INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: CELEBRATIONS OF THE 7th ANNIVERSARY (09/20/98)

INDEPENDENT UKRAINE: CELEBRATIONS OF THE 7th ANNIVERSARY

Hartford

HARTFORD, Conn. - The Ukrainian-American community of Greater Hartford celebrated the seventh anniversary of Ukraine's independence on Sunday, August 23, with a noontime rally and formal dinner at the Ukrainian National Home here. Among the featured speakers were U.S. Congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Barbara Kennelly, Ukraine's vice-consul in New York Bohdan Yaremenko and Wethersfield Town Selectman Ronald Zdrojeski.

The master of ceremonies, Alexander Pryshlak, opened the ceremonies by welcoming the throng of several hundred community members who came from cities and towns across northern and central Connecticut. A color guard of flag-bearers from the Ukrainian American Veterans, and children in embroidered blouses and uniforms from the Ukrainian youth organizations SUM and Plast flanked the podium as the assembly sang the American and Ukrainian national anthems.

Borys Krupa and Jaroslaw Zastawsky read proclamations from Connecticut Gov. John Rowland and Mayor Mike Peters of Hartford that hailed August 24, 1991, as a landmark in the international struggle for freedom.

Rep. Kennelly gave an impassioned keynote speech in which she recounted Ukraine's painful experience under communism, its pursuit of independence, and the special bond that exists between the Ukrainian American community and the people of Ukraine.

"I wish that I could tell you today that the battle is over, that victory is complete," said Rep. Kennelly, "but we know otherwise." Rep. Kennelly cited the many hardships that Ukraine must still overcome in developing a free market economy and implementing the democratic rule of law. As a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Rep. Kennelly pledged that she and her colleagues in Washington would stand with Ukraine in its pursuit of market reforms.

As an eight-term representative from Connecticut's 1st Congressional District, Rep. Kennelly is a member of one of the state's most influential and politically prominent families. Her father, John Bailey, was a leader in the Democratic National Committee for many years and Rep. Kennelly has become a ranking member and minority leader on the House Ways and Means Committee. In speaking to the community rally, she stressed the importance of not giving up the fight for Ukraine's future, even in the face of strong resistance from reactionary forces in the Verkhovna Rada that seek to turn back the tide of democratic change.

Vice-Consul Yaremenko delivered the keynote address during the commemorative dinner. He reminded the audience that since independence the Ukrainian people have made important strides in favor of economic reform, currency stabilization, nuclear disarmament, and integration of Ukraine into the strategic architecture of Western Europe and the United States.

Selectman Zdrojeski announced that the town of Wethersfield has adopted a formal resolution to enter into a sister-city relationship with a community of comparable size in Ukraine. Wethersfield has a relatively large population of Ukrainian Americans who have been actively engaged in the process of strengthening ties with Ukraine.

The rally was organized by the Federation of Unified Ukrainian American Organizations of Greater Hartford, including the Ukrainian American Veterans, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Ukrainian National Women's League of America, Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM), Plast Ukrainian Youth Organization and the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund.

Perth Amboy

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. - For seven years the American Ukrainian Veterans of Perth Amboy have organized the Ukrainian Independence Day flag-raising ceremony in their city. Perth Amboy is one of New Jersey's oldest Ukrainian communities and the center of the community is the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption. The veterans gathered about 75 people for the flag-raising on August 24, which was hosted by Mayor Joe Vas.

| Home Page |