{"id":2125,"date":"2021-03-16T20:44:41","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T20:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babamim.com\/?page_id=2125"},"modified":"2021-03-18T22:58:25","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T22:58:25","slug":"page-12-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/babamim.com\/index.php\/page-12-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Page 13"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Pittsburgh SNF Three-Day 2010!\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Get ready now for the NEXT Pittsburgh SNF 3-Day!<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0July 17, 18, and 19 2009 is but a memory, but it’s time NOW to start making plans for NEXT year!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

It’s usually the 3rd weekend in July, so book your airflights early!\u00a0 This past year (2009) we met new people from Washington, DC,\u00a0 various places in Ohio, Kansas, West Virginia, Arizona, Lackawaanna New York, Houston Texas, Steelton PA, and all the way from California and Wyoming!\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Look at these tremendous young Americans so proud of their Serbian Orthodox heritage.<\/span><\/div>

They’re already making plans for next year too!<\/span><\/p>

Click the lower right hand corner of the photo to enlarge and see their super T-shirts better!<\/p>

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\u00a0Lots of weddings coming up with this great gang! By SNF 2010’s 3-Day, Jana and Anthony will have tied the knot.\u00a0 And a little afterwards, Danny and Stephanie will give us time to get to DETROIT for another great celebration!<\/span><\/p>

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\u00a0Eliot Maravich lives in Florida now, but tells Sally and Louisa he will never miss taking his grandkids to Kennywood!\u00a0 His T-Shirt says: “Grandpa is my name and SPOILING is my game!” \u00a0<\/p>

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\u00a0Old Serbian Day Kennywood Veterans already! \u00a0<\/div>
Born into it!<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>

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SNF President Pete Borkovich at the mike, getting ready to call on His Grace Dr. Mitrophan of the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese to invoke the prayers before starting the program.<\/span><\/p>

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SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Start making YOUR travel arrangements now….. and get hugs like these from everyone!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0Medich \/ Rajkovich Team work HARD each 3-Day!<\/p>

\u00a0These ladies LOVE John, who shared some of the photos you see on these pages with all of us.\u00a0 All three of them also have\u00a0W&J\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>in common!<\/span><\/p>

John sings\u00a0“Kol Slaven”\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong>like an angel. We’re so lucky to have him in St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church Choir! \u00a0He also is VERY active with all of the SNF Sports Tournaments.<\/span><\/p>

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\u00a0How can anyone measure this lady’s WEALTH?<\/p>

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\u00a0Is that the Aliquippa gang on the 2nd tier there?<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a0Friday:<\/strong><\/span><\/u>\u00a0 Kennywood Park A HUGE Amusement Park with rides for children of all ages and a Serbian Day Program at 6:00 featuring the SNF Person of the Year Award and dancers from various Serbian colonies.\u00a0<\/p>

In 2009, the young dancers came from Windsor, Ontario, Canada! People love to come for all the above AND the barbequed lamb!\u00a0 Umm!<\/p>


The lamb’s good, even in the rain!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

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The Sargeants & Friends<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Afterwards, it’s down to the American Serbian Club on Pittsburgh’s South Side where hundreds and hundreds of people gather to eat chevapchis, socialize with friends they haven’t seen in a long time and dance their hearts away to very late at night!<\/p>

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Tailgating and playing “Serbian Cornball” before the boat ride on Saturday!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>

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Susan, Georgette, Jessica and Joc ready to go on the boat!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>
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Below: Dancing Kolos on the Boat.<\/span><\/div>

\u00a0<\/p>

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Click lower rt. corner to enlarge.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Saturday:<\/strong><\/u><\/span>\u00a0 Boat Ride on the huge\u00a0MAJESTIC<\/strong><\/span><\/u>\u00a0up and down Pittsburgh’s 3 Rivers:\u00a0 The Monongahela, the Allegheny and the Ohio!\u00a0 Nothing like dancing the Kolo and listening to Tamburitzan music while viewing sights like PNC Park, Heinz Stadium, good ole South Side, etc.\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

World-famous Heinz Field, home of the NFL Champion Steelers!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

The ship starts boarding at 12:00 NOON and leaves the dock promptly at 1:00 for a three-hour cruise.<\/u>\u00a0 Off at 4:00 PM, you have time for shopping at all the stores located in nearly\u00a0Station Square<\/strong><\/span>, and then afterwards, its dancing once again down at the\u00a0American Serbian Club on Pittsburgh’s South Side.<\/strong><\/u><\/span><\/p>

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\u00a080 yr. old Dance Director from Windsor, ONTARIO never sat out one dance!\u00a0 He led every Kolo!\u00a0 SNF President Pete Borkovich promised that he could be captain of the ship next year!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>
\u00a0++++++++++++++++++<\/div>

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Sunday:<\/strong><\/span><\/u>\u00a0\u00a0Church services at Holy Trinity<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(10:00 AM) followed by the huge family-style\u00a0picnic\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>up at Holy Trinity’s St. Sava Cemetery\/ Picnic Grounds on Hamilton Road in Castle Shannon, Pittsburgh, PA.<\/span><\/p>

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John and Rox Lovrensky of CA<\/p>


Click the lower right hand corner to enlarge this photo. You might even hear them sing “Kazi Leno” or “Zora Je!”<\/p>

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SEE<\/h2>

YOU<\/span><\/u><\/p>

IN<\/p>

PITTSBURGH<\/p>

NEXT YEAR!<\/h2>

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Ako Bog da!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Bajich cousins from Kansas City and Kentucky, along with Jocey Bizic of Texas with Cowboy Bob!<\/span><\/p>

Another wonderful\u00a03-Day Serb National Federation<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0has come and gone, so if you missed it THIS year, mark your calendars for the next, as we always have such a wonderful time welcoming people from all over the country and Canada back to Pittsburgh! We saw friends from California, Phoenix, Kansas City, Utah, Cleveland, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, West\u00a0 Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, NY, Massachusetts, Windsor and Hamilton, Canada and MORE! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>

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Joceyln Bizic, of Texas, on the Mistovich’s SNF\u00a04-Day<\/span>\u00a0Serbian Flag driveway, Thursday, July 18.<\/span><\/p>

Sometimes we call it\u00a04-Day, as George and Linda Mistovich<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0get things started with their HUGE home party-picnic the day before, making sure the week-end starts out happy and the revelry lasts! It\u00a0DOES<\/strong><\/span><\/span>, until\u00a0the last Serb out<\/span>\u00a0closes\u00a0Kennywood, finishes kolo dancing on the Boat Ride, and partying at the 1,000+ person picnic at Castle Shannon’s Holy Trinity St. Sava picnic\/cemetery grounds.<\/span><\/p>

2013 SNF 3-Day began with the\u00a097th Annual Serbian Day at Kennywood on Friday, July 19, 2013.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The Senior Group from\u00a0St. Sava’s Cathedral on Broadview Heights<\/strong><\/span>, Cleveland, OH, provided the entertainment on the Kennywood stage and did a tremendous job with their intricate Serbian kolo dance moves, like true professional dancers!\u00a0\u00a0Thank you, Cleveland!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

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Senior dance group, St. Sava Cathedral of Broadview Heights, Cleveland, OH<\/span><\/p>

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His Grace, Dr. Bishop Mitrophan<\/strong><\/span>, welcomed all with a\u00a0spiritual blessing and gave thanks to the pioneers who kept this ethnic heritage alive and well for us for the past 97 years.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 He BEGGED us to make sure we had 10 times the amount of people present for the next few years, when we will celebrate our\u00a0100th Kennywood Anniversary!<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>

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George Klipa served as MC, while Bishop Mitrophan looks on approvingly.\u00a0 Both the American and Serbian flags were on display<\/span>\u00a0at Pavillion #5, Little Serbia.<\/span><\/p>

George Klipa<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0was wonderful, as usual, in his role as\u00a0“Domacin” or Master of Ceremonies<\/strong><\/span>, recalling all of the names of the people who worked so hard in the past, especially\u00a0past SNF Presidents (Dushan Ljubenko, Robert Stone, George Martich, Peter Borkovich, Dan Pjevich,<\/span>\u00a0and now\u00a0Mike Marjanovich.<\/strong><\/span>)\u00a0 Too, you could almost “see” the performers he remembered from times past that graced the old Kennywood stage:\u00a0\u00a0“Vinka,” the popular Svedalinka songstress, the famous “Popovich Brothers” from Chicago, “Edo Lubich,” etc.<\/span><\/p>

George called\u00a0Cissy Rebich<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0to the stage as Director of the SNF.\u00a0 He lovingly calls her\u00a0“Lastavica,”<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0like a swallow, who left the Pittsburgh area, but returned! Cissy also introduced her SNF office crew of\u00a0Cheryl Leidig, Milos Rastavica, Susan Hayden, and all the SNF Board members in the audience.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

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SNF President Mike Marjanovich, SNF “Person of the Year, 2013”-Milan Momchilovich, and his beautiful daughter, Morgan.<\/span><\/p>

