{"id":543,"date":"2021-03-12T19:09:20","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T19:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babamim.com\/?page_id=543"},"modified":"2021-03-18T23:19:55","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T23:19:55","slug":"page-7","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/babamim.com\/index.php\/page-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Page 7"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

102 Anniversary: St. Sava Gary\/Merrillville, IN, USA\nMim's Speech 10\/9\/16 as Keynote Speaker<\/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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

http:\/\/www.saintsava.net\/milana-mim-bizic-to-deliver-keynote-at-st-sava-102nd-anniversary-celebration-sunday-oct-9\/<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/h3>

\u00a0<\/p>

Gary, Merrillville, Indiana:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

102 Years and Counting!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

By Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic \u00a0 October 9, 2016\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Pomo\u017ei Bog! \u00a0I can\u2019t begin to tell you what a GREAT honor it is for me to be with you on this 102nd anniversary of St. Sava, Merrillville, from the ashes of old \u201cSrbska Geri,\u201d to this huge\u00a0140 acre, white-gleaming Flagship<\/span>\u00a0that serves as a\u00a0beacon in the Midwest<\/span>\u00a0for our Serbian Orthodox people everywhere!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I am so grateful to\u00a0V. Rev. Fr. Marko Matich<\/span>, of whom I\u2019ve heard only the most saintly things!, and to FB friend,\u00a0Danica Pejnovich<\/span>, your President and Chairperson for this event, and to her husband,\u00a0Dusko<\/span>, for being my chauffeur from the airport, to my hostess with the most-est, always, our\u00a0Roz Opacich,<\/span>\u00a0for inviting me to share this historical day with you, amongst so many of my old friends, \u00a0then\u2014with new friends, including those on FB I\u2019m meeting for the first time in person like your\u00a0website<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Wikipedia genius, Christopher Kosovich<\/span>, your film expert\u00a0Simo Glumac,<\/span>\u00a0and the\u00a0hard working ladies of the KSS. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

And best of all, I thank you for this opportunity for such a wonderful flood of memories of those hard-working,\u00a0most po\u0161teni pioneers I studied,<\/span>\u00a0who have gone before us, onto their Heavenly rewards! \u00a0Their great deeds make them live on forever! \u00a0Vjecnaja Pamjat!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Only last week \u00a0you had a memorable visit from\u00a0Prince Alexander and Princess Katherine of Serbia.<\/span>\u00a0Hearing that phrase of \u201cVjecnaja Pamjat\u201d makes me want to pause here to remember that on this particular day,\u00a0October 9, but in\u00a01934, 82 years ago<\/span>, one of the most deserving Serbs of mention because of HIS great deeds both on the battlefield and as a peacemaker, was\u00a0King Alexander I of Yugoslavia.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0He was so mercilessly gunned down in Marseilles, France while on a Peace Mission with France\u2019s Prime Minister,\u00a0Louis Barthou,<\/span>\u00a0to help stem what they saw then as the beginnings of WWII. \u00a0 \u201cVjecnja pamjat\u201d to both of them. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Interestingly enough, my\u00a0Aunt Rose Mamula<\/span>\u00a0of Pittsburgh and your\u00a0Gary\u2019s Ned Marich, son of Jovo Marich,<\/span>\u00a0were two of the scholarship winners in Belgrade, representing the Serb National Federation at King Alexander\u2019s funeral in Belgrade. \u00a0The ten SNF Stipendists in total, from all over the USA, presented a huge floral display conveying America\u2019s sorrow in a country shrouded in black and in deep mourning. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Perhaps some of you have forgotten that around that time, there were\u00a0TWO churches in Gary in the 1930\u2019s, which had been making efforts to unite into one.\u00a0King Alexander\u2019s death and the interventions of the dobrovolci volunteers who fought in the wars for the liberation of Serbia, helped bring them together.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0My father always said that anytime something catastrophically happened \u00a0to them, the Serbs would \u00a0always come together, and he was right, like in this last war. \u00a0We were ONE. \u00a0\u201cDaj Bo\u017ee da se Srbi Slo\u017ee!\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

