Veterans activities coming up

North Port chapter 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known to Ukrainians as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies) and headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, held its monthly membership meeting Tuesday. Members were asked to come to the meeting wearing Ukrainian embroidery for a group photo for the UNWLA convention book. It was a very nice “embroidered” meeting.
On the meeting agenda was discussion of the traditional fall picnic, to be held Nov. 14 at Maxine Barrett Park (next to Sharky’s on the Pier) in Venice, starting at 10 a.m. There will be an interesting entertainment program, games and a buffet lunch prepared by UNWLA members.

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The Ukrainian American Veterans Post 40, headed by Post Commander Eugene A. Tomashosky of North Port, will hold the traditional Veterans Day luncheon at noon Friday at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club. The tickets for this very popular annual affair were sold out, and none will be available at the door.
The luncheon program will include a keynote address by post member Col. Askold D. Mosijczuk, M.D., USA (Ret.) of Clearwater, art auction, 50/50 drawing and the presentation of an award to an outstanding community activist whose name will be announced at the event. A lunch menu with choices of chicken cordon bleu, top sirloin or fish in butter sauce will be served. Music by well-known “vlad” and master of ceremonies UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey will guarantee an enjoyable atmosphere.
There is a change in the place of “Panakhyda” (requiem service) for the repose of souls of all departed veterans. It will be celebrated Sunday at the conclusion of the divine liturgy (Mass) at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, and not as announced previously. The change was necessitated due to the family emergency of a priest serving at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church.
At 11 a.m. Monday, members of Post 40 will participate, as they have done every year since the formation of the post, in the community Veterans Day observance at North Port’s Veterans Park (next to the North Port Library at South Biscayne Drive and U.S. 41). All members of the area’s Ukrainian American community are encouraged to join Post 40 members in this brief (usually about 30 minutes long) ceremony.

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Patriotic Ukrainians all over the world, including the Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community, commemorated on Nov. 1 the 85th anniversary of the West Ukrainian National Republic (Nov. 1, 1918); the 69th anniversary of the death of the longtime head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, philanthropist and humanitarian who saved hundreds of Jews, especially Jewish children from Nazi extermination, including the chief rabbi of Lviv, Metropolitan Archbishop Andriy Sheptyckyj (Nov. 1, 1944); and the 49th anniversary of the death of a close collaborator of Sheptyckyj, Col. Andriy Melnyk, hero of the Ukrainian Liberation War following WorId War I, Nazi concentration camp prisoner, and leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Nov. 1, 1964), who also was my father’s first cousin.
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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