Embassy Events

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Village of Jarabina Celebrates Book Launch, Heritage with American Guests

On August 26 more than 60 Americans with Jarabina ancestry attended a festival in the small village, visited relatives still living there and were greeted by an Embassy official. Political Officer Aaron Chase participated in the fourth annual “Recognize and Preserve the Traditions of Your Ancestors Festival” and the launch of a new book chronicling the history of Jarabina village. The book reflects the importance of mutual understanding between nations through personal connections and family roots. Mr. Chase welcomed, on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, "Vychodna Dolina" a women's folk singing group from St. Nicholas Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in New York City, who performed along with a group of young Americans who had learned Slovak folk-songs. In the past century many Slovak emigrants from this village have found a second home in the US.  Jarabina is also the birthplace of one of the greatest Slovak-American heroes of the Second World War, Sergeant Mike Strenk.