Serbian History 101

WE ARE THE WORLD! 25 years Later

Dana Maksimovich, the Serbian American who won an Oscar for her co-directing of the movie "CRASH", sent this info Feb. 1, 2010 by email.

"This time the 25th Anniversary of WE ARE THE WORLD is for Haiti. They will air a 3 minute clip during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics on Feb. 12th, a music video will be made and a TV/Movie --  shot it in 3D.  Paul Haggis directed it, I was one of the producers, and hubby, Chris was our Still Photographer (lots of pics if you wanna see them)!   We shot it all day yesterday, and it was pretty cool!!!

Paul also started a charity last year called Artists for Peace and Justice. I am helping him with it in between production work and baby!  100% of the proceeds go to Haiti relief. Check out the website: artistsforpeaceandjustice.com or the PEOPLE magazine that is out on news stands right now.  We had an event at his house last week that helped raise $4.5 million!  Please pass the word, it is a great cause!

Thanks :)       XX dana

"An All-Star 'We Are The World' Remake for Haiti Relief"    <---

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Another great artist!

"LONGSHORE" & SLOBODAN DIMITROV 

Josif Runjanin

Kay Gimbres Bogovich in the Midland Veteran's Day Parade being honored as the 1st WAC 1942- from Midland, PA

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  Mimo in Galveston, TX

(Click above link for more information!)

Our Festival Hosts: SSS Mita Topalovich-Joliet, IL

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Steubenville Choir Honored

Director Slobodan Zelich

on his Retirement, May 3, 2009

A testimonial banquet was held at the Serbian American Cultural Center, 1000 Colliers Way, Weirton, West Virginia.  Brochures advertised:  "We hope that you can join us on this day and celebrate a director who has given of himself to help others enjoy life through music."  An appreciative audience packed the hall.

Zelich had directed the Petar Krstich Choir in the capacity of head choir director for 49 years and had been an assistant director for a few years before that.  He also was the main organizer and director of our Petar Krstich Junior choir back in the 1960s.  Mr. Zelich has composed 100 musical arrangements for Serbian Eastern Orthodox Liturgical church services as well as Serbian Folk, Patriotic and Love songs. 

Slobodan has always put the church and choir first in his life after his own family. This was his calling in life and his passion. 

Congratulations, Slobodan!  We ALL love you! 

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SAME DAY, DIFFERENT STATION! MAY 3, 2009!

DUNAV Tamburitzans

to be inducted into the Beaver Valley Musician's Hall of Fame

On Sunday, May 3rd, 2009, The Dunav Tamburitza Orchestra of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania were inducted into the Beaver Valley Musician’s Hall of Fame.  This is an annual event held to honor musicians that have made an impact in their field and to award scholarships to high school seniors who are continuing in their study of music.  Notable inductees are Henry Mancini, Nicholas ‘Nick’ Hayden and Donald Knezevich.

Albin Abramovich, Stephen Kaurich, +Pete Esapovich and Robert Susnjer were recognized, by their peers, for their musical abilities as well as their contributions to and perpetuation of tamburitza music.  What is most flattering is that this recognition is coming from musicians not associated to tamburitza music.  It should be noted that the Dunav was the first Tamburitza Orchestra recognized by this organization.

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Did you know this?   A lovely bronze medal was made in the United States in 1916 by the Gorham CO. that said:  SERBIA SURRENDERS ONLY TO GOD.  The Obverse featured the personification of Serbia through "Vila Ravijojla" with long hair under closed crown and the double-headed eagle medallion on her breast garment, holding an inverse sword, with the circular legend "Serbian Surrenders Only to God," with the signature of artist LADD along the lower right edge.

The above information & photos below came from the RUDNIK Numismatics site from California.

Further research led me to find that the Smithsonian did an article on Mrs. Anna Coleman Watts Ladd in its Feb. 2007 issue called "Faces of War" by Caroline Alexander.  God bless Anna Ladd!  While her doctor husband was treating the wounded soldiers, she helped reconstruct the soldiers' faces with masks so that other people could stand the sight of soldiers without eyes or noses or parts of their cheeks, etc.  Ladd lived at 270 Claredon Sst. in Boston and was said to be one of the city's most prolific sculptors.  She made fountains and other sculptures for people from Boston, NY, Philadelphia and even throughout California!  She was born July 15, 1878 and according to the NY TIMES, died June 3, 1939. Chalk up two more people who loved the Serbian people, the Serbian race!

