UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (05/14/00)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

To my country

by Bohdan Yaremko

Oh where has all your glory gone, Ukraine?
I see no signs of all your famous past.
Your long-sought freedom has arrived at last
And yet you do not raise your golden mane.

Has younger brother stripped you of your plain
Or endless bleeding placed you in a cast?
Have the Kozaks fought with a flagless mast,
Shevchenko's rousing poems sung in vain?

Arise, my mother, you have not yet died!
The blue and gold must flutter in the skies,
The great Dnipro flow freely to the sea!

Assert your presence to the world with pride,
Don't let your brother feed you blatant lies!
Your nineteen eighteen dreams will then fly free.

Bohdan Yaremko, 16, of Livingston, N.J., is a junior at Regis High School in New York City, as well as a student at the Lesia Ukrainka School of Ukrainian Studies in Morris County, N.J. He was valedictorian at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School in Newark, N.J.

Bohdan says he considers himself an "independent expatriate nationalist." Of himself he writes: "I speak Ukrainian regularly (at home) and at Ukrainian school. My primary interests are mathematics/calculus and physics, as well as music, photography, astronomy and German. I consider myself a strong nationalist and thus actively participate in various on-line discussion boards on Ukrainian topics. I hope to be able to do something productive for Ukraine and/or Ukrainians in the future."

The sonnet published above was originally an English assignment for school, but Bohdan decided to submit it for publication in UKELODEON, where he could share it with his peers. The "younger" brother is Bohdan's reference to the "elder" brother Russia (as it is stereotypically, but incorrectly, referred to).

Fond memories of National Cherry Blossom Festival

by Daria Loun

WASHINGTON - The week of April 2-8 was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. It was quite a busy and exciting Princess Week during the 2000 National Cherry Blossom Festival in our nation's capital. I met great people and made many friends. I had an absolutely wonderful time, and, most of all, I was proud to represent Ukraine.

Over 60 young women were chosen as Cherry Blossom princesses to represent their state, territory or country in the Cherry Blossom Festival's program of cultural, educational, civic and social activities held in Washington. I had the honor of representing my native country - Ukraine.

I was born in the beautiful city of Lviv. After graduating from Manor College in Philadelphia in the spring of 1999, I am currently continuing my studies at Temple University, where I am majoring in graphic design.

This was the 88th anniversary of the planting of the cherry trees that were a gift from Japanese people to America. It was also the 52nd anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Princess Program. The week's program was full of extremely interesting activities. Some of the most memorable events were visits to the White House, the Library of Congress, the Capitol, the wreath-laying at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a Congressional reception.

We also visited four embassies. I was delighted to meet the ambassadors of Japan, Lithuania and Slovakia. I was also more than happy to welcome the princesses to the Embassy of Ukraine on April 5, where the princesses had the honor to meet the ambassador of Ukraine, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko. Also, everyone had the opportunity to view an art exhibition that included paintings, drawings, Easter eggs and traditional Ukrainian woven rugs.

Among these were gorgeous art works done by my mother, Danilla Loun, who is a member of the Ukrainian Union of Artists. In addition, my sister, Maria Loun, who was the Cherry Blossom Princess of Ukraine in 1999, presented some of her art works; I also contributed to the art exhibition at the Embassy of Ukraine with my art works.

I proudly spoke to the princesses and guests about our beautiful Ukrainian traditions and culture, and our talented people. All the guests received a real hand-crafted Ukrainian Easter egg, a pysanka, as a gift. It made me happy to see the princesses and guests so interested in the symbolic meaning of their Easter eggs' ornaments, and I was thrilled to explain the meaning to each of them.

As has become tradition, at the end of the week the 2000 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen was selected. This was done at the grand ball/banquet and sushi reception on Friday. The process of selecting a queen was very objective. A big wheel with the states' names on it was turned, and the arrow picked the state whose representative became the queen. This is the way it has been done over the years, and it makes the hard process of choosing among the dozens of beautiful ladies easier. As well it signifies that this is not a competition but rather a celebration of friendship, spring and beauty.

Princess Week was concluded with our participation in the parade that took place on the central streets of Washington on Saturday, April 8.

In conclusion, I believe that our newly independent country, Ukraine, should be spoken of as often as possible, so that more people on this continent are aware of this beautiful European country that has a great future.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank my sponsors for their great support: Meest-Ameryka, the Ukrainian broadcast "Nyni," the TV program "Kontakt," Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union and 1st Security Bank in Philadelphia.

And, last but not the least, I thank my parents for bringing me up with genuine love for our Ukrainian traditions, art and country.

Hartford's SUM holds skating party

NEWINGTON, Conn. - More than 140 persons (as seen on the right) participated in the second annual Ukrainian Skating Party sponsored by the Hartford Branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) at the Newington Skating Center. In addition to SUM members, Plast youths were invited to enjoy the private ice rink for an hour of fun on Saturday, March 18.

Hillside children learn hahilky

HILLSIDE, N.J. - Under the graceful instruction of Odarka Polanskyj Stockert, on Sunday, April 30, the children at Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hillside, N.J., had an opportunity to learn "hahilky" (ritual spring dances).

The children, many of whom were introduced to hahilky traditions for the first time, learned the steps and songs with great ease.

Afterwards the children participated in the annual Hillside parish Easter egg hunt. The Easter spirit was truly evident as many of the children shared their prizes with others who did not find as many eggs.

Earlier in the morning, the Rev. Leonid Malkov CSsR blessed each child during the divine liturgy. The children had a wonderful time and look forward to next year's event.

Myshka in training

Mykola Myshka is in training to be Ukraine's first "moustronaut." He is eager to be the second Ukrainian in space since independence in 1991. The first Ukrainian astronaut went on a U.S. space shuttle mission for some two and a half weeks (November 19-December 5, 1997) and conducted numerous important scientific experiments on board the Columbia spacecraft. The flight was honored with a special stamp issue (seen above on the right). Do you know the Ukrainian astronaut's name?

Send your answers on a postcard to: UKELODEON, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. The first correct answer drawn will win a special philatelic prize.

Letter to Mykola Myshka

Mykola Myshka received the following winning response to his April question. (Courtney will soon receive a philatelic prize in the mail.)

Dear Mykola:

The boat the Kozaks are in is called a chaika. It is named after seagulls.

Courtney Nestor
Granger, Ind.

Mishanyna

To solve the Mishanyna in this issue, find the words that appear in capital letters in the text below.

In MAY Mishanyna is dedicated to the ANCIENT city of LVIV, located in WESTERN Ukraine.

PRINCE DANYLO founded the city in the mid-13th century between the basins of the DNISTER and western BUH rivers, naming it for his son LEV. The prince later became KING of GALICIA, or HALYCHYNA, and VOLYN.

Lviv survived ASSAULTS by TATARS, MONGOLS, as well as Poles, Russians and Germans, to name a few. By the mid-1600s Ukraine was involved in a war for liberation against foreign RULE.

Our famous HETMAN Bohdan KHMELNYTSKY is often credited with helping Lviv become part of independent Ukraine.

SEVEN CENTURIES have gone into making Lviv one of the world's most wonderful cities. Lviv is truly a beautiful city with narrow streets and ancient buildings and was once known as "LE PETIT PARIS" (Little Paris).

CHECK IT OUT:

On pages 21-29 of this issue, check out kids' Mother's Day greetings to their moms.

OUR NEXT ISSUE:

UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated June 11, please send in your materials by June 2. (We ask all contributors to please include a daytime phone number.)

Please drop us a line: UKELODEON, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, (973) 644-9510. Call us at (973) 292-9800; or send e-mail to [email protected].

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