AFoCR Leading Project to Reconconstruct Wilson Monument in Prague.
Copies of English language edition of "Nicholas Winton's Lottery of Life" now available.
Masaryk Park, Washington DC
Dedicated March 8, 2003
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| AFoCR Executive Committee members with 3 foot replica of Masaryk statue at the Czech Embassy |
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| President Phil Kasik speaks at the Dedication ceremony for the completed Masaryk Park on Embassy Row |
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| View of completed Masaryk Park |
Please click here for a Prague Radio online article abut Czech teaching methods. An example of how our AFoCR's Masaryk Educational Fund can help students in the Czech Republic who have the proven ability but who may not have the opportunity to obtain higher education because of the lack of funds or access.
The Cosmos Club welcomes a new neighbor. Please click here for the April 2003 Cosmos Bulletin article on the T.G. Masaryk Park.
Event Photo Gallery
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T.G. Masaryk Statue Unveiled and Dedicated!
On a beautiful, sunny September day, over 1,000 people, including representatives of the Czech, Slovak and U.S. governments came together to dedicate a memorial statue and park to the memory of a worthy champion of democracy and human rights, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
The T.G. Masaryk Memorial Park and Statue unveiling and dedication ceremony took place on the afternoon of September 19. The newly created T.G. Masaryk Park is located on Massachusetts Avenue near Dupont Circle at the beginning of “Embassy Row.” Czech Republic President Václav Havel, Former Slovak President Michael Kovác, the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright and U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Craig Stapleton were all participants in the dedication program. The U.S. Navy Band performed the Czech, Slovak, and U.S. anthems as well as some of President Masaryk's favorite songs, Tece, Voda, Tece and Ach, Synku, Synku.
Ms. Charlotta Kotik, great-granddaughter of T.G. Masaryk, officially unveiled the statue, using a sword that had been found by the Czech Legion in Siberia and given to President Masaryk. President Masaryk had later given the sword to the Klecka family of Baltimore in gratitude for their generous financial support of the Czech cause in July 1918. The finale of the dedication program came as President Havel, President Kovác, and Ambassador Stapleton each placed a wreath at the base of the statue.
T.G. Masaryk once again stands in the city he often visited, lifting our vision to the ideals he so zealously pursued. In a time of particular strife, terror and bloodshed, the statue should remind us of President Masaryk's commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and peace, and of his conviction that those ideals transcend time, geography, ethnicity and language. The statue will also be a reminder of President Masaryk's personal testimony that a single individual can carry the torch of those ideals high enough for all to see and follow.
Festivities at the World Bank
The final commemorative events of September 19 began at 5:00 p.m. as guests began to arrive at the World Bank headquarters building on Pennsylvania Avenue for a reception to celebrate the unveiling and dedication of the T.G. Masaryk Memorial Park and Statue. Over 600 people were greeted with the customary bread and salt by the Czech and Slovak Heritage Singers of Baltimore. In the expansive Atrium of the World Bank building, guests enjoyed the dances performed by the Sokol Minnesota Tanecni Mladez and the St. Paul Czech and Slovak Folk Dancers, the songs of the Columbia Pro Cantare Chamber Singers and Kristina Kotyza, and the gymnastics of three members of Sokol Baltimore.
President Havel presented the “Medal of Merit 1st Grade” awards from the Czech Government to five deserving awardees. They included: Milton Cerny, President of the American Friends of the Czech Republic, Peter Charles Schultz, for outstanding scientific achievements, Frank Marlow (in memoriam) for his service to the Czech Republic (the medal was accepted by his wife, Irene Marlow), Joseph Lane Kirkland (in memoriam) for his service to the Czech Republic (the medal was accepted by his wife Irena Kirkland) and Jan Francis Tríska (the medal was accepted by his son, John William Triska). The Honorable Madeleine Albright, Former Slovak President Michael Kovác, Czech Ambassador Martin Palouš, and Walter Andrusyszyn of the National Security Council staff, gave speeches during the reception.