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 Nikola Tesla is Everywhere!

From my Kum Milan Markovich came this story about Nikola Tesla.  Milan found this in a historical fiction novel called THE CHASE by Clive Cussler, on p. 197.

"Telluride-the name supposedly came from the saying "to hell you ride" --was launched after gold was discovered in the San Miguel River. The gold, along with silver-bearing ore, found high in the San Juan Mountains, quickly attracted an army of prospectors and miners over the next fifty years.  By 1906, more millionaires per capita lived in Telluride than in New York City.

"The miners eventually dug three hundred fifty miles of tunnels that honeycombed the surrounding mountains, some as high as twelve thousand feet above sea level.  The population soared to over five thousand, and the rip-roaring town soon overflowed with wild and crazy living mixed with a healthy dose of corruption.......

 "When the sun dropped behind the mountains and darkness came, a blaze of lights flashed on up and down the streets.  In 1892, mine owner L.L. Nunn had hired the electrical wizard Nikola Tesla to build the world's first alternating-current power plant to move ore on cables down the mountain and miners up from town.  After running wires from the power plant into town, Telluride became the first town in history to have electric streetlamps."

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(I think it was Telluride featured in the movie called THE PRESTIGE.  Of course, we all know that it was Nikola Tesla who lit the most famous Chicago World's Fair in 1893!  It was also called the Columbian Exposition. (400 years after Columbus "discovered" the Americas.)

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Today we celebrate the Serbian New Year, 7517.  This is the oldest date in  recorded history which places Hemos, today known as the Balkans, as the cradle of the civilizations.  It predates Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Chinese and others.  Of course, this is disputed in the West, which continues to treat us as a backwards people.     

People of Hemos were the first to work in gold and silver; 3,500 years before Mesopotamia and Egypt. They were famous for their exceptional fighting skills and magnificent horses, and above all, for their gold craftsmanship. Homer wrote about the people of Hemos, “Their horses are the most royal ever seen, whiter then snow and swift as the sea wind. Their chariots are masterworks in gold and silver, their armour huge and golden unlike the war gear of men or mortals.” 

As an example, the inscription on the Smederevo Fortress seas that it was  built by Djuradj in 6938. Reference to 7517 is also found in various written documents; While Despot Stefan was killed in 6935, Duke Lazar died on the Field of Kosovo in 6835. Existing written documents also quotes that, Milutin built a church for Joakim and Ana in Studenica in 6822, and Sveti Đorđije (St. George) Church in Stari Nagoričani in 6821.
 
Serbs used letters to write numbers; however, the numeric value of letters bares no relation to Roman way of writing numbers. Serbian calendar, according to the number of recorded years, is the oldest calendar mentioned in world documents. Egyptian calendar dates back to 3200 B.C., Mesopotamian to 3000 B.C., Greek to the year of the first Olympic Games, Roman to the beginning of Rome, while Serbian to 7500 B.C. The origin of Serbian Calendar is related to the beginning of Agriculture (so called “starcevacka” culture). 
 

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WORLD'S FINEST EXAMPLE OF TRENCH ART

Named as one of the 10 most unique churches in the world

"Located over the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia, the Ruzica Church is a small chapel decorated with... with trench art! Its chandeliers are entirely made of spent bullet casing, swords, and cannon parts. The space the church now occupies was used by the Turks as gunpowder storage for over 100 years and it had to be largely rebuilt in 1920 after WWI. Though damaged by bombings there was an upshot to the terrible carnage of The Great War.  While fighting alongside England and the US , Serbian soldiers on the Thessaloniki front took the time to put together these amazing chandeliers. It is one of the world's finest examples of trench art."

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/photos.aspx

Thanks to Dan (former Mayor of Aliquippa, PA) and his wife Janet Britza for sending me this information!

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From contributors Janice Dean and Dane Topich came this absolutely WONDERFUL photo of the Trbovich Family at (Serbian Day?) Kennywood in 1922!  The Trbovichs shown here were from Tilford Road in Penn Hills.  Donna Binkley (70) wrote:  "My grandmother Mary Trbovich Sabock is the girl with the coats over her arm.  Looks like it might be near the Jack Rabbit or Racers or near the Merry-Go-Round pavilion." 

Thanks for sharing!

