Memories of my father

Being a father, grandfather, great-grandfather and godfather, it is normal to expect greetings and well-wishes from some, if not from all, descendants for Father’s Day on Sunday.
Some wishes will be very sincere, others very likely only formal, but both will be welcome.
I want to wish all fathers, grandfathers, godfathers and fathersto- be a happy and healthy Father’s Day.
                                                                            •••
Having been separated from my father (also my mother and other family members) at the age of 16 during World War II, thinking and praying for my father and other family members daily was natural for me. For many years I had no idea if my parents and siblings were dead or alive, and eventually I found out they thought the same of me. Only during the “perestroika” in the Soviet Union was I able to establish contact with my mother and siblings who were deported years earlier to northern Russia, in the Ural Mountains. By that time, my father was dead, and his final resting place in the snow-bound Ural Mountains is known only to God.

I will never forget July 7, 1944, the St. John the Baptist holiday, spent with my family and with one of my cousins, Paulina Blazhkevych, in my native village of Volya Yakubova.

My father Oleksa (Alexander) was the oldest son of his parents, one of eight siblings, who was unable to continue his secondary education because of family responsibilities.

Nevertheless, upon being drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Army, he managed to quickly master German language and rose to the highest non-commissioned rank in an elite mountain brigade.

Upon discharge, he was offered a position in the equivalent of the state police in his home province of Halychyna, at that time known as “Crown land of Galizien und Lodomeria.” He was an active participant of the Ukrainian War of Liberation following World War I, and after its collapse he returned to his village, occupied by Poland. In addition to helping his father-in-law with farming, he became active in the village’s civic and cultural organizations. He was one of the organizers of a credit union and became its secretary-treasurer until the “liberation” by the Red Army in 1939 and the closing of the credit union by the “liberators.”

He was always willing to help his neighbors, and was often called to draft a last will and testimony, or write a petition. He was especially helpful during the Nazi occupation because of his mastery of the German language, even though his health was failing — the result of typhus acquired during the War of Liberation.

Upon the return of Soviet Russian occupiers in 1944, he and the rest of the family (my mother, brother and two sisters, the youngest being only 9 years old) were deported to the Ural Mountains area. His crime? Being a community activist and the first cousin of Col.
Andriy Melnyk, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists.
                                                                           •••
 Mrs. Roma Guran, president of the Coordinating Committee of the Ukrainian American Clubs and Organizations of North Port and vicinity would like our community to know that at 4 p.m. July 2 at North Port City Hall, off Sumter Boulevard, the Proclamation of Ukrainian Independence will be read by the mayor of North Port.

The proclamation will then be handed over to representatives of our community.
Members of the Ukrainian community are encouraged to attend this ceremony. Kindly wear your embroidered attire.

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

Ukrainian American Veterans enjoy end-of-season lunch

Members of Cpl. Roman G.Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.) and their spouses or significant others, met Friday at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port for a luncheon and brief meeting. There will be no membership meetings until September.

 

The luncheon meeting was opened by Col. Rondiak with the proper opening ceremonies (salute to the flag, Pledge of Allegiance, invocation by Post Chaplain the Rev. Roman Badiak, USMC veteran, and a moment of silence for departed comrades), introduction of two past national commanders present, the oldest living PNC Walter Shipka of Port Charlotte, and yours truly, and welcoming remarks. Col. Rondiak then spoke briefly about his extensive vacation travels, and ended by speaking at length about the magnificent UAV National Monument erected and standing tall in the Ukrainian cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J.

The monument, in honor of all Ukrainian American and Ukrainian men and women who honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces in all wars and in peacetime will be formally blessed and dedicated on Oct. 3 during the 68th UAV National Convention.

 

In a special message to all UAV members, National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey writes, “it is our duty to honor not only our departed brothers and sisters-in-arms, but also all Ukrainian American Veterans who have served our Nation in the Armed Forces.”

 

After enjoying a delicious luncheon prepared and served by Heron Creek staff, two special guests visiting from Ukraine were introduced — retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Gen. Alexander Halaka, who once served as a military attaché with the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, D.C., and retired UAF Col. Yuri Matviyenko. Both guests spoke briefly, congratulating our organization and thanking the Ukrainian American community for the support it provides Ukraine. 

 

Attendees at the luncheon seemed to enjoy the company because conversations and well-wishes for happy and healthy vacations continued long after the ending prayer by the Rev. Roman Badiak, salute to the flag, and formal adjournment of the meeting by Col. Rondiak.

