NEWS AND VIEWS: The UAV, a national charter and November elections (12/17/00)

NEWS AND VIEWS

The UAV, a national charter and November elections

by Taras Szczur

The recent November elections, still causing controversy and confusion across the United States, also caused a minor setback for the Ukrainian American Veterans. The UAV, which is trying to obtain a national charter, has lost five of its co-sponsors either due to election losses or to a change in the Senate.

For over 25 years the Ukrainian American Veterans have been in pursuit of a national charter that would put them on an equal footing with other veterans' groups, such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Rep. David E. Bonior (D) of Michigan had introduced and sponsored legislation (H.R. 3463) to grant the UAV a national charter. Prior to the November elections Rep. Bonior was making progress on the bill, having attracted 67 co-sponsors. Losing Rep. Merrill Cook (R-Utah), Rep. Forbes (R-N.Y.), Rep. Bob Franks (R-N.J.), Rep. Ron Klink (D-Pa.) along with Rep. Deborah Stabenow (D-Mich.) who won election to the Senate, caused an unforeseen setback for the measure.

During the 53rd National UAV Convention, which was held in Warren, Mich., Rep. Bonior not only pledged full support to the veterans but also impressed them with his knowledge of current events in Ukraine.

Promising to honor the sacrifices made by the Ukrainian American soldier in times of conflict and peace, Rep. Bonior said he seeks to erase the constant problems associated with bipartisan politics and the current moratorium on federal charters. But a moratorium has not stopped several minority groups from obtaining a charter during the same period.

"The important thing is to try to get up to 100 co-sponsors by year's end so that when the bill is introduced into the House of Representatives in the spring of 2001 a solid foundation for the passage of the bill would have been established," explained Rep. Bonior.

While some may argue that a federal charter is just a symbolic gesture to a veterans' group, it should be noted that they are not fully informed on the issue.

In Yonkers, N.Y., for example, the Central Committee of War Veterans overseas the activities and functions of all 19 veterans' groups in that city of 200,000 people. According to the committee's by-laws the Ukrainian veterans are unable to participate in any of their functions or even belong to it. This is a common problem throughout the United States, wherever the UAV has a post. A national charter would allow local posts to participate in such organizations and have a say in the planning of such events as Memorial Day and Veterans' Day parades.

Since joining the UAV in April 1999 Yonkers Post 301 has been involved in several humanitarian projects that have received much media attention. As a result, the Yonkers Central Committee of War Veterans made an amendment to the by-laws to accept the Ukrainian post into its ranks. Now the UAV has two representatives holding office in the YCCWV: Post Vice-Commander Nicholas Skirka serves on the Auditing Committee and this writer, Post Commander Taras D. Szczur, is the current vice-chairman and head of the Memorial Day Parade for 2001.

A state charter is available to those states that have more than three posts. Buffalo, Spring Valley, Brooklyn and New York City currently hold state charters from New York. But for other states where there are less than three posts the local UAV post becomes an outcast.

If passed by the House of Representatives, the bill granting a national charter to the UAV would also have to be passed by the Senate within a two-year period. Rep. Bonior, who won re-election, also applauded the efforts and support of Rep. Benjamin Gilman (N.Y.), who added the Jewish War Veterans as an organizational endorser. Prior to the conclusion of the UAV convention, outgoing National Commander Steven Szewczuk was thanked for his lobbying efforts in Washington in regard to the national charter.

The Ukrainian American Veterans were founded over the Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia in 1948. The Ukrainian American Military Association (UAMA) works in conjunction with the UAV in providing a wealth of information about current or past military-to-military exercises with Ukraine in which UAMA members act as translators soldiers.

In his book "Ukrainian American Veterans, 1948-1998: Historical Analysis And Evaluation," UAV Past National Commander Dmytro Bodnarczuk, Ph.D., traces individual Ukrainian participation in the U.S. military back to the Revolutionary War. Maj. Kocak of the Marine's (World War I), Pvt. Nicholas Minue of the Army (World War II) and Peter Tomich of the Navy (World War II) are Ukrainian Americans who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

In addition to their pursuit of a national charter, the UAV and UAMA are conducting an ongoing project of trying to document all Ukrainians who served in the U.S. armed forces, whether during a period of conflict or simply in the role of peacekeepers.

Cold War Recognition Certificate applications are available for those whose honorable service time took place between September 2, 1945, and December 26, 1991. Applications for lost/replacement DD214 (separation from active duty) are also available. These forms are available to family members of deceased veterans.

For more information on the UAV or UAMA contact Taras D. Szczur at (914) 376-3272 or email [email protected].

The UAV National Executive Board for 2000-2001 is composed of: National Commander Matthew Koziak (Highland Park, N.J.); Vice-Commander Bohdan Samokyszyn (Parma, Ohio); Finance Officer Wasyl Liscynesky (Parma, Ohio); Adjutant Peter Polnyj (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Judge Advocate Anna Krawczuk (Holmdel, N.J.); Quartermaster Stephen Kostecki (Plymouth, Mass.); Chaplain Dorothy Budacki (Mogadore, Ohio); Welfare Officer John Stolar (Parma, Ohio); Scholarship Officer Eugene Smereka (Youngstown, Ohio); Historian Vasyl Luchkiw, Ph.D. (New City, N.Y.), also a past national commander; Publication/Public Relations Officer Taras D. Szczur (Yonkers, N.Y.); UAMA Chief Operating Officer Maj. Yurij B. Holowinsky, USAFR.

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