Birch society member honored.

Our January 13, 2003 issue contained an interview of a remarkable Lithuanian-American. After living through the horror of World War II, Villus Brazenas and his small family came to America in 1949. In 1960, he joined the John Birch Society while living in Connecticut and toured the nation as a JBS speaker. He also authored articles for small publications wherever he lived and for Lithuanian-language newspapers here in America.

After the apparent demise of the Soviet Union, he began to visit his native land to alert Lithuanians to the conspiratorial threat to freedom of which Communism is only a part. He has now written, published, and distributed throughout Lithuania two books in the Lithuanian language. In wide demand as a speaker and publicist, he continues to help the people of this small nation understand the realities of today's struggle for freedom.

On May 18th, in a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital city, Mr. Brazenas was awarded the Order of the Vytis [Knight's] Cross. The presidential award was presented to him as an outstanding representative of the world Lithuanian community. Also acknowledged during the presentation was his role in resisting Nazi and Communist occupation of Lithuania, and his lifelong work on behalf of Lithuanian independence.

On the occasion of his 90th birthday in May, a Lithuanian stamp-collecting organization issued a commemorative stamp containing his picture along with a few sentences detailing his many exploits. Through his efforts, Villus Brazenas hopes to save Lithuanians, Americans, and the rest of mankind from becoming slaves in a Communist-style new world order.