City issues Ukrainian Independence Day proclamation

    Aproclamation to honor the 23rd anniversary of the re-establishment of Ukraine’s independence, Aug. 24, was issued by the North Port City Commission on Monday night. It was read by Mayor Jim Blucher during the commission’s regular meeting and delivered to Roma Guran, president of the Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian-American Organizations of North Port and vicinity. Guran expressed her thanks on behalf of the organization she is heading and on behalf of the entire Ukrainian American community for the commission’s act and for the continuous support of the City Commission and administration. Daria Tomashosky, president of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, also spoke briefly about the long struggle of Ukrainians to restore the independence of their country and build a free, civilized, democratic and European Ukraine, now threatened by its neighbor and longtime occupier, Russia.

    The commission meeting was attended by a large group of local Ukrainian-Americans, most wearing traditional Ukrainian embroidered blouses, shirts and dresses, and members of the local Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, led by Post Commander Eugene Tomashosky, wearing their uniforms of blue T-shirts and veteran’s caps.

    In addition to a large group of veterans in attendance, there were also many members of the local branch of “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), led by president Ann-Marie Susla, members of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, led by Tomashosky, and a large group of members of the local Ukrainian American Orthodox congregation, led by the Rev. John Fatenko. There were also distinguished guests, UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey and UAV National Adjutant Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), who attended with his wife Ulana.

    Information about the actual activities here in North Port commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence will appear in next week’s column.
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    A nationwide drive of the Ukrainian American organizations, including our Southwest Florida community organizations, is underway to raise funds for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. One of the drives is to deliver 10,000 Improved First Aid Kits, each costing $100, to save lives of wounded patriots, including children in Ukraine. Most, if not all, of the injuries occur in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, where Ukrainian Armed Forces are fighting the terrorists sent by Russia and supported by arms, equipment, supplies and additional manpower by Putin’s Russia. Donations can be made at www. patriotdefence.org.

    Another organization accepting donations for humanitarian aid to Ukraine is the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee Inc. (www.uuarc.org), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization established in 1944. All donations are tax-deductible.
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    Reading the results of tennis matches in our local newspaper, one gets the feeling that Ukrainian players quite often do not get the recognition they, in my opinion, deserve. Most often it is because they get eliminated in the second round. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that Elina Svitolina of Ukraine won the WTA Baku Cup at Baki Tennis Akademijasi, Baku, Azerbaijan, by defeating Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia.

    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