Ukraine’s unification to be commemorated

At 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”), 4100 S.Biscayne Drive, North Port, there will be a concert commemorating the 97th anniversary of the unification of all Ukrainian lands into one independent Ukrainian National Republic. The event is being sponsored by the “Hromadskyi Komitet” (Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American Clubs and Organizations), headed by Romana Harasymiak-Guran of Venice.

The Act of Unification joined two heretofore separate Ukrainian states into one. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming forces of Russian Communists, as well as the so-called Russian “White Armies” supported by western powers, as well as attacks by neighboring countries, the truly democratic Ukrainian National Republic eventually became, for many years, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, a de facto colony of Communist Russia, until Aug. 24, 1991.

                                                 •••
The one-year anniversary of the “Battle of Donetsk Airport,” described by author Peter Dickinson of Business Ukraine Magazine as the “Ukrainian Alamo,” was observed in Ukraine on Sunday.
Peter Dickinson’s article about the Battle of Donetsk Airport includes the following: “After over 240 days of defiant and againstall- odds defense, the airport finally fell to the combined Russian-separatist forces. Dozens of Ukrainian defenders died in the last days of the battle … By this stage, the airport itself was an uninhabitable lunar landscape, reduced to ruin by some of the most intense fighting witnessed in Europe since the fall of Nazi Berlin in 1945.

“Much as the doomed 19th century defenders of the Alamo have come to be seen as flag bearers of America’s national identity, the Cyborgs of Donetsk Airport are destined to be icons of the new Ukraine,” Dickinson wrote.

“Heroes never die!” is the common expression of modern Ukrainians.

                                                       •••
The annual membership meeting of Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, commonly called “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian Ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center, 1078 N. Biscayne Drive, North Port.

The very successful Christmas/New Year/ Epiphany social, held earlier this month, will be discussed, and Roxolana (Lana) Yarymovych of Osprey, who chaired the event committee and was responsible for the superb organization of the event and for the exemplary cooperation of the committee members, will be thanked again for her efforts.

Her name was inadvertently omitted in last week’s description of the event.

The participation of Branch 56 members in the “christening” of the recently formed new branch of Soyuz Ukrayinok in Naples on Jan. 31 also will be discussed.

                                                 •••
The first in several years traditional “Malanchyn Vechir” (Melanie’s Evening”), or simply “Malanka,” held Jan. 13 at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center, was a successful affair, with delicious refreshments, food and desserts, music and dancing. The event was advertised as open to all, and the result was an attendance of many nonparishioners. All had a wonderful time and at midnight toasted the beginning of “old new year” 2016, according to the “old” Julian calendar.

Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed atatanask@aol.com
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians
by Atanas Kobryn