Bruce wrote: "The Bagin photograph was taken on the 2001 treasures tour. My shirt was made
in the prior village, Detva, to measure in two hours for $40.00 and it is one of my lasting mementos of the trip.
Imagine, walking in Kamenicany, the birthplace of my grandfather Karol Bagin, and meeting Michal Bagin, a contemporary of my father, whose grandfather, Filip Bagin was the best man at my grandfather's wedding in 1913 Milwaukee.

Michal and his family produced a picture that was sent by Filip to his relatives in Slovakia in 1912. In the picture with the Milwaukee skyline in the background were five men, second from the right was my grandfather at age 31.

Even more startling, Michal Bagin fought in Italy during WWII and was hospitalized for four years and became fluent in Italian.
My wife, whose parents were born in Italy and this ancient relative carried on a spirited conversation in Italian while the rest of us looked on in awe.
Helene's Treasures Tour with Fred and Gil was simply wonderful.

Now I am searching for my grandmother, Maria Minar's birthplace.
Little is known of her except that she immigrated to Milwaukee in 1904? and married my grandfather in 1913. His naturalization papers state that she came from Moravitz, but all efforts to find her birthplace have come to an end."