Celebrating the Day of Slovaks Living Abroad in Bratislava on July 5, the public holiday marking the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, key figures from Slovak associations abroad recalled the role played by Slovaks from other countries in the fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989 and the setting up of an independent Slovakia in 1993. Noting that there are some 1.5 million ethnic Slovaks living abroad, leaders of the associations said that many of them haven't forgotten about their roots, language, culture and identity. "The Memorial Day of Slovaks Living Abroad was set up by a law passed by Parliament. It's an expression of honour to those who for various reasons at various times found themselves outside Slovakia," said chairman of the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad (USZZ) Jan Varso during the ceremony.