Then it was\u00a0SNF President Mike Marjanovich’s<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0turn to welcome the people in the audience, and to announce this year’s SNF Person of the Year,\u00a0Milan Momchilovich,<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>President of Lodge #171 (“Djurdjevdanski Uranak”)<\/span><\/strong>, of Schererville, Indiana.\u00a0 He is a lifelong member of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church there, the son of parents Vidoje and Irena Momcilovich, and husband to Alice Rivich, with children Marc (26) and Morgan (22). He always participated in SNF athletic and cultural events as a child, and is now very active in making sure these wonderful traditions continue by continually being a top producer of the SNF and its benefits. He works tirelessly for his church, serving on the boards. He surely was worthy of this great honor!\u00a0 Nice to see Morgan accompany him too! Milan has worked at Arcelor Mittal Steel for over 40 years as a CNC machinist, supervisor, programmer, and trainer.<\/p>

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SNF Person of the Year Mike Momchilovich, giving his acceptance speech, urging more young people to sign their families up into the Savez, and at the end, he gave a nice donation to the SNF Scholarship Fund.<\/span><\/p>

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Winowich Cousins at Kennywood<\/span><\/p>

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\u00a0Strong families enjoying their day at Kennywood!<\/span><\/p>

Top Photo:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The\u00a0Medichs<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0from Duqesne, PA<\/p>

Bottom Photo:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The\u00a0Klaichs<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0from Ambridge, Sewickley, Moon, PA and Houston, TX!<\/p>

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The program is always at the large pavillion, number 5, so make sure you bring additional guests next year as we build to have more than 1,000 people again in the pavillion for our 100th Anniversary!<\/p>

GREAT NEWS!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

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Welcome to baby boy,\u00a0QUINN LAWRENCE DeLUCA,<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0born to parents\u00a0Jana (Stipanovich) and Anthony DeLuca<\/span>\u00a0of St. Nicholas S.O.Church in Monroeville! Born Friday7\/19\/13, 8 lbs., 12 oz.!\u00a0 Yes, ANOTHER SNF member for sure! First grandchild of John and Sue Stipanovich!\u00a0 Let’s hope for many more!!!!<\/p>

QUINN<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0joins\u00a0Sonja Capuzzi<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0(21)<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Marissa (Bobik) Trklja<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(3)<\/span>\u00a0as our special\u00a0SNF Kennywood babies!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>

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Marissa Trklja, Michael Trklja, Jocey Bizic, and Nicholas Julius Trklja!\u00a0 Marissa is our “Serbian Day at Kennywood” birthday gir<\/span>l, age 3 here!<\/span><\/span><\/p>

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Thank you, Lackawanna guys and friends!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

TAILGATING AT THE MAJESTIC SHORE!<\/span><\/strong>
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Saturday was the Boat Ride on the\u00a0Majestic,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0the big boat in the Gateway Clipper Fleet. The\u00a0TAILGATING<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0is a wonderful addition, brought by the\u00a0Aliquippa girls<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(Kathy Loverich, Cheryl Leydig, Eileen Mrkal, Elaine Zavada and Joanne Ridjanek<\/span>).\u00a0 The\u00a0Lackawanna, NY Serbs<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0make it SO special for their Pittsburgh friends\u00a0as they always provide the entertainment.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(And the red\/blue\/white table flag too, always adds great interest!). They are GREAT orchestra players, but my favorite has to be of them singing Chuckie Popovich’s,\u00a0“Ali-quippa, I love stuffed cabbage, take me home, country roads!”<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

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The famous Lackawann-Pittsburgh 3-Day table!<\/span><\/p>

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These three believe “No one sings like the Serbs do!”<\/p>

(At the Majestic Boat Ride Parking Lot tailgate!)<\/p>

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On both Friday and Saturday nights, the\u00a0American Serb Club<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0was rocking with great bands… Sokoli and Osvezenje Bands played.\u00a0 Djuro Klipa’s orchestra played at the picnic in the pavillion, and Radost in” the Dungeon!”<\/p>

Sunday, July 21, 2013<\/strong><\/span>: Each SNF Sunday starts out with Church Services either at Holy Trinity Cathedral, or the local Serbian Orthodox Churches in the area (McKeesport, Monroeville, Steubenville, Carmichaels, Aliquippa, Hermitage, etc.)\u00a0 Then, its on to the Holy Trinity St. Sava cemetery grounds for a memorial service for Draza Mihailovich and all deceased SNF members.\u00a0<\/p>

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The cemetery is well-cared for.\u00a0 These are the pioneers who built our churches, and stuck together to help each other with Insurances, providing eternal resting places, etc.\u00a0 They showed great foresight!
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Afterwards, the PICNIC!<\/p>

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This year’s picnic had to be one of the NICEST,\u00a0\u00a0 friendliest, biggest picnics in a long time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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First time in\u00a0“the Dungeon”<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0for little\u00a0Danica Tomich<\/span><\/strong>, but we’re sure it won’t be her last!\u00a0 Not with these happy “Teti” and “Kuma”beauties surrounding her and her mother, Julie Tomich!
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The Verlinich family of McKees Rocks!\u00a0 Their grandparents were STAUNCH SNF PIONEER supporters and the traditions continue!\u00a0 There are 2 Visnick beauties too!
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The Visnicks (Joyce and Milan from Washington, DC, and Romilda Lovensky from California! Romilda is the wife of SNF longtime Board Member, John Lovrensky, who flies in to Pittsburgh quite often. We’re all grateful!
<\/span><\/p>

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Brnilovich-Karlo Family.\u00a0 Every year, same spot!<\/span><\/p>

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The Danny Kukich-Capuzzi Families share a feast!<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0\"\"<\/p>

Julie Tomich shared this photo of brilliant Grant Mrvos’ SNF 3-Day Shoes!\u00a0 He should market these!
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One of the most unique things this year was the exciting time finding out\u00a0Baby Benusa<\/strong><\/span>‘s gender.\u00a0 Boy or Girl?\u00a0 A\u00a0“HE”<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0or a\u00a0“SHE”<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0coming in December? The cake told the tale when\u00a0Halle (Belosh) and Matt Benusa<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0cut the cake and found the cake batter was\u00a0BLUE!\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0We’re sure little\u00a0Nikola Fisher Benusa<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0will be an SNF member as soon as he’s born!\u00a0 His great-grandmother,\u00a0+Martha Mamula Belosh<\/span><\/strong>, was\u00a0SNF “Woman of the Year” in 1988.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Grandparents\u00a0Paul and Kathy Belosh<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0can hardly wait!<\/p>

\"\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"\u00a0It’s blue! A BOY!<\/p>

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Happy “Campers” with their cigars of joy!<\/p>

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\u00a0The joy of generations being together for 3-Day cannot be expressed enough in words or photos. It has to be FELT in the heart!\u00a0\u00a0It makes THIS grandmother’s heart do\u00a0FLIP-FLOPS!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

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3 Generations: Dad Nick, Baba Mim, & Jocey! \ud83d\ude42
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To view ANY of these photos in a larger size, just click on the bottom right-hand corner!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dane and Bob\u00a0Topich<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

worked on this\u00a0Pittsburgh 3-Day Poem, 2013<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

with credit to Clement Moore’s “Night Before Christmas”<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

+++<\/span><\/p>

Dane wrote:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0“Here is the final version of ‘Twas the night before 3 Day.’ Non-rhyming comments are no longer subject to ridicule. If you missed the story, this started with one simple verse followed by comments from fellow poets Mira Andrich, Mel Bard, Bob Topich, Jovo Nada Potkonjak, Sandi Radoja, JT Kordesich, Roger, Von Trbovich Orlich, Lexy Vudrag and Mim Bizic. well done friends!”<\/em><\/span><\/p>

‘Twas the night before 3 Day and all through the kuca
It was so stinkin’ hot there was no need for rakija vruca…
Jovo said to his wife, feeling courageous and bold…
“Donesi mi pivo and make sure it’s cold!”<\/strong><\/span>
The tamburas rock it at Misto’s who roars…<\/span>
what’s better than 3days?…well how about four!<\/span>
and when we all land nice and snug in our beds
we’ll have visions of cevapi dancing in our heads
Nada wishes she were there – but no need to fear.
This year it’s Greece and 3-Day next year!!!

It all starts with the Jackrabbit and Thunderbolt at a park named Kennywood
This is the 97th time we\u2019ve done it so you know it will be good<\/strong><\/span>
Djuro Klipa arrives at the Club, accordion strapped to his back
The next morning some go to a golf course and take a big hack
On Saturday we cruise a river like the Drina
You see old friends and make new ones like Mico, Andrija and Kristina
When up on the top deck there arose such a clatter…
why everyone kolos…that’s all that does matter.<\/span>
When what to my wondering eyes should appear…
the fountain at The Point that is my dear.
The sun of the mid-day had everyone sweating…
it’s summer so that is the weather we’re getting.
On Sunday it\u2019s church in the morning, the cemetery at noon<\/span><\/strong>,
lamb right afterwards and kolos real soon!<\/span><\/strong>

The kolos were raging so lively and quick,
our Greek friends joined in, it’s Nikki and Nick!
More rapid than the wave pool those kolo kids came…
and we whistled and shouted and called them by name!
“Ajde Bosko, Ajde Aco, Ajde Dusan i Bato…<\/span>
On Mira, on Ljubi, on Ruza i Kato.<\/span>“

You can read all about it in Sandi\u2019s column of Reflection<\/strong><\/span>
Just like her mother, that\u2019s what she does for the Serb National Federation.<\/strong><\/span>
We danced and we laughed and enjoyed the libations,
and then we agreed “These are the best celebrations!
It’s the highlight of summer, what a great way
to hear\u00a0Dane Topich say, “I LOVE THREE DAY”<\/strong><\/span>

To the end of the picnic grounds to the ends of Serb Hall,
now kolo kids, kolo kids, kolo kids all.
So up to the picnic grounds these kolo kids flew,
with a trunk full of pecanja and a few other things, too!
And then in a twinkling I heard a sweet sound…
of course\u00a0Djuro Klipa<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0laying more kolos down!

