Unveiling monument to victims of terrorism, Yushchenko recalls two Ukrainian Americans (10/09/05)

Unveiling monument to victims of terrorism, Yushchenko recalls two Ukrainian Americans

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - In unveiling a new monument dedicated to victims of terrorism on September 11, President Viktor Yushchenko recognized two Ukrainian Americans who perished in the World Trade Center attack.

Oleh D. Wengerchuk and Ivan Skala were among the 2,807 who died in the 2001 attack. Mr. Wengerchuk, 56, was a transportation engineer with The Washington Group International, and Ivan (John) Skala, 31, was a police officer with Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

During his speech, Mr. Yushchenko introduced Lydia Matiaszek, Mr. Wengerchuk's younger sister, who 11 years ago moved to Kyiv from New York City with her husband, Petro. After she stepped forward, the president hugged and kissed her.

"He acknowledges Ukrainians around the world and he hasn't forgotten about the rest of us," Mrs. Matiaszek later commented. "It makes a world of difference to have a president who cares about Ukraine as a whole and Ukrainians abroad."

Mrs. Matiaszek said she was deeply moved when the president introduced her personally - a gesture she had not expected when she showed up at the ceremony.

First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko invited Mrs. Matiaszek to the monument's unveiling. When arriving, Mrs. Matiaszek modestly stood at the back. However, Mrs. Yushchenko noticed her there and asked her to stand next to her.

The Victims of Terrorism monument is located on Mechnykov Street, near the entrance to the Klovska metro station in Kyiv.

It is a 15-foot-plus metal sculpture in the shape of a broken heart, bearing the words of the commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill," written in English, Hebrew, church Slavonic and 120 other languages.

In the heart's fissure is a tuning fork, symbolizing the unifying role that ethnic harmony must play in society.

"I think the author wanted it to symbolize the harmony that should be in people's lives, but it also reminded me of the Twin Towers," Mrs. Matiaszek said.

Also attending the ceremony were leaders of Ukraine's Jewish community, including magnates Yevhen Chervonenko and Vadym Rabynovych, who is active in Step Towards Unity, an interfaith organization that funded the sculpture's erection.

Mrs. Matiaszek said she is happy that such a monument now exists in Kyiv, where people can engage in both official ceremonies and personal tributes.

"It's very hard for me to be here and not participate in the memorial services at Ground Zero," Mrs. Matiaszek said. Her family had attended the World Trade Center memorial services every year, she said.

Mr. Wengerchuk was waiting at a bank of elevators in the South Tower, the second to be hit, when Port Authority workers announced it was safe to return to work. His co-workers last saw Mr. Wengerchuk returning to his 92nd floor office.

Mr. Wengerchuk was born in Vienna during heavy wartime bombing in October 1944. "They said he'd never survive, but he did," Mrs. Matiaszek said. "The irony is he died in another act of war."

Mr. Wengerchuk's close friend, Dennis Cannelis, established a foundation in his name that pays for the college education of Ukrainian orphans. So far, 10 orphans have been able to attend college during the last four years, Mrs. Matiaszek said.

Anyone interested in contributing can write to: Oleh D. Wengerchuk Memorial Foundation P.O. Box 93716, Southlake, TX 76092, or visit the website at www.wengerchukfoundation.com.

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