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Rudjer ("Ruggero") Boskovic is considered the FIRST Serbian Astronomer.  His mother was Italian, and his father was Nikola Boskovic, a trader from Herzegovina, of the Serbian Orthodox faith, and descent from the noble Pokrajcic family from the village of Orahov Do in lower Herzegovina. Rudjer was born in Dalmatia, the seventh child in his family.  He was so brilliant that he became a college professor at a young age, in 1740.  Before that he had made a name for himself by finding a solution to the problem of finding the Sun's equator by determining the period of its rotation by observation of the spots on its surface. Consequently, he studied the transit of Mercury, the Aurora Borealis, fixed stars, application of mathematics to the theory of the telescope, cycloids, theory of comets, the tides, etc.

He became an Ambassador to London in 1760, and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.  In 1761 he traveled to Istanbul, Poland, Bulgaria and then to St. Petersburg where he was elected a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, returning to Italy when his health failed.  In his later years, he continued his pursuit of scientific knowledge, and published his Opera pertinentia ad optican et astronomiam in 1785 in five volumes quarto. He died in Milan, where he is buried in the St. Maria Podone church.

To read more, click here: Rudjer Boscovich

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The American Serb Club in Butte, Montana proudly shows off its flag, with military hero behind, and above him, a  portrait of Cica Draza Mihailovich.

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Here is an EXCELLENT article about Serbian Americans written by Bosiljka Stevanovic.  It doesn't say where Bosilljka lives, and the only way to tell the date is that it was published when George Martich was President of the Serb National Federation, but other than those few minor details, it's a very well researched paper.  Be sure to check it out! 

Serbian Americans in Multicultural America 

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More about the Bajich Brothers in Washington!

Click here to watch ONE HOUR of the Bajich Brothers in Washington, DC, on stage! Incredible!

Thank you, Smithsonian & Fannie Mae Sponsors!

 Do you think THESE KIDS will have had something to say when they got back to school?

Congratulations one and ALL!  You did us proud!!!!

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The Edwardian Writers: 

Alice (Jane de Courcey Leake)Askew and

Claude (Arthur Cary) Askew

Alice and Claude married in 1900.  They were so much alike in their thinking, they wrote their novels together, and prolific they were!  More than 90 fiction books/articles were written from 1906 until their untimely deaths, but only one NON-FICTION book, THE STRICKEN LAND: SERBIA AS WE SAW IT.  They had undertaken Relief Operations in Serbia and died together on October 17, 1917, when their ship was torpedoed in the Meditterrean!

Steve Holland, from the United Kingdom, was gracious enough to share this photo of Alice and the titles of the Askew books.  You can access his blog here.

Claude Arthur Cary Askew was born in Notting Hill, London, in 1866, the second son of Reverend John Askew, M.A. Educated at Eton and on the continent, Askew married Alice Jane de Courcey Leake (born St. Pancras, London, 1874, the daughter of Colonel Henry Leake). They died helping Serbia!  "Vjecnaja Pamjat, Memory Eternal!"

Novels by Alice & Claude Askew (thanks to Steve!)

