Regensburg students hold annual reunion at Soyuzivka resort (11/09/03)

Regensburg students hold annual reunion at Soyuzivka resort

by Dmytro Bodnarczuk

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Here we are again. Some people ask why we former students of the Regensburg Gymnasium make this pilgrimage to Soyuzivka every year. Is it because of the excellent food, courteous service, green hills and the Ukrainian ambiance? Certainly that's part of it. But, what is it that really draws us together? Is it that we are getting older and trying to recapture our youth?

We get together because, in effect, this is a family gathering - and it's a good family at that. By now it is an extended family: our spouses, our children, our grandchildren and former citizens of the "Regensburg Ukrainian Republic."

So, what do we do when we meet once again? At first we are very glad to see each other, and count few more wrinkles on each other's faces. Then we try to recognize those who came to the reunion for the first time (they have fewer wrinkles). And we remember those who had departed from us in a solemn service, singing "Vichnaya Pamiat." Then we recall our days in the classroom, the teachers and the impact of all this on our lives.

This year, Oksana Teodorowycz, as usual, arranged for a wonderful program to honor the Sichovi Striltsi (Ukrainian Sich Riflemen), by paying tribute to the memory of poet Roman Kupchynsky, a member of that military formation, who memorialized it in his poetry. His poems were recited by Ludmyla Yarko-Pochtar, Nina Ses'-Marchenko, Luba Karawan-Kolomayets and Myron Sharko.

After the recitations there was a rendition of his songs by the more gifted vocalists among us. Most of the choir members wore embroidered Ukrainian blouses, which made them look young (almost as if they were in their teens). The final word was delivered by the poet's son, Yurii Kupchynsky.

Then followed a presentation titled "Sichovi Striltsi as a Foundation of the Ukrainian National Army 1917-1920" that elaborated on the fact that the first volunteers came from the ranks of the Sich and Sokil volunteer firemen, sports organizations and the Plast youth organization. It was noted that women played a significant role in this movement as the organizers of the Red Cross, and also in the military as in the case of Capt. Olena Stepaniv. Later, the sons of the farmers and the workers made up the bulk of this fighting force.

We remembered that our school principal, Dr. Mykola Velyczko, served in the Sichovi Striltsi unit, as did some of our fathers and grandfathers. It was very interesting to learn that our own Prof. Evhen Malaniak, an adjutant to Otaman Vasyl Tiutiunnyk, witnessed the transfer of the command of the Ukrainian National Army to Otaman Yiurii Tiutiunnyk (no relation who took the army on its last expedition the "Zymovyi Pokhid" (The Winter March) against the Red Army. Shortly after the transfer of command Gen. V. Tiutiunnyk died of typhus.

There was also a presentation from our own youngest member of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), Roman Mac, on the subject "Volyn 1943-1944." He explored the causes and responsibility for the atrocities committed there.

We have these kind of presentations every year. As our Prof. Malaniak wrote: "... Why are we recalling all this? Why the self-flagellation? Because without the understanding of the past there is no future." Our future is in our children and grandchildren, so, we are planning to leave them our published biographies to help them to understand who they are, as well as to enable social scientists and researchers to discover the factors that make a community, or how the Regensburg Gymnasium family was created.

We had a pleasant and joyful time also at our formal dinner, arranged by our "hospodynia" Olexandra Maluk-Sawyn. After the Rev. Volodymyr Pyso's blessing of the food, a warm greeting was conveyed from our dear Prof. M. Meleshko and his lovely wife from distant Florida; we missed them very much at our reunion. We also had fun at our "bonfire" at the fireplace in the lobby of the Kyiv villa. There were many jokes and anecdotes, and much boisterous laughter and singing.

All of this was possible because of the enthusiastic and energetic leadership of Vasyl Luchkiw, members of his committee such as Ludmyla Yarko-Pochtar, and the volunteer Regensburg family. Mr. Luchkiw keeps Regensburgers together during the rest of the year by publishing the bulletin "Aby-Sche-Raz" (If Only One More Time).

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