                                                                                        •••

  The owners of K& K Bakery, 13661 Tamiami Trail in the North Port Center (near Wells Fargo Bank) held a successful fundraiser for orphanages in Ukraine on Saturday. While enjoying a cup of coffee with a sweet roll or with K& K’s special, delicious pastries, visitors were shown a video inside the bakery about the orphanages in Ukraine.

 

Co-owner of K& K Bakery Alex Korsykov and his family have been helping the orphanages for many years, and his main goal is to assist in adopting these children. K& K will accept donations that will go to three orphanages in the Odesa region of Ukraine, with about 360 orphans, including many who lost their parents in war.  Because of the war against Russian aggression in the eastern regions of Ukraine, these and other orphanages don’t have enough money to provide enough food and clothing for the children.

 

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

 

Clubs, organizations take summer break

North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian Ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, had its monthly membership meeting Tuesday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). This was the last meeting before the summer break.

There will be no meetings in July and August.

Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), commander of the Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, reminds all post members that there will be no meeting this Friday at the Oseredok. The joint luncheon meeting with spouses or significant others will take place at noon Friday at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club, off Sumter Boulevard in North Port.

A fixed-price luncheon menu at $15 per person consists of a choice of hamburger platter, Reuben sandwich with fries, Cobb salad with chicken or shrimp salad, with coffee, tea or soda, and tax and gratuity included.

The highlight of the luncheon will be a brief presentation on the erected, awesome UAV National Monument at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J., which will be formally dedicated Oct. 3 during the UAV 68th National Convention.

                                                                   •••

The Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, held its last membership meeting before the summer break May 27 at the Oseredok. After listening to and approving the reports of officers (secretary Doris Horbachevsky, treasurer Nancy Wosny, corresponding secretary Halya Lisnyczyj, Scholarship Committee chairman professor Victor Lisnyczyj, and president Daria), members were shown a brief video, “We are Ukraine!” that had many young people of different ethnic backgrounds, some speaking in languages other than Ukrainian, declaring that they are true Ukrainians. They also sang the Ukrainian national anthem in English.

The featured speaker was Lieda Boyko of Port Charlotte, who recently visited Ukraine with her sister Olena Boyko of Urbanna, Va.

Leda spoke about her experiences during her several-week visit, which included meetings of faculty and students of the Ukrainian Catholic University in L’viv, visiting the 100th anniversary observance of the Ukrainian Riflemen’s victory over the invading Russian Imperial Army at Mount Makivka in the Carpathian Mountains, and visiting many other interesting sites. She was very much impressed with the celebration of Easter in L’viv and in the villages of the L’viv region, and cannot forget the young wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv’s military hospitals, who are anxious to get well and go back to their units to fight the terrorists supported by Putin and Russian military invaders.

While in Ukraine, Lieda’s sister Olena, a retired pharmacist, purchased an ambulance for one of the volunteer units shuttling wounded soldiers from the front lines to the hospitals.

                                                                      •••

My wife Katrusia and I wish to congratulate and wish happy birthday to our two oldest children, Alexander Zenon and Maria Luba, who will observe their 62nd and 59th birthdays on June 4.

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

Ukrainian American vets join in Memorial Day observances

The only Ukrainian American Veterans post in Florida, Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 in North Port, participates in all Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances since its formation a decade ago. This year was no exception.

 

On Friday, a detachment of Post 40 members, with a color guard led by UAV National Commander and Past Post Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey took an active part in the 25th annual Memorial Day program atVenice Memorial Gardens. Coordinator of the program was UAV national chaplain, Post 40 past post commander and past commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment 948, Marian Bojsiuk of North Port, who also led the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the program. The Rev. Roman Badiak, Post 40 chaplain and USMC veteran of St.

Petersburg, delivered both the invocation and benediction. It was a pleasure to see and hear the performance of theVenice Middle School band and chorus, as well as see theVMSYoung Marines.Venice Memorial Gardens and Farley Funeral Homes are to be congratulated for their display of patriotism by sponsoring such a program, as well as the picnic and balloon release afterward.

 

A “Panakhyda” (requiem service) for the repose of souls of all departed veterans, sponsored by Post 40, was celebrated at the conclusion of Sunday’s divine liturgy (Mass) at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. Celebrants were the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, pastor, and the Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, pastor-emeritus. The church choir, under the direction of Lubow Ingram of Venice, sang the responses. Post 40 members, led by UAV National Commander Hron, with the honor guard, marched in before the start of the Panakhyda and stood in the center aisle during the service, and rendered a hand salute during the singing of “Veechnaya Pamyat” (eternal memory). Hron and yours truly (past national commander) held the traditional candles during the service, and the choir initiated, with the congregation joining in, singing “God Bless America” at the end of the Panakhyda.