As I look to see more and was turning around,
I spy Andrija Bajic who came into town!
He was dressed in his nosnje from his head to his toes…
and with brother Toma sang everything he knows.
A frula was tucked in his shirt pocket tight…
when he pulled it out playing he had it just right.
His eyes how they twinkled his band was so fun…
look it’s Randy and Bobby and Fouch on the drum!
They sang and they played an all nighter of course…
with all the crowd singing it left everyone hoarse.

From Arizona, to the ‘Burgh, they all come
It\u2019s always a good time with a helluva lot of fun
It should be in plural and referred to as Three Days,
but we call it “Three Day” since we’re set in our ways.
It’s a long time tradition that gets better each year,
and we can hardly stand waiting as it draws so near.

Another AJ JOI, we must learn how to rhyme,
\u2018twas said by the boy who started this time.
If I wasn’t excited well now I’m ready to go…
let’s get on with 3 Day I’m looking for mo\u2019
Roger wishes he was there, claims too far from home…..
We’ll raise a glass, Roger, and call on your cell phone!

I must end my banter as I’m off to prepare…
for the big crowd on Sunday that’s sure to be there.
This should be posted in the dungeon in time…<\/strong><\/span>
to show all of Serbdom how well we can rhyme.<\/strong><\/span>

At one point Vonnie reminded us all to be nice to our mother
There is nothing like a srpska majka \u2013 there is no other
And mama in her babuska and I in my sajkaca…
just chillin’ in the AC waiting for her gibanica.

SNF Past President +Bob Stone looks down with pride
Knowing that his vision of 3 Serbian Days is thriving and alive
He and his kum were always on their feet
Saying\u00a0“IF you are not a member of the SNF, come see me!”<\/strong><\/span>

Monday morning arrives and we open our eyes, \u201cNovi dan je!
Necu nikad piti vise\u2026ni manje!
Monday morning came too soon and too sunny
My eyes hurt, my head hurts, and my stomach feels funny
I could have left earlier, but I had no fear
Three Day comes only once every year.
But we closed down the grounds from a great 3 Day treat,
Only to remember we’ll do it again at golf in two weeks.

If you believe in 3-Day,\u00a0repeat after me\u2026<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
“Happy\u00a03<\/span><\/span>-Day to all\u2026 and to all\u2026 ZIVELI !!!<\/strong><\/span>“
+++++++++++++++++<\/h4>

Niko Nema<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Sto Srbin Imade!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Goldsmith par excellence!<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Dan Dubois and son<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

I don’t usually like tatoos, but I loved this one!<\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Can’t think SNF (or basketball) without thinking of the Medichs!<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Our Bobik-Grese Girls,\u00a0Alayna and Alexis Jo.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Their mother Michelle and Dad Blaise, met while working in Kennywood!<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Mike and the Milanovich girls!<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0\"\"<\/p>

Sophie Kovachevich Samardgia<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0and Son from Canada now, but we claim her as “Ours,” an Ambridge-Aliquippa St. Elijah beauty!<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

The\u00a0Stepanovs<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0were there too! Alexander, Roman and Demetri kept their Moms busy while waiting for the LOG JAMMER water ride!<\/p>

++++++++++<\/p>

It’s official!\u00a0 He’s taken!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Our Alex Brnilovich is engaged!<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Jim, BJ, Marsha, Sarah, Kathy<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Thanks\u00a0Tiho!\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0The LAMB was absolutely SUPERB this year!\u00a0Ray<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0agrees and\u00a0Mike’s<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0there in the back making CEVAPS!<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Working just as hard as her great +mother, Bunny Belich, did!<\/span><\/p>

+++++++++++++<\/p>

\u00a0\"\"<\/p>

Paul and Larry discuss yesterday’s GOLF game!<\/span><\/p>

+++++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

The Eli Peichs and Bozji Bajich<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Our\u00a0Debbie Backo<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0listens to Radost Orchestra entertaining the crowd.\u00a0John Kasich<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0is in the foreground.\u00a0 He is a great historian for Farrell-Hermitage in SNF affairs!<\/span><\/p>

Here’s a better one of Debbie!<\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

++++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Seeing happy\u00a0Tamara<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0always reminds me of the good times with her mother, Millicent!<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Kathy, Sladjana, Natasa & Halle!<\/span><\/span><\/p>

+++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Cera on crutches in the middle, surrounded by Uncle Tom Trkula, Aunt Kathy Loverich, cousin Adam, and Robby Stone!<\/span><\/p>

+++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Two great SINGING Serbs!<\/span><\/p>

Thanks to Ron and Rella Cvetican of WV for always making the Boat Ride raffle so much fun!<\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Look at the parking lot! All the “grass” was taken, front, side and way in the back!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Great picnic!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

+++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

The “Kitchen” did brisk business!<\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

++++++++++++<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

We’ll end with this magnificent photo by Milana Capuzzi, of the Serbian flag taken in front of\u00a0 Steve and Natasa Capuzzi’s house!<\/span><\/p>

PROUD SERBS ALL!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0\"\"<\/p>

A great big\u00a0“Thank You!<\/strong><\/span>” to\u00a0KDKA’s Jim Graci<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0for having news about our\u00a097th Annual Serbian Day at Kennywood<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0announced on the radio.\u00a0 He made a lot of people so happy!<\/p>

“MNOGO HVALA!”<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Thanks a lot, Jim!<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Historic Serb Days -Kennywood 1917-2016\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Excitement is building as we prepare for the\u00a0<\/span>100th<\/span>\u00a0Anniversary of Serbian Day at Kennywood Park,\u00a0<\/span>1917-2016<\/span>, on\u00a0<\/span>SATURDAY<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0July 16, 2016<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0as part of the Serb National Federation’s 3-Day weekend,\u00a0<\/span>July 15-17, 2016.<\/span><\/h3>

Let us share with you some historic moments from Kennywood history we’ve found in old newspapers from across the Tri-State area of Pittsburgh, so that you can feel the joy too! \u00a0We’ll be sharing more details with you about this year’s celebration as they become firmer…. but in the meantime…. Enjoy!<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Just a few corrections here: \u00a0Stevo BABIC<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0was Chairman, and\u00a0Bozo MAMULA<\/strong><\/span>, was Secretary of the Arrangements Committee. Stevo went on to hold that post for many, MANY years…..<\/p>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

For the American SRBOBRAN:\u00a0<\/p>

The Early Days: Serbian Day at Kennywood Park<\/strong><\/p>

By Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic, Feb. 16, 2016<\/strong><\/p>

The Thursday, August 2nd<\/sup>, twenty-eight page evening edition of the\u00a0Pittsburg Press<\/strong>\u00a0newspaper in 1917 was only\u00a0TWO CENTS<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 That\u2019s the time when newspapers were sold in the morning and evening, and Pittsburgh didn\u2019t have the \u201ch\u201d at the end of its name.\u00a0 But that edition was very special to all Serbs.\u00a0\u00a0 It carried the FIRST report of Serbian Day at Kennywood, thanks to very enthusiastic Chairman, Stevo Babic of McKeesport, PA and Secretary of the Arrangements Committee, Bozo Mamula, of Pittsburgh\u2019s South Side.<\/p>

Probably, in all their glory of seeing a most successful event around them, one of them found time to call into the newsroom, as from the report, it says that\u00a0\u201cThere are many Serbians located in Pittsburg and surrounding towns\u00a0and few, if any, were absent from the park today.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

That\u2019s how we hope that all Serbians throughout the USA will find the time to join in the festivities of the Serb National Federation\u2019s Salute to Serbdom\u2019s 100th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary of Serbian Day at Kennywood as part of the 3-Day weekend, July 15-17, 2016.<\/p>

Not only to come and help fill the ranks and file for this historic occasion, but to let your whole community know about what\u2019s happening like the Serbs did, whether they lived in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Uniontown, Masontown or the Beaver Valley.<\/p>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Baba Andja’s Diaries and\u00a0Kennywood<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Memories, Monday,\u00a0August\u00a03,\u00a0<\/span>1936<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Here’s an entry from\u00a01936<\/span>, the 21st Serbian Day at Kennywood Park!<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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(Click lower right hand corner to enlarge image!)<\/p>

Translation:\u00a0\u00a01936 Kennywood Memories—<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Today is the Serbian picnic.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

(At the top: \u00a0She was sorry that Uncle Chappy -George- was in the army and couldn’t be with them. \u00a0She wrote that EVERY day!)<\/p>

“I got up early. \u00a0Joe (son) went to work, but Nikola (husband) and Batalo (border) have vacation. \u00a0And we, God willing (Ako Bog da), are getting ready to go to the picnic. \u00a0<\/p>

Everyone came, our Joe at 9:00 to our house as he’s going to the picnic (later after work.)<\/p>

At 10:00, Marta (Daughter), Beba Latinka (youngest -Baby-Daughter Laura) and Sophie Buncic went early. \u00a0Marty took them in her car early because they’re on the committee. \u00a0<\/p>

At 1:00, Nikola, Milica (Daughter) and I will go on the bus with our whole Lodge (#11-Vojvoda Stepa Stepanovich!). \u00a0<\/p>

