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April 11, 2014 Friday
Washington: SPEECH OF HON. JOHN L. MICA OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014
Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy and service of
Leo Alexander Voskan.
>From the day he was born in New York in 1915, Leo had a keen thirst
for adventure. The son of Armenian immigrants who came to the United
States in search of a better life for their family, Leo spent his
childhood on the waterfront in New York City.
By the time Leo reached High School, he had developed into quite the
athlete and was the quarterback for his high school's football team
and was also a member of the school's track team. His physical talents
extended beyond the athletic field and onto the stage. As an avid
dancer, Leo taught dance for the Arthur Murray Studio and was also a
competitive dancer at the famous Rainbow Room in New York's
Rockefeller Center.
While attending New York City College following High School, Leo was
forced to leave school and assume the responsibilities of the family's
manufacturing business due to his father's failing health.
With World War II looming on the horizon, Leo voluntarily enlisted
into the U.S. Army for both patriotic and family reasons. Leo's goal
was to keep his younger brother George out of the military as long as
he possibly could so that he could maintain the family business while
Leo went overseas to fight.
While serving as a member of the U.S. Army's Signal Corps, his
superiors recognized his leadership potential and sent him to
Officer's Candidate School where upon his commission he earned the
rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Leo was in command of a Combat Engineering Platoon that participated
in the Normandy invasion, where despite his leadership; many of his
men were lost including his Company Commander. Leo was given a
battlefield promotion and assumed Command of the entire Company.
In Normandy, Leo's Company fell under the command of General George
Patton and went on to liberate France and eventually fought in the
Battle of the Bulge. Leo was also involved in the liberation of
several concentration camps across Nazi Germany.
Upon returning home Leo and his brother George resumed their roles in
the family's manufacturing business. During this period, Leo also met
the love of his life, Joan. Leo and Joan soon married, moved to the
New Jersey suburbs and began their family. Leo was a loving father to
four children, Craig, Gail, Lynn and Diane who tragically died of
pneumonia at the age of three.
In 1952, Leo moved his family to Longwood, Florida to start an orange
grove business which was devastated in the freeze of 1958. Always the
determined entrepreneur, Leo continued his professional life by
starting several businesses's including, a night crawler supply
company and a pallet manufacturing company which helped sustain his
family. Leo was also passionate about politics and teaching others
about business including real estate licensing.
Leo's zest for life will always be treasured by those who knew him and
his service to our nation will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, 1 ask
all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives join me in
recognizing the distinguished life and service of Leo Alexander
Voskan.
For more information please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/
April 11, 2014 Friday
Washington: SPEECH OF HON. JOHN L. MICA OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014
Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy and service of
Leo Alexander Voskan.
>From the day he was born in New York in 1915, Leo had a keen thirst
for adventure. The son of Armenian immigrants who came to the United
States in search of a better life for their family, Leo spent his
childhood on the waterfront in New York City.
By the time Leo reached High School, he had developed into quite the
athlete and was the quarterback for his high school's football team
and was also a member of the school's track team. His physical talents
extended beyond the athletic field and onto the stage. As an avid
dancer, Leo taught dance for the Arthur Murray Studio and was also a
competitive dancer at the famous Rainbow Room in New York's
Rockefeller Center.
While attending New York City College following High School, Leo was
forced to leave school and assume the responsibilities of the family's
manufacturing business due to his father's failing health.
With World War II looming on the horizon, Leo voluntarily enlisted
into the U.S. Army for both patriotic and family reasons. Leo's goal
was to keep his younger brother George out of the military as long as
he possibly could so that he could maintain the family business while
Leo went overseas to fight.
While serving as a member of the U.S. Army's Signal Corps, his
superiors recognized his leadership potential and sent him to
Officer's Candidate School where upon his commission he earned the
rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Leo was in command of a Combat Engineering Platoon that participated
in the Normandy invasion, where despite his leadership; many of his
men were lost including his Company Commander. Leo was given a
battlefield promotion and assumed Command of the entire Company.
In Normandy, Leo's Company fell under the command of General George
Patton and went on to liberate France and eventually fought in the
Battle of the Bulge. Leo was also involved in the liberation of
several concentration camps across Nazi Germany.
Upon returning home Leo and his brother George resumed their roles in
the family's manufacturing business. During this period, Leo also met
the love of his life, Joan. Leo and Joan soon married, moved to the
New Jersey suburbs and began their family. Leo was a loving father to
four children, Craig, Gail, Lynn and Diane who tragically died of
pneumonia at the age of three.
In 1952, Leo moved his family to Longwood, Florida to start an orange
grove business which was devastated in the freeze of 1958. Always the
determined entrepreneur, Leo continued his professional life by
starting several businesses's including, a night crawler supply
company and a pallet manufacturing company which helped sustain his
family. Leo was also passionate about politics and teaching others
about business including real estate licensing.
Leo's zest for life will always be treasured by those who knew him and
his service to our nation will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, 1 ask
all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives join me in
recognizing the distinguished life and service of Leo Alexander
Voskan.
For more information please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/