[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6480-6481]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO THE 103RD UNIT OF THE SLOVAK GYMNASTIC UNION SOKOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MELISSA A. HART

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2006

  Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate the 103rd unit

[[Page 6481]]

of the Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol, USA, located in Farrell, 
Pennsylvania on its 100th anniversary.
  The Sokol USA was created as a fraternal benefit society dedicated to 
providing insurance and physical fitness programs to men and women. The 
roots of Sokol USA can be traced back to Czechoslovakia in 1862. The 
program was started in New York in 1898. Eight years later, 22 Slovak 
immigrants founded the 103rd unit in Farrell, Pennsylvania. They take 
great pride in the fact that all of their programs are still conducted 
by volunteer members, and that they continue to offer weekly gymnastic 
classes for all age groups.
  On May 20, 2006 Sokol members from the Farrell area, western 
Pennsylvania and surrounding states, as well as from their sister club 
in the Slovak Republic are expected to attend the Anniversary Banquet 
of the Sokol USA which will be held at the Radisson Hotel in West 
Middlesex, PA. They will be celebrating the 103rd units 100 years of 
service to the community.
  I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to 
join me in congratulating The Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol USA of 
Farrell for its 100 years of service. It is an honor to represent the 
Fourth Congressional District of Pennsylvania and a pleasure to salute 
such a dedicated organization like Sokol USA.

                          ____________________