Joe isn’t going to work in the afternoon so he’ll be coming later.<\/p>

“At the picnic there was everything you could think of, everything! \u00a0They brought in the flags and sang the American and Yugoslav national anthems, and there were priests from all over, and a Gypsy orchestra. \u00a0<\/p>

There was no way it could be an any better Serbian Day than this one because I saw so many of my friends from all over (Svih strani!) so I was so pleased and happy.<\/p>

“Marty worked the whole day and night until 11:00 at night. \u00a0She’s really exhausted, but when she wants to work like that, let her.<\/p>

“However, my heart is broken, but I can’t tell anyone how I feel that my two children (George in the Army, Rose in Belgrade) aren’t here with us. \u00a0I saw so many mothers with their children, and mine are so far away from me.<\/p>

“My Josip (Joe) came about 4:30 in the afternoon. \u00a0I thought when I saw him that the Heavens opened up and an Angel came because he looked so handsome!(Later on in the late evening)<\/p>

“We got ready to go on the bus as happy as could be. \u00a0It couldn’t have been a nicer Serbian Day, everyone was so happy! \u00a0“Dobro Dosli! (They arrived home safely!)<\/p>

++++++++++++++++<\/p>

Baba Andja Mamula’s report of\u00a0Serbian Day<\/span>\u00a0at Kennywood on\u00a0Aug. 1, 1941<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>

I got up early and Pi (her son-in-law, Paul Belosh) went to work and I was working around the house. Milica (Daughter)got up early too and went to see Latinka (youngest daughter who had baby Milana only 2 days ago!), but they were all sleeping. \u00a0My Chappy (George) is still sleeping too. He was very tired and he’s so dark from the sun that he looks like he’s a Cernie. I’m waiting for Milica so that she can tell me how my babies are, one and the other. \u00a0(Latinka was the baby in the family).\u00a0<\/p>

Today is Serbian day.<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0I don’t know if I will be able to go. Something always comes up that I can’t do what I want.\u00a0<\/p>

Marty (oldest daughte married to Paul Belosh) and Pi (P.B.) and I got ready to go to the picnic. It was so nice. Milica, me, and Marty, but Marty was always with other people surrounding her. She was like a peacock amongst the birds.\u00a0(“Kao paun medju pticima!”)<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>. She couldn’t be more beautiful, and she was dressed so expensively magnificent. \u00a0I saw many of my friends and we all talked so beautifully. I rode some and I walked around a lot. My dear Vladimir. \u00a0(Thinking aloud about her grandson in Europe.) We came home at 12 o’clock midnight. \u00a0Milica went to see the baby and I went to bed.”<\/p>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

Speech Given by\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Mim Bizic<\/strong><\/h3>

at Kennywood, July 16, 2016, right before we all lined up to make the 1,000 person KOLO line around the Lagoon!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Kennywood 100 speech on History of Serbian Day 7\/16\/16By Mim Bizic<\/strong>

Happy 100th birthday! \u00a0Happy SLAVA to all of you here today who chose to help celebrate this historic moment, one beautiful birthday party commemorating our pioneers\u2019 efforts to create a SERBDOM that has guided and sustained us all these years!<\/p>


Bask! \u00a0Bask in the glory of knowing that you are here today\u2014descendants of those early pioneers. \u00a0We are the FIRST such ethnic group at Kennywood Park to reach this great milestone!<\/p>


Happy 100th! \u00a0The first event was recorded for history in the early evening edition of the Pittsburgh Press of\u00a0Thursday, August 2nd, 1917, carrying the report of Chairman Stevo Babic.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>


Helping him on that original committee, also from McKeesport, were Nikola Mrvos and a fellow whose last name was Pavlovich. \u00a0Steubenville was represented by Milan Kukich and also on the first committee were Sam Verlinich of McKees Rocks, and Bo\u017eo Mamula of Pittsburgh\u2019s South Side. \u00a0\u00a0(I left this out for time\u2019s sake.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>


That 1917 Pittsburgh Press newspaper account read: \u201cThere are many Serbians located in Pittsburgh and surrounding towns, but FEW, IF ANY, were absent from the park today!\u201d \u00a0How smart they were to make sure all of Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas knew of this great accomplishment of the Serbian War Orphans Relief Committee!<\/p>


How did the first Serbian Day at Kennywood start?<\/p>

War was raging in Europe, and thousands of Serbian children were left orphans, as the Serbs lost almost \u00bd of their male population and between \u00bc to 1\/3 of their total population from which they have never recovered. \u00a0While +St. Bishop Nikolai was asking for help speaking to thousands at St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral in London, great physicist scientist Michael Pupin of Columbia University in New York was heading up the Relief Efforts throughout America and Canada. \u00a0Pupin called upon his good friend,\u00a0Stevo Babic\u00a0of the Greater Pittsburgh area, to help.<\/strong><\/p>


Stevo\u2019s good friend,\u00a0Mr. Joseph McSwiggen<\/strong>, was the owner of Kennywood Park.<\/p>

\u00a0
Babic asked McSwiggen to donate the use of the park for the day, and he agreed to let the Serbs garner a percentage from the sale of tickets for the amusement rides, thus leading to what we now know as Kennywood\u2019s famous \u201cNationality Days\u201d for all ethnic groups.<\/p>


Throughout the years that followed, so many great projects occurred because of you, your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. \u00a0
Besides the proceeds helping the war orphans of Serbia, we were also able to help fund:<\/p>


1.The Serbian\/Yugoslav room here in Pittsburgh at Pitt\u2019s Cathedral of Learning. \u00a0<\/p>

2.The late Lt. Col. Mitchell Paige, awardee of the Congressional Medal of Honor, helped raise one of the biggest amounts of money for American War Bonds during WWII.<\/p>

\u00a03.More recent donations from Serbian Day at Kennywood were used to help fund Vracar Cathedral in Belgrade and<\/p>

4. Scholarships here in the USA.<\/p>


Collectively over the years, we have witnessed Beauty contests, athletic events, choirs, folklore groups and tambura bands from all over the USA here at Kennywood, all the while having fun and such a good time. \u00a0And now, TODAY, we all are part of history!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Thank you EVERYONE for being here!\u00a0\u00a0Ziveli, SRBI!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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100\u00a0Years of SERBDOM at Kennywood!<\/strong><\/h3>

This year’s 2016 Chairman,\u00a0Dane Topich<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0came up with this fun activity called\u00a0TRANSLATE KENNYWOOD<\/span><\/span>\u00a0contest to get the kids excited about this year’s event:<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you click on the lower right hand corner, you’ll be able to enlarge the image above. Many people are participating and some as far away as the Netherlands, hoping for a chance to win a free admission to the park.<\/p>

“Most look \u00a0up to admire the stars. \u00a0A\u00a0Champion<\/span><\/span>\u00a0climbs a mountain and grabs one!”<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>

Read more about the history of Kennywood here:<\/p>

https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kennywood<\/a><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Get Yourself to Kennywood for\u00a0July 16, 2016!<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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! If Plan “A” doesn’t work, there are 25 other letters!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

+++++++++++++++++<\/p>

The Pittsburgh Press on\u00a0July 27, 1952<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0p. 7<\/strong><\/span>, wrote that the Serbs were holding their annual outing, and that\u00a0<\/span>\u201cTomorrow over 15,000 Tri-State American Serbs will gather for their traditional feast.\u00a0 At least 100 lambs will be prepared for the 35th<\/sup>\u00a0meeting.\u00a0\u00a0Gavrilo Medic\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>of Duquesne is head chef.\u00a0\u00a0 A beauty contest, open to any American\u00a0 girl of Serbian descent, is scheduled at 7 PM with\u00a0Mildred Hayes,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0of McKeesport as Chairlady.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0St. Sava Tamburitzans of Johnstown<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0will give a concert at 5:00 PM sharing honors with the\u00a0Wilmerding Male Chorus.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Lou Balta<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0is chairman of Serbian Day with\u00a0George Brenlov<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0serving as Honorary Chairman<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

\u00a0Then there was this post from the\u00a0Morning Herald in\u00a0Uniontown<\/span>, from July 19, 1973<\/strong>.<\/p>

\u201cThe aroma of BBQ lamb, home baked bread and fresh green onions will herald the\u00a056th<\/sup>\u00a0Annual Serbian Day at Kennywood.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 Sponsored by the SNF, this is one of the largest reunions of Balkan people in the country.\u00a0\u00a0Hundreds of lambs will be BBQed for the occasion as has always been the custom, this being the traditional Serbian Festival food.<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>

The program will be held at the\u00a0Starvue Plaza<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0at 6:00 PM, to feature nationality music and gaily costumed dancers.\u00a0 The main speakers for the program are\u00a0Mr. William Salatich, President of Gillette Razor Co.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Also speaking will be\u00a0Leonard Staisey, Allegheny County Commissioner. \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>

\u201cReverend Nedeljko Lunich, of Indiana Harbor,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0will receive the Serbian Man of the Year Award.\u00a0\u00a0 Special music will feature\u00a0Vinka Ellison of Ventura, California.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0She is known as the \u201cQueen of Sevdalinka\u201d and\u00a0Mr. Ted Erdel,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0a member of the Pittsburgh Opera Chorus.\u00a0\u00a0The talented Tillie Klaich and his Balkan Serenaders of Lackawanna, NY<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0will join in the festivities.\u00a0 In full native costume, the\u00a0St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Jr. Tamburitzans of Wilmerding<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0will play, sing and dance.\u00a0 There are 38 youngsters in the group.\u00a0\u00a0President Robert Rade Stone will preside.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/em><\/p>

