Ukrainian community thanks City Commission

     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.

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     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.

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     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