EDITORIAL: The UNA's 110th anniversary (02/22/04)

EDITORIAL

The UNA's 110th anniversary

Today the Ukrainian National Association celebrates yet another milestone in its illustrious history: its 110th anniversary. The UNA is well-known in North America, where its branches are active, and throughout the world as a "hromadska orhanizatsia" (community organization) that has been active in diverse fields of endeavor for the betterment of all Ukrainians. Indeed, for its caring paternal role toward all Ukrainians, the Ukrainian National Association earned for itself the appellation "Batko Soyuz."

Reporting on the founding meeting of the UNA held on February 22, 1894 - by design on the day that the United States celebrates the birthday of George Washington - Svoboda, our sister publication, reported on its front page: "Sovershyshasia" (It has come to be). The newspaper underscored that the meeting marked a true "awakening of Ukrainians [Rusyns] in America." It noted: "Dear brothers, now that a great number of us have gotten together and founded the association, let us all join it. You must remember that this is for your own good and to your own advantage. You, who had been given up for lost by your brothers in Ukraine, let the world know that you are alive and that here, in America, the life of the Rusyn community is throbbing with vigor and activity. The most important step forward has been taken. The Ruskyi Narodnyi Soyuz has been founded ..."

The UNA was the first organization to unite Ukrainian immigrants in the United States, who then called themselves Rusyns, and strengthen their national consciousness - both as Ukrainians and as Americans. It must be noted that it was at the association's second meeting held in 1894, on May 30 to be exact, that the national anthem "Sche Ne Vmerla Ukraina" was heard for the first time in America. And it is highly significant that the meeting took place just three months after the UNA, then still known as the Ruskyi Narodnyi Soyuz, came into existence.

Since its establishment as a fraternal benefit society in Shamokin, Pa., the UNA has extended a helping hand to its members, to Ukrainians wherever they have settled, and to Ukraine. The UNA has served as a facilitator of community projects and as a leader of community causes - ready to take the lead, and the responsibility and effort that came with it, in myriad endeavors.

Nor should the UNA's significant role as publisher of two newspapers be taken for granted. Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, which are key to our community's well-being, and The Weekly's Kyiv Press Bureau, which has provided reliable and untainted news from Ukraine for 13 years, are priceless contributions from which all segments of our community, as well as readers beyond that community, have benefited. In addition, the UNA is the proud owner of Soyuzivka, the beloved resort of our community that can best be characterized as nonpareil.

Today's UNA is an organization with both a proud history and a promising future as an organization of all Ukrainians. On the occasion of the Ukrainian National Association's 110th birthday, we wish our "Batko Soyuz" many more decades of good works as a fraternal society, and many generations of new members who will continue its noble mission.

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