Veterans dedicate memorial marker at national cemetery (06/02/96)

Veterans dedicate memorial marker at national cemetery

WARREN, Mich. - Michigan's Ukrainian American Veterans Post 101 unveiled and dedicated a memorial marker on the grounds of Fort Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek, Mich., on April 21.

On an enormous red stone boulder, a cast bronze plaque reads "Dedicated to the memory and honor of all men and women who served in the armed forces. We salute those who laid down their lives to protect the democratic ideals, traditions and integrity of our country."

The memorial monument is probably the only one of its kind in the 49-year history of UAV, and although the Ukrainian community might greatly diminish in the centuries ahead, the UAV "rock" will always be permanently preserved by federal authorities.

Fort Custer National Cemetery is the second largest in America, after Arlington National Cemetery. It is a 770-acre portion of the Fort Custer complex. Although it was dedicated only in 1984, the vast acreage always played a role in the mobilization of the military, especially during World War II. Many Ukrainian soldiers were inducted and discharged from this base.

Executive board meets

A day earlier, on April 20, the National Executive Board of the Ukrainian American Veterans convened in Warren for a quarterly conference. Representatives from New York, Buffalo and New City, N.Y., Cleveland and Parma, Ohio, were in attendance. Among other military issues, a great deal of time was allocated to the forthcoming UAVets convention in Philadelphia, scheduled for September 20-22, and the 1997 50th anniversary already scheduled at the Ukrainian National Association's Soyuzivka resort.

After a hospitality dinner prepared and served by the Michigan's Ladies Auxiliary Division, all veterans were invited to participate in a Ukrainian community fund-raiser rally for Rep. David E. Bonior. It was noted that Mr. Bonior is an active member of Post 101, and has often and publicly affirmed his Ukrainian ancestry.

Stephen Wichar, UAV state commander for Michigan, was introduced by Myron Woronowycz, chairman of the rally, as the master of ceremonies. Mr. Wichar, before an audience of more than 150 people, underscored several major achievements by Rep. Bonior.

Among these was legislative assistance to earmark $225 million for aid to Ukraine in 1996; obtaining a ruling with President Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore to remove an imposed space launch quota and thus allow Ukraine to make 22 space launches ending in a joint venture with the aerospace giant Boeing Corp., and Mr. Bonior's expression of outrage, both orally and in writing to both CBS and the FCC for permitting "60 Minutes" to broadcast "The Ugly Face of Freedom" segment.

In his brief appearance the congressman talked about projects that can effectively nurture a new and budding democratic state such like Ukraine. He summarized, for example, the Commercial Law Project for Ukraine, a joint venture between the Ukrainian American Legal Community and the Legal Task Force of Ukraine.

Other speakers pointed out the effectiveness of Rep. Bonior's office in promoting a Lviv-based business administration program in America.

Before the congressman made his more intimate rounds with the guests, Mr. Wichar reviewed the Myroslav Medvid incident, when Mr. Bonior publicly chastised the administration for bungling Mr. Medvid's effort to seek political asylum in America. He also noted Mr. Bonior's assistance in the Yavir Quartet debacle, when a "passport" impasse developed on the Canadian border, forcing the UNA, sponsor of the tour, to seek help from a government official. Mr. Bonior was contacted, who intervened directly with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, as a result of which corrective measures were taken.

Dedication of marker

On April 21 the memorial marker was dedicated. It should be noted that veteran members of the Ukrainian Army (Dyviziya) shared in this experience. Under the leadership of Lt. Col. Miroslaus Malaniak (Buffalo, N.Y.), all the veterans stood in a V-pattern converging on the memorial marker. Mr. Wichar acted as the master of ceremonies.

Bob Poe, director of Fort Custer National Cemetery, welcomed all veterans and guests. UAV National Commander Dmytro Bodnarczuk was called to the speaker's mound, where he proceeded to speak on the heroism and bravery of Ukrainian American veterans. He named Pvt. Nicholas Minue, namesake to Post 7 and Detroit's own Cpl. Wolodymyr Holynskyj, namesake to Buffalo's Post 23, as two of the Ukrainian immigrants who died as American heroes.

The second speaker, Mr. Wichar, underlined the month of April as a time to re-member the "Bataan Death March." During World War II Col. Kalakuka, the first Ukrainian American to graduate from the West Point Academy, went to serve with Gen. Jonathan Wainwright in the Philip-pines. During the Bataan tragedy and the fall of Corregidor, Col. Kalakuka was res-ponsible for saving 5,000 American lives.

The concluding speaker, Commander Oleh Cieply, Michigan Post 101, highlighted the many hurdles that were crossed to make the memorial marker dedication such an outstanding success. He also underscored the importance of unity among Ukrainian American veterans.

The Very Rev. Bernard Panczuk OSBM, pastor of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Warren, primary chaplain of Michigan Post 101 and retired commander, U.S. Marine Corps, provided the ceremonial prayers. The Rev. Panczuk paid tribute not only the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, but especially those who paid the supreme sacrifice.

The marker monument was then unveiled as a veteran placed a wreath before the "Memorial Path Rock."

At this moment, a signal was relayed to two units of honor guards, volunteers from Fort Custer, to fire a 42-gun salute. Taps were played by the Cemetery Carillon, a gift of Michigan and National Amvets.

As the Ukrainian entourage headed homeward, there was an euphoric consensus that Michigan Post 101 has, indeed, experienced a historic interlude, and that Ukrainian American veterans will have lasting dignity and respect among Americans in a national military cemetery.

As Maj, Michael O'Donnell, killed in action in Vietnam, had said: "take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."

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