Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
Page 2 hibitions in Pittsburgh and in the Middlewest. We are very fortunate to have Mr. Poe, an artist of national fame, agree to portray the heroic dead of the Verhovay F. I. A. These portraits will be the proud possession of the families of our heroic dead and they will be a fitting expression of the gratitude of our organization. * * * These portrays are intended as Christmas-gifts to the bereaved families. However, the making of 80 or more portraits takes lime and there will be only a limited number of families who will receive their portraits on Christmas. The portraits then will be sent and presented j to the resp. families as they are finished by the artist. The portraits will be all of the same size: 24x36”, including the frame. Some of the pictures of our heroic dead are still at the Home Office. These pictures will be held here, until the portrait has been made. The families of all other heroic dead Verhovayans are requested to send a good, clear picture and also to describe the color of the hair, the eyes and the complexion of their heroic dead. This will be necessary in the case of those too whose pictures are already filed at the Home Office. In some instances the families may not be able to send a soldier picture. In such case a civilian picture will do but in that event we must receive information as to the rank and branch in which the deceased soldier served. It is with humble pride and deep appreciation that we report the action of the Board of Directors. The portraits of our heroic dead shall serve as a lasting memorial to our heroes who have paid the supreme sacrifice. They shall remind their families of the sincere sympathy of all Verhovayans. They shall serve to symbolize the promise that THE MEMORY OF OUR HEROIC DEAD WILL REMAIN WITH US FOR EVER. Verhovay Journal September 28, 1944 Service Flag and Honor Roll Dedication in Scalp Level, Pa. Branch 59, Windber, Pa., will hold a Service Flag and Honor Roll dedication on October 22, 1944, Sunday, at 6 PM., in the Roman Catholic Church Hall at Scalp Level, Pa. It will be a memorable occasion, especially because the family of Joseph Nihoff, 46th heroic dead Verhovay soldier, will be presented with his portrait. The dedication of the Service Flag and the Honor Roll is an occasion that lends itself to just such an act and, therefore, it has been decided by the Supreme Officers that the portrait of Joseph Nihoff be made at this time and presented to the bereaved family. Since this shall be the first portrait to be given to the family of one of our heroic dead, all Supreme Officers will attend this solemn occasion. The American Hungarian miners have excelled proving their patriotic fervor on many occasions. The dedication of the Service Flag will be a special occasion for the expression of their loyalty to our adopted country, the United States of America. Perhaps no other group has given as many soldiers to the nation than the miners ... the Honor Roll dedication will be an expression of the willingness of the soldiers’ families to give up that which is their most precious possession, their sons and daughters, for the country. The presentation of the first portrait of a Verhovay soldier who has paid the supreme sacrificte will be an expression of the gratitude of the membership of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association towards those who have BUY U. S. WAR BONDS shed their blood that the nation may live. It will be a lasting tribute to our heroes and a beautiful expression of the sympathy of 52,000 Verhovayans towards the families of our heroic dead. From many towns American Hungarians will go to Scalp Level on Oct. 22, to attend this three-fold celebration that will go down in Verhovay history as one of the most memorable events of our organization. A Father To His Son Dear Son: I wish I had the power to write The thoughts wedged in my heart tonight As 1 sit watching that small star And wondering how and where you are. You know, Son, it’s a funny thing How close a war can always bring A family, who for years with pride Has kept emotion deep inside. I’m sorry that when you were small I let reserve build up that wall. I told you real men never cried; And it was Moms, who always dried Your tears, and smoothed the hurt away So that you soon went back to play. But, Son, deep within my heart I longed to have some little part In drying that small tear-stained face But we were men—men don't embrace. Now suddenly, I find my son # A full grown man, with childhood done. Tonight you’re far across the sea And waging war for men like me. Well, somehow, pride and what is right Just doesn’t seem to go tonight. I find my eyes won’t stay quite dry; I find that sometimes men do cry. And if we stood here face to face I’m ’fraid we’d find men do embrace. Son, dads are quite a funny lot And if I’ve failed you in some spot It’s not because I loved you less, It’s just this cussed manliness. But if I had the power to write The thoughts wedged in my heart tonight The words would ring out loud and true I’m proud, my boy, so proud of you. —Author unknown. They Gave Their Lives 77. PVT. ALEXANDER L. KOVESCI Alexander Kövesei, a member and the first heroic dead of Branch 391, of Canton, O., was born in Alliance, O., on Oct. 11th, 1912. In April 1934 he married Miss Irene Szabó, in Wellsburg, W. Va. Mrs. Kövesei just received notice from the War Department informing her that her husband was killed in action in France, on August 8th, 1944. He is the 16th Verhovayan who lost his life in the battle of France. As far as we know, Alexander Kövesei is the second heroic dead Verhovayan to leave a widow mourning for him. The bullet that killed him, ended a happy marriage that lasted ten years. A mother who loses her son, may find comfort in her other children and also in her husband. But there is no comfort for a wife, who has given the best years of her life to her husband. We express our deepest sympathy to the parents and relatives of Alexander Kövesei but especially to the second war-widow of the Verhovay family. May the good Lord strengthen her and comfort her. 78. SGT. JULIUS MALOK Julius Malok, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., was born on April 24th, 1917. His home is at 155 Hazelwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. He was a member of the local Branch 34, and is the second heroic dead of this branch. The War Department notified his family on Sept. 6th, 1944, that Julius Malok, a member of the U. S. Marine Corps, was killed in action on an Undisclosed date. No further information is available at this time. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family. Their sorrow must surely be deepened by the uncertainty of the circumstances of his death. May they find some comfort in the assurance that he died a hero’s death in the service of his country. 79. PVT. EDWARD S. PIENTKA Edward S. Pientka is the first heroic dead member of Branch 24, of Dante, W. Va. He was inducted in 1942 and served with the “Sea-Bees.” He participated in the campaigns of the Alaskan war theatre, at Attu and Kiska. His family received notice from the War Department informing them that their son was seriously injured on August 31st, 1944, and was taken to the hospital with a skull fracture. This notice was followed by a telegram according to which Pt. Edward S. Pientka died on Sept. 4th, 1944, in Amchitka, Alaska. To the deep sorrow of his parents is added the anxiety for their other son who has been captured by the Germans after the bomber on which he served wps shot down over Germany. May God grant the safe return of their captured son, so that they may find some comfort in the fact that he, at least, has been saved. Pvt. Edward S. Pientka is the 21st Verhovayan to lose his life on the Japanese front. 80. WILLIAM WEISS William Weiss is the second heroic dead of Branch 372, of Lorain, O. His sister, Miss Lola Weiss, of 3302 Vine Ave., Lorain, O., received a telegram, dated January 5, 1944, informing her that her brother, a fireman and watertender aboard a U. S. Merchant Marine ship, was missing in action. On January 15th, 1944, a certificate of presumptive death has been issued by the War Department. The ship, on which William Weiss served, was bombed and sunk by enemy aircraft in the port of Bari in Italy on the 5th of January. The readers probably remember the debacle of Bari which cost us quite a number of ships. Of the crew of that particular ship on which William Weiss served, there were 15 survivors, 26 missing. Our deep sympathy goes out to Miss Weiss and the family of the young Merchant Marine who lost his life in the service of his country. THE MEMORY OF OUR 80 HEROIC DEAD SHALL REMAIN WITH US FOR EVER.