A wonderful example is the work the\u00a04 Kolos<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0played\/plays in helping the orphans of Serbia and Serbian Relief efforts for more than 20 years now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I was here in Merrillville, only one time before, when our beloved\u00a0+Milan Opacich<\/span>\u00a0took me on a tour here before the huge birthday party for\u00a0\u010ci\u010da Adam Popovich\u2019s 90th birthday celebration in Lansing, IL 17 years ago.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 Your priest at the time was\u00a0V. Rev.Fr. Jovan Todorovich<\/span>\u00a0who greeted me warmly and I met a few of your church leaders, hard-working, but very much in-a-hurry, busy men donating all their time to fix yet another problem or cause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Your Founding Fathers would be so proud of you all! \u00a0You have worked together throughout the years to apply yourselves to so many causes, to achieve such great things knowing Fault Finding and FINGER POINTING doesn\u2019t work, but finding solutions does. \u201cTri prsta nas vode, do \u010dasnog Krsta!\u201d<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Here\u2019s a great \u201cTri Prsta\u201d first example! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I loved perusing the 50th anniversary booklet of St. Sava-Gary, finding out how your first St. Sava Church was established and got its name through the recollections of\u00a0Jovan H.T. Popovich.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0Popovich mentioned that at first, not ALL people were in favor of a church to begin with, because many of them wanted to return to Europe. \u00a0Their needs weren\u2019t the same as those who had relocated their families and wisely understood the vital need for a place of worship.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Let me pause for a moment here to ask you— \u201cHow many of you have\u00a0St. George<\/span>\u00a0as your Slava? \u00a0Sveti Nikola?<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Sveti Jovan?<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0I could go on and on, \u2026but let me continue Mr. Popovich\u2019s story”:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe meeting was held at Ribljan Hall on 21st and Washington Street.\u00a0\u00a0Jovo Kladarin<\/span>\u00a0gave Mr. Popovich the records and asked him to take the minutes for the meeting at which Stevo Orlich presided. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cPicture, if you will, all the men suggesting the names of their personal saints of their krsna slavas. \u00a0(Only another Serb could possibly understand with what fervor and devotion these names must have been submitted.) \u00a0A stalemate ensued.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMr. Popovich then delivered a bombshell by quietly announcing that though all these saints were recognized and beloved by the church, they were NOT, of all things, Serbs. \u00a0The only LOGICAL choice should be that of St. Sava, not only because of his great contribution in education and religion, but the fact that he alone, of all the Saints, was a Serb. Pandemonium erupted and\u00a0Mr. Popovich<\/span>, with the help of his good friend\u00a0Djukan Rapajich<\/span>\u00a0to escort him out, wisely left the hall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cSeveral days later,\u00a0Vaso Dubraj and Vajo Bozanich<\/span>\u00a0met with Mr. Popovich and berated him for his\u00a0TRAITOROUS remarks against their saints.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Mr. Popovich calmly explained that they were all Christians, but not Serbian. \u00a0 Well, they reluctantly accepted these truths, but EARNESTLY asked that Mr. Popovich please not mention this to anyone else. \u00a0(Shh\u2026.mum\u2019s the word!)\u00a0\u201c<\/span><\/p>

At the next meeting, the church was officially named for its greatest saint and educator,\u00a0St. Sava! \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0That was on 20th and Connecticut Streets in Gary 1914. \u00a0(The first meeting was held in 1910.) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

What else was going on at the time? \u00a0WWI in Europe!\u00a0<\/span>Just think of all your Dobrovolci-Volunteers who wanted to go back to help the Old Country! \u00a0<\/span>(Some even went back for the Balkan Wars (1912-1913). \u00a0Because the U.S. was not yet involved in the war officially, your Gary priest had petitioned American President, Woodrow Wilson, to approve the signing up of volunteers in your community.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Two of your earliest WWI volunteer soldiers were\u00a0Marko Kerkez and Steve Raschevich.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

By the time the\u00a0official Serbian Military Mission left Gary, Dec. 22, 1917<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0450 young men<\/span>, among them the\u00a0Vajagich Brothers<\/span>, went from Gary with the greatest hero-to-be among them,\u00a0Risto Vajagich, who then went on to earn the highest Serbian medal, the Karadjordje Star with Swords. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Now these next few sentences are of utmost importance as there are MANY who are seeking to rewrite our history! \u00a0Pay attention!<\/span><\/span><\/p>

