 

Hundreds of other brave human rights activists are also suffering in the political prisons of 

the Cuban totalitarian dictatorship for the 

‘‘crime’’ of supporting democracy and liberty 

and opposing tyranny, including 23 known 

journalists, thrown into dungeons because of 

articles they wrote that bothered the dictator. 

No regime in the world has more journalists in 

prison, with the possible exception of another 

totalitarian dictatorship in an obviously much 

larger nation, communist China. 

Just last week the respected international 

organization, ‘‘Reporters Without Borders’’ 

gave one of the Cuban journalists in the 

gulag, Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso, sentenced 

by the Cuban tyrant to 20 years in prison in 

the year 2003 and currently in very poor 

health, the ‘‘Reporters Without Borders’’ Journalist of the Year Award. ‘‘Reporters Without 

Borders’’ is to be commended. 

Three other Cuban prisoners of conscience, 

Adolfo Fernandez Sainz, Pedro Arguelles 

Moran, and Antonio Diaz Sanchez, are known 

to have begun a hunger strike due to the brutal conditions they are subjected to. 

Where is the outrage? Where is the solidarity in the international community? 

The reality is that for too many in the world 

today, Cubans are supposed to be content 

with their lot, to be quiet, to . . . ‘‘move on’’, 

in the words of one of our pro-Cuban dictatorship colleagues here in the U.S. Congress. 

The regime that enslaves a nation and imprisons hundreds of heroes simply for their beliefs 

deserves unilateral rewards and concessions, 

many maintain. 

But Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, and the many 

other heroes imprisoned in the Castro brothers’ gulag will not be able to be ignored forever. They must be freed. And political parties 

be legalized, as well as independent press 

agencies, and labor unions. And free and fair 

elections must take place in Cuba. 

Many of those imprisoned today will be 

democratically elected leaders tomorrow. That 

is what is going to occur in Cuba tomorrow. 

Today, as they suffer the most unjust of cruel 

imprisonments, we here remember and honor 

them—and once again demand their immediate release. 

f 

HONORING JOHN EVANS 

HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with 

great respect and sincerity that I take this time 

to honor one of Northwest Indiana’s most accomplished citizens, Mr. John Evans of Miller 

Beach. On Sunday, November 2, 2008, John 

was honored by the Indiana Division of the 

Polish American Congress for his many years 

of service as a dedicated member of his community, as well as a proud representative of 

the Polish American heritage in Northwest Indiana. This extraordinary event took place at 

The Patio restaurant in Merrillville, Indiana. 

John Evans, a lifelong resident of Northwest 

Indiana and the son of Russell Glenn and Eleanor Evans of New Chicago, Indiana, has 

been recognized by the Polish American Congress, Indiana Division, as the recipient of the 

2008 Distinguished Service Award. From his 

career in the insurance industry to his service 

with several of Northwest Indiana’s churches 

to his commitment to preserving the Polish 

heritage, John is truly deserving of this prestigious accolade. Always one to try to improve 

the lives of his fellow citizens in any way possible, John has spent the last twenty-four 

years working with Blue Cross Blue Shield of 

Illinois. After spending many years building relationships between hospitals and providers as 

a Provider Network Consultant, John moved 

into a management position in 2000 and was 

recently promoted to Director of Provider Network Relations. In his current position, John is 

responsible for overseeing relations with all 

hospitals, physicians, and ancillary providers 

for the State of Illinois. As a member of the 

Blue Cross Blue Shield team, John has been 

active with the company’s Diversity Workforce 

Committee, serving as Master of Ceremonies 

for their 2007 Polish Heritage Day. 

Mr. Evans, widely known as a truly gifted 

musician, has been a fixture in the Northwest 

Indiana for, in all sincerity, most of his life. As 

a child of only ten years of age, John began 

formally studying the organ with Mrs. Joanne 

Sparks of Gary, Indiana. Only a few short 

years later, John began playing dinner music 

at Wilson’s Restaurant and Lounge in Miller 

Beach, entertaining diners every Friday and 

Saturday night. During this time, he also 

began playing at wedding receptions and 

other banquets, as well as serving as the organist at Sunday masses at Assumption 

B.V.M. Church in New Chicago. From there, at 

a mere fifteen years of age, John took over as 

the director of the church’s choir in 1973. During the twenty-three years he spent at Assumption, John’s leadership meant not only an 

increase in choir membership, but in popularity 

as well. During this time, the choir was asked 

to perform at many dances, ordinations, anniversaries, and other special occasions. In fact, 

they even recorded an album entitled ‘‘Christmas in New Chicago’’ which featured Polish 

and English Christmas carols. 

