NORTH PORT, Fla. – The Ukrainian American community of North Port, Fla., celebrated the 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence on the morning of August 24 with the solemn raising of the American and Ukrainian flags outside North Port City Hall, the entrance of which was decorated with 200 small Ukrainian flags waving in the breeze.
As the flags were being raised by members of the Ukrainian American Veterans Post 40, led by the post commander, Col. Roman Rondiak (ret.), with a detachment of U.S. Marines, some 100 members of the Ukrainian American community and City Council members sang the national anthems led by Anya Reynararovych.
Ann-Marie Susla
Mayor Jacqueline Moore reads the proclamation issued for Ukraine’s Independence Day.
The mayor of North Port, Jacqueline Moore, read the proclamation on the 25th anniversary of Ukrainian independence and Prof. Vira Bodnaruk, president of Ukrainian American Organizations of Southwest Florida (UAO of SWF), responded with thanks for this recognition. She invited all present to a celebratory breakfast at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center in North Port.
St Andrew’s Center was gaily decorated in blue and yellow colors with balloons and a birthday cake. All guests were welcomed by Prof. Bodnaruk and Daria Tomashosky, the president and vice-president, respectively, of the UAO of SWF. The invocation and benediction were given by the Rev. Oleh Saciuk and Pastor Michael Jakubovych. Among the special guests was the Mayor Moore.
The success of this special celebration of the 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence was due to the efforts of members of the UAO of SWF: Daria and Eugene Tomashosky, Roma Guran, Ann-Marie Susla, Nancy Wosny, Doris Horbachevsky, Vira and Bohdan Bodnaruk, and members of the Ukrainian American community at large.