Yezenia Sanabria Introduction at Harrison Lions Club Award Dinner

Yezenia sanabria’s Introduction Speech

 We [Harrison High School Environmental Club] knew him from Town but this was the first real-time that we met.  He came in and told us how great we were for caring about our Environment and he was proud of us for volunteering our time. He went on to tell us that if we cared about our environment we also had to care about our Town, our beautiful Harrison. He shared with us different projects that he felt we might like to help with so we got to work. We cleaned up the 280 Ramp and put in the landscaping and helped with the painting and painting of a mural on Harrison Avenue and 2nd Street.

We also cleaned up during Harrison Fest. He even opened up his home to us so that we could have meetings and plan other ways that we could help. He encouraged us to do whatever we wanted in town and said that we could do anything.  He told us we were leaders and the future was ours.  Through the years I continued to see that Mr. Millan continued his work with the Harrison High School Environmental Club and with other youth in the town to continue to beautify the Town and to do great things. He instilled in us that we should have pride in our town.

Years later as an adult I ran into Mr. Millan in town and I did even think that he would remember my name.  Not only did he remember my name, but he introduced me as one of his first leaders. He said that I was one of his students that great things in Harrison. I remember as he said that  I remember thinking that we would not have accomplished some of what he had done with his leadership but he gave us the credit. 

 That is the kind of person Mr. Millan is, he credits other people instead of taking it for himself because he wants to encourage others to do good. He helped empower me as a Student and instilled in me an appreciation for our town that I still have in me today. I don't live in Harrison these days but I still continue to try to give back. He did that for me and he has done that for many.

This is one of the reasons I was happy that we chose Mr. Millan.  He is a hard-working man and that shows in all he does.

Councilman Anselmo Millan was born in Galicia, Spain where his father was a businessman and Mayor of  Ponta Vedra Spain.  Anselmo studied in a seminary for 6 years until his father passed away. This happened at the age of 16 and that is when he left his studies to take on the family business and care for his mother and siblings. He attended University and obtained his degree in accounting and all of that while running the family business.

At the age of 25 with the assurance that the family business was running smoothly, he came to the United States. In the United States, he found work at Anheuser Busch where he was involved as a shop steward and maintenance supervisor for the Painter's Union for 20 years.  He later left that job and began working for Hudson County Health and Human Services as a confidential aide where he still works today.

 In 1995, Mr. Millan became involved in politics and became the first Hispanic Councilman in the Town of Harrison.  He was chosen as a Delegate of the National Democratic Convention for the re-election of President Bill Clinton in 1996.  Millan formed the  Colecison de Sociedades Espanolas which is a Union of all Spanish groups in the tri-state area. This created an Association of all Spanish clubs under one name and bring different cultural groups from Spain to the USA.

Through all these years as a councilman, he has served the community of Harrison.  He provided citizenship drivers, held holiday dinners for families in need, distributed Thanksgiving baskets to local families also in need, and created an annual Harrison Fest (Festival) that celebrates the great cultural diversity of our town.  He continues to work with the students of Harrison and includes them in caring for our town. He has partnered with local businesses to showcase the town and the talents of Harrison students in an annual window artwork contest. 

The Youth of Harrison continues to be important to Mr. Millan.As he says we are his leaders, so he is helping our future. Councilman Millan is a dedicated father and grandfather and all that know him can see he puts his family first, he demonstrates love, kindness, and leadership in all he does, and for this and many other reasons, we are presenting him with this award. Please welcome me and in congratulating our Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Mr. Anslemo Millan. [applause]