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L I T H U A N I A N A M E R I C A N N E W S J O U R N A L

BRIDGES (ISSN: 87508028) is published 10 times per year (Jan./Feb. & Jul./Aug. combined) for $20.00, by Lithuanian

Address of publication is: LAC, Inc./BRIDGES, 78 Mark Twain Dr., Hamilton Sq., NJ 08690 BRIDGES is the official publication of the Lithuanian American Community, Inc. National Executive Board 2715 E. Allegheny Ave., Phila., PA 19134 Tel: 800- 625 -1170 Fax: 856-428-6014 BRIDGES Jeanne Dorr Gema Kreivenas Rimas Gedeika

American News Journal. Issue: 362

* F R O N T C O V E R: Photo by Anthony J. Shalna South Weymouth, MA.

contents
in this issue

E-mail: Lithuanian USA@yahoo.com

2 editorial 4 easter letter 5 traditious

Jeanne Dorr Msgr. E.J. Putrimas

Letter from the Editor

Copyright 2012 Lithuanian American Community, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. All statements & opinions, including product claims, are those of the organization/advertiser making those statements or claims. The publisher does not adopt, or put forth, any such statement or claim as his own, & any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Consultants Editor Art Director/Production Treasurer & Subscription Manager

THE LITHUANIAN EASTER EGG OVERTURE Anthony J. Shalna Part II My Lithuanian Summer Terese Vekteris THE LITHUANIANS ARE COMING Gloria R. Adomkaitis

6 reflections 10 culture
The above photo is the official photograph taken by a local newspaper photographer in 1975 of Helen Kislus Shalna. At the age of 75 she won the Easter contest for her beautifully decorated eggs at the Hanover Mall in MA. She continued to decorate her beautiful eggs until she was well into her 80s. As her health and her eyesight began to fade she was able to enjoy the fruits of her past labor. Because of her talent her family has many happy memories of Easter that span many years of her Lithuanian eggs and her dedication to a Lithuanian tradition.

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11 culture

SVYTURYS
Beata Ciurlioniene

12 photo album 16 culture

KAZIUKO MUGE Ramune Kubilius 40th ANNUAL BALTIMORE LITHUANIAN FESTIVAL Henry L. Gaidis

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18 lac news

Cape Cod Celebrates Lithuanian Independence

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19 reflections 22 calendar

CONCLUSION HISTORY OF THE LITHUANIAN GUARD AND LABOR SERVICE COMPANIES IN POST WAR GERMANY Henry L. Gaidis

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Classical arts take various forms; music, literature, sculpture, dance and the graphic arts. Lithuanian Easter Eggs belong to the latter group and the most ornate eggs truly belong in the classical realm. Unfortunately, the passage of time has taken its toll on the artists, since, like any other art, the coloring of the classical eggs takes great amounts of practice, (years, specifically) not to mention talent. My mother, Helen Kislus Shalna and her two sisters, Matilda Kislus Noreika and Stella Kislus Sakowicz were remarkably talented in this area and developed quite a reputation for creating very ornate Lithuanian Easter Eggs. Many years ago, my mother at age 75, entered her Easter Eggs in an Easter competition at a local, very large shopping mall and won first prize, much to her (and our) delight! Classical Easter Eggs are decorated with beeswax and then dipped in various dyes. The beeswax acts as a mask, not allowing the dye to penetrate the waxed area. Ukrainian Easter Eggs are world famous and the artwork is applied with a metal stylus with a wax reservoir and applies a straight line. Dyes are applied manually in small areas. The Lithuanian style eggs shown on the cover were decorated with beeswax applied by a different stylus, consisting of a bead impaled on the end of a toothpick. This bead usually was around 30 to 50 thousandths of an inch in diameter (.030 to .050). Coarser beads may be used, but the decorated patterns would then be crude in comparison to the ones shown. My Aunt Stella often decorated quail eggs which are less than an inch in diameter, using an unusually small bead. Needless to say, this required remarkable eyesight and an unusually steady hand, as the egg is held in one hand while the wax is applied with the other. One of her most unforgettable, spectacular displays consisted of a decorated goose egg and hen eggs surrounded by a number of quail eggs. So far, it sounds simple. Then the fun and frustration begins. Only white eggs are used. The eggs are boiled until hard. One trick to minimize cracked eggs whole boiling is to add a tablespoonful of vinegar to the water. The cracked ones are then removed and reserved for other purposes, notably for practice by the kids and budding artists. The beeswax must be melted and kept in the molten state. Incidentally, beeswax is preferred as paraffin will not mask the colors and will allow the dye to penetrate. The wax is usually kept in a lid from a jar, or other shallow, flat, tray type device and placed on a heat source. This is becoming more difficult to find as a coal or wood stove has the ideal flat surface required and the wax temperature can be regulated by moving the wax tin away from the hottest part of the stove. Thus the obsolescence of coal and wood stoves is also contributing to the decline of clas-