Fully committed to his faith and his heritage, 

John also has organized and choreographed 

dance selections for Polish Women’s Alliance 

Saint Anne’s Group 778, directed the choir at 

events for the Polish Women’s Alliance Group 

132, and directed the choir for the Polish 

mass at Saint Stanislaus in Michigan City, Indiana. In 1996, Mr. Evans took over as the organist and choir director for the Saint Cecilia 

Choir at Saint Stanislaus Parish in East Chicago, Indiana. Since taking over at Saint 

Stan’s, the membership of the choir has nearly 

doubled, and John has been successful in 

bringing young people into the choir. Not to be 

outdone, the choir at Saint Stanislaus has also 

produced a professional CD of Polish and 

English hymns and religious selections entitled 

‘‘Spirit,’’ which has sold over 500 copies, profits from it contributing to various church renovations. 

Madam Speaker, at this time, I ask that you 

and my other distinguished colleagues join me 

in commending Mr. John Evans as he is honored for his lifetime of service and dedication 

to the Northwest Indiana community. His years 

of service have touched and improved the 

lives of all whom he has served. His unselfish 

and lifelong dedication is worthy of the highest 

commendation, and I am proud to represent 

him in Congress. 

f 

IN HONOR OF COLONEL RAYMOND 

ANTHONY CELESTE, JR. 

HON. KAY GRANGER OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to honor Colonel Raymond Anthony Celeste, Jr., who is retiring from the United 

States Marine Corps after more than 26 years 

of faithful service. 

Colonel Celeste attended Officers Candidate 

School in October 1982 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 

1982. In 1983, he graduated first from The 

Basic School and later from the Field Artillery 

Officer Basic School. His first fleet assignment 

was at Marine Corps Base, 29 Palms, California in January 1984, where he served first 

with 4th Battalion 11th Marines and then with 

5th Battalion 11th Marines as a platoon commander in 8 inch self-propelled Howitzer Batteries. During his time as a platoon commander, he participated in numerous Combined Arms Exercises, learning the great capabilities of the Marine Air Ground Task 

Force. 

In May of 1985, then-First Lieutenant Celeste transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, where he served in the Tactical Exercise Control Group and assisted in organizing 

field and staff exercises worldwide. In September of 1986, First Lieutenant Celeste reported as the first Operations Officer of the 1st 

Remotely Piloted Vehicle Company, where he 

became one of the first members of the newly 

established unit. In this assignment, he assisted in integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 

into the Marine Air Ground Task Force and received an award for his meritorious service. 

Because of his expertise in this area, an article he wrote on the subject was published in 

the Marine Corps Gazette. 


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December 9, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2345 

In September of 1988, then-Captain Celeste 

transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves. In 

January of the following year, he joined 3rd Air 

Naval Gunfire Liaison Company where he deployed and participated in numerous bi-lateral 

exercises in Korea and Japan. During the first 

Gulf War, Captain Celeste was a commander 

in charge of training more than 200 Marines 

for deployment to the Middle East and received an award for his meritorious service. In 

January of 1992, Captain Celeste transferred 

to Hotel Battery (155 mm Howitzers), 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines where he acted as Platoon Commander and Forward Observer. In 

June of that same year, he was selected to be 

the Executive Officer of Delta Company, 4th 

Light Armored Infantry Company. In 1993, he 

became the Commanding Officer of Delta 

Company and served in that capacity for over 

two years. Concurrent to his assignment as 

Delta Company’s Commanding officer, Captain Celeste served as the Headquarters Marine Corps counterdrug officer where he monitored Marine Corps counterdrug operations. 

In 1995, then-Major Celeste was assigned 

as the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of 

the Navy Gulf War Declassification Project 

where he was responsible for the declassification of tens of thousands of pages of Gulf War 

I operational records. He subsequently received an award for meeting the mandated 

declassification deadline as established by the 

Deputy Secretary of Defense. Due to his expertise in the area, in May of 1997, Major Celeste was assigned as an investigator to the 

Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses. At this assignment, he assisted in the 

investigation of the causal factors for Gulf War 

Illnesses using the documents that he and his 

team helped to previously declassify. In order 

to widely disseminate the findings of the investigation, they were published on the World 

Wide Web which, at the time, was a novel medium for this purpose. 

In August of 1999, then-Lieutenant Colonel 

Celeste was assigned to Headquarters Marine 

Corps (Office of Legislative Affairs) where he 

served as a Congressional Affairs Officer. In 

this capacity, he assisted in the answering of 

high level congressional inquires, led the Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program, 

and assisted in the organizing of congressional outreach programs to include the following: The Congressional Marines Group, 

The Capitol Hill Running Club, Congressional 

Marine Day, and programs for Veterans Service Organizations and Defense Industry representatives. 

Colonel Celeste served in Iraq from February to August of 2007 as the Marine liaison 

between the Commanding General, Multi-National Forces West and the Commanding General Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. 

During this period, Colonel Celeste was a 

member of the Green Zone Council, which 

supports the Boys and Girls Scouting programs in Iraq. He was also involved in supporting a local orphanage in Baghdad by coordinating and soliciting donations from family 

and friends. 

