UAV Post 35 of Palatine plans conference on UPA (05/15/05)

UAV Post 35 of Palatine plans conference on UPA

by Roman Golash

PALATINE, Ill. - The Ukrainian American Veterans 1st Lt. Ivan Shandor Post 35 in Palatine, Ill., has completed its planning stages and is now moving forward to full implementation of its agenda.

Post membership for 2005 has increased from 20 to 31 members. The membership includes honorary members: Lida Shandor-Davenport, Gen. David Grange and Prof. Petro Potichnyj. The post chaplain is Father Bohdan Kalynyuk of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale, Ill.

Nine members are active or retired members of special operations. Eleven members are active or retired in the medical branches. One member served as a personal dentist to President Ronald Reagan, another works for the Centers for Disease Control. One member speaks six languages and has performed special operations missions around the world. Six served in the Navy, four in the Air Force and four in the Marine Corps.

The post also has two associate members: one is a former physician with the Ukrainian army and the other is a student of military history.

This diverse group of veterans has dedicated itself to work in the community, help Ukraine recognize the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and work with youth groups. The post takes part in community events, helped organize a trip to Fort Knox for the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) and continues to study the heroic exploits of the UPA.

The post participated in sending packages to troops in Iraq with a "Yellow Ribbon Group" based in Palatine. The commander, Lt. Col. Gerald Nestor, sent the post a certificate of achievement for the effort.

On June 11, the post will hold an "UPA Conference" at the Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union in Chicago from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The community is invited to attend. The keynote speaker will be Prof. Petro Potichnyj of Canada. Prof. Potichnyj joined the UPA at age 14. When he came to the United States he joined the United States Marine Corps. and served in Korea.

The conference will address the history of the UPA and the impact the UPA has had on world history and military strategy. The Global War on Terrorism and what was learned from the UPA will also be addressed. The conference will be geared toward youth and will emphasize the core values the UPA developed to fight communism and fascism. Speakers will discuss the terms "insurgent," "freedom fighter" and "terrorist," and how they applied to the UPA versus how they apply to current conflicts.

On Sunday, the post chaplain will conduct liturgy followed by a moleben at the military cemetery next to the church. After the moleben a social hour will take place in the church hall.

For more information readers may contact Roman G. Golash via e-mail at [email protected].

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