Yushchenko receives Liberty Medal, and hero's welcome, in Philadelphia (09/25/05)

Yushchenko receives Liberty Medal, and hero's welcome, in Philadelphia

by Christine Shust Fylypovych
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

PHILADELPHIA - Amid heavy security and with throngs of supporters gathered at the National Constitution Center, President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine was awarded the prestigious Philadelphia Liberty Medal.

The ceremony in Philadelphia was a highlight of the president's second trip to the United States. President Yushchenko and First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko arrived in the city on Saturday afternoon, September 17, following a visit to New York that revolved around his participation in the World Summit at the United Nations.

The Philadelphia Liberty Medal, established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, honors an individual or organization from anywhere in the world that has "demonstrated leadership and vision in the pursuit of liberty of conscience or freedom from oppression, ignorance or deprivation." It is administered by the non-profit, non-political Philadelphia Foundation, and carries an accompanying prize of $100,000. Former recipients of the Philadelphia Liberty Medal include Lech Walesa, Vaclav Havel, Nelson Mandela, and Sandra Day O'Connor.

The program, which was broadcast live on ABC6, took place on a specially designed stage in front of the grand entrance to the National Constitution Center, facing Independence Hall, with a larger-than-life medal as its backdrop.

Distinguished participants sharing the dais with President and Mrs. Yushchenko included: Archbishop Metropolitan Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Church; Martin Meyerson, chairman of the Philadelphia Liberty Medal Selection Committee (and former president of the University of Pennsylvania); H. Craig Louis, chairman of the board of directors of the Philadelphia Foundation; Edward Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania; John Street, mayor of Philadelphia; Rep. Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania; Richard Stengel, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center; and WBC heavyweight champion Dr. Vitalii Klitschko.

The official ceremony began with a brief musical interlude, followed by a short film (shown on an wide LED screen to accommodate the thousands of seated and standing spectators), documenting the history of the Philadelphia Liberty Medal.

The 100-voice combined Ukrainian American choir Ukraina, conducted by Nestor Kyzymyshyn, performed a welcome song called "Voskresla" (She is Risen), and the Voloshky dance ensemble, dressed in traditional Ukrainian attire, greeted the honored guests with the customary bread (representing hospitality) and salt (representing eternal friendship) - a ritual dating back to the Middle Ages. Master of Ceremonies Jim Gardner, anchor of ABC6 News, cordially welcomed all to the auspicious event.

Mr. Gardner then introduced a traditional American ceremonial opening by the U.S. Armed Services Color Guard, which presented the colors of the United States and Ukraine, followed by stirring renditions of the national anthems of Ukraine (performed by the Ukraina choir) and the United States (performed by baritone Stefan Szkafarowsky).

Afterwards, Metropolitan Soroka offered a prayer of gratitude and blessings for all those in pursuit of democratic ideals, particularly for the inspirational personal witness of faith and freedom of President Yushchenko and the Ukrainian people.

Mr. Louis of the Philadelphia Foundation then acknowledged the partnerships instrumental in organizing the program: the Ukrainian American Welcoming Committee (Ulana Mazurkevich, chairperson), the Independence National Historical Park, the National Park Service, the City of Philadelphia and the National Constitution Center.

Mr. Louis also welcomed all those gathered on this occasion to celebrate liberty and honor an extraordinary champion of freedom, President Yushchenko, who courageously challenged government corruption and election fraud. He noted that, along with Mr. Yushchenko, "the world relearned a painful lesson: the price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

Gov. Rendell followed, speaking of the American and Ukrainian people's shared love of freedom and democracy - and how Americans watched Mr. Yushchenko's leadership of a peaceful uprising in the Orange Revolution, as the "flame set here... in the City of Brotherly Love... in 1776... raced across the globe and reached Ukraine."

Mr. Stengel of the National Constitution Center noted how fitting it was to honor President Yushchenko on Constitution Day, since "constitutions represent the highest aspirations of the people," and "he himself is the living embodiment of the idea that freedom is never free; we all have to make sacrifices for freedom."

Rep. Weldon - who, according to the MC, is sometimes called "Mr. Ukraine" in the halls of the U.S. Capitol, and who introduced the newly democratically elected president of Ukraine to a rare joint session of Congress earlier this year - reminded the audience that he has known Mr. Yushchenko for 12 years and has admired his consistent resolve that the "Ukrainian Constitution be followed."

The Congressman also introduced Mykhailo Volynets, who was influential in the Ukrainian labor movement and who supported Mr. Yushchenko in the Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), as a symbol of the people standing with their leader.

After the congressman's moving speech, the MC presented Dr. Klitschko, who stated it was a pleasure for him to be in Philadelphia, "home of Rocky Balboa - and democracy!" - and expressed his gratitude to all supporters of Ukraine "in this very difficult time."

At the conclusion of Dr. Klitschko's remarks, another short film documented Ukraine's - and Mr. Yushchenko's - historic struggle for democracy and the principles of the Constitution of Ukraine.

Finally, Mayor John Street thanked all the sponsors associated with the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, especially the Selection Committee for making "the perfect choice" by recognizing Mr. Yushchenko's "perilous journey to his nation's highest office - while campaigning for democracy." Just before presenting the Philadelphia Liberty Medal to President Yushchenko, the mayor announced that the famous Boathouse Row and Benjamin Franklin Bridge of the city of Philadelphia would be aglow in orange during the evening - in commemoration of Ukraine's Orange Revolution.

In his keynote address, President Yushchenko thanked the American people for this high honor - and the Ukrainian American community for its comforting display of ethnic culture, here at the site of the Liberty Bell, with its renowned inscription of God's commandment to "proclaim liberty throughout the land."

Mr. Yushchenko said he is dedicating the Philadelphia Liberty Medal to all the free and democratic citizens of Ukraine, and will pass it onto his children along with the award his father received as a soldier in World War II, during which he was wounded and sent to concentration camp. "These are the signs of freedom," which remind one of the high price that was paid for it, he said.

President Yushchenko insisted that "the Constitution will not fluctuate" depending on individual politicians, and called to mind the words of George Washington that, once freedom takes root - no one can stop it. Millions of Ukrainians, he added, have already seen "the light at the end of the tunnel."

President Yushchenko admitted that his administration is only several months old and has much to learn yet - but he envisions Ukraine in a free market economy with high social standards among all the democratic nations of the world. The road is not easy, he conceded, but "we will overcome"; the peaceful Orange Revolution demonstrated the importance of democratic values and fairness already in the hearts of Ukrainians.

The president expressed his sympathy for the United States in light of the Gulf Coast calamity and, recalling Ukraine's offer of assistance, urged joint confrontation of new challenges in the new millenium.

At the conclusion of the president's address, the Ukraina choir sang "God Bless America" as a simultaneous Air National Guard flyover provided an awe-inspiring finale to the awards ceremony.

At a brief news conference immediately after the ceremony, President Yushchenko acknowledged that there are problems in the new government, but added that "this is not a critical time; this is a great and very trying time." He said the Ukrainians who stood on the "maidan" and wore orange ribbons of solidarity expect a government with "team spirit" and he is continuing to work toward a transparent, effective and honest government.

At an elegant evening banquet held at the National Constitution Center in his honor, Mr. Yushchenko re-emphasized that, after 800 years of oppression, the Orange Revolution sealed the message that Ukraine will never go back. The first lady of Ukraine also spoke, inviting all to come and visit the unique and beautiful Ukraine, rich in cultural traditions and rife with investment opportunities.

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