[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E243-E244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 OPENING OF SLOVAK CONSULATE IN MIAMI FLORIDA AND 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                             SLOVAK GARDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2002

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the official opening 
in Miami, Florida of

[[Page E244]]

the Consulate of the Slovak Republic and the 50th Anniversary of Slovak 
Garden in my District. As you may know, Slovakia is a country full of 
rich history and tradition. It became a free and independent republic 
in 1993 and opened their new Embassy in Washington, DC in June of 2001.
  I am pleased to announce that, Mr. Robert J. Petrik, who is the 
Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic to the State of Florida, was 
appointed by Eduard Kukan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak 
Republic, with the approval by the United States Department of State, 
established a Consulate of Slovakia in Miami, FL.
  Currently there are Consulates of the Slovak Republic in Pittsburgh, 
Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Denver, LA and Kansas City. The 
Honorable Ambassador Martin Butora, PhD, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and 
Extraordinary of the Slovak Republic to the United States, and his wife 
Zora Butorova, PhD, will be visiting Florida this week for the purpose 
of officially opening the Consulate of the Slovak Republic.
  There are a number of outstanding events planned to mark this 
exciting opening and the visit by Ambassador Butora and we are pleased 
to welcome them to the great State of Florida. Florida continues to 
experience tremendous growth and advances toward the future, while 
still recognizing and celebrating its proud history and vibrant 
culture. The added presence of the Slovak Republic will only serve to 
enhance Florida's history and culture.
  Slovak Garden had it beginnings in 1906, at the 10th National Slovak 
Society Convention in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, when American 
Slovaks discussed creating a Slovak retirement community. The seed was 
sown on November 10, 1939 as the Zivena Beneficial Society Branch 163 
celebrated its 25th anniversary. During the program of this 
celebration, Mr. and Mrs. John Jerga made a substantial financial 
contribution toward building a retirement community for American 
Slovaks. Mr. John Jerga, ailing for years, had visited Florida 
frequently and often remarked how ideal it would be to have this 
retirement community for Americans of Slovak Heritage in central 
Florida.
  Jergo Road now serves as the dividing line between Slovak Garden and 
Slovak Village in Winter Park, Florida. It was dedicated in his memory 
to honor him and his wife Maria for their generous and unselfish 
donation of $10,000 to the Slovak retirement community in Florida and 
for other charitable projects they have founded and supported.
  After the death of John Jerga on February 23, 1941, Mrs. Jerga 
continued to be active in various Slovak affairs in Detroit. In 1946, 
she married a widower, the Slovak fraternalist and newspaper editor, 
Karol Belohlavek who was very well known in Slovak circles in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Ohio. The idea of creating a 
Slovak retirement community took on a new image and began moving again, 
since Karol Belohlavek was a great promoter for the idea. He published 
numerous articles in Slovak newspapers and solicited financial help 
from Slovak fraternal organizations and individuals to finance and 
promote the Slovak retirement community.
  Finally, they succeeded in finding a 40-acre farm with an old 
fashioned two-bedroom house and then acres of citrus grove, the balance 
of the land being mostly wooded. The farm was located on Howell Branch 
Road near Winter Park, Florida and just 15 miles east of the city of 
Orlando.
  Slovak Garden, as many other Slovak organizations in America, 
experienced growing pains of failure and successes during the years. 
The years from 1952 to 1970 were truly pioneering years for the Slovak 
Garden, but thanks to many devoted individuals, such as Karol 
Belohlavek, Mr. and Mrs. Zary, Mr. and Mrs. Kacir, Gus and Agnes Hodak, 
Mr. and Mrs. John Cibula, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Steffel and many others 
who succeeded to make this concept a reality. The years between 1980 
and 1984, Slovak Garden went through tremendously difficult times 
fighting daily for it survival. In 1984 a new generation became 
involved, with Andrew F. Hudak, Jr., George Kantor, Mary Ondovcik, 
Joseph Hoda, Maria Kupcik, Andrew Croftcheck, Martha Volosin, Vincent 
Kazimir and John Gabor. They and many others helped Slovak Garden 
resume it progress. In recent years, Slovak Garden with various 
improvements and additions, continues to serve the American Slovak 
community and remind us all of a rich heritage.
  During the 50 years of Slovak Garden's existence, it has provided 
comfortable residences to scores of American and Canadian Slovaks, many 
of whom are now reposing in the national Slovak Cemetery in Slovak 
Village. Presently, many American Slovaks from various parts of the 
United States and Canada enjoy gracious living in Slovak Garden. Once a 
small farm in central Florida, today it is a complete Slovak cultural 
and retirement community.
  We congratulate the Slovak American Community in Florida on these two 
very special occasions.

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