ON THE occasion of the Day of Slovaks Abroad, members of the Matica Slovenská cultural organisation, the Migrácia SK civic association and the Association of Independent Experts for the Issues of History and Life of Slovaks, met in Bratislava in early July to found a new organisation called the Foundation for the National Monument of Slovak Emigration.
The organisation has proposed to build a cultural monument in Sad Janka Kráľa park in Petržalka, Matica Slovenská told TASR. It should appear near a piece of red marble from the Tardos quarry, donated by the Slovak minority living in Hungary, which weighs 4.5 tonnes. Since July 5, 2000, Slovaks from various countries all over the world have been meeting near this stone each year.
The monument’s creators point out that almost every Slovak family has a member who left the country. Slovak expats are spread all around the world, including successful scientists, writers, businesspeople, athletes, craftsmen, and professionals from numerous other spheres. A list of the names of those who left – or were forced to leave – would number in the millions.
Members of the foundation opined that the time is right for the construction of such a monument. One day, Slovaks from around the globe will be able to meet here to commemorate those who left Slovakia but who still feel connected to it. More information can be found at www.vystahovalectvo.sk.