Going back to\u00a0August 2, 1921, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/strong>\u00a0on p. 14 it said,\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cToday will be Serbian Day at Kennywood Park.\u00a0\u00a0Steve Babic, Chairman of the Serbian Relief Committee, will be in charge.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0All Serb peoples from Allegheny County will celebrate this holiday.\u00a0 There will be\u00a0<\/em>an athletic meet with prizes.\u00a0<\/span>Folk<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0dances and native songs will be featured<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Picturesque peasant costumes will be worn.\u00a0\u00a0The park will be decorated with American and Serbian flags.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em>That was the 5th<\/sup>\u00a0S.D. at Kennywood!<\/p>

++++++++++++++++++\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0Here\u2019s one of my favorite finds.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s from the\u00a0Pittsburgh Press of July 30, 1944<\/strong>, during WWII.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cMitchell Paige, Congressional Medal of Honor winner from West Mifflin\u00a0 (Charleroi!) will supervise\u00a0a bond rally\u00a0at the Serbian Day outing at Kennywood Park tomorrow night.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cNick Pavlovich, Chairman,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0yesterday announced the hero\u2019s appearance would highlight the program which begins at 6:00 PM on the open air stage.\u00a0\u00a0About 25,000 district American Serbs are expected to attend.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 The program will include speeches from\u00a0L.C. Christopher, Gary, Indiana, President of the Serb National Federation,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Steve Babic, Duquesne, Chairman of the first Serbian Day 27 years ago.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>

\u201cThe Marijana Singing Society of Steubenville, OH a<\/strong><\/span>nd\u00a0Nick Kosanovich\u2019s Neven Tamburitzan orchestra will entertain.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Folk dances will be performed.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>

This reporting should bring back many happy memories.\u00a0 My father always thought the Neven Orchestra with Milan Shatlan, was one of the best!\u00a0\u00a0 Seeing that there was a \u201cMarijana Singing Society of Steubenville\u201d makes me think about the four Maksimovich Brothers who appeared at the first Serbian Singing Federation Festival in Akron, OH, where they first introduced the song to an enthusiastic crowd in 1936!<\/p>

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UNITED WE SING:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

St. Elijah Choir of Aliquippa, PA, helps Northern Neighbors celebrate the 59th Anniversary of St. Sava\u2019s Choir in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>


By Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

October 24, 2014<\/span><\/strong><\/p>


Canada has always been special to me.\u00a0 Ask any kid who has ever been to Shadeland Camp, and he or she will probably say the same, since every morning we sang the \u201cStar Spangled Banner,\u201d then \u201cO Canada,\u201d ending our morning flag ceremonies with \u201cBoze Pravde.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>


It was exciting as a 12 year old to have an international pen pal, age 13, from Canada, and what a friend to have: the brilliant Olga B. Markovich, of Toronto, who was the 1986 SNF Woman of the Year for her unending research on the Serbian people of the USA, Canada and Serbia.\u00a0 Our childhood penpal letters back and forth always shared a Serbian proverb or two, at Olga\u2019s suggestion.<\/span><\/p>


And because of Shadeland, my first love (one way!) was from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.\u00a0 At 15 years old, my American girlfriend, Barb, and I made a little green wax record at Conneaut Amusement Park (located 17 miles from Shadeland) singing, \u201cWake up Little Susie\u201d and at the end, Barb excitedly finished our 3 minutes with only a second or two of recording time left in the little booth with a rushed,<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMimi just saw Knobby at Shadeland and she\u2019s all shook up!\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s fun to know I still have that record from almost six decades ago and the memories of Youth\/Canada it holds.<\/span><\/p>


Canada was special to me because as a 16 year old (1958?) on my first official choir trip to Canada with our St. Sava Philip Visnich Choir from Pittsburgh, I had the thrill of a lifetime.\u00a0 \u00a0Out from the curtains we proudly stepped onto the stage, to a packed audience in a local high school, with even the balconies filled to capacity.\u00a0 Professor Boris Dobrovolsky<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

http:\/\/www.babamim.com\/boris_dobrovolsky_professor_of_music)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

received a big round of applause as he stepped forwards after us, as his directing abilities were recognized throughout Europe and North America.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Up went his hands and we had only sung two words (\u201cDol-i-ne Tut-ne\u201d) of Adam Popovich\u2019s arrangement of \u201cRatne Pesme\u201d out of our mouths, when the packed-hall audience erupted, rising from their seats, clapping and stomping their feet to our music!\u00a0 It was phenomenal, and as you can see, my heart STILL remembers the intense feeling of joy for Canada.\u00a0\u00a0I just LOVED it, thinking my heart would surely BURST from the excitement.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Who wouldn\u2019t love Canada with all its great\u00a0VIDOVDAN<\/strong>\u00a0celebrations each year?\u00a0 How many times as a child I traveled north with my Dad as he covered these events for the American SRBOBRAN, and a little later in life with my dear +Gus to enjoy the magnificent programs put on by the\u00a0Canadian Shield Society under maestro Bora Dragasevich\u2019s supervision, listening to Mica Petrovic and his Chetnik orchestra.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Also very memorable was the day\u00a0Alex Malich<\/span>, young\u00a0Peter Bizic<\/span>\u00a0and I traveled north to Niagara Falls, Vidovdan, to MAYBE do some matchmaking with a special Canadian Serbian girl named\u00a0Colleen Payne<\/span>, with the help of Alex\u2019s sister,\u00a0Christina Gacesa.<\/span>\u00a0 Hey!\u00a0 It worked!\u00a0 Instant rapport!\u00a0 Yes siree, I\u2019ve always had a special fondness for Canada!\u00a0 We earned a whole new family for our efforts and little\u00a0Amelia Bizic<\/span>\u00a0to boot!<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>


So it was with great happiness I found myself traveling in Cheryl\u2019s husband\u00a0Tom\u2019s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0new Honda on\u00a0Friday afternoon, October 17, 2014<\/span>,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0north on Rt. 79 from Pittsburgh, with driver\u00a0Cheryl Leydig of the SNF and Laurene Maravich (our U.S. A. answer to Canada\u2019s Lepa Jankovic!).<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Our St. Elijah Choir of Aliquippa, PA, was the invited guest choir for St. Sava Choir\u2019s 59th Anniversary.<\/strong>\u00a0 Along with our St. Sava Canadian hosts, the Russian \u201cChrist the Savior\u201d Choir under the direction of Elena Eremeeva would also perform.<\/span><\/p>


Joyfully we passed the American and Canadian flags on the Peace Bridge. And with only great memories as our baggage, we surrendered our passports and happily answered questions at the border.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWho\u2019s Milana Bizic?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cI am!\u201d<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0I proudly announced!<\/span><\/p>


Our hosts had arranged for us to stay at a nearby hotel, wherein I saw that my roommate,\u00a0Marlene Shatlan Volitich<\/strong><\/span>, had already checked in.\u00a0 Not surprisingly so, I\u00a0 entered our 4th floor room to find Marlene ironing away, one of her first activities anywhere we travel.\u00a0Grandson Mike Volitich<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0always has the best looking pressed shirts, and our white (drat that wrinkled linen material!) choir blouses soon followed.\u00a0 \u201cKeep that iron on, Marlene!\u201d<\/span><\/p>


Then out to dinner we went, after Pittsburgh based-Canadian-born\u00a0Sasa Trklja<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0suggested to his\u00a0Aunt Joanne and Uncle Bratso Wuchenich<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0the local Serbian restaurant unceremoniously called\u00a0McAdam Place Restaurant at 5659 McAdam Road.<\/strong>\u00a0 Don\u2019t let the name fool you.\u00a0 The Serbian food was out of this world, great and plentiful.\u00a0 And although there was only one fellow on the keyboard, it sounded like a whole band playing as we sang and danced along to many a recognizable song.\u00a0 Highly recommended to all who travel to Mississauga!\u00a0\u00a0Like cousin Jennifer Trklja beams, \u201cIt\u2019s the BEST!<\/strong>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>We had a tremendous evening for our first night in Canada!<\/span><\/p>

The next morning we took a stroll to the local mall and I was dumbfounded at the high prices of everything.\u00a0 No wonder why the Canadians love shopping in the lower USA!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

+++++++++++++\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As soon as we entered the hall, we were so <\/span>
Then it was on to \u201cAll Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church\u201d complex where our St. Sava Choir hosts were awaiting us at Noon.\u00a0<\/span>
Adam Loverich and I first went to check out the church.\u00a0 Oh the beauty!\u00a0 I was in such awe from the moment we opened the metal doors with all of the saints beckoning us inside, to the vastness of the sanctuary in front of us that quickly put me in mind of our beloved monasteries in Kosovo.\u00a0<\/span>
\u00a0This was a new Gracanica, but with brighter colors not muted by the centuries, and with saints that didn\u2019t have their eyes gouged out from Kosovo Albanians.\u00a0 It was so breathtaking beautiful, my eyes didn\u2019t know where to look first, and I just crossed myself in pure joy and happiness.\u00a0 \u00a0I hope the attached photos give a glimpse of that magnificence.<\/span>