The Shulamite. London, Chapman & Hall, 1904.
Eve – and the Law. London, Chapman & Hall, 1905.
The Premier’s Daughter. London, F. V. White & Co., 1905.
Anna of the Plains. London, F. V. White & Co., 1906 [1905].
The Etonian. London, F. V. White & Co., 1906.
Jennifer Pontefract. London, Hurst & Blackett, 1906.
The Baxter Family. London, F. V. White & Co., 1907 [1906].
The Love-Stone. London, Sisley’s, 1907.
Lucy Gort. A study in temperament. London, F. V. White & Co., 1907.
Out of the Running. London, Everett & Co., 1907.
The Plains of Silence. London, Cassell & Co., 1907.
The Sword of Peace. The story of a secret society. London, Everett & Co., 1907.
Not Proven. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1908.
The Orchard Close. London, Hurst & Blackett, 1908.
The Path of Lies. London, F. V. White & Co., 1908.
The Tempting of Paul Chester. London, T. Fisher Unwin, 1908.
The Blue Diamond. London, C. H. White, 1909.
The Devil and the Crusader. London, F. V. White, 1909.
Felix Stone. London, Everett & Co., 1909.
John Heriot’s Wife. London, F. V. White & Co., 1909.
Testimony. London, Chapman &amp; Hall, 1909; abridged, London, George Newnes (Sevenpenny Novels 24), 1921.
Behind Shuttered Windows. London. C. H. White, 1910.
Fate – and Drusilla. London, Everett & Co., 1910.
The Quest of El Dorado. London, Cassell & Co., 1910.
The Rod of Justice. London, T. Fisher Unwin, 1910.
Scarlet Town. London, C. H. White, 1910.
The Sporting Chance. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1910.
Destiny. London, Hurst & Blackett, 1911.
Helen of the Moor. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1911.
The House Next Door. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1911.
Kitty Shafton – Swindler. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1911.
The Pearl of Great Price. London, F. V. White & Co., 1911.
A Society Marriage. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1911.
The Stolen Lady. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1911.
The Woman Deborah. London, Eveleigh Nash, 1911.
The Apache. London, Everett & Co., 1912.
Barbara. London, T. Fisher Unwin, 1912.
Bess of Bentley’s. A true shop-girl story. London, F. V. White & Co., 1912.
The Dream Daughter. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1912.
The Englishwoman. London, Cassell & Co., 1912.
In Lovers’ Lane. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1912.
The King’s Signature. London, Chapman & Hall, 1912.
The Lily and the Devil. London, Everett & Co., 1912.
Outlaw Jess. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1912.
The Actor Manager. London, George Newnes, 1913.
God’s Clay. London, T. Fisher Unwin, 1913.
The Golden Girl. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1913.
Milly the Actress. London, Aldine Publishing Co. (Mascot Novels 2), 1913.
The Mystery of Helmsley Grange. London, C. A. Pearson, 1913.
Poison. London, Everleigh Nash, 1913.
A Preacher of the Lord. London, Cassell & Co., 1913.
A Scarlet Sin. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1913.
Souls Adrift. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1913.
Araby’s Husband. London, Hurst & Blackett, 1914.
By Order of the King. London, Aldine Publishing Co. (Goodship Sixpennies), 1914.
Freedom. London, Hurst & Blackett, 1914.
Gilded London. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1914.
In Strange Shoes. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1914.
The Legacy. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1914.
Love the Jester. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1914.
Through Folly’s Mill. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1914.
The Golden Quest. London, Ward, Lock &amp; Co., 1915; abridged, London, Aldine (Novels 8), 1924.
Her Mother’s Child. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1915.
The Lurking Shadow. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1915.
Master and Man. London, Aldine Publishing Co. (Mascot Novels 22), 1915
The Missing Million. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1915.
The Tocsin. A romance of the Great War. London, John Long, 1915.
Trespass. London, Chapman & Hall, 1915.
The Weavers. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1915.
Wild Sheba. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1915.
The Footlight Glare. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1916.
Her Father’s Daughter. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1916.
Nurse. London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1916.
The Garment of Immortality. London, John Long, 1917.
The Inscrutable Miss Stone. London, John Long, 1917.
The Lost Idol. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1917.
The Paignton Honour. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1917.
Salvation. London, Chapman & Hall, 1917.
The Bride in Black. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1918.
Lady Borradale’s Ordeal. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1918.
The Ordeal of Ann Curtis. London, Jarrolds, 1918.
The Telephone Girl. London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1918.
The Work of Herr Hands. London, Chapman & Hall, 1918.
The Secret Pathway. London & Glasgow, Collins, 1919.
The Yellow Yoke. London, Aldine Publishing Co. (Goodship Sixpennies), 1919.
The Grip of Sin. London, Lloyds, 1920.
Lavender’s Inheritance. London, United Press, 1922.
Evelyn. London, John Long, 1923.
Her Empty Triumph. London, J. Leng & Co. (People’s Friend Library 162), 1926.
A Woman’s World. London, J. Leng & Co. (People’s Friend Library 170), 1926.
A Deadly Revenge. London & Dublin, Mellifont Press, 1934.

Non-fiction
The Stricken Land. Serbia as we saw it. London, Everleigh Nash Co., 1916.

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King Alexander I

Serbian Churches EVERYWHERE in America and elsewhere in the world held Memorial Services for King Alexander of Yugoslavia after he was assassinated October 9, 1934 by a hired gunman in Marseilles, France.  Here are two photos from Butte, Montana's Serbian Orthodox Church marking the solemn Memorial Service:

Aliquippa, PA  1934

Butte Serbian Women's Drill Team won lots of awards!

 BUTTE, Montana, 100 year celebration, 2004---

Butte Celebrants in 2004, and all with an SNF connection! Sam Verona (far right) and his cousin (blue shirt), George Chalich from Spokane,  are grand-nephews of Velimir and Sava Hajden, founders of the SNF.  Mim and her son are proud of the fact that Mim's great-uncle and Nick's great-great uncle was Simo-Steve Mamula, also a member of the founding SNF family!

