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June 22, 1958

On Sunday, June 22, 1958, the new UNA Children's Summer Camp at Soyuzivka was dedicated in front of a crowd of 800 guests at the UNA estate. The camp accommodated 80 children from the ages of 7 to 11, with the month of July set aside for boys and the month of August for girls. The cost was $24 per week for UNA members, and $30 for non-members. The camp was on a newly acquired piece of land adjoining Soyuzivka, formerly the Foord Sanitarium, which the UNA had originally purchased in 1952. At the camp dedication ceremony a building on that property, christened "Lviv," was blessed. It housed the residence and dining facilities for the camp.

The dedication ceremony featured performances by a Ukrainian folk dance group under the direction of Roman Petrina; the SUM (Ukrainian American Youth Association) mandolin orchestra of Passaic, N.J., directed by Yaroslav Kostyshyn; and Ukrainian humorists Ivan Kernytsky and Mykola Ponedilok.

Following the celebration of divine liturgy, Msgr. Nicholas Babak said at the dedication: "In the acquirement and the establishment of this Ukrainian children's camp, located on the extensive Soyuzivka - the UNA estate-resort - the Ukrainian National Association has once more accomplished a great and noble deed." The supreme president of the UNA, Dmytro Halychyn, added that he was sure the camp would strengthen the reputation of Soyuzivka as "a fragment of Ukraine on the free American soil."

Source: "June 22 Set for Dedication of Soyuzivka Children's Camp," The Ukrainian Weekly, June 14, 1958; "Weekend Ceremonies to Launch Children's Camp at Soyuzivka," The Ukrainian Weekly, June, 21, 1958; "U.N.A. Summer Camp for Children Dedicated with Impressive Ceremonies," The Ukrainian Weekly, June 26, 1958.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 16, 2002, No. 24, Vol. LXX

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