UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY: Rochester community marks holiday

by Tanya K. Farmiga

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Beneath the wide blue sky, on the beautiful summer evening of August 24, the Ukrainian community of Rochester, N.Y., celebrated the 14th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. Ukrainians of all ages, those born in the United States and those recently arrived, gathered at the memorial honoring the centennial of Ukrainian immigration on the grounds of the town of Irondequoit.

The program started with the national anthems of both the United States and Ukraine, followed by a prayer led by Father Vasyl Colopelnic along with leaders of other Ukrainian churches. The president of the United Ukrainian American Organizations of Rochester, Roman Kucil, greeted everyone, and the head of the local branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), Volodymyr Zacharkiw, read an English-language greeting from the UCCA National Executive.

The Irondequoit Town Supervisor read a proclamation greeting the Ukrainian community and designating August 24, 2005, as the Day of Ukraine's Independence in Irondequoit. A similar proclamation was issued by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, as read by Irondequoit Town Councilwoman Lydia Dzus.

The president of the Rochester Ukrainian Group, Natalia Shulga, followed, speaking about "Ukraine's Independence in Light of Recent events." The speech was structured around the rousing words of Ukraine's President, Victor Yushchenko, as spoken earlier in the day on Independence Square (maidan) in Kyiv. Having recently traveled to Ukraine, she included her thoughts and impressions of Ukraine's progress.

The program was transformed into a more light-hearted occasion as the family trio and musical ensemble of Lesia, Yuriy and Ivan Yurchenko took the stage. As children and adults started singing along, one couldn't help but draw a comparison to the activities and atmosphere of the maidan nine short months ago, even if on a significantly smaller scale.

The participation of children is always invigorating, and all present were treated to a wonderful recitation of the poem "For Ukraine" as performed by 10-year-old Lesia Savka. To further underscore youth talent, the poem was written by an 11th grader from the Starolysetska School in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

The Yurchenko ensemble entertained the community until the celebration was brought to an end with the beautiful song and prayer, "Bozhe Velykyi Yedynyi."

The celebration was sponsored by the United Ukrainian American Organizations of Rochester and the Rochester chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 9, 2005, No. 41, Vol. LXXIII

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