Highlights from the UNA's 110-year history (03/28/04)

Highlights from the UNA's 110-year history

A special yearlong feature focusing on the history of the Ukrainian National Association.

The eighth convention of the Ukrainian National Association (then still officially know as the Rusyn National Association, or Ruskyi Narodnyi Soyuz), took place in the city where the fraternal organization was born, Shamokin, Pa., on May 30-June 2, 1904, and marked the UNA's 10th anniversary.

A program of festivities included a march through the city and a concert. During the parade, Ukrainian brotherhoods were joined by American groups in what Svoboda described as "a truly magnificent march." Among the marchers were the local police and fireman, Spanish War Veterans, and American Indians led by their chief. "... for the first time the Ukrainian people showed their strength and unity to the world," Svoboda noted. Afterwards, the Ukrainians attended liturgy in the local church where Father Strutynsky delivered a sermon "calling for unity, cooperation, brotherly love and hard work for the good of Ukraine-Rus'."

Svoboda also cited an excerpt from a news report about the jubilee concert that was carried by the local press:

"The freedom-loving Ukrainians concluded yesterday with a convention of their National Association with a concert at the opera hall. There was a large audience on hand. It was thrilled by Ukrainian music. For many Ukrainian music was a revelation.

"In depth of emotion it surpasses the music of many other peoples, and contains a kind of sadness and yearning that reflect the nature of this freedom-loving people, who have fought so long to gain freedom. Many of them have come to America to enjoy our freedom and to become the best citizens of our country."

This was perhaps the first time that the American press referred to the Ukrainians as a distinct people, wrote Anthony Dragan in his book "Ukrainian National Association: Its Past and Present, (1894-1964)."

Also on the occasion of the UNA's 10th anniversary, as well as the 10th anniversary of Svoboda, the Ukrainian-language newspaper published a special 18-page issue that consisted of two sections: "Native Ukrainians to Their Brothers Beyond the Ocean" and "Ukrainians Beyond the Ocean to Their Brothers in Ukraine." The special edition illustrated that Ukrainians back home cared about the fate of their brothers abroad and that Ukrainians who had emigrated cared about the fate of their homeland. Svoboda's editorial noted: "Let us pledge today that we shall work constantly for the good of our great nation to bring about as soon as possible the greatest of all great days when Ukraine shall be free and independent."

Source: "Ukrainian National Association: Its Past and Present, (1894-1964)," by Anthony Dragan (translated from the original Ukrainian by Zenon Snylyk). Jersey City, N.J.: Svoboda Press, 1964. The border featured in this special feature is reproduced from a UNA membership certificate dating to 1919.

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