(1) \u00a0Since it was so close to American Christmas (Dec. 22), the Gary Evening Post Tribune was writing about subscribers sending\u00a0<\/span>Christmas Gifts for the\u00a0Serbian orphans<\/span>\u00a0on the front page!\u00a0<\/span>(We know they are sending gifts to the ALLIES!)<\/span><\/span><\/p>

(2) The local paper talked about how your Gary Serbian volunteers were crowned with the highest honors, leaving under the direction of veteran Serbian officer,\u00a0Col. Milan Pribicevich;\u00a0<\/span>how they left Gary for Chicago where they were joined with\u00a0600 more Serbs. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

The paper reported that the\u00a0Mayor and Chief of Police led the parade,<\/span>\u00a0the entire Police Department followed,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and they marched down to the Depot with Serbian Patriotic Music being played by\u00a0Perry\u2019s Municipal Band!!!!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 I know\u00a0\u201cMarshilala, Marshilala!\u201d<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0had to be one of those selections! \u00a0Even\u00a0Governor Lowden of Illinois,<\/span>\u00a0made a special trip to Springfield to pay honor and respect to the Serbian Volunteers, making an enthusiastic and patriotic speech bidding the men goodbye. \u00a0In Chicago, they say 25,000 people witnessed the procession.\u00a0\u00a0***<\/span><\/span><\/p>

***This is\u00a0important history<\/span>\u00a0for ALL of us to remember, as there are so many out there in the world today who are trying to rewrite history, and it is history NOT FAVORABLE to the Serbian people.***<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

While still on the subject of WWI, let me share two little vignettes about Serbian bravery:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

(1)<\/span>\u00a0Radaje Radovanovic<\/span>,\u00a0in a poem about the love of truth and freedom bred into every Serbian, wrote: \u00a0“We are the sons of a country where the smallest child, as soon as he learns to walk, already knows how to die.”\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>


(2) This is a \u201cDid You Know?\u201d question\u2026.The\u00a0German Emperor Wilhelm<\/span>\u00a0requested from his General August Mackensen, the winner of the Eastern Front, to bring him at least one Serbian regimental flag from WWI. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

So how many were surrendered? \u00a0The answer is NONE. \u00a0Not one!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0From 56 regimental flags the Serbian army possessed, NOT ONE fell into the hands of the enemy which a precedent in the history of modern warfare. T<\/span>hat\u2019s who we are! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I have on my\u00a0babamim.com<\/a>\u00a0website, a story about\u00a0\u201cTHE MAGIC SWORD\u201d,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0written up in the\u00a01951 issue of the National Geographic magazine<\/strong>\u00a0by George Long. \u00a0He said, “I watched a new film “THE MAGIC SWORD” being made from a\u00a07th Century<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Serbian fairy tale. \u00a0I watched enthralled while a lowly shepherd won the hand of a princess by defeating all of his rivals answering a riddle:<\/span><\/p>


What is the\u00a0SHARPEST<\/span>\u00a0thing in the world?<\/span>
What is the\u00a0STRONGEST?<\/span><\/span>
What is the\u00a0MOST BEAUTIFUL?”<\/span><\/span>
Take a moment to think\u2026 what would you have said? \u00a0 ========<\/span><\/p>


The young lad thought for a moment and spoken like a true Serb, he said:<\/span>
The SHARPEST thing is the world is the\u00a0TRUTH<\/span>.<\/span>
The STRONGEST thing in the world is\u00a0LOVE.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
The MOST BEAUTIFUL thing in the world is\u00a0LIBERTY!<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0
\u00a0Brave. Defiant! \u00a0Those men who refused to let a \u00a0WWI regimental flag fall into the enemy\u2019s hands were following in the footsteps of Bosko Jugovic from 1389! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We Serbs never give up, no matter what the odds! And you, Gary – Merrillville\u2019s brave, defiant and RESILIENT Serbs, never quit either, no matter what happened or happens! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

They say the four pillars of Resilience are Purpose, Confidence, Community and Adaptability. You have stayed on course, even when things got tough. \u00a0 You all believed in yourselves and your dreams and you\u2019ve built a great support system here of friends and mentors, who mirror(ed) your hopes and dreams of a community with a church at it\u2019s center. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We all know that life doesn\u2019t go exactly as planned, but you found solutions, you didn\u2019t give up on your dreams, you stayed the course.<\/span><\/p>

