UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY: Celebrations around the U.S. (09/17/00)

UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY: Celebrations around the U.S.

Scranton, Pa.

by Paul S. Ewasko

SCRANTON, Pa. - Mayor James P. Connors invited members of the Ukrainian community to Scranton's Municipal Building on August 24 to publicly acknowledge the ninth anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

The mayor proclaimed August 24 as Ukrainian Independence Day in Scranton and called upon all fellow citizens to join the many Americans of Ukrainian descent in their celebration of the independence of Ukraine and "in a prayer that this independence will never be taken away."

The ceremonies ended outdoors in front of the Municipal Building with the raising of the Ukrainian flag and the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.

Binghamton, N.Y.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The annual celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day in the Binghamton area took place on August 24, with a flag-raising ceremony at Binghamton City Hall. Binghamton Mayor Richard Bucci hosted the ceremony and issued a proclamation in honor of Ukrainian independence.

A short introductory program preceded the ceremony. The Rev. Ivan Mazuryk, pastor of Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church, opened the program with a prayer of thanksgiving. Maryana Tkhoryk, Oksana Trushyk and Chrystia Zobniw, attired in Ukrainian costumes, performed a traditional Ukrainian greeting with bread and salt.

Mima Zobniw spoke about the significance of Ukrainian Independence Day and the need to publicly celebrate this date. Besides citing specific historical events, she enumerated the priorities of the Ukrainian community for the coming year, both internally and externally.

In his introduction to the Ukrainian Independence Day Proclamation, Mayor Bucci stressed the rich cultural diversity of the region and emphasized the contributions of the Ukrainian community to the growth of the Binghamton area. In conclusion, he read the proclamation.

The Rev. Stephan Hutnik of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church concluded the program with a prayer. Following the program, the Ukrainian flag was raised in the courtyard of Binghamton City Hall to the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.

The flag-raising ceremony and interviews with participants aired on all three local television stations, and the following day the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin published photos and a story on the front page of its local news section.

Utica, N.Y.

by Kristine Lyktey

UTICA, N.Y. - Ukrainian Americans in the greater Utica area celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day, on Thursday, August 24, beginning at 9 a.m. with a divine liturgy at St. Volodymyr the Great Ukrainian Catholic Church offered by the Rev. Michael Bundz.

At 10 a.m. the community members converged at City Hall, where Utica Mayor Timothy Julian issued a proclamation, which was followed by a flag-raising ceremony commemorating this event coordinated by the local chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.

On Saturday, August 26, there was an evening program with opening remarks by Utica UCCA President Jaroslaw Jackowskyj, and presentations by Mikhail Klepach and Slava Nakonechny, whose mother, Daria Kovalyshyn, endured many years in a Soviet labor camp in Siberia.

Hunter, N.Y.

HUNTER, N.Y. - Residents of this small Ukrainian enclave in the Catskills region joined the rest of the world's Ukrainians by marking this year's Ukrainian Independence Day on August 24 with a special community gathering featuring speeches, musical performances and dramatic readings.

The Grazhda, a Hutsul-style structure that is the hub of Ukrainian community life here, served as the location for the celebratory event that opened with participants singing the hymn "Bozhe Velykyi Yedynyi." Mistress of ceremonies Olha Kobziar then welcomed guests and spoke eloquently of the importance of this day, noting that 167 countries around the world now officially recognize independent Ukraine. The day's keynote speaker, Yaroslav Hayvas, underscored Ukraine's status in the context of its turbulent history and relationship with other nations.

The Independence Day program was further enriched by musical performances befitting the occasion. Renowned composer Myroslav Skoryk graced the audience with a performance of "Duma," a piano piece authored for the Hunter community in memory of those who fought for Ukraine's freedom. Maestro Skoryk's "Melodiya" was subsequently performed by acclaimed violinist Solomia Soroka and concert pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky. Messrs. Skoryk and Vynnytsky rounded out the musical portion of the program by performing a piece titled "In a Ukrainian Folk Style" (for piano, four hands).

The community's youth joined the festivities with poetry recitaltion Tania Shvachuk began with her rendition of "Liubit Ukrayinu" by Volodymyr Sosiura, and Pavlo Jarymowych followed with V. Bolonka's poem "Naikrashcha Mova." Olexa Casanova recited Pavlo Tychyna's work "Zolotyi Homin," and Hanusia Hrabovska concluded with "Ya Liubliu" by Kobets.

The Lisova Pisnia ensemble, comprising Alla Kutsevych on bandura and Liudmyla Hrabovska, along with daughters Nastusia and Hanusia, touched the audience with its interpretation of "Moya Ukraino."

Dr. Mykola Tsiselsky underscored the mood of this very special day with dramatic readings of Ukrainian poetry which included the Prolog to Ivan Franko's poem "Moisei," "Sviachene Drevo Ukrayiny" by M. Tkacz and excerpts from Taras Shevchenko's "Poslannia."

The Independence Day gathering at the Grazhda concluded with all participants singing the Ukrainian anthem.

| Home Page |