In Honor of the Memory of the Late Hajj Mohamad Mehanna (Abu Imad)

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the esteemed life of the late Hajj Mohamad Kamal Mehanna (Abu Imad). He will forever be remembered for his tremendous service to our community, and he will be deeply missed.

Hajj Abu Imad was a true embodiment of the American dream. In 1988, he immigrated to the United States from Lebanon and quickly dedicated himself to supporting his local community in the Metro Detroit region. He was a founder and board member of the Islamic Institute of Knowledge, an organization that strives to support the spiritual, informational, educational, and social needs of Michigan's Islamic community. Hajj Abu Imad committed himself to furthering the vision and mission of the Islamic Institute of Knowledge, and he served as the Chairman for the Public Relations Committee for many years. Even after immigrating to the United States, Hajj Abu Imad remained faithful to honoring his heritage and supporting Lebanon. He made several trips to Lebanon to meet with the President and Prime Minister to discuss ways to promote progress and meet the evolving needs of the Lebanese community.

Throughout Michigan, Hajj Abu Imad was recognized as a humble, kind, and dapper gentleman. He was a man of great wisdom who offered comforting words of guidance in troubling times. He was a loyal friend to all those who knew him and left others in good spirits. He valued friendships and sought to develop deep, lasting, and meaningful relationships with others. He was a member in a social group known as ``Khalan Al-Wafa,'' where he endeavored to make connections, discuss issues, and foster a deep sense of community and unity. Most importantly of all, Hajj Abu Imad was devoted to his family. He married his wife Hajjah Aziza Anani in 1967, and the two shared a fruitful and prosperous marriage of 53 years. Together, they raised a beautiful family. At his death, Hajj Abu Imad was the beloved patriarch of seven children and fourteen grandchildren. He will be missed by all, but his memory will endure through the countless lives he touched.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of the late Hajj Mohamad Kamal Mehanna (Abu Imad). His passing is a loss to our entire conununity. May he rest in eternal peace.

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