Ukrainian American Veterans hold 54th annual convention at Soyuzivka (10/28/01)

Ukrainian American Veterans hold 54th annual convention at Soyuzivka

by Anna Krawczuk

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Soyuzivka was the site of the 54th annual convention of the Ukrainian American Veterans on October 12-13. During the course of the convention, the victims of the terrorist attack on September 11, were remembered.

A resolution of support was sent to President George W. Bush, and the majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine.

The resolution stated:

"We, the Ukrainian American Veterans assembled at our 44th National Convention on October 13, at Kerhonkson, N.Y., being mindful of the dastardly deeds perpetrated on our beloved country, the United States of America, on September 11, resolve that:

"The Congress of the United States strongly support President Bush, in the vigorous prosecution by all available means - military, political and economic and the eradication of the terrorist menace and also the governments that enable them to operate from their territories, thereby threatening not only the United States, but all democracies as well.

"We further resolve and urge that:

"The president of Ukraine, Mr. Kuchma, and the Verkhovna Rada grant the coalition forces engaged in this endeavor a more liberal use of Ukraine's airspace and military facilities."

After due deliberations and acceptance of reports by the delegates, Matthew Koziak was re-elected national commander of the Ukrainian American Veterans. Also elected were: Anna Krawczuk, vice-commander; Wasyl Liscynesky, finance officer; Peter Polnyj, adjutant; Stephen Wichar, judge advocate; Stephen Kostecki, quartermaster; Dorothy Budacki, chaplain; Myroslaw Pryjma, welfare officer; Nicholas Skirka, scholarship officer, Vasyl Luchkiw, historian; Yurij Holowinsky, chief operating officer of the Ukrainian American Military Association; Walter Demetro, webmaster; and Steven Szewczuk, immediate past national commander.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Ukrainian American Veterans also held their annual meeting and elections of officers. Helen Drabyk was elected president, along with the following: Natalie Chuma, vice-president; Irene Pryjma, secretary; Jean Elnick, treasurer; Olga Wengryn, chaplain; Anne Bezkorowajny, judge advocate; Judith Malaniak, public relations; Alberta Cieply, welfare officer; Kay Brega, service officer; Leslie Lysenko, liaison officer; and Alberta Cieply and Jean Elnick, historians.

Both the UAV national board and the UAV Ladies Auxiliary officers were sworn in at the banquet.

The mission of the Ukrainian American Veterans is to unite American veterans of Ukrainian descent and pledge to sustain the Constitution, government and laws of the United States of America; to unite, strengthen and preserve in comradeship, all American Veterans of Ukrainian descent; and to maintain the Ukrainian identity in a status of high esteem and respect in the United States.

The UAV has posts nationwide and state departments in four states.

The history of Ukrainian American veterans goes back to the Civil War, in which men of Ukrainian descent participated. Then, 120 years ago, came the first wave of Ukrainian immigration to the United States, which brought an increase in the number of Ukrainians serving in the U.S. armed forces.

After World War I veterans of Ukrainian descent felt the need to organize into posts, and many joined American Legion and other American veterans' posts. After World War II, on Memorial Day weekend in 1948, the founding convention of the Ukrainian American Veterans was held.

It is estimated that during World War II over 250,000 men and women of Ukrainian extraction served in the U.S. armed forces. During the Korean War thousands of Ukrainian Americans, as well as new post-World War II Ukrainian immigrants, were drafted and/or volunteered to serve.

Vietnam and the Persian Gulf conflict followed. At the 54th UAV Convention UAV members recognized those who were deployed in the Middle East, including UAV Past National Commander Miroslaus Malaniak.

Commemorating its 50th anniversary, the UAV published "Ukrainian American Veterans, 1948-1998 Historical Analysis and Evaluation" by Dmytro Bodnarczuk, Ph.D.

The UAV is now planning to publish another book: a roster of Ukrainian Americans who have honorably served in the U.S. military. This project was approved by the UAV national convention in 1998. A data base has been developed, and registration started with the purpose of compiling the names of men and women of Ukrainian descent who served in the U.S. armed forces.

The Ukrainian American Veterans organization is striving for a national charter, and publication of a roster of men and women of Ukrainian descent who served with honor in the armed forces of the United States is viewed as a boon to this goal.

For information or to register write to UAV Registration, P.O. Box 172, Holmdel, NJ 07733-0172, or e-mail uav.reg@worldnet.att.net.

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