Take the\u00a0disastrous church fire of 1978<\/strong><\/span>, for example\u2026 you didn\u2019t give up on your goals because of that horrible set back. No, indeed, you rolled up your sleeves and made things happen! \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Again, let me mention\u00a0Fr. Todorovich<\/span>\u00a0here. \u00a0He reminded me that he was blessing a home, saying\u00a0\u201cSpasi Bo\u017ee,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0and sprinkling water in the rooms when the Doma\u010dica received a telephone call telling her to tell him that the church was on fire. \u00a0He said he almost dropped his Basil\u2026.and when he arrived at the scene, it was like one big flame. \u00a0However, he also told me of the miracles\u2026 the 3 altar boys finding the Holy Corperal\u2014and a week later how<\/span>\u00a0Radmila Milovojevich, the KSS President, found the aluminum-like box with the wax with the\u00a0relics from the Holy Table!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

And I know I\u2019d probably hear about it if I didn\u2019t mention Fr. John\u2019s happiest times here was when the saintly\u00a0+Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory, led the Reconciliation of the church split here.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Dear Merrillville, leaders, YOU are the ones who made the jump from where you were to where you needed to be, taking great leaps of FAITH. \u00a0Think of\u00a0Stevan and Zagorka Micic<\/span>\u00a0who personally guaranteed the collateral of the loan for purchasing this property for\u00a0$833,712, or $6,000 per acre. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

No, not one of you here at St. Sava\u2019s climbed this beautiful ladder of success with both hands in your<\/span>\u00a0pockets. \u00a0You worked. \u00a0You donated time, talents and treasures. \u00a0You never threw in the proverbial towel! \u00a0Instead, \u00a0you used it over and over to wipe off the sweat and kept on going! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

You\u2019ve always had great leaders. \u00a0Just one small example I\u2019ll mention here is how\u00a0Nicky Joe Sever, Greg Traicoff and their crew made Milan Opacich\u2019s dream of relocating the WWII monument from the old church location back here, come true, a stupendous task!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 The Severs and their friends didn\u2019t only work physically, but gave monetarily in honor of\u00a0Jovo Sever, WWII, who captured a whole Bulgarian battalion by himself, receiving five golden medals for bravery, including the Karageorge Star.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I\u2019ve heard how Fr. Matich led you in prayers this past Memorial Day, at the memorial, rededicating yourselves to work for peace, goodwill and love among all people. \u00a0And again, how we all made the trip to the monument this morning, not only to pay homage to those to WWII volunteers, but to remember all those wonderful Serbian Orthodox pioneers who sacrificed over the years for Gary\/Merrillville, who are no longer with us. + Memory Eternal!<\/span><\/p>

You are here today—our Inspirational People\u2026. Starting with Fr. Matich! We thank God for such Catalyst Leaders, those Energetic, Supportive and Forward Thinking ones, who manage to spark action in others, building trust, respect, empathy and shared values, bringing people together with their strengths. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The list goes back to your earliest pioneers. \u00a0Being positive, persistent, patient, resilient and adaptable, THEY and now YOU were\/are able to achieve the goals of building a church, then another, a hall, a new church, and now a cemetery! \u00a0\u00a0Please just take a moment to think of all those you know, including yourselves, from St. Sava\u2019s past to the present, who said \u201cYES\u201d when asked. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

At this time, I\u2019d like to mention the names of\u00a0Mile Kosanovich and Nick Chabrija<\/span>\u00a0who made so many wonderful things happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I would like to say that many people I know from my past, helped you preserve some of your history. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Of course there is my father,\u00a0Milan Karlo,<\/span>\u00a0who as owner of the\u00a0American SERB LIFE<\/span>\u00a0magazine photographed your St. Sava Church and the Memorial in 1948. \u00a0He was there, present at that dedication of that monument!\u00a0As the Sports Editor of the American SRBOBRAN and the Yugoslav Reflector, dad Milan Karlo covered all those early Basketball games in Gary. \u00a0And as the editor of the Diocesan Observer, he told of all the great events happening in Merrillville.<\/span><\/p>