For more than 26 years, Colonel Celeste’s 

great sense of duty and exceptional work ethic 

have benefitted his fellow Marines and his nation. We thank him for his steadfast dedication 

and wish him fair winds and following seas as 

he starts the next chapter of his life. 

TRIBUTE TO THE DECLARATION 

OF PRINCIPLES FOR A PRESIDENTIAL ORDER ON PRISONER 

TREATMENT, TORTURE, AND 

CRUELTY 

HON. ANNA G. ESHOO OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

in support of the Declaration of Principles for 

a Presidential Executive Order on Prisoner 

Treatment, Torture and Cruelty which is supported by a number of organizations and individuals, including the Council of Churches of 

Santa Clara County, California, in my Congressional District. I believe these principles 

will protect our country and the U.S. servicemen abroad by banning the use of cruel and 

inhumane interrogation methods. 

I fully support the core goals of this Declaration of Principles which include implementing a 

national standard for all U.S. personnel and 

agencies for the interrogation and treatment of 

prisoners and banning the use of any methods 

of interrogation that we would not find acceptable if used against Americans. Many of these 

issues were addressed in a bill I introduced 

this year to ban waterboarding as an interrogation technique. 

Waterboarding is torture and is recognized 

as such by the Geneva Convention. Its continued use by representatives of our nation contradicts what so many of our soldiers are fighting for overseas. The United States of America has long accepted that water torture is beneath the standards of a civil nation. In 1947, 

the United States prosecuted a Japanese military officer for carrying out a form of water torture on a U.S. civilian during the Second 

World War, securing a conviction and a sentence of 15 years of hard labor. The military 

has frequently prosecuted American military 

personnel for subjecting prisoners to water torture, including sentencing a U.S. Army major 

to 10 years of hard labor for subjecting an insurgent to water torture in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. 

Our nation was able to win two world wars 

and defeat a rising tide of communism with 

this prohibition in place. I’m confident we can 

defeat our current enemies without undermining our moral dignity. 

As we move forward with a new Congress 

and a new Administration, we have the opportunity to change course and restore the rule of 

law. The Bush Administration has relied heavily on illegal and inhumane interrogation techniques, and by doing so has damaged our 

country’s reputation in the process. We can 

restore the moral standards that guided us 

successfully for so many generations and the 

Declaration of Principles provides a framework 

for the United States to do just that. Congress 

and the Obama Administration must work to 

ensure that torture has no place in the battle 

against terrorism. 

f 

HONORING GRANT GATES 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize the outstanding achievement of Grant Gates of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Grant has earned a perfect 36 ACT composite 

score. Grant is one of only three students from 

the state of Missouri and one of only fifty-two 

in the country to earn the perfect score. 

Madam Speaker, Grant has dedicated himself to his studies and extracurricular activities. 

As a junior at North Kansas City High School, 

Grant has participated in the Missouri Scholars Academy at the University of Missouri, the 

Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee, 

member of the high school swim team, member of the choir and Harmonaires show choir, 

and is a part of the school’s state championship Scholar Bowl. Grant is currently working 

toward an International Baccalaureate diploma, Gold Medallion Honors diploma, and 

A+ Schools eligibility. Grant is also active in 

Boy Scout Troop 9 in North Kansas City. 

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me, 

Gary and Elinor Gates, the North Kansas City 

Schools, and North Kansas City High School 

in applauding Grant Gates’ outstanding 

achievement. We wish Grant many more 

years of success. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF EUGENE 

PERRIN ELEBASH, JR. 

HON. JEFF MILLER 

OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I 

rise today to recognize Eugene Elebash, Jr., a 

veritable northwest Florida community leader 

who passed away on November 24, 2008. Mr. 

Elebash spent his entire life serving others, 

and I am proud to honor his life of dedication 

and service. 

Mr. Elebash was born in Pensacola, FL, in 

May of 1920 and made his home there. He 

graduated from Pensacola High School in 

1938 and from the University of Florida in 

1942. Upon graduating college, Mr. Elebash 

immediately joined the United States Army Air 

Forces where he served honorably until the 

end of World War II, achieving the rank of 

major. He then returned to Pensacola to take 

over the family business and remained ever 

since. Mr. Elebash married his high school 

sweetheart, Jane, his wife of 66 years. 

After returning to Pensacola, Mr. Elebash 

began a life of dedicated service to the community. Over the years. he was active in innumerable organizations including the Saint 

Christopher’s Episcopal Church, the City Civil 

Service Board, the YMCA, and the West Florida Children’s Home Society. He was a member of the Downtown Rotary Board for 61 

years. Mr. Elebash was elected to three terms 

as a Pensacola city councilman and served as 

the mayor of Pensacola from 1971 and 1973. 

His family continues to play an active role in 

the community. 

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. Congress, I am privileged to honor Mr. Eugene 

Elebash, Jr. for his life of public service to his 

country and to northwest Florida. Mr. Elebash 

will be remembered by all as a loving husband 

and father, as well as a genuine community 

leader and a true friend. 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with REMARKS