ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T
Volume 108 Number 12
Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
★ Brotherhood
June 22, 2020
ISSN —07458800
Special Gifts For Special Members Sadie Blaha, right, longtime member of Lodge 20, Granger, proudly receives a blanket that was handmade by Lodge 48, Beyersville Youth Club members. Sadie is pictured with S.P.J.S.T. Skilled Nursing Facility Assistant Activity Director Carol DeMoss. “I can still recall when, at the age of 12, my dad purchased my SPJST life insurance certificate,” Sadie says. More on page 18.
Serving needville senior citizen center Lodge 81, Needville youth and adults joined hands on Friday, May 29 for a fraternal service day at Needville Senior Citizen Center. Pictured are, front, left to right, Tripp Hargraves, Amber Jones, Zoey Jones, and Ruby Jones. Back: Karen Hargraves, Kristen Jones, and District Five Director Bradley Stavinoha. More on page 11.
Misty Dvorak • Lodge 25, Ennis 2020 Flag Day Essay Contest Winner Congratulations to Misty Dvorak, age 16, of Lodge 25, Ennis for submitting the winning essay, “The American Flag - Freedom, Courage, and Honor” in SPJST’s 2020 Flag Day Essay Contest. Misty is also the 2019-2020 SPJST State Queen. For her efforts, Misty will receive a $100 gift card. Congratulations to Misty for submitting the winning essay, and thanks to all SPJST youth for participating in this year’s contest. Participants’ names are listed on page 20. The American Flag Freedom, Courage, and Honor
Lodge 81 Needville joins hands
All SPJST Youth
who have completed kindergarten to high school senior are invited to participate in the 2020 SPJST Youth Showcase! Categories to enter: Constructed Items • Photography • Pictorial Arts Individual Talent • Royalty Deadline is July 5. See pages 16 to 18 for more details.
“Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” The Star-Spangled Banner plays at the beginning of every festival, sports game, and event. Ever since the 19th century, the Star-Spangled Banner has represented the American flag and how it shows freedom, courage, and honor. The stripes on the American flag display freedom in America. The stars show the courage that the American states have to work together during hard times. With the stars and stripes combined, it demonstrates that it is an honor to be an American. The 13 stripes on the American flag resembles the first 13 colonies that were declared free in 1776. Even though the American flag looked a little different at the time, citizens were able to look at the American flag and see
freedom within its colors. Throughout the years, people escaping persecution and a hard life see freedom in the stars and stripes of the American flag. They find a place they can call home and a place where they can choose their religion, their actions, and have the freedom to decide so much more. The freedom that American citizens receive gives people a reason to look at the American flag and feel the safety within its colors. From the first 13 colonies to the current 50 states, freedom has rung throughout the nation. The 50 stars on the American flag show the courage America has for the 50 states to come together during hard times and come up with a solution. During times of adversity due to the coronavirus, America received the courage to recognize what needed to be done to keep everyone safe. Americans worked together to slow down the pandemic,
Continued on Page 20.
( ( ( ( ( Inside This Week’s Věstník ( ( ( ( ( Readers Write ......................................3 Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates ......................................3 SPJST T-Shirt Order Form..................7 Lodge Section......................................8 Youth Section ....................................15
Vestnik Project ..................................15 SPJST Youth Showcase ...................16 In Memoriam ......................................21 Czech Culture ....................................24 Advertisements .................................25 Lodge Calendar .................................26
Order your 2020 “Superheroes Unite!” t-shirt today! Pages 7, 9
Camp Kubena plans Family Adventure Days Page 14
Lodge 186 Caldwell honors Class of 2020 graduates Page 19