Rochester Ukrainians prepare to mark community's centennial (07/13/03)

Rochester Ukrainians prepare to mark community's centennial

by Christine Hoshowsky

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The dedication of a Ukrainian monument to the town of Irondequoit on September 20 will recognize 100 years of Ukrainian settlement in and around Rochester, N.Y.

The most ambitious undertaking of the Centennial Committee is the commission and dedication of a Ukrainian monument to the Town of Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester and the second largest town in the metropolitan area, home to more than 20,000 Ukrainian Americans.

Upon the initiative of the Centennial Celebration Committee of Rochester, the Irondequoit Town Council, led by Town Supervisor David W. Schantz, ratified a resolution to acknowledge the creation of a park on the grounds of Irondequoit Town Hall. A section of this park has been designated for the use by the Centennial Celebration Committee as a Ukrainian Centennial Park where the Ukrainian monument will be erected. Irondequoit town officials are working closely with members of the Centennial Celebration Committee to bring this project to completion.

The monument designed by Ukrainian sculptor Oleh Lesiuk is symbolic of Ukrainians in the diaspora in America. The central feature of the monument is a set of three bronze cranes, powerful and majestic, soaring straight up to the sky, as two polished black granite wings with waves carved upon them cascade toward the cranes. The wings are engraved with symbols of the trident and the American flag, and are accompanied by a text written both in Ukrainian and English.

The cranes represent the Ukrainian families who put their faith in God and crossed the ocean connecting two continents, Europe and North America, and two nations, Ukraine and the United States of America. These dual entities are symbolized by the two granite wings. The waves carved upon the wings represent the four waves of Ukrainian immigrants who came to America in search of their freedom and dreams. Mr. Lesiuk described this aspect of the sculpture: "the contrast of polished stone and carvings symbolize the travails of immigration on the way to a better fate. The composition leaves the viewer with a sense of harmony, movement and integrity.

Two thousand engraved bricks arrayed around the foundation of the monument will mark the footprints left by Ukrainians of this community during the last 100 years. Four granite benches will sit along the periphery of the brick promenade. At the base of the monument, the Centennial Celebration Committee will bury a time capsule that will be opened 100 years from the date of dedication.

The sculptor, designed the monument to appeal both to Ukrainians and Americans because it captures the universality of the immigrant experience. Mr. Lesiuk is a member of the Association of Artists of Ukraine and the Association of Sculptors of Canada, and is a vice-chairman of the board of directors of the Ukrainian Association of Fine Arts in Canada.

The granite component of the sculpture is commissioned from the Smith Monument Company Ltd., of Toronto, whose president is Andrew Latyshko; the bronze cranes will be cast by M.S.T. Bronze Ltd. of Toronto, Myros Trutiak, president.

The unveiling of the monument was announced on June 12, during a press conference at Irondequoit Town Hall by Centennial Committee Chair Roman Kucil in the presence of officers Frank Wowkowych, Dr. Nataliya Shulga, Jerry Andrushko, Lidia Dzus, Alexander Loj and Dr. Christine Hoshowsky, together with New York State Sen. James Alesi, Irondequoit Town Supervisor David W. Schantz, members of the Town Council and other officials.

The centennial program in its entirety is made possible through the generous support and donations of the Ukrainian community in Rochester, its leaders, businessmen, professionals, organizations, churches, the Rochester Ukrainian Federal Credit Union, friends of the Ukrainian community and individual Ukrainian Americans.

The Centennial Celebration Committee has issued an open invitation to Ukrainian Americans to participate in the centennial activities. Former residents of the Rochester area are especially welcome to leave their "footprint" to mark a path for this generation and for future generations to follow.

For more information about centennial program and/or to purchase a commemorative brick in time for the unveiling ceremony (deadline: July 30) contact: Ukrainian Centennial Park, Rochester Ukrainian Group Inc., P.O. Box 77331, Rochester, NY 14621; phone, (585) 663-4977 or 233-3680; fax, (585) 663-2230; website, www.R-U-G.org. Donations are fully tax-deductible.

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