[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E918-E919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF THE MEMORY OF THE LATE HAJJ MOHAMAD MEHANNA (ABU IMAD)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 2, 2020

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
esteemed life of the late Hajj Mohamad Kamal Mehanna (Abu Imad). He 
will forever be remembered for his tremendous service to our community, 
and he will be deeply missed.
  Hajj Abu Imad was a true embodiment of the American dream. In 1988, 
he immigrated to the United States from Lebanon and quickly dedicated 
himself to supporting his local community in the Metro Detroit region. 
He was a founder and board member of the Islamic Institute of 
Knowledge, an organization that strives to support the spiritual, 
informational, educational, and social needs of Michigan's Islamic 
community. Hajj Abu Imad committed himself to furthering the vision and 
mission of the Islamic Institute of Knowledge, and he served as the 
Chairman for the Public Relations Committee for many years. Even after 
immigrating to the United States, Hajj Abu Imad remained faithful to 
honoring his heritage and supporting Lebanon. He made several trips to 
Lebanon to meet with the President and Prime Minister to discuss ways 
to promote progress and meet the evolving needs of the Lebanese 
community.
  Throughout Michigan, Hajj Abu Imad was recognized as a humble, kind, 
and dapper

[[Page E919]]

gentleman. He was a man of great wisdom who offered comforting words of 
guidance in troubling times. He was a loyal friend to all those who 
knew him and left others in good spirits. He valued friendships and 
sought to develop deep, lasting, and meaningful relationships with 
others. He was a member in a social group known as ``Khalan Al-Wafa,'' 
where he endeavored to make connections, discuss issues, and foster a 
deep sense of community and unity. Most importantly of all, Hajj Abu 
Imad was devoted to his family. He married his wife Hajjah Aziza Anani 
in 1967, and the two shared a fruitful and prosperous marriage of 53 
years. Together, they raised a beautiful family. At his death, Hajj Abu 
Imad was the beloved patriarch of seven children and fourteen 
grandchildren. He will be missed by all, but his memory will endure 
through the countless lives he touched.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life 
and legacy of the late Hajj Mohamad Kamal Mehanna (Abu Imad). His 
passing is a loss to our entire conununity. May he rest in eternal 
peace.

                          ____________________