William Penn Life, 1980 (15. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1980-07-01 / 3. szám
Fraternal Week In Pennsylvania Signing of the Fraternal Proclamation and Flag Day Observance. Front L. to R.: Anthony Novasitis, Chairman of the Heritage Affairs Committee; Richard Thornburgh, Governor of Pennsylvania; Elmer Charles, National President of the William Penn Association; Back L. to R.: Albert J. Stelkovics, National Secretary-Treasurer, William Penn Association; Gay Banes, General Counsel; John P. Balia, Vice President, William Penn Association; Senator Michael O'Pake; Secretary of the Hungarian Reformed Federation and Reverend Arpad George, National President, Hungarian Reformed Federation. Governor Dick Thornburgh proclaimed June 8—14 as “Fraternal Week’’ in Pennsylvania during ceremonies held May 20 in Harrisburg to honor the outstanding contributions of fraternal benefit organizations and their ten million members nationwide. More than 30 leaders of the national fraternal societies of Pennsylvania joined with the Governor: Louis Skeparnias, executive director of the Governor’s Heritage Affairs Commission; Anthony W. Novasaitis, chairman of the Commission; and Elmer Charles, president of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Societies to witness the proclamation ceremony during which Thornburgh lauded the efforts of the fraternal benefit system. “Through its societies and local units, the fraternal benefit system sponsors many civic, patriotic and charitable activities including scholarship assistance, youth programs and aid to the needy, aged, handicapped and infirm,” said the Governor. “Local lodges and branches are also involved in projects designed to better the community, such as blood bank campaigns and drug abuse awareness programs,” he added. Pennsylvania has almost one million members in the National Fraternal Congress of America, an affiliation of 95 fraternal benefit societies with ten million members nationwide. At the same time, the Governor recognized the patriotic endeavors of the fraternals shown by their special observances of Flag Day, June 14 in conjunction with annual Fraternal Week. The fraternal societies are part of the National Fraternal Flag Day Foundation, an organization devoted to keeping alive the memory of Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand, the “father” of Flag Day, through the maintenance of the schoolhouse in Fredonia, Wisconsin, where, in 1885, he held the first known Flag Day ceremony. After extending his best wishes to all attending the ceremony, Governor Thornburgh urged all citizens to “recognize the outstanding contributions of fraternal organizations and join with them in observing Fraternal Week and Flag Day.” Fraternal Week Observance —L. to R.: Albert J. Stelkovics, Richard Caliguri, Mayor of Pittsburgh, Elmer Charles and Gus G. Nagy. Leaders of the National Fraternal Societies witnessing the proclamation ceremony with Governor Richard Thornburgh. 3
