CROATIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER
Home of the Slavonic Mutual and Benevolent Society
San Francisco (Founded 1857)
A Non-Profit Organization

PRESIDENT OF CROATIA IN SAN FRANCISCO

A Reception honoring the President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, was held Saturday April 8, 2006 from 5PM to 8PM at the Croatian American Cultural Center in San Francisco. Over 200 members of our Society and members of the local Croatian Fraternal Union attended.

The Event commenced with an introduction of the President of Croatia and a short history of the oldest Croatian Society in America (1857) in the Croatian language by Society Vice President Adam S. Eterovich; introductory remarks by Society President Sam Mosunic included mention of the Croatian Ambassador to America, Neven Jurica, and Croatian Consul General Ante Barbir also in attendance. President Mesic gave an excellent talk on the present status of Croatia. He was presented with a San Francisco Cable Car and a history of Croatians in California, 1849-1999 as a gift.

Tamburitza Band Novi-Stari and Dalmacijo Singers played two old Croatian melodies for the President. At the conclusion of the Reception Sam Mosunic and Adam Eterovich toasted the president with a good glass of California Zinfandel wine. Zinfandel originated in Dalmatia, Croatia.

On November 17, 1857 in San Francisco a group of Dalmatians from Croatia organized the oldest Croatian Society in
America then called the Slavonic Illyric Society. The present flag of Croatia incorporates Illyria along with Dalmatia, Slavonia, Dubrovnik and Istria. The Society, purchased a Croatian Catholic Cemetery in 1861; founded a Library in 1869; was the prime organizor of the Croatian and Slovene Catholic Church of Nativity in San Francisco in 1900. The Society built the first cultural center in America at Sutter Creek, Amador County in 1873. Our Gold Rush pioneers had a branch of the Society in the Amador, a branch in Sacramento in 1859, and a branch in Watsonville, California. Our membership includes six generations of Californians. Our Logo or Coat of Arms incorporates the American Flag, the red, white and blue Croatian Flag, a fox and star as found in the Arms of Slavonia in Croatia. The flag of Croatia was first flown in America by our pioneers in California in 1857.

Sam Mosunic     Adam S. Eterovich
President           Vice President

Formatted for CROWN by Nenad Bach

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