The 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner of the American Nationalities Movement was held in Wal-Tam's Grand Ballroom in Garfield Heights on July 16, 2015. Over 200 people attended the event to see the Freedom Awards be presented and a keynote address by Jim Craciun.
Many in the audience have roots in countries that have been or are under increased tensions from Russia and other powers.
Judge Ralph (Rocky) Perk Jr. is president of the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio.
Judge Ralph (Rocky) Perk Jr.
He welcomed the crowd to the 54th Captive Nations Dinner and reminded them that as they gathered to commemorate the freedom of the Captive Nations from the Iron Curtain, they should be wary because of how easy it is for freedom to be lost in a generation or less. The event was held during Captive Nations Week which was signed into law in 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Every successive U.S. President has declared the third week of July to be Captive Nations Week to raise public awareness of the oppression of nations under the control of Communist and other non-democratic governments. The event began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Dr. Richard Klein gave an update on the Perk Project.
Dr. Richard Klein
There were three recipients of the Freedom Award: Maris Mantenieks, Abdullah (Abby) Mina and Andrew Fedynsky.
Judge Ralph Perk Jr., Irene Morrow and Senator George Voinovich presented the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio Freedom Award to Latvian born Maris Mantenieks at the 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland. Mantenieks is a longtime supporter of Latvia and the other Baltic nations and was honored by the president of Latvia for his efforts to get the Baltic States into NATO.
Ralph Perk Jr., George Voinovich,
Maris Mantenieks and Irene Morrow
Maris Mantenieks
Lebanese born Abdullah (Abby) Mina also received the Freedom Award at the 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland. Abby Mina is the longest serving president of the Cleveland American Middle East Organization (CAMEO).
Ralph Perk Jr., George Voinovich,
Abby Mina and Irene Morrow
Abdullah (Abby) Mina
Austrian born (of Ukrainian refugee parents) Andrew Fedynsky was the 3rd recipient of the Freedom Award at the 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner in Cleveland. His work for human rights for countries under Soviet domination continued as he worked for Senator Bob Dole and Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar.
Ralph Perk Jr., George Voinovich,
Andrew Fedynsky and Irene Morrow
Andrew Fedynsky
The keynote address was given by James M. Craciun who gave a powerful and important warning as to the direction the US is headed and the historical methods of communism. The video is divided into 3 parts.
James M. Craciun
Jim Craciun and Maris Mantenieks
Enjoy these other images from the 54th annual Captive Nations Dinner.
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