Then it was onto the hall itself, a grand lady with historical importance.\u00a0 \u00a0She started life as a schoolhouse for the agrarian society there in the 1930\u2019s, then became the auto-driver\u2019s licensing center in the \u201860\u2019s, complete with a huge driving course that now serves as a great parking lot.\u00a0 In the 1980\u2019s, the Serbs were far-sighted enough to purchase the property.\u00a0 And what property it is, right along Queen Elizabeth Highway.\u00a0<\/span>
You can\u2019t miss it, coming from the USA, it\u2019s on the left-hand side, with the two flag posts proudly flying the Canadian and Serbian flags.\u00a0 And for double measure, in between the flags, there is an elevated, HUGE horizontal wooden flag painted with the Serbian tri-colors with a golden cross and the 4 C\u2019s, atop the playground area for the children!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>


On leaving St. Sava\u2019s late on Sunday afternoon, I loved watching the young ones on the see-saws joyfully playing and counting away, over and over:\u201cJedan, dva, tri\u2026.\u201d under those flags and the golden cross. Oh my heart, my Serbian heart!\u00a0 It was a moment for sure to remember!\u263a But I\u2019m getting ahead of myself!<\/span><\/p>


Just minutes later, we were surprised by a magnificent food spread in the adjoining room.\u00a0 My gosh, was this lunch AND supper?\u00a0 It sure looked like that, but you know Serbs!\u00a0 How we were laughing saying we were going to BURST in Canada!\u00a0 Not only from joyous friendship and patriotism on display, but also from the food!\u00a0 (See photos).<\/span><\/p>

Back to the hotel we went for a quick rehearsal with our director, the talented Snezana Lazich,then we changed into our choral costumes, and back to the hall, that was now starting to fill with guests from many surrounding areas of Toronto, Kitchener, Hamilton, etc.\u00a0<\/p>


Before long, the hall was filled in anticipation and we were happy to see so many familiar faces everywhere we looked.\u00a0\u00a0Niko Nema!\u00a0 Niko!<\/strong>

But first we ate again!\u00a0 And this time, a whole pig graced the middle of the sumptuous table!\u00a0 It was better than any Thanksgiving feast!\u00a0 The amount of food prepared was beyond description, just look at the photos to see!<\/p>

Draga Dragasevich, always one of my favorite Canadian teachers (think Bora, Olga Markovich, Paul Pavlovich, Ambassador James Bissett, Scott Taylor) was Mistress of Ceremonies, and the program got underway just a little after 5:30 PM with the singing of the three national anthems, this time with the Canadian one being first!\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>


\u00a0We (St. Elijah Choir) stayed on stage as the others filed off, going first on the program as the guest choir.\u00a0 \u00a0Although we didn\u2019t have our full choir with us due to a big wedding in Aliquippa that day, I\u2019m sure with our appreciation for all our Canadian hosts did for us that day, we poured out hearts out under the direction of Snezana, who is such a delight to watch!\u00a0 Her eyes, her hands, her hips are all in full motion, urging us to give our best.\u00a0And we tried to deliver! \u201cKo pjeva, Zlo ne misli!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Who sings, thinks no evil.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Who would not feel elevated singing \u201cSej Den\u201d (This is the Day that the Lord hath made) and \u201cSvi Jazici\u201d\u00a0 with the angels flapping their wings in joy?\u00a0 And the now familiar St. Bishop Nikolai\u2019s \u201cZnas\u00a0 Li Ko Te Ljubi Silno\u201d and Mokranjac\u2019s \u201cKada Mi Se Radoslave.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Vinska Pesma and More!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>


All choirs sang familiar liturgical hymns and starosrbijanske pesme, those songs that make you feel as if you\u2019re part of a larger Slavonic world.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
There were many heads in the audience singing along with our ending number of the happy \u201cVinska Pesma \u201cby Isidor Bajic and Dragie Cuculjevich.\u00a0 Bring that wine glass here! \u263a<\/span><\/p>


\u00a0Our host choir, under the very capable direction of Janez Govednik, who at one time served as a conductor of Moscow Conservatory\u2019s Opera Studio, and later the Belgrade Opera House, and conductor of the National Theater (opera and ballet!)<\/span>\u00a0in Novi<\/span>\u00a0Sad, and Assistant Conductor to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, sang \u201cHvalite Imja Gospodnje,\u201d (Aleksandar Arhangelski)\u00a0 \u201cDostonjo Jest\u201d by Cornelije Stankovic, and \u201cDve Starosrbijanske Pesme\u201d by Marko Tajcevic before ending with a rousing \u201cAliluja\u201d by Janez Govednik.\u00a0 You could FEEL the joy they brought to this anniversary concert!<\/span><\/p>

The Russian Orthodox Choir sang familiar tunes to us:\u00a0 \u201cVidihom Svet Istinji,\u201d \u201cAngel Vopijase,\u201d \u201cDostono Jest\u2019, and the \u201cBallad of the 12 Razboinikov\u201d before the soprano conductor, Elena Eremeeva sang a solo.\u00a0<\/p>

In between all of the songs, St. Sava Mississauga surprised us all with Radomir Micich reciting \u201cCerska Bitka\u201d in memory of the 100th Anniversary of the first victory of WWI by the Serbian soldiers at the Battle of Cer.\u00a0 He was magnificent in his delivery, and I couldn\u2019t help but think of how much he must have delighted his audiences (AND his teachers!) at his St. Sava\u2019s Day recitations (Declamatcias) every January 2 7 when he was a young lad!\u00a0 Superb.\u00a0 So wonderful!\u00a0<\/p>

And then M.C. Draga Dragasevich turned to the audience, asking all of us to stand and to join in the singing of \u201cTamo Daleko!\u201d with the\u00a0choir\u2019s orchestra.\u00a0 Oh, what a crowd pleaser that was!<\/span>
And the rest of the evening proved likewise as the popular orchestra \u201cBoemi\u201d (Bohemians) played for our listening and dancing pleasure.\u00a0 It\u00a0<\/span>was such a delight to see really large kolo circles sometimes three and four people deep circling the floor and<\/span>\u00a0singing along to popular tunes.\u00a0 Everyone was so happy!<\/span><\/span><\/p>


Sunday morning we were up early, enjoyed the breakfast our hosts provided at the hotel, lit our candles in the church\u2019s sanctuary down below, and then it was onto the high climb up the stairs to the choir loft that reminded me of being in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, wherein the priests and parishioners look like a miniature scene below. No, you wouldn\u2019t need a Kleenex for a nose bleed, but perhaps to wipe away a tear or two as you behold the magnificence of the beautiful icon walls surrounding you, enveloping you, helping you really live the Bible\u2019s story with every turn of your head.\u00a0 Icons are called \u201cWindows to Heaven,\u201d and we were as close to being in Heaven as could be!<\/span><\/p>


The parishioners below thought they were in Heaven listening to George Milosh sing his famous \u201cOce Nas\u201d solo while Donna August directed for George, who otherwise directed us that morning.\u00a0 We are so lucky to have such talented members step forth, just like John Lukich, Marina Milojevic-Daoust and Bosiljka Paich do for St. Sava\u2019s Choir of the \u201cAll Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church.\u201d<\/span><\/p>


Was it time to eat AGAIN?\u00a0 Who could believe that another feast for the eyes awaited us?\u00a0 What phenomenal hosts our Mississauga people were!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0Again, Draga Dragasevich acted as hostess for the little program that followed, with Bora Dragasevich being a speaker on behalf of the choir.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>He praised the association our two countries had because of the formidable cohesiveness of the Serbian Singing Federation, thanks to the foresightedness of Vlajko Lugonja, Paul Bielich, and those who followed.\u00a0 He<\/span>\u00a0spoke of their choir\u2019s traveling to Pittsburgh and Aliquippa for the SSF Concerts in the past, and the camaraderie that always followed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>


A little more about Bora is a must!\u00a0 I was thrilled when Bora gave me a photo of himself bedecked in all the recent medals and honors he received from HRH Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevich\u00a0 (the Order of the Crown with the Great Cross, First Degree (blue sash, medal on his chest, medal at his hip!) and with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal with the red ribbon, authorized in the Queen\u2019s name by the Governor General of Canada and presented to Bora by a Greek Canadian Member of Parliament at a reception in the Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in December, 2012.\u00a0 Above the red ribbon is the pin of the Srpska Narodna Odbrana (the Serbian National Shield Society).\u00a0 These are orders of the FIRST CLASS, and usually reserved for Serbian Kings, Princes, Prime Ministers, Diplomats, and NIKOLA TESLA!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Congratulations, Bora, and Draga too.\u00a0 Together, they have worked as a team to provide the latest and historical information about the Serbian people in both Serbian and English through their work with the radio program, Serbian Day, the newspaper \u201cGlas Kanadskih Srba,\u201d lectures, etc.\u00a0 Congratulations Sir Bora and Dame Draga Dragasevich!<\/span><\/p>


Bora is also the author of the book \u201cStopama Predaka\u201d or \u201cIn the Footsteps of my Forefathers: Autobiography.\u201d\u00a0 The work has received high praise in both the new and OLD country.\u00a0 While we were having Sunday lunch, Bora received word that all 500 of the books sent to Serbia were already sold out!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>


Speaking of Serbia, be sure to read the book, JOHAN\u2019S SERBIAN HEART available on the Internet at Amazon.\u00a0 \u00a0http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/JOHANS-SERBIAN-HEART-Mico-Popovic-ebook\/dp\/B00IQWSB82.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

