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Hernando Today

Polish Legion Of American Veterans Invite Public To Christmas Celebration

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By HERNANDO TODAY STAFF

Published: November 30, 2008

BROOKSVILLE -
Walter Weiss Memorial Post 196, Polish Legion of American Veterans and Legion Auxiliary, Spring Hill, Florida invites friends in the communities of Hernando, Pasco and Citrus to join them for their annual Christmas Celebration, and sharing of the Opłatek.

For centuries, Christmas Eve dinner in a traditional Polish home has always been preceded by the custom of sharing the Christmas wafer, or Opłatek. This simple, yet deeply meaningful custom, ensured that every family member or close family friend had at least one opportunity during the year to express his love and/or well wishes to everyone who would be present. Each person at the table is given a piece of the Communion-like wafer, the Opłatek, and is expected to share a small piece of it with everyone else who is there. The one-to-one exchanges are often filled with emotional words, hugs and kisses, as close friends and family share their thoughts and express their innermost feelings for one another. There can be no bad feelings after this breaking and sharing of bread.

This year's Opłatek dinner/dance will take place Saturday afternoon and evening, Dec. 6, at the Hernando Shrine Club, 13400 Montour St. Spring Hill (one block west of Sunshine Grove Road) Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. for social hour. A Polish dinner (of a herring appetizer, an entrée of goł bi (go-wam-key) pierogi, kiełbasa and sauerkraut, along with fresh rye bread, complimentary wine and desert of chrusciki and traditional European nut roll will be served at 3:30 p.m. Live Polish and American dance music will be offered by the Bee-Sharps from 5-8 p.m. There will not be a cash bar, so BYOB. You may also bring your own snacks to eat during the social hour. Tickets are $20 per person in advance only. Tickets will not be available at the door.

The festivities will include a communal tree decoration, the singing of Polish and American Christmas carols (Kolendy), a visit by old St. Nick himself, and, of course, the traditional sharing of the Opłatek.

The Polish Legion and Auxiliary members urge you to consider bringing your children and/or grandchildren. Boys and girls 11 and under will be admitted free. However, guests must request complimentary children's tickets in advance when purchasing their own adult tickets. Parents and grandparents may also bring a wrapped gift to be given to their child by Santa.

To obtain tickets, or for information on membership in the Polish Legion of American Veterans or Ladies Auxiliary, call Legion Commander Richard Mellinger at 688-7196, or First Vice-Commander John Rakucewicz at 650-9675. In Pasco County, call Post Adjutant Ernie Stetz at 727-848-7826 or Auxiliary President Rose McDonald 727-863-6901. You may also send an e-mail request for information or tickets to john@kcontrols.com.

All guests are urged to bring a small gift-wrapped Christmas present for a hospitalized veteran. The members of the Polish Legion and Auxiliary will present the donated gifts to patients at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines in St. Petersburg or Baldomero-Lopez in Land O' Lakes.

Gifts for males or those that are non-gender-specific are best. Mark the outside of the gift to indicate whether the gift is appropriate for a male veteran or for a vet of either gender.

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