Historic Battle of Bound Brook re-enacted at Ukrainian Orthodox center (05/18/03)

Historic Battle of Bound Brook re-enacted at Ukrainian Orthodox center

by Hieromonk Daniel Zelinsky

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - Those who live in South Bound Brook, N.J., a small town founded in 1678, and its vicinity, and travel daily on its Main Street, have to pass the Memorial Church of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle, the centerpiece of the spiritual nucleus of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.

Oftentimes passers-by will stop and approach the church for a glimpse of this priceless treasure of Ukrainian spirituality. Perhaps it's the memorial church itself, or maybe the statue of St. Olha, or maybe even the statue of Metropolitan Vasyl Lypkivsky that enrich these human souls with the feeling of something indescribable, but harmonious.

Looking around, the visitors' eyes are drawn into these uncommon surroundings. Thousands of Ukrainian Christians have found the place of their final repose in the center's cemetery - a cemetery that reflects the sad and the glorious moments of Ukraine's history. Here Ukrainian Americans have managed to preserve the customs and traditions of their forefathers while living side by side with fellow Americans of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

On April 12-13 a re-enactment of the 1777 Battle of Bound Brook took place on the grounds of the historic Fisher estate, which is now the property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.

American history textbooks tell about the battle in the vicinity of Bound Brook, which took place on April 13, 1777, when American soldiers under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln's command were attacked by the British, who planned to go on and occupy Philadelphia. However, later that spring an army of nearly 5,000 American soldiers prevented these strategic plans from becoming reality.

Over 500 persons gathered on the grounds of the Ukrainian Church Center to watch the march of the "American" and "British" soldiers, dressed in uniforms of that period. The sound of cannon and rifle shots, the commands of the generals and the quickly moving soldiers who carried out those orders reminded both the participants of the re-enactment and the onlookers of the events of the American past.

It is noteworthy that this was not the only time when the Ukrainian Orthodox center actively participated in the life of the local American community. Each year around Christmastime the Fisher house, tastefully decorated by Shirley and Emil Skocypec, holds an open house for the benefit of local historical organizations and numerous schools, which bring to the grounds of the UOC-USA hundreds of students and local residents.

The original owner of the estate, Henry Fisher, played a significant historical role in the state of New Jersey. It was he who represented this state at the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America and then brought back a copy for the local residents to read.

Aside from the Fisher house, the Home of Ukrainian Culture - Ukrainian Cultural Center - serves not only as the center for Ukrainian community affairs, but also is a teaching and ethnic center for numerous educational and cultural events in the vicinity. Not to be forgotten is the Museum of the UOC-USA which holds numerous rare and priceless artifacts. Each of these institutions plays an important role in the formation of American-Ukrainian relationships.

The re-enactment of the Battle of Bound Brook, which lasted almost an hour, ended with applause by the spectators, most of whom had probably visited the Ukrainian Orthodox Center for the first time.

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