From the left:  Hilja Martinez, event coordinator; Kristina Shatuho, sophomore at AZ State Univ; and Jean Rice, US host family for Kristina

Continuing the tradition of many years the community of Arizona Estonians who are scattered over the state but mostly in the Phoenix metro area celebrated the "98th Eesti Vabariigi Aastapäeva" a couple days early on Sunday February 21st.    

As in the past few years the gathering was held at the home of Jim and Linda Abbott in the city of Mesa. There were over fifty of us who enjoyed the company of many people we get to see but once a year.

Among the familiar faces there were quite a few new ones and even some who have moved in from other states or visiting from Estonia.

The activity started off with the singing the Estonian National Anthem with Kristina Shatuho, from Tallinn, playing the piano.  

All of us certainly did enjoy the many dishes of home cooked food such as "verivorstid, pirukad, sült and mulgipuder" along with numerous delicious deserts.

Also, keeping up with technology one of our group even flew his small drone helicopter making a video clip of our group.

In conclusion we are now only two years from the 2018 centennial milestone for this annual event and certainly look forward to that time.

Photos & story by

Peter (Vaga) Feldmann