[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1229-E1230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF A CONCERT COMMEMORATING THE SACRIFICE OF CZECH, 
              SLOVAK, AND CROATIAN PEOPLES IN WORLD WAR I

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 12, 2018

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an event 
taking place in my district, the Fifth District of Missouri, at the 
National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. On 
September 13, 2018, the Concert to Commemorate Sacrifice will take 
place in remembrance of the immense sacrifice of the Czech, Slovak, and 
Croatian peoples, as well as the centennial of their independence and 
an end to the Great War. This concert is provided by a global 
partnership between the National World War I Museum and Memorial, the 
Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City, University of Missouri--
Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, Embassies of the Czech 
Republic, Slovak Republic, the Republic of Croatia, and the honorary 
consuls of the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Republic of Croatia 
in Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS.
  A plethora of works from the Czech, Slovak, and Croatian lands will 
be performed under the direction of William A. Everett, the Curators' 
Distinguished Professor of Musicology at UMKC; guest conductor and 
pianist, Ivan Pernicki of Zagreb, Croatia; and Music Director, Rick 
Mikesic. The concert will prominently feature the national anthems of 
the United States of America and of the Republics of Czech, Slovak, and 
Croatia, along with works by famed Czech, Slovak, and Croatian 
composers such as: Fratisek Drdla, Rudolf Friml, Dora Pjacevic, Josip 
Stolcer-Slavenski, Jan Levoslav Bella, Franjo Markovic, Ivan Zajc and 
Ludwig van Beethoven.
  Furthermore, it is important to note that the valiant service and 
sacrifice of the Czechoslovak Legion contributed to the formation of a 
sovereign Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Republic of Croatia. The 
Czechoslovak Legionnaires were an entirely voluntary force of 100,000 
strong and their contribution to the war effort spanned many conflicts 
among every front of the war. I cannot think of a more fitting way to 
honor the sacrifice of these individuals than by a performance of their 
adopted battle cry, the ``U boj'', at a concert in their honor, held at 
a memorial dedicated to all lives lost in World War I.

[[Page E1230]]

  Mr. Speaker, please join me in commemorating the centennial of the 
end of World War I and the many military and civilian lives lost in 
that conflict and recognizing those who have come together for the 
Concert to Commemorate Sacrifice.

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