moved here and assisting others who were first resettled by others, but its job as the only state to directly resettle refugees has come to an end.

It began 35 years when former Gov. Robert Ray personally saw the horror of Southeast Asians dying and starving in refugee camps half a world away.  Iowans were quick to respond when Ray called on them to welcome the newcomers.

First came the Laotians and Vietnamese and Thai people, all of them displaced because they helped our side of a brutal war in their homeland. Then it was the Bosnians who found themselves on the wrong side of a genocidal war in Eastern Europe.  More recently, when a dreadful civil war in deep Africa turned children into warriors, Iowa made a difference for Sudanese who couldn't go home. And now there are people of Iraq who face certain danger in their homeland because they are perceived as being on the wrong side of war.

Most of those refugees have been successful here. Most of the adults found jobs, most of the kids quickly picked up the language, and most now consider themselves Iowans.  Officially, the RSB resettled 13,822 refugees over the years, but the office also helped many more thousands who first landed in other states.

In brief ceremonies at the RSB's new office -- 701 SW 7th Suite N in Des Moines -- DHS Director Charles Krogmeier said the newcomers have enriched the state with their ceremonies and food and culture, and they have put meaning in the idea of "giving back" to a state that sheltered them in a time of need.

"There were 13,822 good reasons for doing this work, and Iowa is an even better place to live as result," he said.

Also attending was Terry Rusch, director of admissions for the U.S. Department of State, who said Iowa set an example for resettling with its "tough love" approach.  Instead of welfare, the emphasis has always been to help the newcomers find jobs, learn the language, and quickly become self-sustaining.
She presented a certificate of appreciation for Iowa's work over the years.

For many years, the State Department made an exception for Iowa's program. Although Iowa did an excellent job of resettling, it never met the criteria for regular resettling agencies -- criteria such as having a tax exempt status and being nationwide in scope. Late in 2009, the State Department decided to end the exception.

John Wilken, chief of the RSB, said he is proud of Iowa's accomplishment.

"We count it as one of the rare privileges where you know that your work makes a direct positive impact on the clients you are serving," he said. "I personally feel blessed to have been a part of this endeavor.