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American SRBOBRAN, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004

Fr. Damscene from St. Herman of ALaska Monastery delived the main speech; Betsy Popovan & her family in front of the "To Love is to Remember" Memory Wall of great photos; Fr. Alex Vukovich gets warm congratulations from a dear friend; The Drina Folklore group came from Seattle, WA

"Churches are the pupils of the eyes of our history"- His Grace Bishop Longin; His Grace Dr. Bishop Mitrofan and Dr. Dan and Marie (Vuyadinovich) Voyich; Djuro Chelich and Sam Verona-cousins; the Kane and Milanovich families; the Oreskovichs, Dr. Joanne , Mom Nora, and Dr. Rosemary Oreskovich; Nationally known former New England Patriots CEO and University of Miami Athletic Director, Sam Jankovich. Sam also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee; Popadija Sue Radojcich and her 2 daughters.

 Fr. Nick Ceko, Montana Governor, Judy Martz and Marko Lucich; Jedinstvo Orchestra from Phoenix, Arizona and crowd; Fr. Miladin Aric on the 51st Anniversary into the Holy Priesthood; 1934 Memorial Services for +King Alexander of Yugosalvia; favorite Butte son, His Grace Bishop Nikolai of Alaska; Church-Fr. Sebastian Dabovich served liturgy in Butte in 1897, afterwards meeting with 31 Serbs in attendance to build a church. Built 1904, consecrated on Vidovdan, June 28 (Kosovo Day!), 1905 by Russian Archbishop, later Patriarch and Saint.  New church on Continental Avenue was built in 1965.

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Midland, PA  Saturday, October 25, 2008

     The Dr. Laza Kostich Serbian Singing Society Choir celebrated its 72nd Anniversary on 10/25/2008 at the America-Yugoslav Hall in Midland, PA, while members of Aliquippa's St. Elijah Choir enjoyed the distinction of being honored guest choir.  Midland's hospitality is always unsurpassed. 

Midland Choir led off with the old-time favorite, “Sto Se Bore.”  But they brought the house down with their rousing “Moja Diridika” featuring their “SECRET WEAPONS” of the night…..  the fabulous KRAH Sisters:  Mallory (age 10), Karli (7), Macy (6) and Chloe (age 5)!  Dressed in their little Beaver County Tamburitzan outfits complete with yellow babushkas creating “halos” around their angelic faces, and armed with a battery of talent and enthusiasm, they helped win the friendly “battle of the choirs” hands down!  EVERYONE clapped thunderously for this marvelous little quartet of future Dr. Laza Kostich S.S.S. leaders!

Congratulations to Ann Meriage who celebrated her 90th birthday in May, but was honored at the concert for being a Charter Member of the Choir since its inception in 1936. Ann was given a beautiful icon of the "Protection of the Holy Theotokos" and song tributes of "Zivela!" and "Mnogaja Ljeta!"

Click here to hear the Midland Choir sing its special song of the night, "Marin Nam Dosa," under the direction of Evie Adams.

Congratulations, Midland!  Mnogaja Ljeta!

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 TCHAIKOVSKY

The Serbs had many special friends, among them Peter (Pyotr) Ilich (Ilyich) Tchaikovsky who wrote MARCHE SLAV 1876 for a Red Cross charity concert to help fund purchasing shoes for Serbian soldiers who had none or had threadbare soles.  Either through ignorance or on purpose, the title has been changed to read March Slave. Tchaikovsky used many Serbian folk songs in his composition, also incorporating the Russian National Anthem in what he described as his "Serbo-Russian march."  Especially interesting, Tchaikovsky performed MARCHE SLAV with the NY Music Society at the inaugural concert of New York's Carnegie Hall, his first time in America, 1891.

Tchaikovsky photo from Wikipedia 

Another special friend was Victor Hugo who gave his literary talents as well as money to help the suffering Serbian people.

William Howard Temperly, the British historian wrote an excellent history on the Serbs in 1918.  He said: "Perhaps there is no race which has shown a more heroic desire for freedom than the Serbs or achieved it with less aid from others or at more sacrifice to itself."

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Russian composer, Nikolia Rimsky-Korsakov, wrote a musical piece called "Fantasia on Serbian Themes, Op. 6," in 1867.  Mily Balakirev conducted the first performed piece in May of 1867.  It is also known as the Serbian Fantasy. 

