New Canadian postage stamp honors Konowal

TORONTO - A new 46-cent stamp has been produced through Canada Post Corp. for Branch 360 of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) of Toronto. The stamp features Filip Konowal, the only Ukrainian Canadian recipient of the British Empire's most distinguished award for valor, the Victoria Cross.

Released on July 14 this limited edition stamp is part of Branch 360's ongoing campaign to draw attention to the story of this Ukrainian Canadian war hero, whose exploits during the Battle for Hill 70 in August 1917 have already been commemorated with historical markers in New Westminster, British Columbia; Dauphin, Manitoba; and Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario.

Another trilingual plaque and statue are being unveiled in Konowal's home village of Kutkiv, Ukraine, on August 21, exactly 83 years to the day on which Konowal's battlefield heroism, as a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force's 47th Battalion won him the Victoria Cross.

Commenting on the stamp, the president of RCL Branch 360 John B. Gregorovich, said: "For several years Canada's Ukrainian community has been asking the Canada Post Corp. to honor Filip Konowal, and all the other Canadian VC winners, with a series of postage stamps recalling their heroism. Inexplicably, we have not had any success with our efforts to see Canadian heroes so honored."

"So we have instead made use of a new Canada Post Corp. program, which allows for the production of personalized stamps, to bring out a small number of Konowal stamps that will help remind many Canadians of the valor of this all-but forgotten hero," Mr. Gregorovich explained. "It is a small gesture, but we believe that doing so furthers the righteous cause of recalling this soldier's bravery and life."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 23, 2000, No. 30, Vol. LXVIII

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