(I purchased this book in the hall, and read parts of it aloud on the way home.)\u00a0 Emir Kostunica is making a movie based on this true story, and hence, has become a person non grata in today\u2019s Albanian Kosovo, an honor he wears proudly.)<\/span>
Diane Volitich, president of our St. Elijah Church Choir presented our hosts with a small check to help with the cost of our stay and enthusiastically thanked all for the exceptional hospitality shown.<\/span><\/p>

A happy \u201cZiveli\u201d followed!\u00a0 But it didn\u2018t end! As we were leaving, we each received a CD of St. Sava Choir\u2019s wonderful Christmas CD and a bag full of delicious beef, ham and cheese sandwiches and SO many cookies to eat on the way home!\u00a0 Everyone who had anything to do with hosting us, and even escorting us to our cars like Alex and Mira Brkic, should earn an ABCD Award!\u00a0 \u201cAbove and Beyond the Call of Duty!\u201d\u00a0 Thank you, Mississauga!\u00a0 We had a great time!\u00a0 Thank you!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Arbutina Families of Freedom, PA\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Movers and Shakers:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

The Arbutina Families of Freedom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

<\/p>


Real SNF “Braco Jugovici” Freedom, PA Lodge Members<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Millard (Milutin) Arbutina, Michael Arbutina, and George Arbutina, all buried very close to each other in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Freedom.\u00a0 A huge contingent from the Beaver County Special Unit conducted full military honors for Millard, who died on St. Sava’s Day, Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, and was buried the following Monday, with V. Rev. Stevan Stepanov conducting the services.<\/p>

By Milana (\u201cMim\u201d) Karlo Bizic<\/span><\/p>

This story appeared in the American SRBOBRAN on Wednesday,\u00a0April 19, 2006.<\/u><\/p>

(With thanks to the Memoirs of Millard Arbutina)<\/p>

I first saw him as I went to record my name in the Visitor\u2019s Book of his deceased uncle, Millard Arbutina, at the William Murphy Funeral Home in Rochester, Pa.\u00a0 He stood tall and handsome in his Air Force blue, full-bird colonel\u2019s uniform, with a military polished look that right away gave away his background.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cYou\u2019re the Arbutina who graduated from the Air Force Academy,\u201d I extended my hand.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m Mim Bizic.\u00a0 My deepest condolences on the loss of your uncle,\u201d I said sincerely.\u00a0 Then I added, \u201cYour Dad was my principal at the Sewickley Elementary School in Quaker Valley, and later, was our Assistant Superintendent.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYes, I\u2019m Dave Arbutina, \u201cI heard as I watched him break into a winning smile, his large hand warmly meeting mine.<\/p>

\u201cWhen you and your brother received your special nominations to the Academies (George Jr. went to the Coast Guard Academy), everyone of our faculty felt a source of pride that only comes from extended family feelings.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t only your Q.V. family,\u201d I continued, and I could feel my chest heaving up in pride, \u201cbut your entire Serbian family as well, and that\u2019s a family that goes from coast to coast.\u00a0 If one Serb makes it, we feel we ALL made it!\u00a0 We\u2019re all very proud of you!\u201d<\/p>

The next time I saw him only a few minutes later, he was reading a tribute to his Uncle Millard, a poem that both of them must have heard many times.\u00a0 Entitled HIGH FLIGHT, over the years it has become a mantra to pilots.\u00a0 Written by Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee, RCAF, and killed 11 December, 1941, it goes like this:<\/p>

High Flight<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

My eager craft through footless halls of air.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Where never lark, or even eagle flew –<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

The high un-trespassed sanctity of space,<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Put out my hand and touched the face of God<\/strong>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Distinguished Air Force Cross Medal-<\/span>\u00a0Awarded TWO TIMES!<\/u><\/span><\/h2>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before us was Millard Arbutina, my old Quaker Heights neighbor when I lived in Sewickley.\u00a0 Although I admired and loved Millard, somehow I was disappointed, too, reading his obituary, almost angry because I never knew what a real hero he was, and I lived only a block away!\u00a0 Too many of our Serbs have done outstanding things and should be recognized, but people don\u2019t know enough about them.\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Millard was a Major in the Army Air Corps.\u00a0 He received the highest award you can get in the Air Force, the Distinguished Flying Cross.\u00a0 Not once, but TWICE!\u00a0 It\u2019s a real honor to get that award, yet alone getting it twice!\u00a0 He was also decorated highly by the Nationalist Chinese Air Force, but let\u2019s back up a little.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Millard was born August 6, 1921, in Freedom, PA, the son of the late George and Stanica Tepsic Arbutina.\u00a0 After graduating from High School in 1939 (where Dani Pevac said he was cheated out of being named President of the Class because of his background and living in the poor \u201cCanadian\u201d side of Freedom even though overwhelmingly elected by his classmates<\/em>)<\/span>, the brilliant Millard entered the Civilian Conservation Corps, and from there, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Any of you familiar with the Civilian Conservation Corps know that it was a way for poorer families to exist during and after the Great Depression.\u00a0 One child went to the CCC camps, and 95% of the money earned was automatically sent home to feed the family.\u00a0 Others I know personally who did this were also famous heroes: WWII fighter pilot Vic Lumovich and Gus\u2019 uncle, \u201cUjak\u201d Milosh Klaich, of D-Day fame.<\/p>

A Dynamic Career<\/span><\/h1>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Millard transferred to the U.S. army Air Corps where he earned his wings as a pilot, later becoming a command pilot in December, 1942.\u00a0 He was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War and was then involved with the Berlin Air Lift.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 During WWII, he flew transport aircraft over the Himalayan Mountains between India and China which at the time was considered the most dangerous \u201chump\u201d flying that could be done.\u00a0 This was due to terrain, weather, and enemy aircraft.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In Korea, he flew B-26 aircraft and flew 68 voluntary combat missions.\u00a0 For five years, before retiring, he was an aircraft commander on the RB\/47, a six engine jet aircraft.\u00a0 He was also trained as a navigator and a radar bombardier.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Among his many decorations and campaign medals were:\u00a0 two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, four air medals, two Presidential Unit Citations, a decoration and a pair of pilot wings by the Chinese Air Force.\u00a0 His campaign medals covered the American and Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns.\u00a0 He had the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and Korean War Service Medals.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After retiring from the Air Force, he entered what is today known as the University of Central Arkansas to pursue a degree in education.\u00a0 He completed his studies in\u00a0two years<\/u><\/strong>, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.\u00a0 During this time he was a Dean\u2019s List student, and was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity and the history fraternity of Phi Alpha Theta.<\/p>

Educational Union Activist<\/span><\/h2>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He returned home to Pennsylvania and taught for Freedom (1) and Western Beaver School Districts (4) years. He often said that his teaching years were his golden years, but he felt he could make more of an impact on the profession by joining the staff of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA).<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He became a field representative for the union and\u00a0opened the first field office for the union<\/u>\u00a0in Pittsburgh.\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My Kum, Milan Markovich attests to the importance of Millard\u2019s help.\u00a0 Hopewell school teachers never had a contract in those early years, or even the right to negotiate salaries.\u00a0 Milan was President of his Association.\u00a0 John Milanovich (another Serb), was the Superintendent, and there was Millard Arbutina, backing up Markovich and the Hopewell Education Association.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t easy, but it worked!<\/p>

Millard devoted many stressful long hours in organizing and negotiating for teachers in order to improve their economic well-being, both from a Pittsburgh office, and then afterwards, in Harrisburg as a Director in Field Services, from which he retired.\u00a0 But he wasn\u2019t finished working!<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Strong Work Ethic,<\/strong> even as Senior Citizen<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Millard became interested in real estate and went on to earn a real estate license.\u00a0 He worked at Valley Realty Company in Ambridge, and in his own words: \u201cfor over 15 very joyful years.\u201d\u00a0 For most of those years he worked as an appraiser and became certified as an independent fee appraiser.<\/p>

Millard is survived by his wife of 56 years, H. Noreen (Hamm) Arbutina, with whom he traveled the world, including Yugoslavia.<\/p>

Millard left behind a rich legacy to his son Millard Jr. (Lynne of Gaithersburg, MD), and daughter, Lisa Arbutina Fedorko. (Michael of Ewing, NJ), three step-grandchildren and several adorable foster grandchildren.<\/p>

Draza Mihailovich Connections<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>

Lisa retired from AT&T as a Client Business Manager (Viacom, OBS, UPI), then became an independent contractor for three years before joining Johnson & Johnson where she is the Clinical Project Manager.<\/p>

Lisa shared an important story with me about Draza Mihailovich.\u00a0 While she was working in California, she met Fran Grossman, who has turned out to be a lifelong friend.\u00a0 Upon announcing her Serb background, Fran mentioned how her pilot father had been saved by a Serb during WWII when his airplane was shot down over Yugoslavia.<\/p>

After the war, Mr. Grossman owned a very successful company in Columbus, Ohio.\u00a0 One of his first acts after establishing himself was to send for his savior Serb in Yugoslavia, sponsor him and his family, and make the fellow Supervisor of the plant!\u00a0 Lisa was sorry she couldn\u2019t remember the name of the Serb, but said she thinks he was related to the Bulat family in Freedom.<\/p>

Lisa is very proud of her brother Millard\u2019s educational and musical accomplishments too.\u00a0 Millard holds a Masters in Psychology and works as a Chaplain in Gaithersburg, MD.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