In his movie, FANTASIA, Walt Disney gave $5000 to Rimsky with a take it or leave it option since Disney could use Rimsky's msuic which had only been copyrighted in Russia, and not the USA.  Rimsky took it.  Is there any connection between the first Fantasia and Disney's?  Who knows, just offered for thought.

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(Both photos from Wikipedia.)

 Wednesday, September 17, 2008, in Washington, DC!

We always said that their Mother and Father had to be SOOOOOOOO proud of these guys and their musical accomplishments.  Well, the WHOLE SERBIAN WORLD is proud of this next "gig."  Congratulations, fellas, from all of us, your FAN BASE everywhere!

The Bajich Brothers went to Washington D.C., and WOWED them! Bozhi, Bati, Pete, and Paul Bajich of Kansas City have been playing tambura together for over 25 years all over the U.S. and Canada.  They were invited to perform at the prestigious Library of Congress and the John F. Kennedy Center in our nation’s capital.

On Wednesday, September 17, 2008, the Bajich Brothers played a free noon concert presented by the American Folklife Center and the music division of the Library of Congress, and then later that same day, they gave an evening concert at the Kennedy Center. 

Concert Schedule for the Library of Congress Folklife

Kennedy Center Schedule for the Millenium Stage

I know many of our folks were there to cheer you on, especially our little "Amelia."

Bozhi, Paul, Bato & Peter Bajich

From Contributor Alexis Bajich comes this updated report 9/20/08:

"Jelena Matic from the Serbian Embassy was at the the Library of Congress performance. She struck up a conversation with my mom because all of our kids (mine dressed like mini-Bajich brothers!) were running around and singing to all of the songs! She then wanted to meet the guys! So we introduced her. Jovi loved her and sat on her lap!

She invited us to the Embassy.
On Friday, the Bozhi Bajich family, and the Peter Bajich family went to visit the Serbian Embassy.

The Embassy employees loved it!
It was a true honor to have been invited there and also to visit with them and learn a little more about the Embassy here in America.  We missed you Teta Mim!" 

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Ace Capuzzi's kids really know how to throw great retirement parties!  They made their Dad's wishes come true with a Golf Outing/Picnic 1st class!  Congratulations to Ace and his children/Junaci Orchestra!

Everybody loved singing !

Ace thanking everyone....

It was OUR pleasure, Ace! Mnogaja Ljeta, Mnogaja Ljeta, Mnogaja Ljeta!

What a great time!

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Dr. Mildred Ernestine Kaholamoana Stanley wrote a book entitled: A Tapestry of Memories, 1944.  As a child, she was present when the Hawaii flag was taken down in 1898, replaced by the American flag when Hawaii was annexed. (Like Kosovo from the Serbs!)  She was the child of missionaries serving in Hawaii, and went back to London for her medical degree.  She practiced in India, Tibet, and combated polio near the Khyber Pass.  She warrants being listed here as she served during WWI with the Serbian Army! Later she worked in Palestine, Syria, Fiji, New Zealand before retiring in Hawaii, recording her observations.

Vjecnaja Pamjat to Dr. Stanley, Memory Eternal!

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Holy Trinity Icon

The Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Butte, Montana, recently completed its FRESCO project that offers a beautiful explanation of all of the icons painted on the walls.

"Icons have been called 'Windows of Heaven,' 'The Scriptures in Color,' or 'The Bible for the Illiterate.'" 

To learn much more wonderful knowledge about the icons depicted, click here.

To see the incredible frescoes in a 360 degree look, click here.

Hello to all of our friends in Butte!  My son and I enjoyed being with you all for your 100th Anniversary in 2004!  Only the altar was finished then.  It's absolutely breathtaking now!

Folklore group from the state of Washington!

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Did you know that Robert De Niro, famous movie star and film director, named his daughter "Drina," in honor of one of his favorite novels “The Bridge on Drina River”, written by the Serbian Nobel laureate Ivo Andric?

In a recent RTS interview, De Niro reiterated he was a great fan of Serbia’s best tennis player Novak Djokovic.

“Maybe I’m part Serbian… somewhere in my history,” De Niro said, adding that “Djokovic is a great kid”. 

Like George V. said, "Just another reason to like him!"

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At the Grave of Bosko Jugovich

by M.M. Markovich, PRAVOSLAVLYE, No. 317, translated by Ned J. Marich, Gary, Indiana, June 5, 1983.

