[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 149 (Friday, September 22, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14136-S14137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE 20TH ANNUAL SLOVAK HERITAGE FESTIVAL

  Mr. BRADLEY. Mr. President, our country is a remarkable mosaic--a 
mixture of races, languages, ethnicities and religions--that grows 
increasingly diverse with each passing year. Nowhere is this incredible 
diversity more evident than in the State of New Jersey. In New Jersey, 
schoolchildren come from families that speak 120 different languages at 
home. These different languages are used in over 1.4 million homes in 
my State. I have always believed that one of the United States greatest 
strengths is the diversity of the people that make up its citizenry and 
I am proud to call the attention of my colleagues to an event in New 
Jersey that celebrates the importance of the diversity that is a part 
of America's collective heritage.
  On September 24, 1995, the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ 
will celebrate its 20th Annual Slovak Heritage Festival. The heritage 
festival program will salute one of the many different ethnic 
communities that contributes so greatly to New Jersey's diverse makeup. 
Highlighting old country customs and culture, the festival programs are 
an opportunity to express pride in the ethnic backgrounds that are a 
part of our collective heritage. The Slovak Heritage Festival will 
highlight many aspects of the Slovak culture ranging from business to 
religion. Additionally, the 20th Annual 

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Slovak Heritage Festival will contribute proceeds from their programs 
to the Garden State Arts Center's cultural center fund which presents 
theater productions free-of-charge to New Jersey's school children, 
seniors, and other deserving residents. The Heritage Festival thus not 
only pays tribute to the cultural influences from our past, it also 
makes a significant contribution to our present day cultural 
activities.
  The Slovak Heritage Festival will open with a business trade show 
with a number of different exhibits. Chaired by Joseph J. Talafous, 
this year's event will focus on free trade and economic development. At 
noon the festival will honor his excellency, the Most Reverend Michael 
J. Dudick, D.D., Bishop of Passaic, NJ, for his 15th anniversary of 
dedicated service to the Byzantine Catholic community. A mass will be 
performed by Bishop Frantisek Tondra, of Spis Kapitula, Slovakia. 
Following the Mass, the opening ceremony which includes the Slovak 
fashion show, will take place on the mall. The festival will also 
feature food, crafts, music, a soccer tournament, and traditional 
Slovak dancing.
  Congratulations once again on the occasion of the 20th Annual Slovak 
Heritage Festival. I offer my best wishes to all who are celebrating a 
day of pride in their ethnicity by attending the festival.

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