Going back to the Yugoslav Reflector, you had as a fine leader,\u00a0Lou Christopher<\/span>, a great friend of my father\u2019s and a real leader of the Serb National Federation during its most important times. \u00a0I still have letters from Lou to my father worrying about how the Communists were taking over Yugoslavia, spreading lies about\u00a0General Draza Mihailovich<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Let me pause for a moment to share a story with you. \u00a0My father had a job working at the San Francisco CHRONICLE during the war years, thanks to his friend, Mila Logan, from California, who married well and was in the position to offer him the job. For two years, everything was fine, as America was backing General Draza Mihailovich. \u00a0But things were changing and my father saw how the news was being manipulated, just like it is today. \u00a0They were supposed to write about Tito, downplaying Draza, turning him into someone he wasn\u2019t. \u00a0My father was \u00a0always a good \u00a0judge of character. He couldn\u2019t do it. \u00a0He knew that the things being said about Mihailovich just weren\u2019t true. \u00a0Mila told him to \u201cgo with the flow, \u201c to bend. \u00a0He could not. \u00a0 He quit. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

My father did not leave us anything monetarily, but we said that that was the greatest gift he could have ever given us: \u00a0To stand up for what you know is the truth and justice.\u00a0We were always so grateful for that wonderful gift!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

From my hometown parish of St. Elijah, you had a great friend in\u00a0Steve Ga\u0107e\u0161a,<\/span>\u00a0who did all of the stonework here (with the guidance of\u00a0Mike Djordjevich-\u201cVisko\u201d)<\/span>\u00a0on this magnificent edifice. \u00a0Steve also did the brickwork for the church at Shadeland and New Gracanica Monastery, under the leadership of Father\/Bishop\/ Metropolitan Irinej, who we all dearly loved.<\/span><\/p>

Mike said yesterday that he doesn\u2019t think this magnificent edifice would have ever been finished if it weren\u2019t for Steve Gacesa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I understand from my friend Alex Malich that his \u201cTata,\u201d\u00a0V. Rev. Fr. Dragoljub Malich<\/span>\u00a0who has served his St. Nicholas Church in Monroeville, PA for 47 years, was ordained a priest here in Gary!\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I could never leave out movie star,\u00a0Karl Malden,<\/span>\u00a0who everybody knows and has always respected. \u00a0You honored him with the street sign, so you never forget. \u00a0Nor let us forget to mention his incredibly talented father,\u00a0Petar Sekulovich.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Nor could I forget our beloved \u201cREAL KUMA,\u201d\u00a0Sonja Kalember<\/span>, who baptized my youngest sister, Alexandra, and was so active in the SNF and your Karadjordje Choir. \u00a0Congratulations, Karageorge Choir of Merrillville, with your 50 years of SOCA this past June! \u00a0 What a treat it was yesterday to meet Kuma Sonja\u2019s niece, Mary Kmiec at Roz\u2019s welcoming party, who treated us all to the 8 x10\u201d black and white photos of Kuma Sonya in South Side, Pittsburgh, at the baptism of our little St. Sava Church on South 21st and Sidney Streets. \u00a0I was able to share with all present that that Christening gown at the time cost $100, an incredible sum even today, yet alone in 1953! \u00a0I\u2019ve never seen one better since!\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

And\u00a0Glisho Rapaich!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0He was in EVERYTHING\u2026. The choir, the plays, the SNF Conventions, representing Lodge #31, year\u00a0a<\/span>fter year. \u00a0I truly thought he and\u00a0Kuma Sonja<\/span>\u00a0and your\u00a0Eli Roknick<\/span>\u00a0who is here today with his family, would live forever! When they attended the conventions, their chests were full of medals showing their service years, from top to bottom! We\u2019re lucky we still have Eli with us! \u00a0I know Eli would join me in saying, \u201cJoin the SNF!\u201d \u00a0It keeps us as one!\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

And with Glisho, Eili and Kuma Sonja, \u00a0I remember\u00a0David Bundalo<\/span>\u00a0from the SNF Conventions. \u00a0From your 50th anniversary booklet, I read that when the Displaced Persons Law was enacted, when many of your parishioners-newcomers\u2014refused to return to Yugoslavia from the European camps. \u00a0If you remember, those that the Allies sent back were murdered. \u00a0It was David Bundalo who personally and in the name of your congregation, signed\u00a0350 affidavits to bring them into this country. \u00a0A church fund was established for this purpose.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Gary, Merrillville, you have ALWAYS answered the cause.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

