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VESTNIK SPJST Herald Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897
BENEVOLENCE
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 75503 1SSN-07458800 November 11, 1992 VOLUME 80 NUMBER 44
In Honor of Our Military Veterans We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.
A Tribute to Those Who Served Atop 550-foot Suribachi Yama, the volcano at the southwest tip of Iwo Jima, Marines of the Second Battalion, 28th Regiment, Fifth Division, hoist the Stars and Stripes on February 23, 1945 signaling the capture of a key position. This photograph, and subsequent bronze statue modeled after the photo, have come to symbolize the determination and valor of the American soldier.
Iwo Jima flag raiser was son of Czech immigrants Sergeant Michael Strank, pictured sergeant and was sent overseas on third from left, in the immortal photo- December 8, 1941. He fought in the graph above, was born November 10, South Pacific theatre and received several 1919 in Jarabina, Czechoslovakia to citations for gallantry in action, and also Charles and Martha Strank. When he received the Purple Heart . was three years old, the Strank family On March 1, 1945, while engaged in immigrated to Conemaugh, Pennsylva- attacking enemy positions in northern Iwo nia, a small town two miles northeast of Jima, Sergeant Strank was struck in the neck and chest by enemy artillery fire, as a Johnstown. Brother Strank enlisted in the United result of which he died. The largest force States Marines in 1939. Michael loved of Marines ever committed to action went the American flag, and while he was sta- on to capture the island after 36 days of tioned in New Riber, North Carolina,he bitter fighting. Admiral Nimitz would latmade a point of standing colors every er remark that uncommon valor was a evening for weeks at a time. Keeping common virtue on Iwo Jima. careful check on the time of sunset, Brother Strank's story is repeated here Brother Strank would drop whatever he on Veterans Day to remind us of how so was doing a few minutes ahead of time many of our brothers and sisters participatand hurry outside to salute the colors as ed, not only in the building and developthey were lowered for the evening. ment of our great nation, but also how they When World War II erupted in 1941, defended its freedom and independence in he had already attained the rank of time of war.
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge—and more. —John F. Kennedy January 20, 1961