Righteous Among the Nations Recognition

Floor Speech

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Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, a day before Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, to recognize the late Cornelis and Wilhelmina de Ru.

In 1940, Nazi forces invaded the Netherlands, and days later, the Dutch were forced to surrender. Throughout the next 5 years, the de Ru family risked everything to save the life of a young Jewish teenager, Maurits Kopuit. He was only one of two survivors in his family.

The de Rus understood the great risk involved in shielding Maurits, yet they displayed unyielding courage in their effort to save a fellow citizen.

During the Holocaust, the Nazis systematically killed 6 million Jews. However, throughout this nightmare, there were a few like the de Rus who refused to allow dark forces to prevail.

This past Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. de Ru were named Righteous Among the Nations for their heroic efforts to protect Mr. Maurits Kopuit from the Nazi regime during World War II.

Righteous Among the Nations is a special designation by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, that conveys the gratitude of the State of Israel and of the Jewish people for those who took risks to save Jews during the Holocaust.

As of January 2018, Yad Vashem had recognized over 26,000 people from 51 different countries with the Righteous Among the Nations designation. Their names appear on the Mount of Remembrance in Jerusalem. It is an unprecedented tribute by victims to those who stood by their sides.

Next week marks the 74th anniversary of the Nazi army's surrender. We must never forget the consequences of remaining silent in the face of evil and intolerance.

Please join me in honoring the de Rus' selfless actions and commemorating all those whose lives were lost. Honoring the Life of Stan Smith

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Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late Stan Smith, an exemplary historian from Rancho Bernardo whose help made the San Diego Veterans History Project possible.

Stan's brother, Charlie, was killed during the invasion of Sicily in 1943 during World War II. This prompted Stan himself to join the U.S. Navy and later prompted his interest in recording veterans' accounts of their service during World War II and the Vietnam war.

Stan began helping my office in 2013 and worked with us for 3 years before going to help the San Diego Veterans Museum.

He recorded more than 100 oral histories of San Diego County veterans in the 7 years since he began, ensuring that their stories would never be forgotten.

Stan understood the importance of passing history down from one generation to the next and thanking the men and women who, like Stan, served our country.

We are deeply grateful for Stan Smith's commitment to recording veterans' stories. His work has ensured that their stories will never be lost. Please join me in honoring Stan Smith and his children, who plan to carry on the work their father started.

Mr. Speaker, if there are any San Diegans who are interested in becoming involved with the Veterans History Project, I hope they will contact my office. Congratulating ResMed

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Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate ResMed, a medical device company located in my district, for receiving the 2019 Duane Roth Renaissance Award.

Duane Roth was a champion of life sciences and tech entrepreneurship. He was a beloved community leader who defined San Diego's innovation ecosystem and economic diversity.

Every year, the Duane Roth Award is given to a company whose inventions and breakthroughs have improved the world around us. ResMed has combined groundbreaking sleep and respiratory medicine with technology to increase the accessibility and availability of treatment for those with sleep apnea and other chronic diseases. This year, ResMed is recognized for its commitment to improving quality of life, reducing the risk of chronic disease, and increasing access to healthcare.

ResMed exemplifies the innovation and discovery of San Diego, and I am proud to celebrate a San Diego company that has worked tirelessly to better healthcare on this well-deserved honor.

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