Current Events
Valor and Independence Intertwined
When three U.S. Army sergeants risked their lives to retrieve the body of a fallen Lithuanian platoon commander in Bosnia, little did they know how appreciative a Lithuanian-American Community would be.
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian-American Community marked the 81st anniversary of Lithuania’s independence on Feb. 21st. This was also a special opportunity to thank these three brave men for their unheralded actions.
The commemoration began with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated at St. Andrew’s Church in Philadelphia by Rev. Peter Burkauskas. Msgr. Leon Peck delivered the homily. Among the gifts presented at the Offertory was a Lithuanian hand-carved cross, amber, Lithuanian bread ,and soil from Vilnius’ Antakalnis Cemetery, where most of the civilians who died guarding the television tower in 1991 are buried. Women and children wearing colorful costumes, and men carrying the flags of many Lithuanian organizations highlighted the procession. In the afternoon, a formal program was held at the Lithuanian Music Hall.
Earlier in the day, three American sergeants were honored for bravery at the U. S. Naval Air Station at Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The army awarded medals for bravery to Staff Sgt. Charles Crego of Levittown, Pa.; Sgt. Robert Bastian of West Berlin, NJ; and Sgt. Horace Johnson of Springtown, Pa. The three are members of the 369th Engineers Platoon, the fire fighting and accident- rescue team of the 99th support Command.
The three firefighters, risked their lives to retrieve the body of First Lieutenant Normundas Valteris, a Lithuanian soldier who was part of a multinational patrol team.
The Lithuanian Army also acknowledged the courage and bravery of the three men. Major Valdemaras Sarapinas, Lithuania’s Attaché to the United States and Canada, presented certificates to them.
When Lieutenant Colonel Isabelle Slifer-Naujokaitis of the 99th Support Command learned the Willow Grove ceremony would coincide with the celebration of Lithuanian Independence Day, she set the wheels in motion to have the sergeants attend in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian-American Community is deeply grateful to her.
After the ceremony in Willow Grove, approximately 100 military and civilian personnel made the trip to Philadelphia. Among the attendees were Major General Rodney Ruddock, Colonel Charles Betony, Lieutenant Colonel David P. Tebo, and Lieutenant Colonel Isabelle Slifer-Naujokaitis. There was hardly a dry eye in the hall as the 307th Army Band opened the formal program with the Star Spangled Banner and the Lithuanian National anthem.
The hall vibrated with open emotion as the military speakers spoke of the courage shown by the sergeants. First Lieutenant Valteris had served as a platoon commander for NATO peace implementations in Bosnia. He lost his life in April 1996 when his patrol team was caught in a mine strike explosion near Doboi, Bosnia. The young Lithuanian was several months shy of his twenty-fourth birthday. Two Polish soldiers escaped and freed the body of their Danish driver, but Valteris was trapped beneath the vehicle.
The next day, Crego, Bastian, and Johnson volunteered to retrieve the body; although they knew they would be surrounded by land mines. As one mine hurled a five ton minesweeping device 60 yards through the air, the three continued to clear a path one foot wide so they could get to the vehicle. Bastian knelt on his hands and knees probing for mines under the vehicle. "We’re not leaving until he goes with us," said Bastian.
The commanding officer suggested to the three that they stop. Aside from the fact that is was getting dark, it appeared this mission was not going to be successful. The three asked for and were granted permission to keep working. They couldn’t leave their fallen comrade behind. After ascertaining there were no land mines, they pried open the trunk using the "Jaws of Life" to free the body from the wreckage. According to Staff Sgt. Crego, "We just wanted him to go home the way we would have wanted to go home if it had been one of us."
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian American Community honored the sergeants with Lithuanian sashes and their heartfelt gratitude for sending First Lieutenant Valteris home to his family and to rest in Lithuanian soil. They taught us the true meaning of the word "brotherhood."
Karen Peck, administrative assistant, offered official greetings from Congressman Robert Borski of Philadelphia. The Congressman was unable to attend due to a family matter. Philadelphia’s Mayor Edward Rendell, wearing a Lithuanian sash which was presented to him last year by the Lithuanian ambassador, also spoke. The Mayor is completing his eighth year in office and has never missed an Independence Day Commemoration. He presented a proclamation to the Community urging the admission of Lithuania to NATO.
To show its gratitude to the Mayor, the Community presented him with a "Lithuanian Care" package. The beautifully decorated tri-colored basket contained Lithuanian products including Lithuanian bread, chocolate, beer and champagne. The Mayor was delighted with his gift and thanked the Community for all they have done for the city.
The keynote speaker was Major Valdemaras Serapinas. Major Serapinas, speaking in both Lithuanian and English, discussed the military and its role in Lithuania. He also spoke of the defense budget and how it was being used. The Major’s wife, daughter, and son accompanied him to Philadelphia.