This event marked the culmination of two years of support and hard work by many dedicated individuals and the American Czech and Slovak communities to erect a statue of T.G. Masaryk in Washington, D.C. It was truly a tremendous celebration for all!
Second Civil Society Vision Awards Dinner – fitting end to an historic day
A memorable day for Americans, Czechs and Slovaks came to a fitting conclusion with the second Civil Society Vision Awards Dinner, which was held at The World Bank on September 19. The evening began with a reception at 7:00 p.m. from which guests moved into a beautiful hall for dinner at 8:00 p.m. and the awards program at 9:00 p.m.
The Civil Society Vision Award is given to individuals and institutions that have served the world community through efforts to foster civil, legal, democratic societies throughout the world. In light of the horrific terrorist attacks a year earlier, this was a particularly poignant time to emphasize the value of civil societies. American Friends of the Czech Republic was proud to honor the following award recipients for their tireless dedication in supporting civil societies throughout the world: Maurice (“Hank”) R. Greenberg, Chairman and CEO, American International Group, Inc.; Frederic V. Malek, Founder and CEO, Thayer Capital Partners; and The World Bank, whose award was accepted by World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn.
As part of his final presidential visit to Washington, Czech President Vaclav Havel participated in the program, concentrating his remarks on the status of flood relief efforts in the Czech Republic and expressing his nation's gratitude for America's help in this time of need. The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright paid tribute to T.G. Masaryk with a speech highlighting the first Czechoslovakian president's important place in history. Sam Donaldson, of ABC News, served as master of ceremonies. William White, President of the C.S. Mott Foundation, Captain Eugene Cernan, astronaut, and Judy Baar Topinka, Treasurer of the State of Illinois, introduced the three awardees. The evening ended with a special musical presentation by Brian Chu, baritone with the Baltimore Opera, who was accompanied by harpist Michaela Trnkova. Mr. Chu performed two Czech-Slovak folk songs by Dvorak and led the guests in singing “God Bless America.”
The Civil Society Awards Dinner was a perfect ending to an historical day for Czech-American and Slovak-American relations. The bonds that T.G. Masaryk formed in the U.S. with individuals like President Woodrow Wilson are still strong in the relationships that exist today and were evident throughout the events of September 19.
Sponsoring Organizations
| Alliance of Czechoslovak Exiles in Chicago American Czech/Slovak Cultural Club American Czechoslovak Club of Manhasset American Czechoslovak Cultural Society American Czechoslovak Ladies Club American Czechoslovakian Club American Friends of the Czech Republic Board of Directors American Fund fo Czechoslovak Relief, Inc. American Sokol Organization Americke Listy Andrew J. Valuchek Scholarship Fund The Ansary Foundation, Inc. Antonie Cervenka Special Fund 25 I.O.O.F. Barrett Foundation Bohemia Historical Society Bohemian American Federal Savings & Loan Bohemian Citizens Benevolent Society of Astoria Broadway Jims Brookfield Sokol Educational Institute The Brzezinski Family Foundation Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas – Society 91 Catholic Union of Texas Cesky Den, Inc. Chapter 28 of the Czechoslovak National Council of America Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Chicago Sister Cities International Program, Inc. Cities of Prague, Brno and Pilsen, Czech Republic Citizens for Judy Baar Topinka Club Bedrich Smetana Consulate General of The Czech Republic CSA District Council # 12 No. Illinois, Indiana & Wisconsin CSA District Council No. 13 CSA District Council of CT CSA Fraternal Life CSA Fraternal Life District Council #12 CSA Fraternal Life and the Czechoslovak