And\u00a0Steve Orlich<\/span>. \u00a0You heard me mention his name several times.\u00a0My grandmother, Andja Mamula<\/span>\u00a0was always writing in her diaries about her Orlich relatives from \u201cGeri,\u201d including the time that SIX of the \u201cGeri\u201d people piled into a \u201cmachine\u201d to come to my\u00a0Aunt Marty\u2019s (Belosh) wedding in Pittsburgh on June 13, 1938 and how the house was so full with their singing.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

And we from Pennsylvania also gave you\u00a0Bogdan and Helen Ciganovich Mamula!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Bogdan was my grandfather\u00a0Nikola Mamula\u2019s nephew,<\/span>\u00a0my mother Laura\u2019s first cousin. \u00a0On FB, I met a new friend who belonged to St. Sava\u2019s in Gary,\u00a0Rade Obradovich<\/strong><\/span>, who is here in the audience today with his family. \u00a0He says that Bogdan Mamula was very active in the church, and Helen even started the catering business at St. Sava\u2019s where he grew up. \u00a0He remembers how each year, Bogdan would bring him a lamb-shaped cake to their home for Easter.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

And of course, how could I not mention your wonderful\u00a0Dorothy Paunovich,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0who I met at the joint SSF-SOCA festival in Lansing! \u00a0I\u2019m such a devout follower of her and her son\u2019s St. Sava\u2019s work on FB and YouTube, especially that of your wonderful MUSEUM, with the\u00a0Ercegs (Ted and Donna)<\/span>\u00a0and more! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

And someday, when we have more time, I\u2019d love to tell you the story of\u00a0Roz and Milan \u201cOpacichi\u201d<\/span>\u00a0celebrating their 47th anniversary as a surprise party at my home, with\u00a0Nick Lalich , WWII hero,<\/span>\u00a0opening the closet door and jumping out into our hallway, shouting, \u201cSurprise, Surprise, Surprise!\u201d just like Gomer Pyle!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Mentioning Nick Lalich made me remember the many sacrifices St. Sava Gary made in WWII, of course in human lives as evidenced on your WWII Memorial. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But in the 2001\u2019s\u00a0100th anniversary book of the Serb National Federation,<\/span>\u00a0I wrote on page 106 about Gary\u2019s Serbs. \u201cThe Gary Post-Tribune wrote on June 29, 1946 that in Gary, Indiana,\u00a0Nick Lalich (OSS Halyard Mission) and Mike Divyak (radioman for the OSS Ranger Mission)\u00a0were speaking at St. Sava\u2019s Church at 1300 Connecticut Avenue, \u2018marking Vidovdan, (did you hear what I said? \u00a0Marking VIDOVDAN! Never forget!) at the time, the sorrowful 557th anniversary of the day Turks enslaved Serbians for 500 years.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0George Rapaich, head of the local chapter of the Serbian National Defense<\/span>\u00a0Council and chairman of the rally, said the slides shown were absolute proof that the communist dominated Marshal Tito, rather than Mihailovich betrayed the allied cause by starting a civil war in Yugoslavia.\u2019 \u00a0That night, the newspaper printed that local residents gave\u00a0\u201c$525 more last night to a \u2018Save Mihailovich\u2019 fund, pushing the total collected here to over $5,000.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0You were always there for the cause!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

On September 3, 1964, your beloved\u00a0St. Varnava, Gary\u2019s own,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0remarked for the\u00a050th<\/span>\u00a0anniversary, about you being the sword-bearers of Christ. \u00a0\u201cYour swords are not forged from steel or iron, but from Truth and Justice. \u201c<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0As Serbian Knights, AS SERBIAN KNIGHTS!, you have always fought for the\u00a0Holy Cross and Golden Freedom, \u201cZa Krst \u010casni, I Slobodu Zlatna.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0For ideals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

President Woodrow Wilson<\/span>, once addressing\u00a0Professor Michael Pupin<\/span>\u00a0said, \u201cYou are a good American because you are primarily a good Serb.\u201d\u00a0Gary, you are such good Serbs, GREAT Serbs! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

