Lesyna Family Reunion 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Prepared by Larry Lesyna 2 Dec 2014
Our 2014 family reunion was held in St. Louis and brought together over 70 family members and friends from all over the USA and the Czech Republic.
Group activities began on 4 July 2014, with many of us traveling to downtown St. Louis to visit the Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. We also took note of many historic landmarks nearby. We then went to St. John Nepomuk Chapel, the first Czech Catholic church in the USA, and then to St. Peter and Paul Catholic church, which had a largely German congregation. We passed by the ancestral home of the Reinhardt family on Lami Street, and then to South Tenth Street, where the Lesyna family lived. The present owner of the Tenth Street house, Martin, graciously invited us to tour the home. After thanking Martin for accommodating a large group of unexpected visitors, we went to St. Peter and Paul cemetery. There we observed a large number of Lesyna and Reinhardt memorial markers and then returned to our hotels to prepare for the evening.
More family members gathered that evening at the Jefferson Barracks Park. Donna (nee Lesyna) and Jeff Reitz reserved a prime picnic area, and we all enjoyed the food and opportunity to meet and relax. After darkness, we were treated to a brilliant fireworks display over the Mississippi River.
Our main reunion event was held the next day, 5 July, in the early afternoon at Andre’s Banquets and Catering. Family members picked up a nametag, and a souvenir badge displaying the name of our event, along with representations of the flags of both the Czech Republic and the USA. A DJ played music while we socialized with many cousins, some we were meeting for the first time. Many photographs were taken, which can be accessed later on this page. Larry Lesyna, President of the LFHG, began the program by inviting everyone in a toast to the entire family, followed by a special toast to our Lesina cousins who made a long journey from the Czech Republic, Miloš Lesina and Eva Lesinová. We then passed a microphone around the room, so that everyone could share news with those present, and Larry read greetings from family members unable to attend. We also introduced everyone by family lineage, so that all could understand how we were related to each other. We danced, took family group photos, and ate delicious cake decorated with the Lesina name. Miloš addressed the group and discussed the possibility of a future reunion in the Czech Republic, in addition to fielding many questions about the history of our family, and our ancestral homeland.
We then adjourned, and most of us continued the festivities at the nearby home of Donna and Jeff Reitz. We continued to share stories and reminisce, with plenty of food and drink, and then said our goodbyes, with the hope of carrying on our tradition of regular family reunions.
We thank everyone who attended or otherwise contributed to helping make this event a success. Special thanks go out to the following people: Mary Robben for making the arrangements at Andre’s and for procuring the cake, Donna and Jeff Reitz for arranging the picnic at Jefferson Barracks and hosting the get together after Andre’s, Alex Reitz and David Lesyna for the photography, Joan Wagner for leading our tour of St. Louis historic family sites, Bill Lesyna for producing the nametags and collection of funds, Kalyna Lesyna for DJ arrangements, Jennifer Lesyna for maintaining our website and Facebook page and Miloš Lesina and Eva Lesinová for the commemorative badges.
Below this text you will find a group photo, with names of the people, and links to more online photo albums!
For more great photos of our event, please check out the following links below!
Link to brief album of reunion photos:
http://lfhg.smugmug.com/Family/2014-Reunion-Selection/44005708_Jxbkx7
Link to photos taken by Alex Reitz:
http://lfhg.smugmug.com/Family/5-July-2014-reunion-from-Alex/44982267_SKHXvx
Link to photos taken by David Lesyna:
http://lfhg.smugmug.com/Family/UPDATED-2014-Lesyna-Family/43963952_v42bzv