 

On Monday, members and the color guard of Post 40 (constituting the largest veterans component), led by post Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.) of Osprey, took part in the annual Memorial Day ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 254 at Veterans Park near the North Port Library, as the group has every year since its formation. It was refreshing to hear an almost professional rendition of the national anthem sung by Lamarque Elementary student Brianna Guin.  Keynote speaker Joe McGee, American Legion Department of Florida 2nd vice commander, in his brief but impressive speech, called on new immigrants to our country to learn and show appreciation of veterans being honored on Memorial Day, whose sacrifices made it possible for them to come to this country and enjoy its benefits.

 

In addition to Post 40 members and their spouses, there were several other Ukrainian American community representatives at the ceremony, but the members of the new Ukrainian immigrant community were conspicuous by their absence.

                                                                        XXXXX

 

The Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida will meet at 6 p.m. today at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as the “Oseredok.”

 

There will be no regular monthly Post 40 membership meeting on June 5 at the Oseredok. Members and their significant others will meet at noon at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club off Sumter Boulevard in North Port for a luncheon.

 

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

Ukrainian American Club, veterans post are busy

   The executive board of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, held its meeting last week at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). After listening to the reading of last meeting’s minutes by secretary Doris Horbachevsky, financial report by treasurer Nancy Wosny and corresponding secretary Halya Lisnyczyj, and approving same, professor Victor Lisnyczyj, chair of club’s Scholarship Committee, reported in great detail about the work of the committee and the details of the traditional annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon.

    Lisnyczyj also read thank-you notes received from scholarship recipients, including one from this year’s recipient, Port Charlotte High School graduate Valerie Segebre and her parents. A discussion followed about donations to the Scholarship Fund made during the awards luncheon, and other events. Following the scholarship events report and discussion, Lisnyczyj also spoke about the club’s website and his plans to add more photographs to the site to record and publicize club activities.

    Daria gave detailed information about several ongoing club projects, including the “Didusi” (grandfathers) Tapestry and Package for the Soldiers projects. A lengthy discussion took place about the planned art display at the Venice Art Center, to be held later this year following the meeting with Art Center management. Also, the type and place of observance of the 24th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, which took place Aug. 24, 1991, was discussed at length.

    Lieda Boyko will be the featured speaker at the next monthly membership meeting at 6 p.m. May 27 at the Oseredok. Lieda and her sister Olena Boyko spent several weeks visiting Ukraine, where they met with officials of the Ukrainian Catholic University in L’viv, visited many interesting places and also visited with Ukrainian Army soldiers and members of Ukrainian volunteer units at the “hot spots” in the Donbas and Luhansk regions of Eastern Ukraine. Lieda will present her travelogue and her personal impressions of the current war against Russian aggression, which Ukrainians are waging without any outside help.
                                                        • • •
    The Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Post Commander (who is also the UAV national adjutant) Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.), will participate in the annual Memorial Day program at Venice Memorial Gardens at 11 a.m. Friday. Members are to meet at the UAV monument at 10:30 a.m. wearing the summer uniform and black scarf. UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron will be in charge.

    Sunday, there will be “Panakhyda” (requiem service) for the repose of souls of all departed veterans following the divine liturgy (Mass) at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. The liturgy will start at 10 a.m.; Panakhyda at about 11:15 a.m. Again, summer uniform with black scarf.

    On Monday, Post 40 members, as in past years, will participate in the community Memorial Day observance at Veterans Park (next to the North Port Library), at 10 a.m. Members are to meet at 9:45 a.m. at the park wearing the summer uniform.

    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

 

Day of Remembrance vs. Victory Day

Last weekend’s worldwide observances and festivities were as varied as many countries’ and nations’ characters and governments are different. The United States staged a relatively peaceful observance of the end of World War II by honoring veterans and flying the original WWII airplanes. In Paris, France, and other capitals, the ceremonies were also more of remembrance and reconciliation, including honoring the veterans still with us and the fallen, and the laying of flowers.

    Russian Federation President Putin went out of his way to have thousands of military units and most modern military hardware parading in Moscow to demonstrate Russia’s might. The publicity, including speeches, emphasized the role of Russians in defeating Nazi Germany and either ignoring or minimizing the role of the U.S. and its “land lease” without which the Soviet Army would not be able to continue to fight, and the role of other ethnic groups constituting the Soviet Union.

    Ukraine, once a member of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, now engaged in a de facto war with Russian Federation represented by terrorist bands and Russian military “volunteers” in the southeastern part of Ukraine, chose to recognize WWII on the “Day of Remembrance” without military parades.

