Preparations for Ukraine's Independence Day

The North Port City Commission, at its regular meeting Wednesday at 4 p.m., will issue and present to the Ukrainian American community a proclamation designating Aug. 24 as “Ukrainian Independence Day” in North Port.
This year Ukraine will celebrate the 25th year of restoration of its independence which was officially declared Aug. 24,1991, and confirmed by more than 90 percent in the nationwide referendum held on Dec. 1, 1991. Professor Vira Bodnaruk, president of Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American Organizations of North Port and vicinity, known in Ukrainian as “Hromadskyi Komitet,” is inviting all members of the community to attend the event at the North Port City Hall and to wear the traditional Ukrainian embroidered attire.
Col. Roman Rondiak, Commander of North Port’s Post No. 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans is asking all members to attend the event wearing Class B uniform with blue scarf.
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On Tuesday, July 12, at 9 a.m., the presentation of the Proclamation of the 25th Anniversary of restoration of Ukraine’s Independence will take place at the Robert L.
Anderson Administration Building of Sarasota County, 4000 Tamiami Trail S., Venice, Florida.
Members of Ukrainian American community are invited to attend the ceremony wearing the traditional Ukrainian embroidered clothing (“vyshyvanky”).
Ukrainian American veterans will be in their summer uniform (B with blue scarf).
A group photo will be taken at the conclusion of the ceremony.
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Vasyl Slipak, 41, a baritone at the Paris Opera, who gave up his singing career and returned to his native Ukraine to fight for his country in the war against Russian invasion, was killed by sniper fire last week near the town of Debaltsevo in the Eastern Ukraine. Mr. Slipak, born in L’viv on Dec. 20,1974, was recognized early in life as a musical prodigy and, after singing in the L’viv-based youth choir “Dudaryk” won first prize for performing Torreador Song from the opera “Carmen,” and eventually in France won fame for his rendition of the aria of Mephistopheles from the opera “Faust.”
Upon his return to Ukraine and joining the fight against Russian invaders, he adopted a traditional Ukrainian hairstyle, similar to a Mohawk, and the nom de guerre “Meph,” an abbreviation of Mephistopheles from the opera “Faust.” He would often sing for his fellow soldiers at the front.
Mr. Slipak was laid to rest at L’viv’s historic Lychakiv Cemetery, which is reserved for notable local figures and national heroes. His funeral Saturday saw tens of thousands of people attending the services and accompanying his casket draped in the Ukrainian National blue and yellow flag, with people kneeling on the street while the procession was passing, many crying, other singing patriotic songs.
Mr. Slipak’s survivors include his parents and an older brother. May he rest in peace: “Vechnaya Pamyat!” “Heroyi ne Vmyrayut!” (Heroes do not die!)
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The Ukrainian American community of North Port and vicinity was saddened by the death Saturday of Dr. Wolodymyr Korol, 94, one of the pillars of the community, former president of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, and other organizations, veteran of the Ukrainian National Army, and communicant of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the time of this writing.
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians 

by Atanas Kobryn (atanask@aol.com)