finnish cousins on NG web site

This is a photo of the cousins from Finland who came to Nanty-Glo for the Hakanen Reunion July 21, 2012. As explained on the web site, We made contact with the cousins in March of 2010. First there was Pirkko from England. She contacted Barb Hakanen via email to the borough office of Nanty-Glo. She sent photos and told about the family in Finland. These cousins were grandchildren of Laimi Hakanen's older sister, Aini Liisa. Laimi was Mike Hakanen's wife. Then in the summer of 2011, Janet Capriani took a group to Finland. Janet is Laimi's granddaughter. In Finland their host was Arja Bieber a granddaughter of Aini Liisa and a cousin to Pirkko. Shortly after they returned, Arja was able to make contact with cousins from the Kivisto family. John Hakanen's wife, Mary was a Kivisto. Arja set-up two meetings with the Kivistos and then planned the trip to America. Five cousins from Laimi's side of the family and four cousins from the Kivisto side came to America in July of 2912. Janet was their host in America. Janet lives in Ohio near Cleveland. They all came to the annual Hakanen Reunion in Nanty-Glo. In the picture the three on the right in the third row are (L to R) Pentii Venna, his wife Ritva and Arja. In the center row are the Kivisto cousins (L to R) Mikko Ladesmaki, his father Veli-Matti, his mother Leena and his sister Eveliina. Seated are (R to L) Helka Koivisto and her husband Yrjo. It was a wonderful visit, far too short. I am sure this will rank as the best reunion ever!