Members of Kewanee’s Serbian society gathered for this group portrait Ca 1925. Among its various objectives, this benevolent organization periodically raised money to help subsidize venerable Saint Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Gornja Meminska, Croatia, where many of the members had worshipped prior to moving to America. The fraternal order was also involved in a bevy of other causes that directly affected the Kewanee community. Among those pictured seated from left to right are Petar (Pete) Samardzija, unknown, John Pletkovich, Steve Pletkovich (Stojan Pletikosic), and unknown. Standing in back third from left is Wasco Rogula (Vasko Rogulja. Standing next him fourth from left is Milos Popovich (Popovic). Standing at far right is Eli Knezevich (Ilja Knezevic).
The second annual Serbian Heritage Day of Remembrance will be held on Monday, Sept. 7 at Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The service will be conducted by Fr. Aleksandar Bugarin, priest of Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church in Joliet.
At one time, several Americans of Serbian descent living in Kewanee such as the Vujakovich, Cernovich and Pletkovich families, were members of the Joliet church and worshiped there on a regular basis.
The Labor Day service will take place in the northeast section of the cemetery where the majority of Kewanee’s Serbian descendants are buried. The public is invited to attend.
A reception will be held immediately after at Cerno’s Bar and Grill in Kewanee at 11:30 a.m.