    The Russian Federation and its predecessor central government of the Soviet Union over the years minimized the role of Ukrainians and Ukraine’s sacrifices during WWII. Between 8 million and 10 million Ukrainians lost their lives in WWII skirmishes, more than the total loss of U.S., Canada, Great Britain and France combined, not counting the loss of millions of civilians. It was never mentioned that a disproportionate percentage of high officers and generals of the Red (eventually renamed the Soviet Army) were Ukrainians, including Gen. Kuzma Derevyanko, who signed Japan’s capitulation act. The name of Ukrainian Soviet Army Officer Oleksiy Berest, who posted the Soviet flag over Reichstag in Berlin, was crossed off the list of personnel to be honored by Gen. Zhukov personally, because Berest was “khakhol” (a derogatory Russian name for Ukrainians).

    There was never any mentioning of the Ukrainian Soviet Army units liberating the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, or the fact that thousands of Ukrainians had fought Nazism in military components of the U.S., Great Britain, France, Canada and Poland. Ukrainians fought heroically and eventually victoriously in the bloodiest battle of WWII in Monte Casino in Italy as members of the Polish Army Second Corps.

    Ukrainian observances of the end of WWII including the solemn commemorative session of Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament), with President Petro Poroshenko delivering the main address, and many non-military parades throughout the country on May 8-10 in observance of Mother’s Day. In many cities parade participants displayed signs taunting Putin, such as “Our grandfathers defeated Hitler, we will defeat Putler” (popular derogatory name for Putin). In L’viv and other cities, the streets and plazas were flooded by women and girls parading in the traditional beautifully embroidered attire.

    On Monday, massive gatherings took place in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, and small gatherings in Moscow and several other Russian cities, to demand freedom for Ukrainian Air Force Lt. Nadia Savchenko, illegally kept in Moscow’s prison. Monday was Nadia’s birthday.

    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

Mother’s Day should be day of reconciliation for all

The worldwide celebration of Mother’s Day on Sunday, being nonpolitical, nonpartisan and not tied to any religion, should be a day of reconciliation, mutual forgiveness and mutual respect by all civilized people. This would probably be the best gift to mothers all over the world, from the “peaceful” countries like the U.S., Canada and others, to countries where mothers ache and cry for their sons and daughters killed, wounded or captured by “others,” be it neighboring nations or domestic terrorists.

    Think about 77-yearold Maria Savchenko, mother of Ukrainian Air Force Lt. Nadia Savchenko, who was captured by terrorists supported by Russia in Ukraine’s Donetsk region last year. She was transported illegally to Russia, where Russian authorities charged her with crimes she did not commit and are keeping her in jail in Moscow, where she declared a hunger strike and her health is in grave danger. Her mother spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and political figures in Canada and the U.S., stating: “I am turning to people all over the world to help me save my daughter.”

    Obviously, my personal thoughts, prayers and attention will be directed to two most important women in my life — my long-suffering late mother Kateryna and my lovely and loving wife Kateryna, better known as “Katrusia.”

    Living in American middle-class comfort, I cannot forget my childhood as the oldest child of my parents, growing up in a village in Ukraine and a household without running water, inside plumbing, central heating or air conditioning, or telephone. My mother, who was taken in as an orphan by her pious, childless relatives Kateryna and Ilko Ivanishak (formal adoption was not in vogue at that time in Ukraine, nor was it necessary for the customary cordial and proper relations), married a Ukrainian War of Liberation hero, and gave birth to four children. Keeping the family of eight fed and clean 24/7, plus manually milking not less than two cows, attending to other household animals and chickens, and tending a fair-size vegetable garden seems impossible from today’s viewpoint, but she managed it without ever complaining. She was up early in the morning, brought water from the outside well and wood from the outside shed, started a fire in the oven, and cooked meals every single day. At least once a week she washed clothing manually and then took the wet laundry to the nearby creek to finish the wash. Also at least once a week she had to knead dough, set it to rise overnight and bake enough bread for the growing family, healthy and with good appetites. There were many other tasks in-between, like mending clothing, sewing shirts and other items, teaching children their prayers, and going shopping in the city five miles away.

    After the “liberation” by Stalin’s hordes, my parents and three of my siblings (my youngest sister was only 9) were deported to Siberia, where my father died a few weeks after his arrival. According to the official Communist ideology, my mother was a true “proletarian” — orphan, poor, hardworking and not involved in politics. Why was she declared “an enemy of the state” and deported? Her only “crime” was marrying a Ukrainian War of Liberation veteran and the first cousin of Col. Andriy Melnyk, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. My father was not a member of the OUN.

    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