Fifty-five years ago, on September 21, 1963, the site of the Taras Shevchenko monument in Washington located at the intersection of P Street and 22nd Street N.W., was dedicated. More than 2,000 people in attendance were joined by representatives of the U.S. government and Congress.
Rep. Alvin M. Bentley, former Congressman from Michigan and one of the sponsors of Public Law 86-749, authorizing the erection of the Shevchenko monument, addressed the crowds.
Rep. Bentley stated: “In authorizing the erection of this memorial to Taras Shevchenko for which we break ground today, Congress was not only paying tribute which was both well-deserved and long overdue to a recognized champion of human liberty and freedom… Congress took the initiative in one phase of foreign policy by recognizing the independent existence of Ukraine as a separate entity, a separate people, a separate state… Whether the State Department cares to admit it or not, it is now a historic fact that in 1960 the United States government recognized the existence of a Ukrainian nation by approving this tribute to the greatest of Ukrainian heroes.”
Joseph Lesawyer, supreme president of the Ukrainian National Association, executive vice-president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and executive director of the Shevchenko Memorial Committee, acted as master of ceremonies. Mr. Lesawyer asked the participants to rise for the playing of the U.S. and Ukrainian national anthems, performed by the U.S. Navy Band under the baton of Lt. Donald W. Stauffer. It was believed to be the first time a band of a U.S. government department played the national anthem of Ukraine.
Archbishop Msytyslav of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States delivered the invocation.
Among the speeches delivered were those by: Dr. Lev. E. Dobriansky, president of the UCCA and vice-president of the Shevchenko Memorial Committee; Sutton Jett, director of the National Parks Service; Thomas J. Dodd Jr., son of U.S. Sen. Thomas Dodd (Conn.), Robert C. Horne, Department of the Interior; Charles A. Horsky, a White House representative who delivered remarks by President John F. Kennedy; Sen. Paul Yuzyk of Canada; Dr. J. Martyniuk of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee (now known as the Ukrainian Canadian Congress); and Harry Poworoznyk of the Ukrainian National Federation.
Notably present was a large contingent of Ukrainian American youth, represented by members of the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, the Ukrainian American Youth Association (both organizations served as honor guards), the Ukrainian Youth League of North America, the Ukrainian Student Federation (known by its Ukrainian acronym SUSTA), the Union of Ukrainian Democratic Youth (ODUM). Also present were members of the Ukrainian American Veterans, who were joined by the UAV executive board.
The official groundbreaking was performed by Mr. Jett, Dr. Dobriansky and Prof. Roman Smal-Stocki. The Ukrainian Kobzar Chorus under the direction of Antin Rudnytsky, led the singing of Shevhcenko’s Zapovit (Testament).
The Rev. Theodore Danusiar of Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church in Washington delivered the benediction.
The celebrations continued with a gala concert and banquet at the Mayflower Hotel, where 1,000 guests enjoyed performances by the Ukrainian Kobzar Chorus of Philadelphia and pianist Roman Rudnytsky.
The Shevchenko Freedom Award was presented to Reps. Michael A. Feighan (D-Ohio) and Thaddeus J. Dulski (D-N.Y.), and former Rep. Bentley (R-Mich.), who were recognized for their support of the Ukrainian American community through the captive nations initiative and the Shevchenko memorial.
The event was covered by national and local press, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Washington Star, The Buffalo Courier-Express, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, as well as television and radio broadcasts.
Source: “Over 2,000 attend dedication of Shevchenko site in Washington, D.C.; Representatives of U.S. government and Congress take part in official ceremony,” The Ukrainian Weekly, September 28, 1963.