LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (02/28/99)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A thank you from Kyiv library

Dear Editor:

I would like to express my profound thanks to all those readers of The Ukrainian Weekly who have contributed over the past year or two to the Ukrainian Library Fund, through Self Reliance Baltimore FCU, A/C No. 51444. The Central Educational Library of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine in Kyiv has already used part of these funds to obtain valuable publications for its collections.

At the time when the Ukrainian state is developing - albeit via a somewhat difficult process - your aid to education and educational libraries in Ukraine is good evidence of your understanding of the importance of the work carried out by these institutions for the development of our new state.

The Central Educational Library, located in Budynok Vchytelia (Teacher's Building) in Kyiv, provides information support to our educators - present and future - upon whose level of professional knowledge is dependent the upbringing of our young generation, as well as Ukraine's entry into the world information space.

Once again, on behalf of my library staff and all educators in Ukraine, I thank all of you for your generous assistance.

P. I. Rohova
Kyiv

The writer is director of the Central Educational Library of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.

Sailors from Ukraine thank supporters

Dear Editor:

Thanks from Ukraine for the help and support provided by The Ukrainian Weekly readers during a desperate situation of this past summer.

On September 20, the stranded group of Ukrainian sailors from the 650-foot cargo ship Epta left Houston and returned to Ukraine. They were deported without any of the six months' pay that was owed them for the repairs and maintenance they were hired to do on the Epta. The sailors left Houston disheartened to face the grim realities of the mounting debts that their families had incurred while they were stranded in Houston. The U.S. Marshall's Office had seized the ship and forced the issue into bankruptcy court, and the matter was to go to court in May of 1999.

However, on December 24, a settlement of the case involving the sailors' wages was reached with the other creditors of the ship Epta. A judge's order allowed the distribution of the funds for the sailors' wages (approximately $76,000) to take place immediately. This amount represents only a portion of their back pay, but it will help them repay the tremendous debts their families had acquired in order to survive. It is a happy ending to an unpleasant situation that occurred this summer in the Port of Houston.

The Ukrainian sailors want to thank all the organizations and individuals, both Ukrainian and American, in Houston and beyond, who were instrumental in helping them survive under difficult circumstances. The Sailors' Fund, organized by the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Pokrova in Houston, coordinated the collection of money (approximately $30,000), food, clothing and telephone cards while this situation was being resolved. The Ukrainian American Cultural Club and the Ukrainian National Women's League of Houston also provided valuable help and generous contributions to the Sailors', Fund.

The Ukrainian sailors were abandoned thousands of miles from home by ruthless ship owners and operators. They were left penniless to fend for themselves. To their rescue came many Ukrainian Americans and their organizations. The Ukrainian American community should be proud of the kindness and generous support it provided to solve this problem for these sailors.

Greg and Nadia Buchai
Sugar Land, Texas

Greg Buchai, a Houston financial adviser, and attorney Dennis McElwee negotiated a settlement for the sailors.

Let's gather info on war veterans

Dear Editor:

Before the 20th century ends, the Ukrainian American communities owe one to the many Ukrainian American veterans of World War II. The very significant contributions made by Ukrainian American servicemen and women in various war theaters during World War II is a chapter in Ukrainian history that begs for proper illumination for the nation's general population and for Ukrainian Americans whose families arrived here after the war.

Let the collecting of data begin in 1999; though late, it is not too late to gather valuable information from our veterans and their families who live in all states of the country, in communities large and small.

Ukrainian families of the pre-World War II generations were large and this led to large numbers of Ukrainian Americans having fought and died in the war. Newspapers at times printed photos of four, five, or six family members in service of their country. Community honor rolls posted Gold Stars in sizable numbers by the names of Ukrainian Americans killed in action, noticeably so in mining, industrial, and farming communities where their numbers were proportionately large.

With extensive address files, the Ukrainian National Association appears best qualified to promote a campaign to gather information. Questionnaires geared to collect military and other pertinent data could be printed in Ukrainian papers requesting returns to a selected address. Such questionnaires might also be circulated by UNA officers, mailed to Ukrainian churches, professional societies, etc. Financial supporters for the analyzing and publishing of findings could evolve after the collection of data.

The Ukrainian American record of accomplishment in World War II might well rate among the best.

Many sturdy Ukrainian American veterans, wherever their residences may be in this vast America, would be pleased to learn that their fellow Ukrainians remember them and appreciate them and their services.

An interesting overview of Ukrainian American participation in World War II appears in a section titled Military Services in the book, "The Ukrainians of Maryland." This section of 12 pages, written by S/Sgt. Stephen Basarab, while showing good general coverage of Ukrainian American military personnel in World War II is but a prelude to what a thorough study would reveal.

Paul Fenchak
Baltimore, Md.

The writer is president of UNA Branch 320.

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