The cultural portion of the program consisted of the Lithuanian Folk Dance Group, "Zilvinas". The Lithuanian Country Band presented folk-dance music. The Philadelphia Kankles Ensemble provided the audience with a special treat. These young ladies proved their skill at playing the ancient Lithuanian musical instrument. The Vinco Kreves Lithuanian School Children’s Choir completed the program. Dalia Jakas, a representative of the Lithuanian Fund, presented the Lithuanian School with a check.
As a Philadelphia tradition , the children waved Lithuanian flags as the audience linked arms and sang "Lietuva Brangi". Once again, an emotional moment clouded the eyes of many as the flags were retired. Among the many guests in the audience was Rita Kazragiene, First Secretary of the Lithuanian Embassy and her family, as well as representatives of other ethnic organizations. A reception followed the formal program.
Vytautas Bagdonavicius, President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian- American Community, would like to thank the many volunteers who made the day a success, as well as the people who donated food for the reception. It was day that made each person proud to be both an American and a Lithuanian.
— Jeanne Dorr
Lithuanian Parish in Philadelphia to Observe Two Anniversaries
Happy Anniversary
St. Andrew Lithuanian Parish marks two significant anniversaries in 1999: the 75th anniversary of the founding of the parish and the 20th anniversary of the ordination of its energetic administrator, Father Peter Burkauskas. St. Andrew’s Parish is located on 1913 Wallace Street in Philadelphia.
Since early summer of 1998, the Jubilee Committee has been working closely with Fr. Burkauskas and the Parish Committee in developing meaningful plans for the two anniversaries. The Jubilee Committee, headed by S. Algimantas Gecys, was formed along with five sub-committees: banquet – Chairperson Linas Kucas; publications – Angele Puodziunas; media information – Terese Gecys; parish membership and revival – Rimas Gedeika; and social events – Roma Krusinskas. Their primary goal is to strengthen the parish by increasing its membership and church attendance, as well as to broaden the parish’s outreach to the Lithuanian-American community. Although the number of Lithuanian parishes have diminished throughout the United States by being merged or closed, St. Andrew Parish in the last five years has undergone a rebirth, remains a strong Lithuanian parish community, and is recognized as such by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The jubilee year opened with the traditional Christmas concert at St. Andrew Church on December 27, 1998. The official main observance of the two anniversaries will take place during the weekend of April 24th and 25th, 1999. A concert by the noted "Kankles" instrumental and vocal ensemble from Vilnius, Lithuania will take place at the historic Lithuanian Music Hall, 2715 E. Allegheny Avenue, on Saturday, April 24th at 3:00 p.m.
On Sunday, April 25th, at 1:00 p.m., a Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Andrew’s Church. The Most Reverend Robert P. Maginis, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, has accepted the invitation to be the main celebrant. Most Reverend Paulius Baltakis, O.F.M., Bishop for Lithuanians outside Lithuania, and Bishop Jonas Boruta, S.J. from Vilnius, Lithuania, will the concelebrants together with "Sons of the Parish" priests and numerous priest friends of Fr. Burkauskas and the parish.
Bishop Boruta, by representing the faithful of Lithuania, will link the parish celebrations with thanksgiving for the rebirth of Lithuanian’s national independence. Following the Mass, a festive banquet catered by Culinary Design Associates will take place at the Lithuanian Music Hall at 4:00 p.m.
The Hon. Stasys Sakalauskas, Lithuanian’s ambassador to the Untied States; the Hon. Petras Anusas, Ph.D., Consul General of Lithuanian; Msgr. Joseph J. Anderlonis, Msgr. Leon J. Peck, Msgr. Francis J. Statkus, and Msgr. Thomas J. Hilferty have joined the Honorary Committee of the Jubilee and have been invited to attend Sunday’s festivities.
Not only parish members, but descendants of the founding parishioners, as well as many friends of Fr. Burkauskas scattered throughout the United States are invited to mark the dates of April 24 and 25 on their calendar and to plan to attend all the festive events of the two Parish Jubilees. All those who appreciate and enjoy Lithuanian classical and folk music performed by world class artists certainly should not miss the "Kankles" concert.
Other Jubilee events include a Pilgrimage to the religious and national shrines of Lithuanian led by Father Burkauskas from June 20th to July 1st, 1999, and a bus trip to the Chapel of Siluva at the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on September 8th, 1999, the Feast of Our Lady of Siluva.
For information about all Jubilee events, please call St. Andrew Lithuanian Parish at (215) 765-2322 or the Jubilee Committee at (215) 938-0783. Arrangements for the Pilgrimage to Lithuanian are through Cover All Travel, Logan Square East, 2 Franklin Town Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19103, (215) 854-1350.
— Terese Gecys
"Books to Note"
In the United States, approximately 4,000 books are published annually for young readers. Yet, since Baltic independence, only a meager few have appeared that either deal with the subject of Lithuania or that might be of interest to Lithuanians.
