OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE CROATIAN FRATERNAL UNION OF AMERICA / ALL FOR ONE...ONE FOR ALL VOL. 110 / NO.12 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 TWENTY PAGES ALL PUBLICATIONS RIGHTS RESERVED UPS 698 • 800/PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PITTSBURGH Lusicic to Lead CFU Junior Festival 13 Tamburitza Ensembles Say Meet Me in St. Louis By Edward W. Pazo / National President PITTSBURGH, PA – In celebration of our Croatian her- itage and America’s independence, hundreds of young CFU tamburitzans and friends will gather on the Fourth of July weekend at St. Louis, Missouri for the 2015 cultural music festival of the CFU Junior Cultural Federation. For the 49th Annual CFU Junior Tamburitza Festival slated for July 3-4-5 at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel in downtown St. Louis, Daniel Lusicic, Sr. will serve as the 2015 Festival Guest Conductor. A total of thirteen junior tam- Church, St. Louis, MO buritza ensembles from various Serving as Master of Ceremo- U.S. cities will participate in the nies will be CFU National Presi- Festival Combined Performance dent Edward W. Pazo. under the capable baton of Saturday’s concert will begin Conductor Daniel Lusicic, Sr., at 1 p.m. with groups perform- on Sunday afternoon, July 5, in ing, for 12 minutes each, in the addition to presenting their indi- vidual programs during the two days of festival programming. Welcome to All CFU Junior Tams and To properly wel- Friends for the 49th Annual come the hundreds of young tambu- CFU Junior Tamburitza Festival ritzans, parents, and guests to the ST. LOUIS CITYSCAPE AT TWILIGHT…Hundreds of CFU members will have a chance festival city, a so- J cial will take place DANIEL to see the famous St. Louis Arch during the Fourth of July weekend when they visit the on Friday evening, LUSICIC, SR. city of St. Louis to participate in and attend the 49th Annual CFU Junior Tamburitza July 3, starting at 2015 Guest Festival. We wish all of our young tamburitzans a wonderful time as they gather for this 8:30 p.m. in the Conductor fabulous cultural celebration! Majestic Ballroom of the Renaissance Grand Hotel fea- following order: It is incredible to consider turing the music Saturday, July 4 that many people of Croatian of combos from 1. Junior Tambu- descent who immigrated to the various Junior ritzans of Duquesne, GREETINGS America settled in this region Tamburitza Ensembles. Duquesne, PA; 2. Sacred Heart Edward W. Pazo/National President or passed through this land on At 9 a.m. on Saturday morn- Junior Tamburitzans, McKeesport, of the Croatian Fraternal Union their trek westward. Their contri- ing, July 4 all junior tamburitzans, PA; 3. Hoosier Strings Junior butions in all walks of life have Celebrating the Fourth of July American national holiday together group leaders and ensemble di- Tamburitzans, Merrillville, IN; 4. helped to make this land a better rectors will join Festival Guest Croatian Junior Tamburitzans, St. has become a much-anticipated event for thousands of young place for those of us who follow Conductor Daniel Lusicic in the Louis, MO; 5. Folklore Ensemble CFU members over the years who have participated in the in their footsteps. ballroom to rehearse for the Com- Hrvatski Tanac, Pittsburgh, PA; 6. annual Croatian Fraternal Union Junior Tamburitza Festival. In visiting St. Louis, many St. George Junior Tamburitzans, bined Performance. The junior Past travels have taken this Festival to numerous destina-tions of our children have their first tamburitzans will practice until 10 Cokeburg, PA; 7. Cleveland Junior chance to see the internationally a.m. when the music directors of Tamburitzans, Cleveland, OH. across the United States, Canada and Croatia. famous symbol of St. Louis, the the participating junior ensembles Following the afternoon per- This year we gather in the City CFU youth bring their talents to Gateway Arch. This 630 foot tall will then rehearse their set for the formances, at 4 p.m. in the same of St. Louis for this unique mu- different cities across the North monument, an architectural mar- Grand Finale performance. ballroom, a Tamburitza Catholic sical festival featuring hundreds American continent year after year vel which was erected to honor The doors to the Majestic Mass will be celebrated by Fr. of children and young adults to for the annual CFU Junior Tam- President Thomas Jefferson and Ballroom will be opened for the Stjepan Pandzic, pastor of acknowledge America’s indepen- buritza Festival, sharing with local his vision of a continental Unit- general audience to enter at 12 St. Joseph Croatian Catholic dence and to celebrate the Cro- audiences the music and dance ed States, is representative of noon on Saturday for the 1 p.m. Church, St. Louis, MO. Music atian cultural footprint we have they have come to learn and