AMERICAN SRBOBRAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014 5

• SNF National Sports Tournaments Lecture on • Local Lodge Affairs • Church Functions • Serbian Singing Federation • Serbian Orthodox Choral Association A complimentary service of the Serb National Federation and the American Srbobran * denotes the first time an event is listed

2014 EVENTS CALENDAR SSF FESTIVAL KOLO TEA PARTY , Phoenix, Arizona May 23-25 August 9 SOCA FESTIVAL ST. ELIJAH MEN’S CLUB PICNIC Chicago, Illinois Aliquippa, Pennsylvania May 30 - June 1 August 9 HTC NIKOLA TESLA * SAVA TOMICH MENS CLUB PICNIC MEMORIAL GOLF OPEN Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Muskego Lakes CC, Wisconsin Unveiling the bust of Draza Mihailovich at the June 1 August 16 61)+RPH2IÀFHDUH*HRUJH0DUWLFKIRUPHUSUHVLGHQW ST. NICHOLAS ST SAVA 59TH SERBIAN DAYS RIWKH61)&RO&DUO:DOSXVNDQG+LV*UDFH%LVKRS0LWURSKDQ ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC Milwaukee, Wisconsin 3KRWRFRXUWHV\RI*HRUJH7RSLFK Steelton, Pennsylvania August 22-24 June 1 * ST. GEORGE ANNUAL PICNIC ST. ELIJAH MOTHER’S CLUB Midland, Pennsylvania by Milos Rastovic Vujnovich was born in Pitts- TEA AND TREASURE BASKETS September 1 burgh, and was the head of the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania June 7 ST. SIMEON 50TH PITTSBURGH, PA - On April Office of Strategic Services in ANNIVERSARY & GOLF 25th, at the Serbian Orthodox , . Ms. Bizic said that MORAVA SUMMER FOLKFEST Chicago, Illinois Cathedral here, the Holy Trin- Vujnovich organized “the great- San Diego, California September 12-13 ity Men’s Club “Nikola Tesla” est air rescue of the war. In the June 13 - 15 SSS ST. ELIJAH sponsored a lecture “Operation summer of 1944, U.S. bombers ASERB CONCERT WEEKEND Halyard” presented by Milana targeted the Romanian oil fields SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET Aliquippa, Pennsylvania K. Bizic. The church hall was in Ploesti that supplied the Ger- East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania September 13 - 14 crowded with people anxious man war machine. They flew June 14 to hear about the rescuing of from Italy and across Yugosla- ST. ELIJAH FALL ST. ELIJAH MEN’S CLUB PICNIC FOOD FESTIVAL 512 American airmen in 1944 via to get there. But Luftwaffe Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Aliquippa, Pennsylvania behind German occupied lines fighters and flak from anti-air- June 14 October 4 - 5 in in what was called craft guns took a fearsome toll, Operation Halyard. and many shot-up planes never * LODGE 64 ST. NICHOLAS SERB FEST made it back. Crewmen had to FATHER’S DAY PICNIC Steelton, Pennsylvania Biddle, Pennsylvania October 18 Ms. Bizic emphasized the bail out over Serbia, trapped June 15 crucial role General Draza Mi- behind enemy lines and depen- ST. ELIJAH hailovich and his forces had in dent on villagers to hide them * ST. GEORGE 50TH ANNIVERSARY this operation. In August 1944, from the Germans. ‘We didn’t 65th ANNIVERSARY Merrillville, Indiana Midland, Pennsylvania October 19 American airmen were return- lose a single man,’ said Vujnov- June 15 ing from a bombing mission in ich…” ST. ELIJAH SPAGHETTI DINNER when they were ST. SAVA YOUTH Aliquippa, Pennsylvania shot down in enemy-occupied Major Musulin was an officer of CONFERENCE November 1 territory in Serbia. General the Office of Strategic Service Phoenix, Arizona June 25 – 29 ST. GEORGE Mihailovich with his troops res- and naval intelligence services. 90TH ANNIVERSARY cued and safely returned about He was born in and AMERICAN SERBIAN CLUB Hermitage, Pennsylvania 600 Allied soldiers including 512 raised in Georgetown, PA. RADIO SHOW PICNIC & November 8 American airmen. The whole Major Musulin parachuted into SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania V. REV. N. LUNICH operation of rescuing American General Mihailovich’s headquar- July 5 RETIREMENT BANQUET pilots was completed in Decem- ters in 1943 and 1944. Ms. Bizic Joliet, Illinois ber 1944. Ms. Bizic recognized said that when he parachuted SERBIAN GOLF OUTING November 9 some of those who participated on August 2, 1944, he directed Cleveland, in Operation Halyard including the airmen to finish the airstrip: July 12 V. REV. LUNICH RETIREMENT RECEPTION , Nick Lalich, “Because of the terrain, it would SNF THREE DAY WEEKEND Joliet, Illinois Jibby Jibilian, the Maksimovich be only 700 feet long, barely Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania November 9 brothers, and George Musulin. July 18-20 continued on page 13 HOLY TRINITY CHOIR SERBIAN FESTIVAL TROT Columbus, Ohio Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 26 November 21 HOLY RESURRECTION ST. SAVA SUMMER FEST 100TH ANNIVERSARY Steubenville, Ohio Merrillville, Indiana July 27 November 21 – 23 SERBIAN-AMERICAN ST. ELIJAH CLUB PICNIC THANKSGIVING PLAY Steelton, Pennsylvania Aliquippa, Pennsylvania July 27 November 23 ST. ELIJAH 100th ANNIVERSARY Aliquippa, Pennsylvania August 2 - 3

