AN OPEN LETTER: A thank-you from Batkivschyna's captain (12/16/01)

AN OPEN LETTER

A thank-you from Batkivschyna's captain

My Dear Friends and Supporters of the Expedition "Discover Ukraine":

The Ukrainian schooner Batkivschyna has been in the United States since June 2000, having arrived from Kyiv on a mission of good will under the banner "Discover Ukraine."

The goal of this private, patriotic mission was to create a positive image of Ukraine and spread knowledge about Ukraine as an independent democratic Europpean state.

The Batkivschyna was invited to America by President Bill Clinton to take part in the festivities of "OpSail 2000" in New York and the East Coast of the United States. The expedition "Discover Ukraine" was well received by the media, high officials and the American public. An article on the front page of The New York Times and scores of articles in other newspapers and publications focused attention on the Ukrainian blue-and-yellow flag and the mission of the vessel's crew. Newspapers called the Batkivschyna "the favorite boat of OpSail 2000" and the "national symbol of Ukraine."

The Voice of America (VOA) program beamed to Ukraine under the title "Window on America" stated that, thanks to the Batkivschyna, Ukraine gained favorable publicity and noted that "the Ukrainian schooner was one of the most popular." While visiting New London, Conn., the Batkivschyna was visited by Gov. John Rowland, who participated in a two-hour program about the tall ship's mission.

In cooperation with the American non-profit organization, the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF), the Batkivschyna decided to expand its goals and help raise funds for the purchase of medical equipment for Ukrainian hospitals that treat children suffering due to the radiation released by the Chornobyl disaster.

After OpSail 2000, the Batkivschyna sailed to Philadelphia to take part in celebrations of the ninth anniversary of Ukrainian independence.

The Ukrainian schooner spent the winter months of 2000-2001 in friendly and hospitable Connecticut. A group of people called the "Connecticut Friends of the Ukrainian Expedition," who met the boat during OpSail 2000, gave the captain and his crew all the help needed for their winter stay, including a dry dock for repairs and lodging for the crew. They even purchased tickets for the crew so they could visit their families in Ukraine.

The year 2001 was the second year of our expedition. The journey began from Norwich, Conn., and headed to New London, Long Island Sound, up the Connecticut River to the capital of Connecticut, Hartford, and then to New Haven and New York. The schooner traveled up the Hudson River to Albany, the capital of New York state, and crossed the Erie Canal to Oswego, where it entered the first of the Great Lakes.

In Utica, in central New York, the local Ukrainian American community and guests from Binghamton, organized a warm reception for the expedition. Oneida County Executive Ralph Eannace issued a proclamation stating that the first international vessel to sail across the Erie Canal was Ukraine's Batkivschyna.

On this leg of the journey, the crew comprised not only Ukrainians but also friends from Connecticut who became ardent supporters of the expedition. On the Great Lakes, the schooner was warmly greeted in Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Bay City, Muskegon, Milwaukee and Chicago. In some ports the Batkivschyna participated in tall ship festivals sponsored by the American Sail Training Association. We took part in the Cleveland Harborfest, the Buffalo Friendship Festival and the Detroit Tricentennial Celebration. This was done in cooperation with the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund.

Chicago is a sister city of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. The sailboat arrived there in time for the festivities celebrating the 10th anniversary of Ukrainian independence. The schooner was met at the Navy pier, with all honors and official greetings by the mayor of Chicago, Richard Daly, and representatives of Ukraine. They exchanged souvenirs and raised the Ukrainian flag at the central square and also participated in the commemoration of independence at the Ukrainian Community Center.

After the Chicago celebration, the schooner sailed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, through the Gulf of Mexico and stopped for the winter at a pier near the University of Southern Florida in the city of St. Petersburg. This was possible thanks to the hospitality of the Ukrainian American community in Tampa Bay and the port authorities.

The year 2002 will take the schooner through the Panama Canal to the West Coast. Summarizing the last two years of the activities of the "Discover Ukraine" expedition, the members of the crew and I, as the head of this expedition, are very satisfied with our positive results. We would like to express our thanks to everyone who in any way helped us and contributed to our success. Thanks to you, my friends, Americans of various national origins and religions, our goal of spreading a positive image of Ukraine and knowledge about it on this humanitarian and patriotic mission has been fulfilled.

Many thanks to Ukrainian communities, members of the CCRF, various port authorities, and the broadcast and print media, both Ukrainian and English. The appearance of the Ukrainian flag in the ports the schooner visited became visible and served as a good ambassador of Ukraine. I cannot name all the individuals who were involved because there are too many of them.

Your visit aboard the Batkivschyna, a piece of Ukraine, formed a stronger friendship between our country and the United States. To underline this, I have many positive letters and proclamations issued by mayors of many cities, Gov. Roland of Connecticut, Gov. Robert Taft of Ohio, Sen. Christopher Dodd and Rep. Rob Simmons, for which I am very appreciative.

The energy and friendship of CCRF Executive Director Alex Kuzma had a positive influence on our mutual goals, for which I would like to convey my sincere thanks.

I am using this occasion to express my satisfaction and sincere thanks to the consuls general of Ukraine in Chicago and New York for their understanding and support for our non-governmental initiative, the "Discover Ukraine" expedition. I also thank the military attaché of the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, Lt. Commander Serhii Nechyporenko, who was instrumental in securing the invitation for the Batkivschyna to visit the United States.

On behalf of my crew, I would like to express our sincere condolences to the people of the United States in the aftermath of the terrorist acts of September 11. We are proud that Ukraine was one of the first to support America in its anti-terrorist campaign.

I humbly bow before you, and send my sincere greetings and best wishes to you for success in your future endeavors.

Dmytro Biriukovych
St. Petersburg, Fla.

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