Park receives highest DAR honor
The Fort Peachtree Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented Dunwoody resident Sunny Park, CEO of General Building Maintenance, Inc., with the Americanism Award, one of the most prestigious honors awarded by the DAR, at its December meeting.
The DAR stipulates that the recipient “must be an adult who has demonstrated extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service qualities of leadership, trustworthiness,
service and patriotism, and must have actively assisted others to become American citizens, or displayed outstanding ability in community affairs, preferably with emphasis on the foreign-born community.”
Park, a Dunwoody resident, certainly exemplifies all these attributes.
A native of Seoul, Korea, and a veteran of the South Korea military, Park came to America in 1967, assisted by the efforts of Marine General Ray Davis, who was a native Georgian and Medal of Honor recipient for his valor during the Korean War. Park attended the Kellogg Business School at Northwest University and Indians University, and began his career by working as a janitor in an office park.
In 1983, Park founded General Building Maintenance, a commercial facility maintenance services organization now with offices in 16 cities across America. Clients include Walt Disney World, Texas Instruments, MCI, Cisco and the state of Florida. He later also became president of Global Sun Investments, Inc., a real estate investment firm, and the CEO of Hepatech Clean Room Services, Inc., a micro contamination service provider for semi-conductor manufacturers.
Park was the founder of the Good Neighboring Foundation, Inc., a movement for Asian Americans to participate in American community activities, and serves as a deacon at the Community Presbyterian Church in Tucker. He led the Federation of Korean Associations of the United States as chairman, and founded the Korean-American School of Atlanta.
He received the Patriot Award in 2002, and serves on the board of the Museum of Patriotism. He has been named “Small Business Person of the Year” by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, “Entrepreneur of the Year” by National Women in Business, and “Outstanding Citizen” by the state of Georgia. In August of 2001 Park was appointed by President Bush as commissioner of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
“When I became a US citizen in 1985, I promised myself that I would be the best citizen this country ever had,” Park said. “General Davis will be in my heart forever. You can count me in on taking care of this great nation.”
Presenter Nancy Pratt Jordan of the DAR said, “The greatest honor I have ever had is presenting this award to you for all the wonderful work you have done.”
“It is indeed an honor,” said Park, “for myself, my family and for all immigrants to America. I believe that all employers, like myself, have an obligation to teach new immigrants the rules and culture of this country, and guide them as they adapt to our country. Otherwise, the immigrants just live like they did in their home country and never fully embrace America. Our future is optimistic.”
Lynn Brackey (L) and Nancy Pratt Jordan (R) present Sunny Park with the DAR Americanism Award.
