June 8, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1203

In fact, 172 Victory Ships were activated during Vietnam as part of the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet

(NDRF). A crew of approximately 35–45 U.S.

citizen merchant mariners manned each vessel. I wish to extend a special thanks to the

15,000 or so merchant mariners who crewed

the various National Defense Reserve Fleet

ships throughout my time in Vietnam. Any

member of the Armed Forces will tell you that

the cooperation of the entire organization is

needed to retain order, readiness, and fighting

efficiency. As I flew over Vietnam, I was grateful for our dedicated mariners at sea.

As we pay tribute to their service to this

country, remember that the American mariners

need U.S.-flag ships to sail on in peacetime in

order to be available to us in emergencies.

Unless a maritime bill is enacted this year, our

U.S.-flag presence in international trade is

likely to vanish, along with civilian sealift support and seafaring jobs. I urge you to support

our mariners by supporting H.R. 1350, the

Maritime Security Act of 1995.

FINCH, PRUYN, THE HEART AND

SOUL OF GLENS FALLS

fHON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, June 8, 1995

Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, Finch, Pruyn,

the heart and soul of Glens Falls, NY, will

mark its 13th decade on June 22.

It might even be said, Mr. Speaker, that a

company grew into a town, a town that grew

into a small city Look magazine called Hometown, U.S.A. in 1944. Even in this era of

downsizing, plant closings, and moves to foreign lands, outstanding management has kept

Finch, Pruyn not only a thriving enterprise employing over 1,000 people, but a respected

corporate neighbor as well.

Creating and preserving the conditions that

allow the Finch, Pruyns of America to prosper

should be the first priority of this Congress,

Mr. Speaker. The health and prosperity of

companies like Finch, Pruyn mean jobs for

Amercians, growth for our economy, and vibrant, thriving communities.

That’s what Finch, Pruyn has meant to

Glens Falls, an important employer and a

source of pride because of its leadership in

the paper industry. That industry, as does the

equally important tourist industry, both require

a concern for the environment, and in this

area, too, Finch, Pruyn has been a leader.

A symbol of that leadership is its present

chairman of the board, a good friend of mine,

Richard J. Carota. Two years ago Dick Carota

was named Executive of the Year by the

Paper Industry Management Association, and

never was an award more deserved.

Dick Carota began as a $1.35-an-hour

sweeper in 1956, and rose up the ranks. Having done so, there isn’t a single job he doesn’t

understand. As I said on this floor in 1993,

Dick Carota listens to everyone, respects everyone, sets high standards, and gets everyone to work as a team. His all-American success story is typical of the spirit of Finch,

Pruyn. I’ll say it again, Mr. Speaker, I’m proud

of Dick Carota, and I’m proud of the outstanding company he leads.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and this entire

House to join me in wishing Finch, Pruyn all

the best on this occasion of its 130th birthday,

and many more decades of industry leadership and contributions to the community.

HONORING DR. DAVID N. MESCHES

fHON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, June 8, 1995

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

ask my colleaques to join me in recognizing

the accomplishments of the Mid-Hudson Consortium for the Advancement of Education for

the Health Professions, which is now commemorating its 20th anniversary. For the past

two decades, the consortium has promoted invaluable training programs for health care professionals that respond to the needs of the

mid-Hudson community. Vital to the success

of this organization have been the tremendous

efforts of my good friend, Dr. David N.

Mesches.

Dr. Mesches was a strong advocate of managed care even before managed care was an

established system of health care delivery. In

the hopes of attracting physicians to our area

who would provide affordable, quality care, Dr.

Mesches and his colleagues have paved the

way toward improved care by the formation of

the consortium as well as other programs they

have created such as the Mid-Hudson Rural

Family Practice Resident Training program.

Through the continued efforts of Dr.

Mesches, the resident program annually attracts a considerable number of physicians

and medical students through an affiliation

with the New York Medical College and the

New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.

These health care providers are being trained

to respond to the specific needs of the community in which they live and work and the

program proudly boasts that 75 percent of its

graduates not only remain in New York State

but also in the community in which they were

trained. This is an astounding success rate

and it has benefitted the people of the midHudson Valley immeasurably. We are indeed

grateful for it as well.

I am honored to ask my colleagues to join

me in commending Dr. David N. Mesches for

his very generous hard work and devotion to

our community.

TRIBUTE TO JOHN F. LONG

fHON. JERRY F. COSTELLO OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, June 8, 1995

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I want to

bring to the attention of my colleagues the outstanding service to our Nation of Mr. John F.

Long, of East St. Louis, IL. John Long served

as a U.S. soldier from the 125th Infantry, who

served his country during World War II.

Mr. Long, originally from Cairo, IL, entered

the U.S. Army in October 1941, and fought a

number of World War II battles in Italy. Those

conflicts included Rome, Arno, the

Appennines, and the Po Valley.

Private Long’s bravery won him the Good

Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal,

American Defense Ribbon, American Theater

Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with three Bronze battle stars, and

one service stripe.

John Long, who will turn 76 on June 15,

was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army

in November 1945. This year commemorates

the 50th anniversary of his World War II service, and I am confident he watched, as we all

did, the recent commemoration of V–E Day.

On this glorious day, 50 years ago, John Long

joined his fellow servicemen to accept the surrender of the Axis Powers to the Allied victors.

His Army service in the battles of Italy was

part of this victory, a contribution we honor in

the House today.

IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1776: THE

BLACK REVOLUTIONARY WAR

fPATRIOTS COMMEMORATIVE

COIN ACT

HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, June 8, 1995

Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced, with my colleague

DONALD PAYNE of New Jersey, H.R. 1776, the

Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation will direct the

Secretary of the Treasury to mint a special

coin in commemoration of the many black soldiers who fought for our Nation’s independence and our individual freedom. In addition to

recognizing the often forgotten contributions of

African-Americans during this historic period of

our Nation’s history, distribution of such a coin

will enable the Black Patriots Foundation to

succeed in funding the Black Revolutionary

War Patriots Memorial, to be located in Constitution Gardens between the Washington

Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

More than 5,000 black revolutionary war patriots fought shoulder to shoulder with white

patriots, heroically sacrificing so that we can

stand here today, a free people and a world

leader. This contribution should not be forgotten. As generations of children visit our Nation’s Capital and walk the mall, they should

have a concrete reminder that we are descendants of men and women of all races and

ethnic backgrounds and only together can we

create a Nation in which individual social freedom and justice are a reality.

I urge my colleagues to join in honoring

black revolutionary war patriots through this

commemorative coin act and enable the Black

Patriots Foundation to complete the Black

Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial here in

Washington, DC.

FAIRNESS FOR PAKISTAN

fHON. DAVID E. BONIOR OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, June 8, 1995

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

bring to the attention of my colleagues’ provisions in the American Overseas Interests Act

that address basic issues of fairness for Pakistan.

I think it was the Greek poet Aeschylus who

once wrote that the greatest wish a man could

have was to live in interesting times.