THE LITHUANIAN EASTER EGG OVERTURE

traditions
Anthony J. Shalna

sical egg decoration. If the area is too hot, the wax will scorch, discolor, or possibly ignite. If too cold, the wax will become sludge and be impossible to work with. The beaded end of the stylus is dipped into the beeswax, quickly removed and the stroke applied to the egg. Only one stroke is possible before the beeswax hardens. Therefore, the creation of one small pattern at the end of an egg requires dipping the stylus multiple times to create the strokes required for even a small decorative pattern. Often the artist kept several styluses with the beaded ends submerged in the wax. The other cardinal rules are to keep the eggs warm and to leave the stylus tip in the wax at all times. If you hold it out of the wax while planning your next move, the wax will immediately harden and result in a smeared stroke on the egg. A complete stroke is impossible on a chilled egg and one smear, crooked stroke, hesitation while applying the stroke will ruin the eggs pattern, cause the uttering of discouraging words, and result in yet another egg being relegated for egg cracking contests or egg salad. The dyes will not penetrate beeswax, whether it be a smear or perfect stroke. You cant erase a bad stroke, since the wax permanently seals the surface so the dye wont apply. The frustration is immense if the last or one of the last strokes is faulty, since all the previous work of decorating the egg will be wasted. The egg is then dipped into the dye. The eggshell will absorb the dye, while the wax covered portion wont. The wax is then removed, leaving a colored egg with a white pattern. Depending on the color of the dye, additional patterns may then be applied over the colored surface and the egg dipped into an additional dye, resulting in a multi-colored pattern. So there we have it. All you need is several dozen eggs, dyes, containers for the dyes, a bunch of styluses, beeswax, a good old coal or wood stove, infinite patience, and a number of years of practice. By the way, a good recipe for pickled eggs is to use the liquid from a can or jar of pickled beets, add white vinegar, and place the peeled eggs in the solution. When the eggs become rose colored all the way through, they are ready for eating and are delicious. After all, one can only eat so much egg salad.
Anthony Shalna is a retired Approvals Manager for Honeywell Life Safety and has written scores of articles on fire alarms. He is a regular contributor to the Journal of the International Municipal Signal Association. He is a member, C-17, South Boston Knights of Lithuania and a Member, Parish Parochial Council, St. Peter Lithuanian Church, S. Boston as well as a retired Trustee, St. Joseph Manor Health Care, Brockton, MA. His other interests include Past President, Automatic Fire Alarm Association - New England, Past President, Southeastern Signalmen of MA. and MA. State Black powder handgun Champion. He has also been a ham radio operator for more than sixty years.

