American Nationalities Movement Captive Nations Awards Ceremony July 18, 2019
The American Nationalities Movement of Ohio held its 57th annual Captive Nations dinner program on Thursday July 18, 2019.
The American Nationalities Movement was formed for the purpose of uniting all the nationalities in the United States in the goal to educate, advocate and represent their interests of all the diverse ethnic groups to the public and mostly to the political leaders of the United States. This pursuit of our common interest to achieve an understanding of the complex issues that confront each group individually and collectively and that without our united efforts all of us will be endanger.
President Eisenhower, and every successive U.S. President up to the administration of President Donald Trump, has declared the third week of July to be Captive Nations Week.
Three deserving people were honored at the American Nationalities Movement Captive Nations Awards Ceremony: Rick DeChant Jr., John Sabol and Gia Hoa Ryan.
The 57th annual American Nationalities Movement Captive Nations Dinner program began with ANM president Judge Ralph J. (Rocky) Perk Jr. welcoming the crowd and explaining the organization.
Pledge of Allegiance
Judge Ralph J. (Rocky) Perk Jr.
Judge Perk asked Fr. John Loejos for an invocation. Valerie Schwonek-Blazey introduced some of the elected officials in the audience.
Valerie Schwonek-Blazey
Judge Perk then accepted a proclamation from former councilman Zack Reed.
Zack Reed and Rocky Perk
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After dinner, Terrence J. Smith gave a historical recreation presentation honoring the Apollo 11 moon landing
Terrence J. Smith
The first Freedom Award was given to Rick DeChant Jr. who is the Executive Director of the Veterans' Initiative for Cuyahoga Community College. ANM past-president Irene Morrow introduced Rick.
Irene Morrow
Irene Morrow, Rick DeChant and Ralph Perk Jr.
Rick DeChant Jr.
Next, ANM president Judge Ralph Perk Jr. introduced John Sabol who is the voice of Czech Radio and author of books about Czechs and Slovaks.
John Sabol and Judge Perk
John Sabol
The third recipient of the Freedom Award was Gia Hoa Ryan who started the Friendship Foundation and is a Vietnamese American community leader. She was introduced by Debbie Hanson.
Debbie Hanson, Gia Hoa Ryan and Judge Ralph Perk
Gia Hoa Ryan
Congratulations to the three well-deserving honorees.
Irene Morrow, Rick DeChant, Gia Hoa Ryan, John Sabol and Ralph Perk Jr.
The ANM Freedom Awards
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