Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the official opening in Miami, Florida of the Consulate of the Slovak Republic and the 50th Anniversary of Slovak Garden in my District. As you may know, Slovakia is a country full of rich history and tradition. It became a free and independent republic in 1993 and opened their new Embassy in Washington, DC in June of 2001.

I am pleased to announce that, Mr. Robert J. Petrik, who is the Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic to the State of Florida, was appointed by Eduard Kukan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, with the approval by the United States Department of State, established a Consulate of Slovakia in Miami, FL.

Currently there are Consulates of the Slovak Republic in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Denver, LA and Kansas City. The Honorable Ambassador Martin Butora, PhD, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the Slovak Republic to the United States, and his wife Zora Butorova, PhD, will be visiting Florida this week for the purpose of officially opening the Consulate of the Slovak Republic.
There are a number of outstanding events planned to mark this exciting opening and the visit by Ambassador Butora and we are pleased to welcome them to the great State of Florida. Florida continues to experience tremendous growth and advances toward the future, while still recognizing and celebrating its proud history and vibrant culture. The added presence of the Slovak Republic will only serve to enhance Florida's history and culture.
Slovak Garden had it beginnings in 1906, at the 10th National Slovak Society Convention in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, when American Slovaks discussed creating a Slovak retirement community. The seed was sown on November 10, 1939 as the Zivena Beneficial Society Branch 163 celebrated its 25th anniversary. During the program of this celebration, Mr. and Mrs. John Jerga made a substantial financial contribution toward building a retirement community for American Slovaks. Mr. John Jerga, ailing for years, had visited Florida frequently and often remarked how ideal it would be to have this retirement community for Americans of Slovak Heritage in central Florida.
Jergo Road now serves as the dividing line between Slovak Garden and Slovak Village in Winter Park, Florida. It was dedicated in his memory to honor him and his wife Maria for their generous and unselfish donation of $10,000 to the Slovak retirement community in Florida and for other charitable projects they have founded and supported.

After the death of John Jerga on February 23, 1941, Mrs. Jerga continued to be active in various Slovak affairs in Detroit. In 1946, she married a widower, the Slovak fraternalist and newspaper editor, Karol Belohlavek who was very well known in Slovak circles in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Ohio. The idea of creating a Slovak retirement community took on a new image and began moving again, since Karol Belohlavek was a great promoter for the idea. He published numerous articles in Slovak newspapers and solicited financial help from Slovak fraternal organizations and individuals to finance and promote the Slovak retirement community.

Finally, they succeeded in finding a 40-acre farm with an old fashioned two-bedroom house and then acres of citrus grove, the balance of the land being mostly wooded. The farm was located on Howell Branch Road near Winter Park, Florida and just 15 miles east of the city of Orlando.

Slovak Garden, as many other Slovak organizations in America, experienced growing pains of failure and successes during the years. The years from 1952 to 1970 were truly pioneering years for the Slovak Garden, but thanks to many devoted individuals, such as Karol Belohlavek, Mr. and Mrs. Zary, Mr. and Mrs. Kacir, Gus and Agnes Hodak, Mr. and Mrs. John Cibula, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Steffel and many others who succeeded to make this concept a reality. The years between 1980 and 1984, Slovak Garden went through tremendously difficult times fighting daily for it survival. In 1984 a new generation became involved, with Andrew F. Hudak, Jr., George Kantor, Mary Ondovcik, Joseph Hoda, Maria Kupcik, Andrew Croftcheck, Martha Volosin, Vincent Kazimir and John Gabor. They and many others helped Slovak Garden resume it progress. In recent years, Slovak Garden with various improvements and additions, continues to serve the American Slovak community and remind us all of a rich heritage.

During the 50 years of Slovak Garden's existence, it has provided comfortable residences to scores of American and Canadian Slovaks, many of whom are now reposing in the national Slovak Cemetery in Slovak Village. Presently, many American Slovaks from various parts of the United States and Canada enjoy gracious living in Slovak Garden. Once a small farm in central Florida, today it is a complete Slovak cultural and retirement community.

We congratulate the Slovak American Community in Florida on these two very special occasions.