Roma
Guran, president of the Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American
Clubs and Organizations of North Port and vicinity spoke on behalf of
the entire local Ukrainian American community when she thanked North
Port Mayor Rhonda DiFranco and all the city commissioners for their
understanding and support of the Ukrainian American community by
issuing a proclamation designating Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, as “Ukrainian
Independence Day” in North Port.
The
ceremony took place during the City Commission’s special meeting July 2
in chambers at North Port City Hall. The proclamation was read by
North Port Vice Mayor Jacqueline Moore who, after reading it, handed it
to Mrs.
Guran.
Several
representatives of the Ukrainian American community clubs and
organizations were in attendance, most of them wearing the traditional
Ukrainian embroidered attire. A group of members of North Port Post 40
of the Ukrainian American Veterans, including yours truly, led by Post
Commander and UAV National Adjutant Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.),
donned their summer uniforms, many proudly displaying their service
ribbons. A special guest was UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of
Osprey,
Post 40 member and past post commander, who brought with him his wife
Olya and two grandchildren, Adriana and Natalia Nichols, who wore
traditional Ukrainian embroidered costumes.
This year, Ukraine will observe its 24th anniversary of the restoration of its independence.
On Aug. 24, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of the Ukrainian
Soviet Social Republic declared Ukraine to be free and independent, and
the name of the state to be simply “Ukraine.” This act was eventually
confirmed by nationwide referendum on Dec. 1, 1991, and approved by over
90 percent of voters. Even the regions with a large ethnic Russian
population, like Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea, approved the independence
with well over a 50 percent majority.
•••
Walter
Shipka, 91, of Port Charlotte, one of the founders of the Ukrainian
American Veterans, its second national commander (1949-1950), and active
member of North Port Post 40, died June 28.
Prior
to moving to Southwest Florida, Walter resided in the Cleveland, Ohio,
area, where he ran the very successful Shipka Travel Agency and was an
active member of the Cleveland UAV Post 24. His final resting place will be in a cemetery in the Cleveland area. Additional information about services is not currently available.
My wife Katrusia and I express our sympathies for Walter’s widow, Helen, and other relatives.
•••
Tuesday was a religious holiday, St. John
the Baptizer’s birthday, which is observed in Ukraine with special
ceremonies called “Ivana Kupala,” dating back to the pre-Christian
period. One of the components of this tradition is the search for the
elusive “flower of eternal life,” which blooms only that night. Other
ceremonies involve bonfires and girls placing flower wreaths in the
river.
It is too bad that these traditional customs are less and less popular in this mass communication era.
Personally, July 7 is a sad 71st anniversary
of seeing my father, mother, siblings and other relatives and neighbors
for the last time in my native village, Volya Yakubova (Jacob’s
Freedom), in Ukraine. My fate prevented me from seeing my relatives for nearly half a century, after the fall of the “evil empire.” In the meantime, my father perished in Stalin’s Gulags, and his resting place is known only to God.
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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