MOD supports a new museum mapping out the history of Slovak emigration to North America

In its local area called Ťahyňa, the village of Pavlovce nad Uhom is working to establish the Museum of Slovak Emigration to North America, called “Kasigarda” – a misspeak for the Castle Garden, the first official immigrant processing centre in the USA. Under the MOD Grant Scheme, the Ministry of Defence has repeatedly supported this project with a total amount of €40,000.

So far, the funding has gone towards the refurbishment works to the Museum building and the promotion of military history covering Slovak immigrants-turned-soldiers in the USA. As well as saving and restoring the "American House" in the Zeplín region, one of a few of its kind in Slovakia, this project has established cooperation between the Slovak community organisations in the USA and the Museum, with the view to preserving and presenting the stories of American Slovaks and their descendants who served in the U.S. Army in the 20th century, especially from World War One to Operation Desert Storm.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď was treated to a guided tour of the Museum by Assoc Prof PhDr Martin Javor PhD of the University of Prešov, the chairman of the Museum of Slovak Emigration to North America Civic Association.

Appreciating the Museum's efforts to document this era of history for generations to come, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Whether in the pre-WWI, interwar, or post-WWII periods, hundreds of thousands of Slovaks departed for North America. While many returned home, many stayed there. In the USA, there is a large number of Slovaks to whom we recognise our relationship and whose work we value so much.”

Scheduled to open on 6 May 2023, the Museum houses over 4,000 artefacts and is the first of its kind in Slovakia. “I am very much pleased that this project is being undertaken and that the Museum could constantly evolve and become a truly unique place in Slovakia,” Mr Naď said.

Assoc Prof PhDr Martin Javor PhD finished the tour of the Museum by inviting the MOD and Armed Forces leaders and members of the public to attend the Museum opening ceremony in just two months' time.