LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (05/25/97)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Women veterans should register

Dear Editor:

October 18 will mark the culmination of an 11-year effort to raise over $12 million from the private sector in order to commemorate women who served in the U.S. armed forces. The historic dedication ceremonies and ribbon cutting for the Women in Military Service for America Memorial will take place that day in Washington. The Memorial Education Center will be open for visitors at the conclusion of the ceremony.

The ceremony will be followed by a candlelight march, starting at the Lincoln Memorial, crossing the Memorial Bridge and ending at the memorial site with a short service in memory of those who passed on. The service will conclude with the illumination of the exterior of the memorial, which is located at the ceremonial entrance of Arlington National Cemetery.

To volunteer means to enter into any service of one's own free will, to give freely to the cause, to believe in the cause. Throughout American history, women dedicated their lives, often without proper recognition, as in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War era (most often as nurses, but also as scouts, saboteurs and couriers), the first and second world wars, and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. They also served as support personnel and in the Persian Gulf, where they fought and died side by side with men.

The U.S. government has chosen to honor nearly 2 million women who have served, or are serving, their country and to recognize them in a most visible way - via a memorial. The Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation Inc. is seeking to register women who have served in the U.S. armed forces. If you are currently serving or are a veteran please write to: The Women's Memorial, Department 560, Washington, DC 22042-0560; call (703) 533-1155 or 1-800-222-2294; e-mail: [email protected] or visit the foundation's website: http://www.wimsa.org/pub/wimsa/

I appeal to women of Ukrainian descent to stand up and be counted. Register now.

Anna Krawczuk
Holmdel, N.J.

Anna Krawczuk is public relations officer of Ukrainian American Veterans Post 30 in Holmdel, N.J.

Commendations for Iwanciw, Lozynskyj

Dear Editor:

Eugene Iwanciw and Askold Lozynskyj should be commended for outstanding testimony regarding corruption in Ukraine. The Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives appears to be forming opinions in a vacuum or basing their conclusions on faulty assumptions.

If the U.S. is going to deny aid to Ukraine because of reported "corruption", then will the same standard be applied to all other recipients on this planet? Of course not. Mr. Lozynskyj correctly challenged the committee on that count regarding Russia. The response was wimpy. How about the Pollard case and Israel? Has the U.S. decreased aid to Israel because they spy on us? No, we increase aid. Do facts have anything to do with where the money goes? No, it appears to be based on politics and perceptions.

Our decisions should be based solely on national interests. Is it in our nation's national interests to support a free Ukraine? Yes, it neutralizes any potential expansionist goals Russia may have. Yes, Ukraine has corruption, but considering that the former Communists escaped without trials and were left to work in the bureaucratic infrastructure, what can one expect in the short term? On the other hard if Ukraine had trials and executions of Communist murderers, many would have condemned Ukraine stating that Ukraine lacked compassion and understanding. So, how can you win?

Ukraine needs to implement economic reforms as quickly as possible. The U.S. should increase aid on all fronts. If we stop now, the anti-democracy elements in Ukraine will have even more ammunition to push Ukraine into Russia's dream of recreating another "empire." This is not in our national interests. We want countries to strive for democracy, maintain peaceful relations and improve economically.

Roman G. Golash
Schaumburg, Ill.

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