ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1956-09-19

nc 1VUILHWESL WENT IMLO II SdInlOn anu S1TUnG ITSnLng
business. Owning the shipping craft as cooperatives and
others as shipbuilders, many during World War III loaned
their vessels to the U. S. Coast Guard for patrol duty.
Not to be overlooked either, is one Anthony F. Lucas
Uucic), the immigrant who drilled the first big and sue
cessful oil well in Texas. Lucas is the man in whose name
the petroleum industry each year since 1887 has been MAX
ing the Lucas Memorial Award.
These are some examples of how the early immigrants
sought to dovetail themselves into the young and vigorous
American nation. One of the precepts of the Croatian fra
ternal society as far back as it's founding days in 1894 was
to encourage it's members and other Croatian immigrants
to become American citizens. This fraternal organization
printed and made available pamphlets for that express
purpose. Many of the subordinate chapters even conduct
ed citizenship classes.
A further welding of the immigrant into American
ways came about with the American born offspring, some
of them in all fields of sports came to national recognition.
Mention could be made of many, few of which were Fran
ke SinkWich an AI-America football star from the Uni
versity of Georgia, Eddie Erdelatz, football coach at the
U. S. Naval Academy and George Mikan, who has been
dubbed Mr.. Basketball. Auto racing had it's late Joe Vuko-
vich. in fisticana it was the Fighting Zivcs. The ~fraternal
society itself sponsors i~ntra-lodge and membership sports
activity within it's ranks.
To perhaps tie over some of the Old World culture
and an indication also of their love for the finer things in
life, they banded together in choral groups. 1t was such
love for music and songs that resolved itself into the elders
organizing and supporting a group such as the Mckeesport
Junior Tamburitzans. Hours of work go toward bringing
youth to a point of accomplishments such as we will hear
the group singing a medley of Croadan folk songs, "Hr-
vatsko Prelo'. &
Mr.. Braidic:-The Croatian immigrants through their
offspring made a proportionate contribution during World
War II as shown by the ~servicemen's banner. The smaller
figure being the number who made the supreme sacrifice.
Parental instinct for the young prompted another
phase of fraternal spirit, that of maintaining a Childrens
Home that now has also resolved itself into a youth sum-
mer camp and once annually a gathering for the societys
members, as shown by the filmed scenes. a-
Paralleling these interests young people find a plea
SAINT form of association through kolo dancing groups. OF
late kolo dancing has even become the fad with non-Cro-
attain groups in California. Kolo, as the name implies in
Croatian, is a circle dance usually led by a man. There are
many variations in the step. Kolos even had a ritual back
ground but were primarily instituted to bring the young
rof Of horxyoc{C ond octiy noooci0rc Nh xouno por.
formers here will give an exhibition of some of the kolo
dances.
Mr.. Braidic: - Where kolo is danced, the t~amburitza
supplies the musical complement. 1t is one of the oldest
musical instruments in Christendom still in use. While the
tamburitza is not the only Croatian musical instrument it
is the one most universally used. In the native Croatia it
was not beyond the realm of possibility to have many play
ers make their own instrument.
The varieties of the tamburitza and the range of tone
are such to have an all tamburitza orchestra. The tambur-
itza is metal stringed with a clear and ringing tone sound
perhaps clearer than that of similar instruments such as
the mandolin or the balalaika.
The teaching of playing the tamburitza to Americans
of Croatian descent begins at an early age as was the case
with the McKeesport Junior Tamburitzans. Singing often
accompanies the playing of the instrument. We shall now
hear from the group in this respect "Gdje 81 Da 81 Mole
Golube" meaning wherever you are, you are my dove.
" .s
Mr.. Braidic: - The Croatian fraternal society and
kindred independent groups on a local basis foster such
Junior activity. In 1856, the Juniors as the result of a
membership campaign in which the winners were helped
by the adults, met in a three day convention in Gary, In
diana. -&.
While Croatian culture is brought to the foreground
in the manner shown tonight, Croatan immigrants as they
became established citizens became active in supporting
nation and community wide events through the Societys
contribution to the "Voice of America, to the American
Red Cross during the San Francisco earthquake in 1906,
the Mississippi Valley Floods, in 1927, the Pittsburgh
Flood in 1886 and some $4,000 donated after World War
II. Individual Northumberland through the ~fraternal
society purchased 4 million dollars in War Bonds. The So
ciety itself at one time had 6 million dollars or nearly half
of it's assets invested in government bonds.
More and more of the American born stock are fur
thering their education in universities. The society has
supported this movement by awarding scholarships. In
the years ahead we expect to see an even greater contribu-
ton to America from what will be an almost entire Amer
ican-born generation. At the present those of Croatian
stock, immigrant and descent, number from $780, 900 to 1
million of Americas population. .
7 It has been a pleasure citing how the Croatian immi-
grant and his contribution were woven into the American
nation.
Mr.. Pankuch: Thank you Mr.. Braidic. Next week
our Americans from Poland will present a delightful pro-
gram. Their history and traditions will be portrayed, as
well as their current contributions to the growth of our
community Music, dancing, art and a fascinating gym
nastic performance will be the h~ighlights of the show.
We hope you will join us next Thursday at the same
time. Good night!
X X X
Note: - Where reference in the narration is not, d-
rectly, made to the Croatian Fraternal Union of America,
it must be understood, first, that station WQED has the
unique distinction of being Americas few educational tele-
vision stations. Therefore, no commercialization in its pro-
grams is permitted.