[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 145 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2086-E2087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL 
                          SOCIETY OF CLEVELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the Russian American Cultural Society of Cleveland. This 
wonderful organization has been unifying the Russian population of 
Cleveland and celebrating the spirit of community since 1950.
  The history of Cleveland's extraordinary Russian population begins in 
the post World War II era. The first wave of immigrants left Russia 
after the civil war in the early 1920's and settled in France and 
Yugoslavia. Following World War II, many of these Russian immigrants 
left war-torn Europe and headed for the United States. A second wave of 
immigration came when a number of displaced Russian citizens chose to 
make a new start in the U.S. rather than return to the Soviet Union for 
repatriation. Of the thousands of Russian citizens who came to America 
in the 1940's, many chose Cleveland, Ohio as the city where they would 
begin their new lives.
  Once settled in Cleveland, these Russian immigrants joined together 
in an admirable effort to preserve their valued Russian tradition, 
language, culture, and Orthodoxy. They took their first bold steps 
toward carrying on their Russian heritage in 1950 with the founding of 
the Russian American Cultural Society of Cleveland and the St. Sergius 
of Radonesh Russian Orthodox Church.

[[Page E2087]]

  Due to the strong ethnic bond which the Cultural Society provided, 
its activity and membership grew exponentially. The society's most 
active years came under the region of Mr. G. Mesernicky, who was 
president during the 1960's and 70's. Under his leadership, the society 
operated a Russian language school, a radio program, a newsletter, and 
a youth group. It is clear that the society has succeeded in achieving 
its commendable goal of preserving Russian tradition in the city of 
Cleveland. To this day, they continue to bring Russian-Americans 
together for various cultural and social events, including picnics, 
concerts, lectures, plays, and most notably, the annual Tatiana Ball.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to join me today in congratulating the Russian American 
Cultural Society on its Golden Anniversary. They have made a lasting 
contribution to the city of Cleveland, and I wish them many more years 
of continued success.

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