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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING MR. SUNNY SUNG-IN KIM
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HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to
announce the passing of a valued member of our community. Sunny Sung-In
Kim passed away on June 9, 2019 surrounded by his loved ones.
Throughout his life he exhibited a constant devotion to his family, his
Christian faith and the relationship between the United States of
America and his native Korea.
Born on November 16, 1950 in Pusan, Korea during the Korean War,
Sunny enlisted in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps as soon as he was
eligible to do so. He served from 1969 to 1972, achieving the rank of
Lance Corporal. He emigrated to the United States in 1973 and became a
naturalized citizen. On May 11, 1975, he married the love of his life,
Susan Bok-Ja Kim in Long Island, New York and together raised their two
sons.
In 1986, Sunny founded and was President of Grass Roots, Inc., a
food service and catering business with multiple locations in the
Financial District of Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to his success
as an entrepreneur, Sunny had a lifelong passion of service to his
community and served as President of the Korean American Association of
New England and the Secretary-General of the Federation of Korean
Associations, U.S.A.
As part of his lifelong commitment to honoring the memory of the
36,574 U.S. troops and the estimated 1.2 million Republic of Korea
troops and civilians who lost their lives during the Korean War, Sunny
galvanized support for the creation of the Massachusetts Korean War
Veterans Memorial at the Charlestown Naval Shipyard.
In recognition of his contributions to the U.S.-Korea alliance and
the Korean American community, Sunny was the recipient of a
Presidential Commendation by the President of the Republic of Korea. As
co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, I will greatly miss
his advocacy on the importance of this alliance.
Sunny was an active member of the Korean Presbyterian Church in
Greater Boston where he was an ordained Elder. Sunny's deep and abiding
faith was the foundation of his family. He instilled in his sons the
virtues of generosity, graciousness and hearts filled with gratitude.
An avid sports enthusiast, he was a devoted fan of the Washington
Redskins and the Boston Red Sox.
After nearly three decades of running their company in New England,
Sunny and Susan retired to Haymarket, Virginia to be near their sons
and grandchildren. I had the great privilege of knowing Sunny during
his years of living in Northern Virginia and attended church with him
on numerous occasions. I was always struck by his kindness and his
devotion to his family. In the final years of his life, nothing brought
him greater joy than cheering on his grandchildren while watching them
play football, lacrosse and baseball.
Madam Speaker, Sunny's example of a life well-lived shines brightly
as a model to us all and his loss is felt deeply. I ask my colleagues
to join me in celebrating the life of Sunny Sung-In Kim and in
extending our deepest condolences to his wife Susan, their sons Thomas
and James and their grandchildren ``T'', Rachel, Samuel, William and
Henry.
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