List your event. Send information to [email protected] or mail to Sandi Radoja, 1255 Blue Bell Trail, Schererville, IN 46375 AMERICAN SRBOBRAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014 13

YOUR B’BALL INVITATION AND MAP by Diane Pribich Costello

St George Serbian Orthodox Church of North Canton, Ohio, along with Nikola Tesla Lodge #223 and St George Lodge #143 invite you to join us in making the 75th Annual SNF Basketball Tourna- ment a huge success. The dates are June 5, 6, and 7 with a church picnic on Sunday June 8, 2014 starting at 11:00 am. Please mark your calendars.

We are roasting lambs for the picnic on Sunday. Your lamb must be pre-ordered by calling our church office 330-494-2712 no later than May 30th.

Keep in mind that one of the venues for basketball, the Massillon Rec Center, has a lazy river and a baby pool available for our visitors for a reduced fee. Also, we are including reduced price tickets for visits to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton in the coaches pass packets.

Susie Ristic is taking pre-orders for custom designed tee-shirts for the tournament. She can be reached at 586-212-9258 or sekasue@hotmail. com.

Lecture on Operation Halyard SNF 3-DAY: continued from page 5 of his troops, many airmen were enough for a C-47 to use. On Aug. 9, 1944, a rescued and returned safely to friendly control. SAVE THE DATES herd of cows fortuitously sauntered onto the General Mihailovich and his forces, although lack- completed strip just as German planes flew over. ing adequate supplies, and fighting under extreme by Susan Hayden The pilots left, apparently thinking the runway was hardships, contributed materially to the Allied a farmer’s field. That night, four C-47s made a cause, and were instrumental in obtaining a final Are calendars still marking holidays as RED harrowing landing, then the plane picked up loads Allied victory.” LETTER DAYS? Those special dates with of men and took off, barely clearing the treetops. the bit of color tell us to pay special attention. More planes came the next morning, escorted by To know more about Operation Halyard, visit Mim American fighters. A total of 272 airmen had been Bizic’s website: http://www.babamim.com/wwii_ When you turn the page or rip off the prior rescued in two days.” draza_mihailovich__operation_halyard . month, a red date starts building anticipation. Does this mean a day off or a special gath- The plan of rescuing American airmen was the ering? Particular foods? Seeing family and following: friends? Oh, the possibilities! August 9, 1944: 4 rescue planes from Pranjani August 10, 1944: 14 planes from Pranjani Take your red marker in hand and mark July August 26/27, 1944: Pranjani 19, 20 and 21 as RED LETTER DAYS on August 27/28, 1944: Pranjani every calendar you have (even the computer September 5/6, 1944: Pranjani lets you highlight with color). This is the SNF September 17, 1944: Koceljevo 3-Day Weekend in Pittsburgh! November 1, 1944: Bunar airstrip Dec. 27, 1944: Final Evacuation – Halyard Mis- Friday, July 18 marks the 98th Serbian Day sion out! at Kennywood Park. Ride the Thunderbolt and wave to family sitting in the Potato Patch. Hug It was a great honor for all visitors to listen to Col. friends and family as you meet throughout the Carl Walpusk, a U.S. airman who directly par- day every time you round a corner. ticipated in Operation Halyard. He described his Saturday, July 19 is the boat ride on the personal experience in this operation. He stayed Gateway Clipper Fleet. Help us rock the boat in Pranjani for 33 days. At the end of his talk, he as we dance and revel along the rivers. made a great conclusion: “ risked their Sunday, July 20 will be a traditional picnic lives to save the U.S. airmen.” offering great food, music, dancing and fellow- ship. For his bravery, General Mihailovich was awarded the Legion of Merit by President Harry S. Truman. On March 29, 1948, President Truman said: “Gen- Watch the American Srbobran for more details HUDO'UDJROMXE0LKDLORYLüKGLVWLQJXLVKHGKLPVHOILQ on the weekend, including purchasing tickets an outstanding manner as Commander-in-Chief for Kennywood and the boat ride. We look of the Yugoslavian Army Forces and later as forward to seeing everyone on this RED Minister of War by organizing and leading impor- LETTER WEEKEND! tant resistance forces against the enemy which occupied Yugoslavia, from December 1941 to December 1944. Through the undaunted efforts