Volume 100 Number 5
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
Humanity ISSN —07458800
An Example for Others—Philanthropist and Consummate Volunteer
A Tribute: Remembering Louis Hanus
The Czech Center Museum Hous- one in need. Perhaps the greatest passed along to ton has had the support of thousands of individuals since its inception in him by his mother and father was that 1995 which has inspired us and graced they retained the consciousness of our lives by meeting and knowing their national origin and that the older them. One we met late in his life was generation taught the younger ones the Louis Hanus, who meant as much to knowledge of their language, history, SPJST. His philanthropy had no and traditions. They made their sons and daughters familiar with the lives bounds which always of the great Czech men impressed us as many and women and impersons can hold allepressed upon the young giance to only one ormind admiration for the ganization, but not ideals of the positive eleLouis, as you can see as ment of the American you read this tribute to nation. One instrument him. He lived as for accomplishing this Churchill said, “We was their participation in make a living by what Czech organizations we get, but we make a such as Sokol and fraterlife by what we give,” nal lodges like SPJST. and Louis certainly did. To say that Louis grew As SPJST honors up in SPJST would be an those who have meant so Louis Hanus understatement. He was much to it, we hope you a member for over 70 remember Louis Hanus among those years and grew up with 15 Czech famwho gave of themselves to others by ilies in the shadow of the first building means of their philanthropy and workof SPJST Lodge 88, Houston. To say ing without recompense for the many he was a member of all those years volunteer organizations. Louis Hanus would also be an understatement, for is one who deservedly needs to be rechis membership was a proactive one ognized for his service to his country all that time. His work in the lodge in wartime, his contribution of money and the fraternal touched many lives to worthy organizations, and his un- and was an inspiration to others. stinting work for many volunteer orLikewise, others inspired him. Dr. ganizations, especially SPJST. Henry R. Maresh (author of The Louis came by his service to others Czech Pioneers of the Southwest) was naturally, as his parents instilled in him the attending physician to all the and his sister by example that service Czech families and treated Louis for a to others even to the point of depriving neural condition that caused three themselves was an expectation. Many times his mother would chastise his faContinued on Page 10. ther for giving his last dollar to some-
Readers Write ......................................3 Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates.......................................3 Convention Corner..............................4 Report of Directors..............................5 Lodge Section....................................11
Brotherhood
Lodge 18, Elgin Member Kyle Mogonye Shares Experiences
Tales from Afghanistan By Charles Wood Elgin Courier
ployed.” Kyle has been stationed in Sangin, in the northern Green Zone, one of the America is still at war. The United most dangerous parts of Afghanistan. States has withdrawn its soldiers from On his first patrol, there were two IED Iraq, but in Afghanistan, the fight to se- (Improvised Explosive Device) strikes. cure territory once held by the Taliban “That’s pretty much how it started and continues. It’s a tough job, but Ameri- how it ended,” he said. “It’s one of the can soldiers continue to last places that needs to put their lives at risk. be taken over.” The war isn’t a movie Kyle has lost several or a video game. It is friends, including a very real and very imporyoung man from New tant to the soldiers who Braunfels who died reare fighting it. “I rememcently. He also lost 80 ber 9-11,” said Kyle percent of the hearing in Mogonye of Elgin. his left ear. “Once that happened, I IEDs were the main was just in the fifth culprit. They were disgrade, but I wanted to be tributed widely by the a senior already so I Taliban, turning much of could join the Marines.” the farmland into mineKyle, 20, has been fields. He related one inKyle Mogonye serving in Afghanistan cident where a friend since March 2011. A stepped on an IED and 2009 Elgin High School graduate, he another friend stepped on a second one recently returned for the Christmas as they carried him out on the stretcher. holidays. He made another visit to Fortunately for Kyle, the second IED Elgin during the Thanksgiving holiday. had been set improperly and didn’t He will head back to the Marines on have a full charge. “I was told people January 3. He isn’t sure if he will be back home had put me on their prayer sent back to Afghanistan or not. list, and I believe that actually did Kyle is the son of Paul and Sandra something,” he said. Mogonye and the grandson of World IEDs with trip wires and pressure War II veteran Jim V. and Katy plates are a big danger. United States Mogonye. soldiers carry devices that block radio Kyle said he was motivated to join signals, keeping the more advanced the Marines partly because he was in- IEDs from exploding. spired by his grandfather, and partly Much of Kyle’s job was spent on because it needed to be done. “It’s patrol. “Where we were, our job was something not many people will do, to slow the enemy’s freedom of moveespecially knowing they will be de-
Continued on Page 21.
Inside This Week’s Vestnik
In Memoriam ......................................21 Youth Section ....................................22 Vestnik Project...................................23 Czech Culture ....................................26 Advertisements..................................29 Lodge Calendar .................................30
February 1, 2012
Pages 12, 13
Scenes from State Progressive 42 Tournament
Page 17
Lodge 133 San Antonio members enjoy Christmas lunch
Page 29
Visitors view Czech Veteransʼ Wall of Honor