This year’s commemoration included Paul Grod, president of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC); Hanna Hopko, a former Ukrainian National Deputy who chaired the Verkhovna Rada’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a current member of the executive committee of Ukraine’s National Reform Council and the Kyiv-based Anticorruption Action Center, a non-governmental watchdog; and Andriy Futey, UCCA president and UWC vice-president.
In her remarks during the commemoration, Ms. Hopko addressed the current threats to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Ukraine’s mission is to deter the aggressor’s invasion of European civilization,” Ms. Hopko said, adding that the mission of building an independent state is never ending.
“State-building and the transformation of society is an evolutionary process that has a beginning but no end,” Ms. Hopko said. “Our task is to educate our youth, to educate future generations, to offer guidelines, to strengthen the foundation of statehood by utilizing and navigating information technology to emphasize that independence is a daily continuation of the cause of those who gave their lives for us to have not only a state of mind, but also a strong Ukrainian state on the world map.”
In order to accomplish this goal, Ms. Hopko said, “leaders in Ukraine must engage others with a vision of the future of Ukraine.”
Mr. Grod offered a brief overview of the events of 1918 and 1919, and he noted that “throughout centuries, our nation’s path to independence and statehood has been long and arduous.”
He, too, reminded listeners that Ukrainians and the Ukrainian diaspora “must never forget the price [Ukraine] paid and continues to pay for the inalienable right to live in freedom,” and he also stressed that the fight to remain an independent country continues.
“Today, Ukraine’s brave sons and daughters are once again forced to defend our nation’s freedom and independence,” Mr. Grod said. “Their courage and valor inspires each and every one of us to act and to put an end to Russia’s ongoing military conflict in eastern Ukraine and illegal occupation of Crimea.”
In his remarks during the commemoration, Mr. Futey emphasized much the same point, saying that “we remain mindful of the Russian aggression and occupation that Ukraine faces today.”
Mr. Futey also took the opportunity to call on the United States to continue to support an independent Ukraine. “The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the nation’s largest representation of Ukrainians in America, calls on the incoming United States Congress and President [Joe] Biden’s administration to continue our nation’s proud tradition of bipartisan support for Ukraine,” Mr. Futey said. “As Americans, we believe that a democratic and independent Ukraine is in the national security interests of the United States.”
The annual UCCA-Illinois Community Award in recognition of dedicated contributions to the Ukrainian community was presented by Ihor Diaczun, president of UCCA-Illinois, and Maria Korkatsch-Groszko, vice-president of UCCA-Illinois, to Dr. Jaroslaw Dzwinyk, Dr. George Hrycelak and Mrs. Myroslava Kykish.
Members of the commemoration committee included the following individuals: Ihor Diaczun, Lydia Tkaczuk, Pavlo Bandriwsky, Motria Melnyk, Mila Luhova, Marta Farion, Maria Korkatsch-Groszko, Dr. Maria Dmytriv-Kapeniak and Maria Dziuma.
Given state and local restrictions in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a physical luncheon this year was not possible. A recording of the virtual commemoration can be found online at https://www.facebook.com/UCCAILLINOIS or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh-v4QU_vBFblh3FvrU77w.
Maria Korkatsch-Groszko, Ph.D., is vice-president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Illinois Division.