San Francisco area Ukrainians gather for Ukrainian Day (09/25/05)

THE 14th ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE

San Francisco area Ukrainians gather for Ukrainian Day

by Nestor Wolansky

SAN FRANCISCO - The much-anticipated Ukrainian Day event, commemorating the 14th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, took place on August 28 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, in Strybing Arboretum Botanical Gardens.

The festive program included the traditional Ukrainian welcome of bread and salt, performed by the Sonechko Children's Dance Ensemble, directed by Irina and George Arabadji, Merited Artists of Ukraine and Moldova, followed by a medley of Ukrainian songs by the renowned mezzo-soprano of the Lviv Opera House, Ivanna Taratula-Filipenko.

Ola Herasymenko, of the famous bandura-performing family, also a Merited Artist of Ukraine, surprised everyone with her wonderful voice, not heard much in her past appearances. The special stage presentation of "Ivan Kupalo," the ancient Ukrainian folk festival, directed by Oksana Stus, Halyna Lorchak and Ms. Herasymenko, included several young performers wearing ancient costumes and headdresses.

The Bay Area Ukrainian community cannot possibly hope to match the resources or the numbers that Philadelphia or New York can, but it makes up in sheer determination of individuals like the mezzo-soprano Maria Tcherepenko, this year's program coordinator, who with her typical Ukrainian resolve overcame the stubborn audio cables, and moments later, entertained the audience with arias from well-known Ukrainian compositions; or the tireless Zenon Zubrycky, the Bay Area's long time Ukrainian American activist, who reminded everyone present about Viktor Yushchenko's famous line, "Razom nas bahato, nas ne podolaty" (Together we are many, we cannot be defeated) much to the delight of the crowds.

This year's attendance was much larger than in 2004, which is not surprising, given the worldwide visibility of the Orange Revolution during the last Ukrainian election.

The vivacious Olena Bolshakoff, who performed together with her handsome son, Stanislav Mikhailov, accompanied by Grigoriy Krumik on the accordion, just the way you would hear it performed in eastern Ukraine, swept the audience off its feet.

The dignified Pentecostal Temple Men's Choir, sang "Our Father," Ella Belikovskaya performed on the electric piano, and Alex Hrynevych, the young master of ceremonies, wowed the crowds, making sure it all came together with his crisp and upbeat announcements.

Volodymyr Horbarenko, the new consul general at Ukraine's Consulate General in San Francisco, delivered a very moving address both in Ukrainian and in English, welcoming everyone, and expressing unshakeable confidence in Ukraine's future as a truly independent country on its way to European integration at last. He added that Ukraine should not be judged by less-than-favorable press reviews in the liberal media and vicious attacks by the Putin-controlled Russian press. The Ukrainian people will be subject to no timetable, do not and will not be bullied by others, he said.

As in years past, the 134-year-old Golden Gate Park Band, decked out in red suits and hats, performed Ukrainian melodies and did not disappoint.

The San Francisco weather was on its best behavior, sparing the crowds its usual summer chills, and bestowing brilliant sunshine, as if it too wanted to honor Ukrainians on their Independence Day.

The 2005 Ukrainian Day was sponsored by the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Heritage Club of Northern California, Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, St. Volodymyr Mission of Santa Clara, Ukrainian Fraternal Association Assembly 270, Ukrainian National Association Branch 486, the Ukrainian National Women's League of America Chapter 107, the Ukrainian Medical Association of Northern California, and the Ukrainian Professional and Business Group of Northern California.

As Ukrainian melodies reverberated among the cypress and eucalyptus trees, new immigrants and old alike watched the performances with pride. Small children, attired in Ukrainian costumes, frolicked right in front of the audience; daughters and their elderly mothers, sitting in the beach chairs they had brought along, thoroughly enjoyed a glorious day in the park; teenagers watched not only the performers, but anxiously looked around to see if any of their friends came, and what they were wearing; the many pensioners in the park sat happily, glad to have a chance to see thrilling performances. Some wore orange hats or scarves.

By next year, the Ukrainian Day will be back at its original site, at the Music Concourse, as the huge M.H. de Young Museum complex will be finally completed.

Ukrainians, both those who spoke Ukrainian and those who did not, naturally showed such enthusiastic support for the Ukrainian music and dance on display during the day. But visiting tourists from Asia also were seen energetically clapping and tapping to the Ukrainian music.

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