Volume 103 Number 37
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Lodge 24, Cyclone member Michael Mikulec for sharing this special narrative that belonged to his mother Lillian B. Mikulec also of Lodge 24, who passed away in 2013. This is a letter written to Lillian in approximately 1986 by the late Emma (Bartos) Fojtik of Lodge 81, Needville.
In 1921, we got married with a small reception and left on our honeymoon the day after Christmas. The following October, we were blessed with a sweet little boy. Three years later, another little boy came. I was determined to give them all I was denied in my childhood. Eight years drifted by, and the work got me down. I became sick with heart trouble. The doctor or-
1st - Certificates Issued 1st - Annualized Premium $500 Award
Sabino Garcia
Lodge 183, Arlington District Three
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
★ Brotherhood
Remember . . .We are among you. ISSN —07458800
dered rest which was not my style, but by then, Edmond started school. My husband never did any housework before so there was nothing to do, but slow down and limit my work and take rest often which brought me complete recovery. We moved to Damon in 1931, and on Thanksgiving Day, Calvin came down with diptheria. He spent a week in the hospital and was a very sick baby. When we brought him in, the doctor pronounced him gone, but I pleaded with him to give him a chance. The doctor turned to me and said will you pay for it if it fails? What made me say I would, only you whom has had such a decision to make could understand, for we were poor as a church mouse. Well, the little darling
suffered terribly, but survived and finally the day came to take him home. I told the doctor, “See, you would have let him die and he made it!” He said, “But he won’t be right. He will suffer consequences due to the seriousness of his illness.” I took the blame on myself for begging the doctor to perform the operation and got sick. As days went by, he began to notice when we spoke. I asked him if he loved me as his answer had always been, “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.” His big, blue eyes seemed to speak, but no voice came out. Finally, one day he squealed out “peck” then and there I knew he would talk, but it took some time. He never gained for one year although it had no effect on his health. He is doing
September 16, 2015
fine at 60. Another year drifted by with more rugged road ahead. In the time of the depression, on one Saturday morning on August 13, 1932, sultry heat began followed by sharp, gusty wind and rain. The blustering weather looked very stormy. The clouds chased one after another from east to west from the Gulf of Mexico. We did finish the first bale of cotton, and he took it to the gin. During the afternoon, I washed the clothes and cleaned the house as the next day we would celebrate my 30th birthday. Louis came in from the gin and said a radio message came in that a tropical hurricane was due at 7 p.m. giving us only an hour to
Continued on Page 15.
“Let the Good Times Roll!” August Top Agents
2nd - Annualized Premium 2nd - Certificates Issued 3rd - Annualized Premium 4th - Certificates Issued 3rd - Certificates Issued 5th - Annualized Premium 4th - Annualized Premium $50 Award $100 Award $100 Award $100 Award
David Pechal
Lodge 47, Seaton District Two
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Important Dates ...................................3 Let the Good Times Roll! Updates.....4 Lodge Section......................................7 In Memoriam ......................................16 Death Claims......................................18 Youth Section ....................................19
Joe Liles
Lodge 80, Holland District Two
Randy House
Lodge 66, Waco District Three
Inside Th is Week’s Vestnik
Word Find...........................................23 State YAD DVD Order Form ..............23 Czech Culture ....................................25 Advertisements ............................28-29 Lodge Calendar .................................30 SPJST Design a Float .......................32
Page 7
Lodge 17 New Tabor member, Czech cousin visit Home Office
James Mann, FIC Lodge 35, Elk District Three
5th - Certificates Issued $50 Award
Mildred Holeman
Lodge 88, Houston District Five
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Lodge 35 Elk: Flag Donated to Cemetery
Pages 20-21
District One shares summer camp scenes