Volume 103 Number 21
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
ISSN —07458800
★ Brotherhood
May 27, 2015
Victoria — Warrior Strong and Warrior Proud Another day we should be mindful all year long – Memorial Day. This is the day we stop and think about what this really means. We are honoring our men and women who served our country proudly – and lost their life defending the greatest country in the world – America – the country we call home. They died so we could live. The least we could do is say a prayer of gratitude – remembering their sacrifice. So this weekend is much more than having cook-outs and officially getting the summer started. Of course, we should do those things and enjoy our family – but remember what the day is truly for.
By Kathy Ahlstrom, Reporter • Lodge 32, Victoria
Warrior’s Weekend
Flags Three Thousand Strong
Warriors Nine Hundred Fifty Strong
This is the ninth year the Victoria area has celebrated Warrior’s Weekend – always the weekend before Memorial Day. Ron Kocian, president of Warrior’s Weekend, has been in charge from the beginning. He and his wife Sherry have recruited family, friends, churches, organizations – volunteers from all over. It takes all year to plan. It was just over Sunday, and the first fundraiser for next year is in two weeks. I think everyone agrees the time and hard work is all worth it when you see the Warriors enjoy their weekend! Each year gets bigger and bigger – people just want to get involved when they read about it and see pictures in the paper. The Victoria area has the
Photo Credit: www.warriorsweekend.org
largest weekend of its kind – this is what this year was like. Tuesday, May 12 – the Field of Honor was home to the dedication of Warrior’s Weekend. Three thousand flags were flying – the Toast of the Coast Chorus provided Barber Shop music, and we’re proud Lodge 32, Victoria member Al Haisler has participated with the group for several years. Ron Kocian introduced people – about 200 were in attendance. “Taps” followed at 9 p.m. The flags are all sponsored by individuals, organizations—SPJST Lodge 32, Victoria has been a proud sponsor of a flag for a few years— and churches. This is a fundraiser going towards making the weekend possible. Seven years ago, there were 500 flags –
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Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates.......................................3 Readers Write ......................................3 Financial Statement ............................4 Supreme Lodge Meeting Minutes ......5 Lodge Section....................................12
it grows every year – with 3,000 this year. It took 300 volunteers hours and hours to set up the flags and have them ready for all to appreciate. The plan was to have the Warriors visit the Field of Honor – hoping to find their flag. Every Warrior has a flag
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Pages 30 to 33 of this week’s Vestnik features Class of 2015 graduates. We are proud of these members and wish them the best.
Inside This Week’s Vestnik
Reunions ............................................24 In Memoriam ......................................25 Youth Section ....................................26 Advertisements .......................34,38-39 Lodge Calendar ............................35-36 Czech Culture ....................................37
with his or her name on the card. Other flags can be in memory of a friend or relative or in honor of someone. The Warriors are very moved to see the flags and even more so when they actually see their name on the card. Well, Mother Nature had other plans this year – it rained – rained and rained some more! But that didn’t stop all of them from coming – and there were people from all over waving flags and saluting as the convoy passed through small towns on the way to Victoria and eventually to Port O’Connor. The Warrior’s traveled from near and far – going through Victoria to the popular fishing town of Port O’Connor. Port O’Connor has been host to Warrior’s Weekend since the beginning year, 2007. The town goes all out making everyone welcome. They even have sand sculptures created by professional and volunteer sculptors – 200 tons of sand were sculpted into patriotic sculptures. This is what the Warriors were welcomed with, and it is very impressive – will move you to tears.
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Lodge 35 Elk hosts fish fry for volunteers
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Lodge 107 Floresville members join hands
Page 38
Lodge 133 San Antonio member recycles Vestnik in Czech Rep.