COMMUNITY CHRONICLE
UAV Post No. 40 in Southwest Florida remembers fallen comrades
by Jerry Zinycz
NORTH PORT, Fla. - The very active Ukrainian American Veterans Post No. 40 of Southwest Florida had a full schedule during the 2003 Memorial Day Weekend.
On Saturday, May 24, members placed "Old Glory" and Ukrainian flags on graves of Ukrainian American Veterans and Ukrainian veterans who have been laid to rest in Memorial Gardens, Venice, Fla. This tradition started in 1999 when Post No. 40 was formed. (Regretfully, the post places more flags each year.)
On Sunday morning there was a panakhyda (requiem service) in St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church for departed comrades in arms. It was a solemn occasion for the community to honor those no longer with us.
The UAV color guard and veterans entered the church with a memorial wreath, and during the singing of "Vichnaya Pamiat" the veterans proudly saluted their fallen comrades.
At the end of the service, the church choir, under the direction of Lubow Dobrowolska-Ingrem, sang "God Bless America," with the congregation joining in. The Rev. Sevarin Kovalyshin concluded the services with "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukraina," the Ukrainian national anthem.
The community supported the post with generous donations for the red, white and blue ribbons handed out to the local church congregations. This generosity allows Post 40 to contribute to various veterans' programs, such as scholarship, welfare and maintenance of graves.
On Monday, the post participated in North Port's Memorial Day Activities at Veterans Memorial Park, an occasion for this small town to honor those who served the country in time of war and peace.
This year the post honor guard presented the flags of the United States and Ukraine as well as the new UAV Post No. 40 Cpl. Roman G. Lazor flag. The flag was designed and made by Post Commander Marian Bojsiuk, Myrosia Bojsiuk, Irena Petryk and Bohdan Petryk. Both ladies are members of the UAV Ladies Auxiliaries of North Port.
During the wreath presentation ceremonies the Taras Popel Memorial Wreath was laid at the Veterans Memorial Monument by Jerry Zinycz, past post commander, and Karen Bapst, post adjutant. UAV attendance this year was the largest of all local veterans' groups.
On May 17 UAV members attended liturgy and memorial services for the Post Patron, Cpl. Lazor. The Rev. Severyn Kovalyshin blessed the new post flag, the U.S. flag in honor of Atanas Kobryn (past national commander and past post commander), and the Ukrainian flag in honor of the late Wasyl Drapak, a Korean War veteran and former member of UAV Post No. 7.
The post's plans for the year include participation in the Fourth of July parade in North Port, observances of Ukrainian Independence Day in August, as well as a gala dinner-dance and officers' installation night on November 8, to which the public is invited.
For more information about the post, or to join, readers may contact Mr. Zinycz, PR officer, at (941) 492-4860, or [email protected].
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 22, 2003, No. 25, Vol. LXXI
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