President Kiska Attends Days of Milan Hodža

July 22, 2014

President Kiska came to Sučany to present the Bilingual Gymnasium of Milan Hodža with an award as one of the finest secondary schools in all of Slovakia, and to join in the festivities honoring my grandfather. On the main square he spoke briefly to the crowd, and also enjoyed a performance of folk songs by the group Seniors of Sučany, part of a day-long competition among numerous such choral groups. President Kiska’s talk focused partly on Milan Hodža’s ideas about European integration, and partly on the everyday lives of seniors and how the government could support them better. I felt very honored to be introduced to him and to sit by his side while he was at the performance.

Crowd gathers on the main square of Sučany, listening to a choral competition and waiting for the president.

Waiting for President Kiska, with the president of the regional seniors’ association, the mayor of Sučany (wearing official gold chain), and his assistant.

Introduced to the president.

In conversation with the president and the mayor.

Listening to the seniors sing, with the president, the mayor, and other local dignitaries.

One of the choral groups entered in the day’s competition.

Happy family in the audience. Right to left: granddaughter Vera Lochtefeld, my wife Yvonne, and the vicar of the Lutheran church of Sučany.