COMMUNITY CHRONICLE: Jersey City marks Chornobyl anniversary (05/28/06)

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE

Jersey City marks Chornobyl anniversary

by Zenko Halkowycz

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Jersey City branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) organized a public commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident to focus attention on the continuing problems caused by the world's worst nuclear disaster, as well as to remember the thousands who died as a result.

Zenko Halkowycz, president of the local UCCA branch, and Stacy Syby, president of the Jersey City chapter of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, planned the commemoration. The UCCA supplied press kits and a sample proclamation for City Hall and made itself available to the local press.

The press kits were distributed to the local news media and City Council members by Ms. Syby and her daughter, Tamara. The two met with the Jersey City mayor's chief of staff, Gene Flannelly, to plan the actual commemoration for April 20 at City Hall.

On the designated day, the committee's efforts in getting the word out to local Ukrainians were rewarded, as many Ukrainians arrived at the City Council chambers, where Mr. Flannelly had ceremoniously placed a Ukrainian flag.

The first to speak during the program was Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, who presented Father Vasyl Putera of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church with the official proclamation designating April 23 to 30 as "Chornobyl Remembrance Week."

Next, Mr. Halkowycz recalled the scene 20 years ago when Rep. Frank Guarini spoke at a requiem service at Ss. Peter and Paul Church and joined Ukrainian Americans in prayer for the victims of Chornobyl. Mr. Halkowycz also shared his personal impressions from a visit to the site of the nuclear disaster and the Chornobyl museum.

Father Putera, meanwhile, spoke about the Chornobyl accident from the perspective of biblical passages.

The final speaker was a surprise, as she had not planned to address the gathering. Nina Kowbasniuk, a member of the local community who lost members of her family to Chornobyl-induced cancer, said something that really made an impact on all. As a little girl she had lived through the Genocide of 1932-1933, the Famine perpetrated by the Soviet regime, which disregarded human life. Chornobyl, too, was a result of communism's disregard for the people, Ms. Kowbasniuk noted.

City Council members present for the entire commemorative program were: Mary Spinello, Mike Sottalano and Mr. Flannelly.

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