FOR THE RECORD: Walter Polovchak addresses Ukrainian community (09/04/05)

FOR THE RECORD: Walter Polovchak addresses Ukrainian community

Below is the text of the speech delivered by Walter Polovchak at the commemoration of the 14th anniversary of Ukraine's independence held in Smith Park in Chicago on August 21.

In 1980 Mr. Polovchak was at the center of the celebrated case of a 12-year-old who chose not to return to the Soviet Union with his parents, who went back to Ukraine after living in the United States for a few months. Mr. Polovchak's story is told in the 1988 book "Freedom's Child" that he wrote with Kevin Klose.

1980 - 25 years ago - Ukraine was not a free, independent country. At that time it was a part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine was a country struggling under the Communist yoke, controlled by the Bolshevik terror mongers from Moscow.

Twenty-five years ago a 12-year-old boy chose freedom. This young boy wanted the freedom that was not available to him in his native Ukraine but was available in America. This desire for American freedom caused this young man to be separated from his mother and father, and forsake his native Ukraine.

This did not mean that he loved them any less. What he did not love was the Communist system that forced people to be subservient in their own country.

Today we are gathered here to celebrate the 14th anniversary of Ukraine's freedom. Today that young boy from 25 years ago stands before you as a proud Ukrainian American. Just like me, many of you also chose freedom in America. Many of you also had to leave the country you were born in and the parents and relatives you love to live in the land of opportunity.

I have been back to my native Ukraine and visited my parents and relatives six times in recent years. I have also made a new life here, taking advantage of the opportunities that America presented.

I would like to share some advice with the new immigrants. Take advantage of educational opportunities; in America education is a lifelong process. Be proud of your Ukrainian heritage. Many of you who were raised during the communist system did not get a chance to learn about our long and glorious Ukrainian heritage; take advantage of the resources at the Ukrainian National Museum to read up on the facts and history that the communists did not want you to know. And most important: don't forget about our native Ukraine and those we left behind. Help your friends and relatives who cannot come to America however you can. Help our beloved Ukraine by supporting its transition to a free and democratic country. Become active in the Ukrainian hromada [community] because you should help preserve our Ukrainian heritage in America for future generations.

As we celebrate the 14th anniversary of Ukraine's independence we realize it still has a way to go before it reaches its potential. We are more confident that under the leadership of President Viktor Yushchenko Ukraine stands its best chance of becoming a free, democratic land of opportunity in the past 25 years, so that 12-year-old boys or those much older do not have to go elsewhere for freedom.

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organized Ukrainian community that supported me during my difficult times. Your encouragement helped make a difficult process more bearable and gave me determination when I needed it most.

And I would like to say thank you to my cousin Walter, my attorney Julian Kulas, all my aunts and uncles, my sister and the Bylen family for standing behind me and doing everything in their power to help me remain in the greatest country in the world.

God bless America. Glory to Ukraine.

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