One of the first to fill a need was Lerner Publications with a series on newly independent Eastern European countries. LITHUANIA was one such title. (Then and Now Series, prepared by the Geography Department, Lerner Publications Co., Minneapolis 1992 ISBN 0-8225-2804-5) It is a factual, though brief (52 pages) account of the country and its past, somewhat dry in style, but straightforward and well illustrated. However, as seems to be the norm, the authors downplay the tyranny of the Soviet Union; for example: "for decades Lithuanians lived under the strict laws of the central Soviet government in Moscow".
LITHUANIA, THE NATION THAT WOULD BE FREE by Stephen Chicoine and Brent Ashabranner, on the other hand, is eminently readable. (Dutton, New York, 1995, ISBN 0-525-65151-9, $16.99) Lithuania's history and its present is seen through the eyes of observers keenly aware of the Soviet legacy yet impressed by the hopefulness and industriousness of the population. The authors describe the problems of creating a new system, share the lives of ordinary people and the efforts of those not so ordinary, as that of Sarunas Marciulionis. Even Lithuanian-Americans are recognized in the chapter "Lithuania's Special Link with America." The book is a welcome introduction to Lithuania, with colored photographs adding a touch of warmth.
Lithuania has also been used as the setting in a few books. PASSAGE TO FREEDOM, The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki. (Lee and Low Books, New York, 1997 ISBN 1-880000-49-0, 15.95) Most of us know the story of this Japanese consul in Kaunas who in 1940, against the wishes of his government saved thousands of lives by issuing Japanese visas to Jews. The style of writing is very engaging, describing those events of long ago as if remembered by a child. However, particularly, with the prevalence of negative publicity about Jewish persecution in Lithuania in those years, a young reader may not have the knowledge to distinguish between German Nazis in Lithuania and Lithuanians. And with no counterbalancing stories available, slowly there emerges the stereotype of an anti-Semitic Lithuanian.
A book that further illustrates this point is IN AMERICA by Marissa Moss. (Dutton, New York, 1994, ISBN 0-525-45152-8) A Jewish grandfather tells his small grandson why, at the age of 10 and alone, he left Pikeli, a small town in Lithuania, to come to America.
"I wanted to have the same freedom as everyone else...."
"But why couldn't you...?"
"We were not allowed. Because we were Jewish...." was grandpa's reply. (I abbreviated the dialogue.) Again we have a story most unfavorable to Lithuania's character for a child's impressionable mind to absorb. Are there no stories of Lithuanian grandfathers fleeing the Czarist Cossacks? The Soviet gulags? For that matter, are there no published stories about the Lithuanians who shielded Jewish families?
Lithuania seems to have a ubiquitous appellation of "tiny" or "small" as in "Lithuania is slightly smaller than Denmark." (LITHUANIA, THEN AND NOW – see above). Perhaps because of that designation, publishers take liberties in ignoring it or altering its history.
A case in point is THE HISTORY OF EMIGRATION FROM EASTERN EUROPE, by Sarah Horrell (Origins series, Franklin Watts, New York, 1998. ISBN 0-531-14449-6 <http://publishing.grolier.com> $19.95. This book was already reviewed in the January/February issue of Bridges.) Though brief, 32 pages and with extensive illustrations, it attempts to cover large-scale population movements, particularly of the Jews, throughout the history of Eastern Europe. The Baltics, however, for all practical purposes are ignored. Again, as in other books on Eastern Europe, the cause of this major population shift, the horrors perpetrated by the Soviet Union, are barely mentioned.
If the Baltics are short shrifted in the above-mentioned book, Lithuania does not even warrant an entry in the index of the book POLAND by Martin Hintz. (Enchantment of the World Series, Children's Press, New York, 1998. ISBN 0-516-20605-2, $20.00, <http://publishing.grolier.com>). The author completely glosses over the fact that for centuries, Lithuania was a vital component of Poland's history; Grand Duke Vytautas's conquests making Lithuania, not Poland, the largest country in medieval Europe, etc. Again the overwhelmingly destructive force is Germany rather than the Soviet Union. ("Poland was liberated in 1944"). And, to add insult to injury, on all five current geopolitical maps, the borders of Belarus now reach the Baltic Sea, Lithuania has moved into Latvia, and Latvia into Estonia. Estonia has vanished completely! Two additional historical maps either eliminate Lithuania or relegate it to a minor position. This popular series, Enchantment of the World, is considered to be a reliable resource and can be found in most school and public libraries. That fact makes this disappearance of Lithuania all the more deplorable.
Our Lithuanian organizations and, for that matter, the government of Lithuania, are not structured to react to such distortions, biases, or rewriting of our history. Yet, unless we respond, the created myths will solidify into established fact. Therefore, we must accept it as our individual obligation to pressure publishers, bookseller, editors, and writers to listen to our side and to tell or include our Baltic story.
