Besides posting memorials for my family and extended family, my major focus is to honor Slovak and Rusyn immigrants to America.

I continue to be amazed at the bravery of those individuals in leaving family and friends in their home village to make a long journey to a far off land for a dangerous job among strangers.

Normally, I add amplifying information to the memorial so that future researchers from the within the U.S. or overseas will be able to identify their relative or fellow villager. To facilitate understanding, I avoid the use of abbreviations and encourage everyone to do the same.

I apologize for any mistakes and will gladly make corrections or transfer a memorial - JUST SEND AN E-MAIL identifying yourself, the memorial, and your request. I appreciate knowing fellow family researchers. Also, please feel free to use any of my photographs.

The noble aim of a memorial should be to honor the deceased with information about a life. A memorial with just the date of birth and death and a tombstone photograph does not do justice to one's life. Would you want to be remembered for all time with such little information? I encourage you to take extra time to document the deceased or be very willing to transfer a memorial or accept input that will lead to a more fitting memorial. Thank you.

Jim Dernar
Lorton, VA
[email protected]