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40th ANNUAL BALTIMORE LITHUANIAN FESTIVAL

Henry L. Gaidis

This year marks the 40th Annual Baltimore Lithuanian Festival in its modern format and the local community welcomes all to attend the observance. The event will be held on Mothers Day Weekend, May 12-13, 2012, at the Catonsville Armory. Although the festival is considered to be a Baltimore event it has for a decade or more been held in Catonsville, an adjacent suburb located just outside of the Baltimore beltway. It is a place where anyone with Lithuanian ethnic roots or just a casual visitor will have a great time. The Lithuanians in Baltimore have been having ethnic gatherings since they first started arriving in the city during the mid-1880s, although most events were confined to the local community. Those attending the gatherings were almost exclusively recent immigrants and their American born children. Still the ground work for future events started to take root. Whenever and wherever they gathered the immigrants would start off the event with a prayer. Frequently the event would occur after a Sunday Mass in the church hall or nearby site. The bringing of prepared ethnic food was just like it was made in their homeland and was a requirement as the ladies prided themselves on who could cook the best. Lithuanian sausage (desra), stuffed cabbage (Balande liai), potato pudding

(kugelis), dumplings (koldunai), potato pancakes (bulviniai blynai), etc., were always available in abundance. Traditional music was played and songs from home were sung. Beer (alus) and honey liquor (vitatas or krupnikas) were a must. In the days before radio and television such events occurred frequently during the summer months and were the gathering place for all. As the new immigrants became American citizens they swelled with pride in their new homeland. The Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner soon became part of the opening ceremony of any event just like the traditional prayer. When Lithuania finally gained its independence in 1918 the singing of the Lithuanian National Anthem was added to the opening ceremonies and the opening prayer was said in both Lithuanian and English. Although these new Americans and their children were soon being assimilated into the American culture they continued their love of God and Country and that included both their old and new homelands. During the summer months, when the weather was good, it soon became commonplace for parishioners to parade from church after Mass to wherever their ethnic gathering was going to take place. During those days such gatherings frequently expanded to nearby park areas as they began to draw larger crowds. Over time even the local politicians began to realize the importance of the gatherings as well as the voting power of these new citizens and began showing up at the events to shake hands. They were frequently given a few minutes to address the people. During World War I such ethnic gatherings became a place to bolster support for the war effort, enlist new recruits, and sell War Bonds. The small Baltimore Lithuanian American community provided over one hundred and fifty soldiers, sailors, and marines to the war effort.

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elected office. Regrettably, the ever growing success of the event led to its demise. During the post-World War II period, the event lost its luster as people began staying away During the 1970s and 1980s there was a revival of individual ethnic festivals held in park like areas in the Inner Harbor area. As the Inner Harbor business community became popular and grew the ethnic festivals were forced to relocate into more inner city areas. The Baltimore Lithuanian community took an active part in the revived ethnic festivals which were then held in the Hopkins and Charles Plaza. During those days worshippers at Lithuanian Sunday Mass at St. Alphonsus and a parade followed from the church to the plaza and became part of the official programs. A few years later the city built a Festival Hall building downtown where the citys ethnic festivals could be held indoors. The MALUNAS indoor building proved to be a Lithuanian Folk Dance Group of Baltimore, Maryland benefit as it frequently saved the Baltimore is a city of multi-national heritage and day if the weather was inclement. Regrettably, the similar activities were taking place in its German, city began charging rising fees for its festivals, paPolish, Italian, Ukrainian, Jewish, etc., communi- rades, etc., and even tore down the Festival Hall ties. As the war clouds began to gather in Europe building to increase the size of its Convention Visduring the 1930s many Americans began to real- itors Center. This action almost killed the ethnic ize the need for continuing support for America festival tradition, but the resilient groups retreated and everything American. Soon the various to other locations. The Baltimore Lithuanians Baltimore ethnic groups began gathering together found a welcome home in the nearby Catonsville to have one large yearly event where all could Armory where the annual event has thrived for a display their unity as fellow Americans. As a result, decade or more. a super all nationality festival and parade evolved, This year the Baltimore Lithuanian community designated as I am an American Day. A parade celebrates its 40th Annual Lithuanian Festival became part of the event in 1938 sponsored by the which will be held on Mothers Day Weekend, Hearst Corporation, which published the old May 12-13, 2012, at the Catonsville Armory. We Baltimore News American paper to honor the invite all to attend and celebrate your heritage as Constitution. The first Grand Marshal of the parade your parents and grandparents did before you. was General Douglas MacArthur a World War I Come and enjoy Lithuanian culture at its best with Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. The event us food, music, dancing, culture exhibits, gifts, quickly evolved into the place where Baltimore- and that old time Lithuanian hospitality. ans could show their pride in being Americans. It Henry Gaidis is a contributor to Bridges. He is a member quickly drew veteran organizations and soon of the Board of Directors of JBANC and among his many became a gathering place for anyone seeking interests is military history.