Ah -- yes, and we do have stories to tell! But we must tell them in a way that is acceptable to the American audience. In 1992, TUG OF WAR, by Joan Lingard, was published. The fictional story portrays two Latvian children torn apart by the events of World War II. Poignant as the story is, the style of writing does not touch American youngsters, and it has become a shelf-sitter. Our talented younger writers, now seasoned in the West, must be encouraged to commit our legacy to paper and publish, publish, publish!
— Ina Bertulyte-Bray
New Book on Religious Life
The trilogy, LITHUANIAN RELIGIOUS LIFE IN AMERICA, is now complete. The work of historian, Fr. William Wolkovich-Valkavicius, took twelve years to research and write. Volume 1 encompasses the East; Volume 2 is devoted exclusively to Pennsylvania; and Volume 3 embraces Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and the rest of the Midwest.
There are over 150 entries on parishes, including Lithuanian Protestants, religious communities, and miscellaneous listings. Hundreds of clergy biographies, as well as those of outstanding nuns are found in this hard cover, acid-free paper series. Indexes include parishes, persons, places and institutions, and subject matter. For a free detailed description and copies of book reviews of the first two volumes, write to:
Lithuanian Parish History Project
36 St. George Ave.
Norwood, MA 02062-4420
Lithuanian Language Course
The 14th annual Lithuanian Language Course at Camp Dainava, Manchester, Michigan will take place August 1st to the 8th, 1999. This course, operating under the auspices of the Educational Council of the Lithuanian American Community, Inc., is designed for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students – or those just wishing to refresh their Lithuanian.
Experienced instructors in vacation-like surroundings and atmosphere teach the course. There are no limitations regarding age or formal education. For more information and application, please call 616-458-6378, or write to Vytautas Jonaitis, 1546 Quarry NW, Grand Rapids, or e-mail at vjonaitis@juno.com
— Vytautas Jonaitis
Drug Trafficking Stymied in Lithuania
The International Drug Control Board praised Lithuania for acceding last year to the United Nations Convention on prevention of illegal drugs and psychotropic substances circulation. Seimas (Parliament) passed a law banning the growth of poppies, hemp, and coca plants on the territory of Lithuania.
Lithuania is witnessing a growing demand for stronger drugs: the so-called "elite drug" heroin, as well as cocaine and hashish, and psychotropic substances. Still, the most popular are drugs produced from poppies which are consumed by 90 percent of drug addicts in Lithuania.
Commemorative Postage Stamps in Lithuania
Lietuvos Pastas Co. (Lithuanian Post Office) will be issuing postage stamps featuring a series of "Signatories of the February 16th Independence Act"; the first will be portraying two signatories, Petras Klimas and Donatas Malinauskas.
Painter Jokubas Zove designed the new postage stamps. The printing work was undertaken by a state-run Budapest printing-house. Previous stamps have already portrayed fourteen famous pre-war Lithuanian State figures.u
Landsbergis Tours the U.S.
Lithuanian Seimas Chairman Vytautas Landsbergis and his wife Grazina flew to Washington during the first week of March. Landsbergis said he had great expectations for this trip, as it was organized specifically to occur before the NATO summit due in Washington next month.
At a news conference, held before the flight to Washington, Landsbergis said he believed that the tour would help Lithuania’s circumstances regarding NATO enlargement. He also intended the trip to call attention to Lithuania’s present social, political, and cultural conditions.
In Washington he met with well-known U.S. political analyst Zbigniew Brzezinski; the House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert and Congressman John Shimkus; the majority leader of the Senate Trent Lott, Senator Richard Durbin, and other members of the Senate.
Landsbergis delivered a lecture on "Priorities of Stability: Lithuania and the Open Door" at the International Wilson Research Center, and spoke on "The Democracy Wing of Northern Europe" at the National Press Club. He also traveled to Chicago for meetings with local authorities and the business community.
The Library of the U.S. Congress hosted a charity concert featuring Prof. Patricia Miller and a local choir accompanied by Landsbergis' wife, pianist Grazina Landsbergis.u
OOOOPS!
We're Sorry, We Made a Mistake!
In the November 1998, Issue 9, of BRIDGES, we made an address mistake regarding Albert Gustaff's article entitled, "English Books for Lithuania, a Real Treasure". The address to which donations should have been sent to was 2711 W. 71st Street, not 2711 West St.. Luckily, after speaking with the Chicago post office people, they told me that the incorrect address does not exist, and they would have sent the envelopes back to the sender. In some cases, the name was recognized, and envelopes were routed to the correct address. We're very sorry for the misunderstanding.u
— Rasa Ardys-Juska, editor
Source for news from Lithuania: ELTA News Service