Legend states that after the Battle of Kosovo during which the military leaders of both sides were killed, Bosko remained alive and held his banner high at the head of the Serbian army.  Later, he handed the same banner to his sister Czarica Milica.  Exhausted and ailing, Bosko finally died, whereupon the grateful villgers laid him to rest and later planted nine stately oak trees symbolizing the nine Jugovich (Yugovich) brothers, Jug Bogdan and his nine sons who all died in the battle.

In front of the church of Ivanica there is an inscription which reads: "The earthly remains of the knight-valiant of Kosovo, Boshko Jugovic, rest beneath these foundations which Blagoje Lukovich, a merchant of the town raised a holy temple for the glory and honor of Bosko Jugovic." 

Palibrchko Brdo dominates the surroundings of the rolling hills and it is said that if you listen closely, on a still night, you can hear the battle of Kosovo---of David and Goliath, being fought all over again. 

Anyone who studies history knows the importance of a flag to a battlefield. Bosko Jugovich saved the honor and dignity of his people by preventing the flag from falling into the hands of the enemy. 

In 1989, my sister and I saw the soldiers of KNIN dressed in beautiful narodni nosinje bring this special flag to Belgrade for the 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo in 1989. While speaking to several of the men, we learned that the flag is hidden and the men take an oath to rather die than tell where it is hidden.

According to the story in the SRBOBRAN on Sept. 1, 2004, the flag still stands in the monastery of Studenica, where Princess Milica, hero and wife of Prince Lazar, brought the flag personally. (The flag stand is all that is visible to visitors!)

Mr. Marich continues: "We learn from this the fact that only the battle was lost, NOT the dignity and glory of the Serbian people, whose spirit lives on with a high moral commitment to Kosovo, handed down from one generation to another against any and all enemies who dare to invade this cherished freedom."

"Always the victims of invasion by the oppressor in past history, Serbian national poets and writers have sung praises and written about the sufferings of the Serbian people throughout the ages: 'Nurture and raise your son, then send him off to the army, for Serbia cannot and shall not die!"

Mr. Marich also wrote about many consequent battles the Serbs fought valiantly from Kosovo to 1983, when this article first appeared.  It was reprinted in 2004 because of the unfortunate series of events that befell the Serbian people. "I did this to serve as a friendly reminder to our young perople about the legacy that was handed down to them by our ancestors, Czar Lazar, Milosh Obilich, the Devet Jugovici, etc."  Thanks, Ned! Old soliders never die!

Jug Bogdan and his Nine Sons

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One of the most beautiful websites I've ever seen is this of the Alexander Palace, home of the Holy Martyred Romanov Family of Russia. This site was recommended by the National Education Association for good reason!

www.alexanderpalace.org/palace

When Serbian Prince Aleksandar Karadjordje  was a young man, he served in the Court of Czar Nicholas of Russia.  He became quite fond of Czar Nicholas' daughters, especially Princesses Tatiana and Olga, hoping to ask one of them for their hand in marriage.

(The whole Romanov Family was killed in 1917.  Serbian King Aleksander I was assassinated in Marseilles, France while on a Peace Mission October 9, 1934.  It is said that his death marked the beginning of WWII.)

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Book (Pevanick) about Jovan Jovanovich Zmaj:

 Jovan Jovanovich Zmaj is still considered Serbia's best poet for children more than a hundred years later.... Here's a writing he left for all of us:

(Click all photos to enlarge.)

Here's another Zmaj poem that's a great one on Kosovo!

Od Kosova do Kosova

Pet stotina leta;

Svrsuje ce ona borba,

Davno Zapoceta. 

Here's one on Baba Domisljanka---Baba Ana! 

One of Zmaj's most famous poems is on Luka Filipov, which he wrote in 1875.

Battle of Vucji-Do 

Statue of Jovan Jovanovich Zmaj in town square. 

Zmaj was born in Novi Sad, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on Nov. 24, 1833. 

Read more about him at this Wikipedia site:

Jovan Jovanovich Zmaj <----

(Click link above) 

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Here's what the publisher had to say about Jovan Jovanovich Zmaj!

Don't forget to click all photos to enlarge them for you! 

Another website for you to see many more of Zmaj's poems created by Nebojsha & Mila Radovanovich:

       Poems about Zmaj <----

    (Click on the above link!) 

I moj drug. 

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