克利夫兰及周边地区消息
　

浦瑛開講:HANSON WELCOME CHRISTMAS Event

  早在2012年,還是克利夫蘭市議員的Joe Cimperman 説,Debbie and Dan 姐弟倆創辦了clevelandPeople.Com,只要有社區活動,他倆都無處不在,幾年前姐姐Debbie中風,幾乎都是弟弟Dan到處採訪,他們就是克利夫蘭各個族裔的指南,得過州政府市政府等各個協會的認可,獲得無數的表彰,他倆積極服務社區,是人們心中的模範。

 

HANSON WELCOME CHRISTMAS Event
　

By Joseph Meissner
   We are all gathered in friendship at the Bo Loung Restaurant to enjoy the opening event of Cleveland’s Christmas Holiday season. This is Number 25 the Hanson family has sponsored this remembrance of the Baby in Bethlehem and another time when the Hanson’s invite Cleveland's best and brightest to this annual celebration.
   Some sixty people have been invited to join in the Pro Bono grand luncheon tasty Chinese Foods. Formerly Mama Hanson, and her two children Danny and Debbie were our hosts. But Mama passed away several years ago and now enjoys endless Christmas's. The high point of this year is the “resurrection” of Debbie after several year’s absence. Though still in her wheel chair, she’s as feisty and loving as always.
   "Debbie," I give her a big Irish Kiss, "How good to see you." For five years she has had to join us in spirit from her hospital bed. But today she is real.
   (“Debbie, my speech today only contains 34 points," my usual way of marking off my Cicerone speeches.”
   "No, no," Debbie exclaims.
   "Okay," I apologize. “For you, I reduce it to thirty-three."
Soon the short speeches from all sixty begins. Dan acts as Ringmaster, throwing in comments about somebody's background. Some speakers recall their accomplishments this past year, using their two minutes to laud all who helped them. Some discuss old businesses they fostered of computers and technology. Dan had been one grandfather of the Cleveland tech revolution. Some told how their childhood contributed to their evolution. Some relate their dreams for Cleveland’s future and our prayer that she regains her former greatness.
   After 35 speeches, some grow listless. A few even try to sneak out. Dan won’t allow that. He insists they offer some wisdom before escaping.
   Some 56 have spoken. Now my turn.
   "I have 6 points to present, three of sadness and three of hope.” I warn my audience.
   "Our area faces 3 serious challenges. First is the statistic I read this week that one out of four of our students are chronically absent from school. How disheartening when you think of children in other lands who would give anything to attend our schools.
   "The second sad number is half of our children fight losing battles against the two enemies of fatness and worse, obesity. “More exercise, less sweets—here is our victory recipe.” Oue Defense Department says 84% of our young people will never make good soldiers because of their physical, mental, drug, and moral flaws. Discipline and dedication are the cures. If war does descend on threatened Taiwan, who will defend these freedom loving people?
Third concern: our military forces are now falling 20% short of their modest recruitment goals. If we do not fight for our freedom, who will?"
   But, I turn the corner. "There are some signs of hope. I mention a few. Let me first begin with Halloween. I love the evening. I remember how my family would watch at the door as the young came by in their costumes shouting; “Trick or Treat.” This year I sat on the porch of Director Giahoa Ryan. Over one hundred climbed her porch stairs, their open bags waiting candy treats.
   "Hoh,” I murmured as one young lady came up the porch stairs. “We are running out of candy." She reached down into her prize collection, pulled out 6 Hersey bars and handed them to us.
"Here,” she said, “More for you to handout."
   The second happy event is the installation of our Miss Vietnam statue in our cultural garden on Dr. King Boulevard which now contains 40 gardens all dedicated to peace and friendship. Miss Vietnam stands tall on her six-foot high marble cube. From her fourteen feet high angle, she greets visitors, altogether weighing 8 tons of white marble from Marble Mountain, near Da Nang.
"Stunning," has been the judgment about the lady in her cone hat with her long hair and silk ao gia softly caressed by the wind.
The third hopeful sign has been the completion of the Friendship Foundation’s tenth educational school building for the Vietnamese and minority Montegnard and Tai children near the famous battle site of Dien Bien Phu. (When I see the photos of happy students in their new classrooms, I must confess these students seem to study harder than ours.
   "To conclude, we have three serious challenges confronting us and three achievements to celebrate.”
   "Our last speaker will be Giahoa Ryan.” Dan introduces. “She has worked on the Vietnamese garden for the past eight years and wants to tell you the importance of this garden and of the Vietnamese lady."
  Ms. Ryan begins: "When I began this mission eight years ago, I had a dream. I wanted a garden to celebrate the culture and history of my First Motherland and all our great people, three million of whom now live in this country, but I also wanted to remember all those who fought in my country. Without their sacrifices I and millions of others would never be here. The Miss Vietnam statue built from beautiful white marble recalls all who warmly greeted you at the Da Nang beaches. . She stands for the strong friendship between Americans and Vietnamese that will endure and thrive forev.
   Dan closes by saying good-by to all after another successful Hanson luncheon and invites everybody back again in twelve months for more great Asian cuisine.