love. the nation’s westward expansion performance. will be provided by directors of indelibly made on American soil Meeting in St. Louis is yet an- and provides a visual under- Festival attendees will be wel- the ensembles. with the music, song and dance other exciting opportunity for our standing for our children of the comed by President of the CFU After the mass, the ballroom of our Croatian heritage. children to broaden the scope of expansive growth of America in Junior Cultural Federation Don- will be transformed to accom- Just as many of our Croatian Americana to include Croatian those pioneering years. ald Weakley. modate all tamburitzans and ancestors made their imprint by tamburitza music and choreogra- Today, we meet in St. Louis Invocation will be offered by guests for another spectacular bringing their language, customs phy and to further instill the warmth to continue the legacy of gener- Fr. Stjepan Pandzic, pastor of social, starting at approximately and heritage to America and by and charm of Croatian culture into ations of Croatian families who St. Joseph Croatian Catholic (Continued on page 4) working to build the nation, our the fabric of American life. (Continued on page 5) PAGE 2 / JUNE 17, 2015 / ZAJEDNIČAR (ISSN 1087-7460) Established November 6, 1929 - Published Bi-Weekly CROATIAN FRATERNAL UNION OF AMERICA LORRAINE TURKALL / IVAN BEGG - ASSOCIATE EDITORS 100 Delaney Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Phone: 412-843-0380 Fax: 412-823-1594 Happy Father’s Day e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.croatianfraternalunion.org Unsolicited articles, manuscripts, letters, photos, etc., submitted to THE ZAJEDNIČAR are forwarded at the owner’s risk and Croatian Fraternal Union of America THE ZAJEDNIČAR expressly denies any responsibility for their Founded in 1894 safe-keeping or return. THE ZAJEDNIČAR reserves the right to Periodicals Postage Paid at Pittsburgh. PA By Edward W. Pazo/National President edit, revise or reject articles submitted for publication. The third Sunday of June, falling on the 21st of June, 2015, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Zajedničar, 100 Delaney Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15235 marks the traditional observance of Father’s Day in the Unit- ed States. Traditionally this day is set aside to recognize and FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK... Poštovani Ed, thank our fathers, and those who fill roles as father figures in It was a our lives, for their love, guidance and support. While each of great privilege us loves our mothers and benefits from a “mother’s love”, we Festival Time in and pleasure also need a role model and someone to look up to and respect spending this in our lives. Fathers have traditionally filled this role in the lives weekend in St. Louis Monroeville and Pittsburgh of children with the cooperation and assistance of our mothers. and enjoying the truly heart- Those of us who have been blessed with exceptional It has been thirty-eight years since the CFU Junior Cultural warming hospitality of you per- fathers, fathers who have showed their love in all that they Federation traveled to St. Louis to stage a Junior Tamburitza sonally and the CFU. I really do for our families, know full well the blessing of a wonder- Festival. In the interim until this year’s event, the Society has enjoyed the tour you gave us of ful Dad. For those fortunate enough to still have their father hosted one of its CFU National Conventions in St. Louis and that most valuable Croatian mu- seum in the North America. alive and well, take every opportunity that you have to honor one of its CFU Adult Tamburitza Festivals in this Gateway to As a person whose family on him, thank him and love him. While those who have lost their the West city. both sides has experienced di- fathers can only cherish the memories that remain from their Over the years, this youthful gathering of CFU tamburitzans aspora life from 1890s onward, presence in our lives. has evolved into a yearly celebration of Croatian tamburitza and moved between the US, New Zealand and Australia quite music, treasured friendships, and vibrant fraternalism, as well a few times, and who personally Honor thy Father as a salute to America’s independence since the festival is lived in Australia for a period of On a personal note, as we pass June 16th on the calendar generally wrapped around the Fourth of July holiday. my life, these visits and experi- each year, I mourn the passing of my father at a far too early Leading the annual festivals reads like a list of Who’s Who ences are always very special age. Thirty-four years have come and gone since my father, in tamburitza music since a number of the finest tamburitza and very bittersweet to me. I always rejoice when seeing Edward W. Pazo, Sr., was called to his eternal reward.