Ukrainian American Veterans attend celebration of Veterans History Project (07/07/02)

Ukrainian American Veterans attend celebration of Veterans History Project

NEW YORK - Sponsored by the Library of Congress and its American Folklife Center, as well as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the Veterans History Project was officially opened on June 6 aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid.

The mission of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress is to collect the memories, accounts and documents of veterans of World War I, World War II and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars, and to preserve these stories of experience and service for future generations.

Among the invited guests were representatives of the Ukrainian American Veterans: Matthew Koziak, UAV national commander; Anna Krawczuk, UAV national vice commander; UAV Post 30 Commander Bernard Krawczuk; and UAV Post 30 Past Commander Jurij Jacus.

Ceremonies started with a presentation of the colors and the singing of the national anthem. Opening remarks were made by Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, director of the Veterans History Project, followed by Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress; James Parkel, president of the AARP; Peggy Bulger, director of the American Folklife Center; and Dr. Sam Billison, president of the Navajo Code Talker's Association.

A student interviewer, David Dombroski, demonstrated how to hold an interview.

Final remarks were delivered by both Lt. Col. Lee Archer (Ret.), a member of the Five Star Council, and Dr. Billington.

The Ukrainian American Veterans had started their own historical registration project back in 1998, with special emphasis on registering Ukrainian Americans who have served in the U.S. armed forces. They appealed to the Ukrainian American community to register anyone who has served honorably in the U.S. military, past or present.

To this date over 600 men and women have registered, from enlisted men and women to high-ranking officers, from most of the branches of the military. All have very interesting stories to tell and histories of service and sacrifice to reveal.

Many interesting documents were rediscovered from 1943 parochial publications with honor roll listings of the names of servicemen and women at that time. This added 2,300 names of Ukrainian Americans to the Ukrainian American Veterans register.

However, thousands more served during World War II and other conflicts, thus the UAV has once again appealed to the Ukrainian American community in the United States to help in this endeavor. Anyone having information about any publications, listings, honor rolls, church records, is asked to notify the UAV.

The goal of the Ukrainian American Veterans is to eventually publish the names of all registrants, to record the input of Ukrainian Americans soldiers to the history of the United States of America and to honor and give them the recognition that they deserve.

The first Ukrainian immigrants came to American shores more than 110 years ago; others soon followed. They served their adopted country with honor in all the wars and conflicts of the 20th century, as they are serving presently in the Middle East.

Persons who served or are on active duty in the U.S. armed forces are asked to register themselves; registrants do not have to be members of the Ukrainian American Veterans organization in order to register.

For the UAV Registration Form and more information please write to: UAV Registration, P.O. Box 172, Holmdel, NJ 07733-0172; or e-mail [email protected].

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