John Benya was the son of Joannes (John) And Susanna Sandala Benya of Malcov, Slovakia. He was baptised in the Greek Catholic Church in Malcov (near Lenartov in eastern Slovakia) as Joannes Benya. He was the husband of (predeceased) wife Franciska Bortnik Benya. They married Jan 22 1910 in Yonkers NY. He was 19 and she was 18. Before that John had immigrated to the USA from Lenarto, Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia with his brother Michael. His wife had also immigrated from Slovakia from a nearby town but they didn't meet until in New York. their paths probley crossed several times in Slovakia. What were the chances that they would someday meet in a differnt country across the Atlantic Ocean! He was quoted as having said "it was like two broken halves of an apple finding each other to make one" in reference to finding his soul mate and wife. He was very proud to become a Naturalized US Citizen on Nov 13, 1920! He was a hard working Dairy Farmer on his farm called "Happy Landings Farm" in Brookfield, CT most of his life. They raised their four children, Helen, Steve, Frances and Ruth there. He was well liked and loved and respected for his hard work and wisdom. He was my wife Linda Hampton Braddy's grandfather. I asked her once if he had been in the army and she said no but he wanted to very much for his country, however was not allowed because he was a dairy farmer and the country needed him for that. He greatly respected the US government, the military and what it stood for, which in one word is FREEDOM. This in contrast to what he left behind which was military he didn't agree with in a country where he did not feel free. He and his brother left everything behind there and risked much to leave it in haste. I believe they were brought here by destiny's sake. I did not get the chance to meet him but I wish I had, and to shake his hand. Instead I try to honor him, his name, way of life, and strange as it seems his old country with this memorial. Our families decending from him still honor some of the passed down traditions of his old country. Men like him and women like his wife made this country what it is today. The greatest country in the world. Not perfect, no, but it's mix of differnt peoples, and like the mix of differnt metals, makes it stronger.
John Benya was the son of Joannes (John) And Susanna Sandala Benya of Malcov, Slovakia. He was baptised in the Greek Catholic Church in Malcov (near Lenartov in eastern Slovakia) as Joannes Benya. He was the husband of (predeceased) wife Franciska Bortnik Benya. They married Jan 22 1910 in Yonkers NY. He was 19 and she was 18. Before that John had immigrated to the USA from Lenarto, Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia with his brother Michael. His wife had also immigrated from Slovakia from a nearby town but they didn't meet until in New York. their paths probley crossed several times in Slovakia. What were the chances that they would someday meet in a differnt country across the Atlantic Ocean! He was quoted as having said "it was like two broken halves of an apple finding each other to make one" in reference to finding his soul mate and wife. He was very proud to become a Naturalized US Citizen on Nov 13, 1920! He was a hard working Dairy Farmer on his farm called "Happy Landings Farm" in Brookfield, CT most of his life. They raised their four children, Helen, Steve, Frances and Ruth there. He was well liked and loved and respected for his hard work and wisdom. He was my wife Linda Hampton Braddy's grandfather. I asked her once if he had been in the army and she said no but he wanted to very much for his country, however was not allowed because he was a dairy farmer and the country needed him for that. He greatly respected the US government, the military and what it stood for, which in one word is FREEDOM. This in contrast to what he left behind which was military he didn't agree with in a country where he did not feel free. He and his brother left everything behind there and risked much to leave it in haste. I believe they were brought here by destiny's sake. I did not get the chance to meet him but I wish I had, and to shake his hand. Instead I try to honor him, his name, way of life, and strange as it seems his old country with this memorial. Our families decending from him still honor some of the passed down traditions of his old country. Men like him and women like his wife made this country what it is today. The greatest country in the world. Not perfect, no, but it's mix of differnt peoples, and like the mix of differnt metals, makes it stronger.
