Yonkers SUM branch marks 50th anniversary

by Maria Kozicky

YONKERS, N.Y. - The Yonkers chapter of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) celebrated its 50th year of existence with a jubilee banquet and dance at the Ukrainian Youth Center on Saturday, November 11. Representatives from Ukraine's Consulate General and Mission to the United Nations joined the more than 400 guests and members who took part in this memorable event.

Msgr. John Terlecky, who grew up within the chapter and represented the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, Conn., and the Rev. Philip Weiner, pastor of St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, opened the banquet with a prayer.

Yurij Nakoneczny, the national president of the Ukrainian American Youth Association, paid tribute to the Yonkers chapter, which has been honored as the premier chapter in the United States.

The banquet opened with a formal synchronized greeting drill and a commemorative ceremony in memory of deceased members carried out by the 135 Yonkers chapter youth members and prepared by Olga Rudyk and Maria Kozicky.

Jaroslaw Palylyk served as the master of ceremonies, and chapter president Dr. Orest Kozicky delivered the keynote speech. A greeting from Roman Zwarycz, a former chapter member who currently serves as a member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was presented.

Andrij Burchak and Andrew Horbachevsky headed the jubilee committee that prepared the event. Twenty-seven members were honored for their distinguished service. A video and a photo collage depicting the 50 years of the chapter's activities embellished the celebration in the hall decorated with blue-and-yellow balloons and sunflowers.

After the formalities, the 135 youth members entertained the audience with performances by a Ukrainian folk dance group and a bandura string ensemble. This was followed by performances of the Unist dance troupe (choreographer Gregory Momot) and a reunion of the former Chaika Ukrainian folk dance ensemble (choreographer Orest Rusynko).

The banquet festivities were closed with a performance of the chapter's choir of mothers under the guidance of Daria Horbachevsky and with the passage of a flame from the eldest to youngest members of the Yonkers chapter.

After the banquet, the members and guests celebrated with a dance to the music of the Zolota Bulava band from Montreal.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 24, 2000, No. 52, Vol. LXVIII

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