More Connections:\u00a0 Lance Sijan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Later on in the day of the funeral, I again spoke to Dave Arbutina (George Arbutina\u2019s son, Millard\u2019s nephew).\u00a0 \u201cBeing a graduate of the Air Force Academy, did you ever hear of Sijan Hall there?\u201dI asked.<\/p>

\u201cLance Sijan?\u201d\u00a0 he queried and my heart thumped at the positive recognition.<\/p>

It turns out that Dave, who is now the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Mt. Nittany Medical Center in Penn State, (State College) PA, graduated from the Academy in 1976, the year of our nation\u2019s Bicentennial.\u00a0 Dave Arbutina was Chairman of the Bicentennial Committee and one of the most important things the Committee wanted to accomplish was to get special recognition for Lance Sijan!\u00a0 Is it a small world or not?<\/p>

Sijan (Dormitory) Hall is named after American Serb Captain Lance P. Sijan (class of 1965). Captain Sijan was the\u00a0Academy’s first and ONLY graduate so far to receive the\u00a0<\/u>Medal of Honor<\/u>. He received it posthumously for his heroism in Vietnam.<\/p>

Dan shared that there have been further recognitions:\u00a0 The Air Force Academy Library has a special display of Sijan memorabilia, including his headstone from Vietnam.\u00a0 The 440th<\/sup>\u00a0Airlift wing in his hometown of Milwaukee has a replica of Sijan\u2019s F-4 at the base entrance where the dining hall is named after him.\u00a0 In 2003, a 10 ft. marble monument in the shape of a stylized F-4 pointing upwards was erected at Arlington Park Cemetery.\u00a0 Sijan Circle at Langley AFB in Virginia is named in his honor as is Sijan Street at Whiteman AFB in Missouri.\u00a0 There\u2019s a Lance P. Sijan Chapter of the Air Force Association in Colorado Springs where the Academy is located, and the AF ROTC from Boston University has a squadron there.\u00a0 Each year the Air Force bestows the Lance Sijan Award for Leadership.<\/p>

Millard\u2019s sister:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Mildred Arbutina Pappas<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Millard (Miladin) was the middle child in the Arbutina family:\u00a0 Danica (born in Europe), then Milka or Mildred, Miladin, Michael, then George and Demetro (died young).\u00a0 Mildred is another Arbutina who was a great humanitarian and woman of conscience.\u00a0 Her good deeds and works were acknowledged by Educational Television (PBS) WQED Magazine in its December, 1999 issue when it listed her as a \u201cPittsburgher of the Century.\u201d<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Mildred Arbutina Pappas:<\/strong><\/p>

When she was living in Washington in the 1970s, this Beaver County native heard that the historic Vicary House in Freedom was to be razed for expansion of Route 65. PennDOT had already purchased the stone mansion built by sea captain William Vicary around 1826. However, her aggressive campaign and dogged persistence over several years finally succeeded in having alternative plans drawn up and the landmark was saved. Today it is being restored by Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation and is open for tours.<\/em><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The William Vicary Mansion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

A little more about Vicary Mansion from its official website:\u00a0http:\/\/www.bchrlf.org\/history__of__the_vicary_mansion.htm<\/a><\/p>

\u201cSitting atop a gentle knoll overlooking the Ohio River in what is now Freedom, Pennsylvania , sits the stately old mansion built by Captain William Vicary. Long a source of wonder, its unusual construction and elegant style speak of the wealth and status of its former owners.\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>

\u00a0\u201cCaptain Vicary, a retired Philadelphia merchant sea captain and land speculator, moved with his family to his land near Big Sewickley Creek.\u00a0 Looking for land deals, Vicary most likely scouted this area of Beaver County in which to construct his family home.\u00a0 Finding the correct spot, Vicary purchased 604 acres of land, lots #33, 34 & 35,\u00a0 from Mark Wilcox on February 18, 1826 on which to situate his mansion.[1]\u00a0 Within a few months following the purchase, Vicary hired John Moore to do the actual construction.\u00a0 The original contract called for Moore to erect a stone dwelling measuring fifty two feet long by thirty eight feet wide along with a stone smokehouse, necessary, and spring house to be finished in December of 1826 for the sum of $2,450. He was also to construct a barn for an additional $650.<\/em><\/p>

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>

\u00a0\u201cFaced with the impending destruction of this historical structure,\u00a0 a one-woman letter writing campaign was begun by Mrs. Mildred Arbutina Pappas.\u00a0 A former Freedom resident, Mrs. Papas conducted her campaign from her new home in Washington , D.C..\u00a0 Thanks to her efforts, and help from local organizations and governments, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation built a retaining wall to save the mansion.\u00a0 Placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 1974, ownership of the land was transferred to Beaver County in the mid-1970\u2019s, with the mansion being purchased from Nannah heirs, Gerald and Aloha Fehr Phillips, for $41,000 in 1982.\u00a0\u00a0 In February of 1999, the William Vicary Mansion became the official home of the Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation.\u00a0 Today, the mansion is being restored to its former grandeur and is open to the public for all to enjoy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Mildred\u2019s husband worked with the CIA.\u00a0 About 45 years ago, while driving in Europe, a car crash almost ended both of their lives.\u00a0 Mildred suffered a broken neck and wasn\u2019t expected to recover.\u00a0 Taken to a military hospital, she lay in a hospital bed with an iron ball suspended on her neck.\u00a0 Her perseverance and desire to live astounded all of her physicians. She did learn to walk again, albeit with a cane from then on.<\/p>

Brother Millard was so proud of Mildred\u2019s letters to governors, senators and other influential people instrumental in saving the Freedom mansion, he had all of her work bound into a book.\u00a0 He made extra copies, distributing to his family members, and also sharing with local libraries and historical societies.\u00a0 He also made sure a bronze plaque was placed on the mansion, mentioning her monumental work in preserving it.<\/p>

The late Arbutinas were movers and shakers for America.\u00a0 They got things done.\u00a0 Although we mourn the loss of a neighbor as fine as Millard and other family members, we\u2019re grateful there are younger relatives following in their leadership role footsteps.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Millard Arbutina’s medals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

(Click bottom rt. corner to enlarge)<\/span><\/p>


Flag from medal box above<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

<\/p>

Lisa Arbutina Fedorko & author, Mim Bizic<\/span><\/p>

From an April 20, 2006 email:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Mim,
Wow!\u00a0 I just finished ready this most incredible article.\u00a0 Mim, you are one heck of a brilliant writer!
\u00a0
Somewhere in heaven, the\u00a0 brothers Arbutina along with their sisters and parents are pausing to “Hvala Bogu<\/strong><\/em>” for you!\u00a0 The Arbutina’s on earth will all be toasting you and thanking God for you this Easter weekend!
\u00a0
Thank you, again, for all of the time and HEART that you put into researching, writing and making sure the article was published!
\u00a0
A grateful Serb,
Lisa
+++++++++++++++++++<\/span><\/p>

Old early photo of family:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

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George & Stanica Tepsic Arbutina & two of their 4 children.<\/span><\/p>


\u00a0Millard leaving for service….<\/p>


Millard’s daughter, Lisa, holding the above photo of her father in her hand.<\/p>

+++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

George Arbutina was my principal when I taught at the old Sewickley Elementary School (no longer there.) We all loved learning about what George’s children were doing and were always excited when his boys went into the U.S. Military Academies.\u00a0 Well, watch what happened to George’s grandson!\u00a0 I loved receiving this note from George’s daughter, Susan!<\/p>

7\/26\/10<\/p>

Hello Mim,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I came upon your website and was so delighted to see my family highlighted in the \u201cArbutinas from Freedom\u201d.\u00a0 It was with great pride that I read your article. I am the daughter of George Arbutina, sister of David (U.S. Air Force Academy) and George (U.S. Coast Guard Academy).\u00a0 I thought you would be interested in knowing that the military academy tradition has continued on down through George\u2019s grandson.\u00a0 My son, Kenneth Asher Seamans, is completing his summer basic training at the US. Military Academy at West Point. It has been his life long dream to attend West Point and through hard work and perseverance, he made it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It appears that the influence of that great generation of Arbutina brothers continues through many generations!\u00a0 His grandfather would have been so proud!
\u00a0Thank you for your wonderful website.
\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sincerely,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sue (Arbutina) Seamans<\/span><\/p>


We LOVE to hear stories like this!\u00a0 Please keep ’em coming!\u00a0 We’re so proud of your accomplishments!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Vojvoda Golub Babic from 1903....\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Vojvoda Golub Babi\u0107<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

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\u00a0<\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

I stumbled onto the name of Golub Babic when I was researching the 100th history of the American Serbian Club. I found him to be an interesting character and decided others may be interested in learning about him too.<\/p>

I couldn’t get over the story about the uniform he wore!<\/p>

See whole story here:<\/p>

https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gol<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Helen Delich Bentley's 40 Day Parastos 9\/24\/16\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A tribute, by Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Michael Kosmas, Helen Bentley\u2019s lawyer and great friend, relayed that when Helen was in Kosovo in 1989, for the 600th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo, the beloved future Patriarch +Pavle, then Bishop of Kosovo, gave them a tour of the area.\u00a0 As they were walking to Gazimestan, the Holy Field in Kosovo, Metropolitan +Christopher said that Saint Helen (Sts. Helen\u00a0 and Constantine) was known for building holy Christian churches and \u201cour\u201d Helen will be known for\u00a0defending<\/strong>\u00a0them!<\/em><\/span><\/p>