Members of Cpl. Roman G.Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Col. Roman
Rondiak, USA (Ret.) and their spouses or significant others, met Friday
at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port for a luncheon
and brief meeting. There will be no membership meetings until
September.
The luncheon meeting was opened by Col. Rondiak with the proper opening ceremonies (salute to the flag, Pledge of Allegiance, invocation by Post Chaplain the Rev. Roman Badiak, USMC veteran, and a moment of silence for departed comrades), introduction
of two past national commanders present, the oldest living PNC Walter
Shipka of Port Charlotte, and yours truly, and welcoming remarks. Col.
Rondiak then spoke briefly about his extensive vacation travels, and
ended by speaking at length about the magnificent UAV National Monument
erected and standing tall in the Ukrainian cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J.
The monument, in honor of all Ukrainian American and Ukrainian men and
women who honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces in all wars and in
peacetime will be formally blessed and dedicated on Oct. 3 during the
68th UAV National Convention.
In
a special message to all UAV members, National Commander Ihor W. Hron
of Osprey writes, “it is our duty to honor not only our departed
brothers and sisters-in-arms, but also all Ukrainian American Veterans
who have served our Nation in the Armed Forces.”
After enjoying a
delicious luncheon prepared and served by Heron Creek staff, two
special guests visiting from Ukraine were introduced — retired Ukrainian
Armed Forces Gen. Alexander Halaka, who once served as a military
attaché with the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, D.C., and retired UAF
Col. Yuri Matviyenko. Both guests spoke briefly, congratulating our organization and thanking the Ukrainian American community for the support it provides Ukraine.
Attendees at the luncheon seemed to enjoy the company because conversations and well-wishes for happy and healthy vacations
continued long after the ending prayer by the Rev. Roman Badiak, salute
to the flag, and formal adjournment of the meeting by Col. Rondiak.
•••
The owners of K& K Bakery, 13661 Tamiami Trail in the North Port
Center (near Wells Fargo Bank) held a successful fundraiser for
orphanages in Ukraine on Saturday. While enjoying a cup of coffee with a
sweet roll or with K& K’s special, delicious pastries, visitors
were shown a video inside the bakery about the orphanages in Ukraine.
Co-owner of K& K Bakery Alex Korsykov and his family have been
helping the orphanages for many years, and his main goal is to assist
in adopting these children. K& K will accept donations that will go
to three orphanages in the Odesa region of Ukraine, with about 360
orphans, including many who lost their parents in war. Because
of the war against Russian aggression in the eastern regions of
Ukraine, these and other orphanages don’t have enough money to provide
enough food and clothing for the children.
Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com.
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
by Atanas Kobryn
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