Veterans gather for annual lunch

The traditional Veterans Day luncheon of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, held last Thursday at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club, was another successful affair. After attending the community Veterans Day ceremony at North Port’s Veterans Park on Nov. 11, as is the tradition of the post since its formation, the officers and members of the post and their families and guests gathered to enjoy a delicious buffet luncheon and to review their accomplishments. Welcoming words by Post Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), were followed by the posting of colors by the Post 40 Color Guard, playing/ singing the American and Ukrainian national anthems, and invocation by Post 40 chaplain the Rev. Roman Badiak, USMC, a Korean War veteran and pastor of Epiphany of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church in St. Petersburg. 

Col. Rondiak introduced several guests, including the UAV national officers, heads of the local Ukrainian American organizations, officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, members of the liaison team with the U.S. Central Command at MacDill U.S. Air Force Base in Tampa, and Do Pataki, president of the Kiwanis Club of North Port, who was accompanied by Kenneth Miller, past commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 948.
Lunch was enjoyed by all after a brief “in memoriam” ceremony and blessing by the Rev. Badiak. 

UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron, the keynote speaker, presented a concise history of the participation and role of both native Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans, in the U.S. Armed Forces from the Civil War until this day, including the number of Congressional Medals of Honor recipients and recipients of other high military awards. 

He also spoke briefly about the recent dedication of the National Monument in South Bound Brook, N.J., to honor all Ukrainian American veterans of all branches of service and all wars.
NC Hron’s address was followed by greetings and brief remarks by Ukrainian Armed Forces Col. Serhii Samborskyi. 

Col. Rondiak, assisted by NC Hron, presented awards to past post commander Eugene A. Tomashosky and past post commander and UAV National Chaplain/ Service Officer Marian Bojsiuk. The successful friendly gathering concluded with closing remarks by Cl. Rondiak.
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The Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community is keenly tuned in to the developments in Ukraine. It raises funds for humanitarian aid to orphaned children, families of soldiers killed in the war against Russian aggressors, wounded soldiers and refugees from Crimea and Donbas. Weekly prayers (rosary) for peace in Ukraine and blessings for the Ukrainian nation are held at 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1078 N.Biscayne Drive, North Port. All are invited to join.
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Several members of our community traveled to Washington, D.C., to witness the unveiling and dedication of the Ukrainian Holodomor Memorial on Nov. 7. A beautiful description of the unveiling and blessing was written by Tanya Petroff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Lisnyczyj of North Port, about “a very special and emotional weekend in Washington.”

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