St. Bishop Nikolai<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0said: \u00a0\u201cNO ONE can be a good Serbian unless he is a good man to start with.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0For your\u00a040th<\/span>\u00a0Anniversary of Serbian Orthodoxy in Gary, St. Bishop Nikolai wrote how the Serbian people in America (just like today!) “very often turn their eyes to Serbian Gary; to see her achievements, to learn of her endeavors, to hear her sighs, to rejoice in her song and to feel her patriotic pulse.” \u00a0<\/span><\/p>

For such a reason, he said, all American Serbs, from near and far, send sincere greetings to the organizers and to the fortunate participants in this celebration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Such is the magnetism and electricity of our shared Serbian ancestry!<\/span><\/p>

So in closing, let me offer these few words on this blessed day, your\u00a0102nd Anniversary Slava:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Neka Vam od ovaga dana, sve krene na bolje<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>

Da Vam sre\u0107a, zdravlje, I ljuba, budi kao najlep\u0161i san i<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>

Sve Najbolje neka vam donese ovaj Bogati dan!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/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

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

A VERY happy Mim Bizic<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

I was so honored to be asked to be Guest Speaker, but never expected the wonderful things that followed! \u00a0It was a most memorable experience!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Fr. Marko Matich, Mim Bizc, St. Sava President Danica Pjeynovich, His Grace, Bishop Longin of the Midwestern Diocese, Banquet.10.9.16<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Milly Reisbasan and Roz Opacich stop for a moment for a photo of the \u00a0“SHLIVO WELCOME!”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

==================<\/p>

Divine Hierarchial Liturgy was officiated October 9, 2016 with\u00a0His Grace Bishop Longin,<\/span>\u00a0Rev. Fr.\u00a0Marko Matic<\/span>\u00a0(host priest),\u00a0V. Rev. Luka Novakovic,<\/span>\u00a0guest from Belgrade, Serbia who was visiting his relative, Fr. Aleksandar Novakovic from St. Elijah’s in Merrillville, and\u00a0Protodeacon Milovan Gogic<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

St. Sava Past Presidents:<\/span><\/p>

Bozo Trbovich, Georege Rapaich, Stevo Orlich, Petar Pritza, Jovo Marich, Luka Grkovich, Marko Lukach, Stevo Orescanin, Djuro Milijanovich, Krsto Bratich, Mihailo Ducich, M.B. Mihailovich, B.T. Martinovich, Jefto Wuletich, David Bundalo, Rudy Tatalovich, Nick Chabraja, Nick Sever, Zivojin Cokic, Jovo Sever, Gordon Gerbick, Theordore Erceg, Mike Galich, Dennis Svilar, Yvonne Orlich, Mike Ajder.<\/span><\/p>

Current President:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Danica Pejnvoich.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

==================\u00a0<\/p>

SATURDAY, Oct. 8, 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on the lower right hand corner of the photo.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The wonderful welcoming committee of St. Sava Merrillville, at Hostess Roz Opacich’s home. \u00a0I loved the huge sign in the back that says “St. Sava Welcomes Mim Bizic!” How couldn’t I? xoxox<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Our Kuma Sonja Kalember’s niece, Mary Kmiec, surprised me by showing me 8×10″ black and white photos that my father, Milan Karlo, had taken at my sister Alexandra Karlo Nolan’s Christening in 1953.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Look at the fantastic stonework that was done by New Brighton, PA-St. Elijah native son, Steve Gacesa! \u00a0It was Steve who also did the brickwork on the Shadeland church and New Gracanica Monatery.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

A personal tour to the St. Sava History Museum, by some of the dynamic curators pictured here. Dorothy Paunovich took this photo and all photos that I am in! Thanks, dear friend!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The hallway leading to the St. Sava Serb History Museum dedicated to the memory of +Milan Opacich who conceived the idea and worked hard to make it happen.<\/span><\/p>

===================<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Xenia Jancarich shows a photo of Mrs. Felman, the widow of Richard Felman, sharing the Major’s Gramata. Mrs. Felman gave the entire collection of OPERATION HALYARD information collected by Maj. Felman, to the Milan Opacich Museum of Serbina History at St. Sava’s!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Just one part of Major Richard Felman’s total collection that was donated to the St. Sava Merrillville History Museum!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

General Draza Mihailovich’s dagger was given to U.S. Airman, Richard Felman, who donated it to the St. Sava Museum!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t