Political Quotes

“today I rise to honor Wisconsin residents James ``Jim'' and Marty Harris for their humanitarian work in Southeast Asia and their embrace of those displaced from that region. These two lifelong educators have made it their life's mission to welcome Hmong and Lao refugee families to Central Wisconsin, as well as make a positive impact for those living in Laos. Over the course of more than 20 years, the Harris' have made over 20 trips to Laos. Beginning in 2000, they began the effort to reconnect families from their Wisconsin community with friends and relatives left behind when they departed their homeland. During these trips, they assisted Lao villagers in desperate need of medical care, helped provide hospitals with medical supplies, and provided many Lao schools with their very first library, a most appropriate endeavor for the now retired elementary school principal and retired English and art teacher. However, their largest impact comes with their assistance in the removal of bombs, land mines, and other unexploded ordnances that dot the Laotian landscape after years of war and turmoil. As Jim told me during a visit I made to Laos several years ago, ``Many villagers are waiting 40 years for four days of help.'' To address this, the Harris's founded the nonprofit ``We Help War Victims,'' an organization that assists survivors of war and other conflicts to rebuild their lives.…”