Heritage Museum CSA Lodge Empire State No. 448 Czech and Slovak Club Czech and Slovak Cultural Association Czech and Slovak Heritage Association of Maryland Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council Czech Catholic Union Czech Cultural Center Houston Czech Heritage Preservation Society, Inc. Czech Heritage Society of Texas – Fort Bend Chapter Czechoslovak American Congress Czechoslovak Community Festival Committee Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International Czechoslovak Heritage Museum Czechoslovak National Council of America Czechoslovak Society of America Czechoslovak Society of America - Lodge Los Angeles #458 Czechoslovak Society of America - Lodge Queensdale Czechoslovak Society of America Golden Gate Lodge #252 Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Science, Inc. Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences– Washington, DC Chapter Czech-Slovak AM Club Czech/Slovak American Club of Tucson David Gopen Foundation Degree Staff District Council 12 District Alliance of Czech Catholics Dolejs Property Management Dorostovy Klub The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Earth Advisors Embassy of the Czech Republic Farmers Mutual Protection Association FMPA of Texas Lodge Dallas No. 142 The Friendship Fund Ft. Bend Czech Alliance House of Czech & Slovak Republics Iowa District Council CSA No. 14 James Nemec Trust Jewish Communal Fund Joe Cosentino Co., Inc K.J.Z.T. No. 77 Kalkus Foundation Inc. KJZT Lodge No. 135 KJZT Lodge No. 14 KJZT Lodge No. 27 Kurtz's Beah Ltd. Lililian Picha Enterprises Lodge 91 CSA Lodge Albany #429 Lodge Carter Harrison Lodge Century of Progress 231 CSA Lodge DuPage Pioneers No. 409 Lodge Free State #428 CSA Lodge Friendship No. 66 C.S.A. Lodge Garfield Midwest #117 Lodge Loup Valley No. 437 – WFLA |
Lodge Luna 1 3 4 CSA Lodge Maumee No. 374 C.S.A. Lodge Mile Hi Czechs Lodge Missouri 1 CSA Lodge Pilgrim No. 330-W.F.L.A. Lodge Prokop Velky Lodge Rad Komna 358 CSA Lodge St. Petersburg No. 463 CSA Fraternal Life Lodge Thomas Alva Edison Lodge Woodrow Wilson No. 377 Lodge Young America Lodge Zane Svobody #38 Lodge Zest No. 296 Louisiana Czech Museum Martin Holub Architects & Planners Masaryk Club of Boston Mildred Barcel Trust Moravian Lodge No. 128 National Alliance of Czech Catholics National Block Company National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library Guild Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, Inc. Niels Hansen Memorial Foundation Palacky Lodge No. 630 I.O.O.F. Panametrics, Inc. Pasadena Besea Club Pilsen Butchers Benevolent Association Premysl Otakar Lodge Providence College Alumni Association Rad Cesky Lev No. 10 Scott Chemical Corporation Slovak American Charitable Association The Slovak American Society of Washington Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol Lodge No. 59 Slovak Society of Washington Society for the History of Czechoslovak Jews Sokol Baltimore, Inc. Sokol Curtis Bay Sokol Greater Cleveland Sokol Havlicek Tyrs SRS Sokol/Sokolice Milwaukee Sokol Town of Lake South Central Nebraska Czechs St. Ann Society St. Ann Society of C.C.U. #18 St. Ann's Society No. 16 St. Elizabeth Society No. 10 St. Joseph Society #156 St. Ludmila's Society #2 St. Vojtech Society. # 167 T.G. Masaryk School TCI Group Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, Inc. Urbanek Family Foundation Vasek Polak Institute, Inc. WFLA Golden West Lodge No 337 WFLA Lodge Rip # 144 Mosinee, Wisconsin Western Fraternal Life Assn. #385 Western Fraternal Life Assn. Lodge Colorado #431 Western Fraternal Life Association Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge #144 Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge #237 Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge Milwaukee 48 Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge Montgomery No. 155 Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge Owatonna 127 ZCBJ Lodge ZCBJ Lodge 93 ZCBJ Lodge 225 ZCBJ Lodge Vlastenjec No. 120 |
Masaryk Park Layout