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Calendar of Events for April,May and June 2012

Please verify all events as places & times are subject to change.

APRIL April 15, 2012 Traditional Lithuanian Easter Table Following 10:30 am Mass St. Andrew Lithuanian Church 1913 Wallace St. Philadelphia, PA. 19130 Reservations required on or before April 8. Info & reservations: 215-632-2534 or angelep@verizon.net

April 21, 2012 - 1-3 pm NEW DAY AND NEW TIME Phila. Lithuanian Heritage Club, Amber Roots Lithuanian Music Hall 2715 E. Allegheny Ave. Phila. PA Use the left side entrance. All are invited to attend. Info: Millie 610-497-5469 email miliemarks@aol.com April 26-28, 2012 23rd biannual Association for the Advancement of

Baltic Studies (AABS) conference. The conference will be held at the University of Illinois in Chicago, April 26-28, 2012 The concurrent session timetable, cultural & networking programs are still being developed, as are various other conference details. For links to the conference registration site, the Facebook page, & other info., go to: http://depts.washington.e du/aabs/chicago-conf2012.html 2012 AABS Local Arrangements Committee, aabsconfinfochicago@aabs.com MAY May 12-13, 2012 11 am- 6 pm 40th Annual Baltimore Lithuanian Festival in its modern format The Catonsville Armory

May 19, 2012 - 1-3 pm NEW DAY AND NEW TIME Phila. Lithuanian Heritage Club, Amber Roots Lithuanian Music Hall 2715 E. Allegheny Ave. Phila. PA Use the left side entrance.

MAY 18-20, 2012 WOMEN'S WEEKEND Annual women's weekend at Neringa led by Kerry Secrest & Dr. Kristina Maciunas.This year's theme: "Time". More detailed information & the Registration forms can be found at www.neringa.org

130 Mellor Ave. Cantonville, MD. We invite all to attend & celebrate your heritage as your parents & grandparents did before you. Come & enjoy Lithuanian culture at its best with us food, music, dancing, culture exhibits, gifts, & that old time Lithuanian hospitality

All are invited to attend. Info: Millie 610-497-5469 email miliemarks@aol.com JUNE June 2-3, 2012 Talka Work Weekend Please consider these dates & plan to come help prepare the Neringa campsite for the summer during the annual Talka work weekend. We are also holding the Open House for Neringa First-Timers from June 27-29th. Please come see what Neringa is all about! www.neringa.org

June 16, 2012 -- 1-3 pm NEW DAY AND NEW TIME Phila. Lithuanian Heritage Club, Amber Roots Lithuanian Music Hall 2715 E. Allegheny Ave. Phila. PA Use the left side entrance. All are invited to attend. Info: Millie 610-497-5469 email miliemarks@aol.com

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VOLUME 36 ISSUE 3

LITHUANIAN AMERICAN NEWS JOURNAL

PERIODICALS POSTAGE

Meet SVYTURYS Lithuanian Youth Folk Dance Group CLEVELAND, OHIO

The 14th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival is coming to Boston, MA July 1, 2012

This logo of the dancing lobsters is also found on the Festival T-shirt.