Texas
Flagship of Czech Heritage
E-NEWS July, 2015
www.czechtexas.org
Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center
250 West Fairgrounds Rd., PO Box 6, La Grange, Texas 78945
1-888-785-4500, [email protected]
TCHCC to Present Program on WWII Events in Czechoslovakia
On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, two speakers will present a program on events that took place in Czechoslovakia
during WWII. The program will begin at 6:30 PM in Hanslik Hall at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center main building, 250 West Fairgrounds Rd., LaGrange, Texas
All interested in the history of that era are invited to attend.
Sarah Wilhelm, a 2015 graduate of Austin College in Sherman with a major in theater and history, will present
“Lidice”—the result of retaliation against the Czech people after an attempted assassination and the subsequent
death of Reinhard Heydrich. Lidice, now a memorial site, was a small village 20 km northwest of Prague that
was destroyed in 1942. The story of Lidice reveals the strength of the human spirit that is not easily discouraged or defeated.
“During World War II. Heydirch was a high-ranking German Nazi official, who Hilter called “the man with the
iron heart.” Heydrich masterminded the Holocaust when he chaired the 1942 Wannsee Conference, which finalized plans for the extermination of all European Jews. He was chief of the secret police and was also Reichprotecktor of Bohnemia and Moravia, the highest ranking officer in then Czechoslovakia.” (excerpt from article
by Susan Chandler)
“Of the project to “Germanize” Czechoslovakia, Heydrich said, “Deprive the people of their national consciousness; treat them as a tribe and not as a nation; dilute their national pride; do not teach their history; propagate
their language as inferior; imply they have a cultural void; emphasize their customs are primitive; and dismiss
independence as a barbaric anomaly.”(excerpt from article by Susan Chandler)
Janis Hrncir, TCHCC Museum & Library Chairman, will present information on the “Air Battle of 1944 “ when at
the end of World War II several squadrons of American planes were shot down by the Germans as the planes
were flying over Moravia and Slovakia. “Mission 263” is remembered by the Czechs in stories, photos and most
notably in the graves they kept and visited for over 70 years. The presentation will include a video of the ceremony that took place in one of the towns, Slavicin, as well as photographs of the various sites and maps of the
battle.
Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center—250 West Fairgrounds Road - PO Box 6, La Grange, Texas 78945
For information call: 1-888-785-4500 or 979-968-9399. E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.czechtexas.org
Send questions to Retta Chandler, President and Chairman of the Board. Published on behalf of Board of Directors, Volunteers
and Supporters of TCHCC
Dear TCHCC Members & Friends,
You are cordially invited to come to a special program this Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 6:30
PM. The first presentation, “Lidice”, will be by Sarah Wilhelm and the second one will be
“Air Battle of 1944” by Janis Hrncir. There is no admission charge. A reception will follow
the presentations.
I would also like to remind you to send pictures for our 2016 TCHCC Calendar.
The theme is pictures of relatives, friends, and homes that were taken in the Czech Lands
up to 1950. The deadline for this is August 1.
The San Antonio Gala will be held on August 14, 2015. Each year proceeds from this
Gala are donated to TCHCC for various needs and special things such as the chandeliers in the
Banquet Hall. Thank you to Barbara Hruby, TCHCC Board Secretary, and the San Antonio
Committee for their hard work to make this event a fun evening. Call TCHCC for more information.
Information on other upcoming events are forthcoming.
Thank you for your support and the dedication that you have to preserve our rich Czech
heritage.
Retta Slavik Chandler
TCHCC President
Thank you to the dedicated staff and volunteers. They devote many hours to TCHCC in
its upkeep, greeting visitors, and promoting Czech heritage. The value of their volunteer time
is beyond measure.
TCHCC Staff, Regular Volunteers and Docents:
Mark Hermes, Manager,
Janis Hrncir, Museum & Library Chairman, Georgia Vyvial, Food Service Manager,
Lorenda Polasek, Gift Shop Chairman, Cathleen Noska, Data Entry, Carolyn Heinsohn,
Georgia Funderburk, Georgia Kovar, Mary Vasek, Marilyn Kothmann, Jean Davis, Waymond
Davis, Johnnie Polasek, Wilson Huffer, JG Hrncir, Walt Wallicek, James “Doc “Darilek.