VESTNIK April 20:Layout 1
4/14/11
Volume 99 Number 16
ˇ ´ VESTNIK
3:15 PM
Page 1
S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
Humanity
ISSN —07458800
Americans invited to “join hands” to build Fort Hood November 5th, 2009 Memorial
A year has passed since gunfire erupted inside the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, Texas. Thirteen people were killed, and 32 were wounded. Thanks to the heroic intervention of two Fort Hood police officers, the rampage was brought to an end. The victims were mainly men and women who were preparing to deploy to battle zones or who had recently returned from them. On the afternoon of November 5, 2009, 13 Americans were sacrificed for their country — not on the distant soils of Iraq or Afghanistan — but down the road in Fort Hood, Texas. In the aftermath of this tragic event, memorial services were held to pay tribute to those who had died or who had been injured. From that initial outpouring of emotion and out of the desire to honor and remember the victims of that tragic event came the concept of establishing a permanent public and living memorial. The idea for establishing the Fort Hood November 5th, 2009 Memorial was conceived by Harker Heights resident and SPJST employee Hiram Dixon. Mr. Dixon served in the U.S. Army from 1969 until 1972, during which time he completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. The memorial will serve to honor the victims and provide a historic record of this tragedy in order to de-
liver a message of vigilance for generations to come. The Memorial, designed by Salado artist Troy Kelley, will include a memorial pavilion and garden on the grounds of the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. The initial response to the memorial project has been gratifying as veterans groups, businesses, and civic organizations have been stepping up to donate or pledge support. To date, more than $75,000 has been raised. Approxim a t e l y $500,000 will be needed to bring the project to completion. This amount includes an endowment to be established from the funds collected to provide for the maintenance and upkeep of the memorial and garden. A website — joinhandsamerica.com — has been constructed to convey information about the memorial and to accept donations. The website will go “live” during the first week of May and be maintained throughout the duration of the fundraising campaign.
April 20, 2011
Lodge 17, New Tabor Member to Achieve Grand Age of 96
SPJST congratulates Annie Mucha Hejl of Lodge 17, New Tabor who celebrates her 96th birthday on April 24, 2011. Sister Annie will be entitled to all SPJST member benefits with no further dues or assessments. Annie was born April 24, 1915, to the late Jan (John) Mucha from Moravia, Czechoslovakia, and Julia Macat from Czechoslovakia. John was a farmer. (The family is in possession of his original passport from Czechoslovakia). Julia was born in Burleson County. She was a homemaker and an excellent cook. Annie’s siblings include Joe, John,
Willie, Tracy, Julie, and Georgie, all deceased. Annie married Henry Hejl, Jr. on April 3, 1934, in Caldwell, Texas. They began their married life as farmers in Burleson County. Later, Mr. Hejl worked on the Texas A&M Plantation where he retired. Mrs. Hejl worked later at Texas A&M Agriculture Communications where she retired. The couple’s children include Monroe Hejl, Betty Hejl Franks, Joyce Hejl Walker, and the late Daniel Hejl and Shirley Hejl Horton.
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Join Hands America Webathon May 5 to 7 The Join Hands America Webathon will be hosted online at www.joinhandsamerica.com Thursday and Friday, May 5 and 6, and in conjunction
Interest Rates.......................................3 Important Dates ...................................3 Vestnik Graduate Form .......................3 Readers Write ......................................5 District News........................................5 Lodge Section .....................................9
Brotherhood
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Inside This Week’s Vestnik
SPJST Financial University ..............18 Youth Section ....................................19 In Memoriam ......................................23 Czech Culture ...................................25 Advertisements ............................28-29 Lodge Calendar .................................30
Pages 10-11
Scenes from Koslovsky Family Benefit
Page 16
Lodge 97 Placedo teen earns basketball honors
Page 19
Lodge 24 Cyclone Youth Club hosts Easter egg hunt