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Ukrainian American Veterans |
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Ukrainian American
Veterans By Zen Golembiowsky
The Ukrainian Vietnam Veterans of Cleveland organized on
December 2, 1983. The goals of the organization were to help members access
veteran benefits, to provide a forum to meet and converse, and to use the new
found respect America was giving to Vietnam veterans toward helping Ukrainian
political actions. At the first election, Commander Zen Golembiowsky and
Adjutant Jon Nych took over the administrative duties of the newly formed
post. By April 1984, the post was meeting regularly on a monthly basis, and
attendance grew from 5 members to 10 members regularly present.
After investigating joining the VFW and American Legion, the
Ukrainian Vietnam Veterans of Cleveland decided to join and strengthen the
Ukrainian American Veterans (UAV) brotherhood. A dialogue was initiated, and
on September 14, 1985 Cmdr. Golembiowsky was informed that the Cleveland
veterans were granted a Charter and accepted into the national organization as
UAV Post 24 of Cleveland.
In the Fall of 1985, a historic meeting took place with Cmdr.
Golembiowsky, Adjutant Nych, and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). It is
difficult to describe the emotion of that event: A traditional drink, an
exchange of greetings, some solemn reflections, mutual respect, a bridging of
the gap between generations. At this meeting, the Cleveland UPA Commander Ivan
Olijar proposed that the two organizations of veterans find ways to work
together and help each other and the Ukrainian cause.
The two groups decided to hold a joint picnic, with the
proceeds to go towards the purchase of a new modern weapon, the camcorder! The
picnic was held on June 15, 1986 with UAV Nat'l Cmdr. Ed Zetick esq., and
Nat'l Adjutant Dmytro Bykovetz Jr., formally presenting Post 24 its Charter.
In September, with the help of Jerry Sywyj, WJW Channel 8,
and T.V. personality Dick Russ, the UPA and Post 24 obtained a state of the
art camcorder. This camcorder has been used to document testimony of Ukrainian
Death Camp survisors, film public and private talks of famous dissidents such
as Terelya, Rudenko, and Shumuk, film UPA and Post ceremonies, and other
Ukrainian public demonstrations.
On September 14, 1986 Post 24 held its second elections and
Roman Rakowsky was elected as Post Commander. Cmdr. Rakowsky served as a
combat artist and photographer in Vietnam. His combat art is in the U.S. Army
History Department archives and some of his works are on permanent display in
the Pentagon. In January 1992, Roman Rakowsky stepped down from his duties as
Post Commander because of his responsibilities as National Commander, and Zen
Golembiowsky again assumed the duties of Post 24 Commander until 1994.
After receiving the UAV Charter, Post 24 opened membership to
all Ukrainian American Veterans, outside the original Vietnam veterans. Some
non-veterans have also joined us as associate members. As of this writing, the
official Post 24 roster has 71 members.
As the post grew it became more politically active, taking
part in security measures during protests for John Demjanjuk, helping protest
when the Ukrainian Radio Program was taken off the aid in Cleveland, and
contacting elected officials to furthur veteran and Ukrainian causes. To date,
the post has received recognition from Sen. John Glenn, Sen. Howard
Metzenbaum, Cong. Dennis Eckart, Cong. Louis Stokes, and Cong. Mary Rose
Oakar.
Through Congressional Aide and Ukrainian Museum Director
Andrew Fedynsky, Post 24 has developed close ties to Cong. Oakar, who
mentioned the group warmly in her last Inauguration speech and presented the
post with an American flag flown especially in its honor over the Capitol. The
post also supported the Vietnam Veterans Women National Memorial project,
which Cong. Oakar champions.
In 1989 a member of Post 24 who served in very difficult
combat duty in Vietnam was believed killed on Cleveland's Southside, where he
lived homeless and destitute. A requiem Mass has held in his memory. Through
the efforts of associate member Orest Wasyluk, a hospital director for the
V.A., our lost veteran was found to be alive! That day was Easter Sunday.
Beacuse of the post's intervention, our brother was granted a life pension and
placed in a quality nursing home.
Recently, the post was involved in providing wheelchairs for
Ukrainian Afghanistan Veterans, donated and helped raise funds for
International Ukrainian relief programs, and locally sponsored a writing
contest for the students of Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian school. Becaues many of
the Post 24 members are also involved in leadership roles in other Ukrainian
organizations, the commitment to community service is strong within our ranks.
The current (1999) Post 24 Commander is Roman J. Rakowsky
PNC. For more information, write or call:
National Commander Roman Rakowsky of
Copyright © 1997-2001 by Walter Demetro of PC HELP L.L.C.,
George A. Miziuk of GAM-WEB and the
Ukrainian American Veterans, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated June26, 2001.
Cleveland, Ohio Post 24
Ukrainian Vietnam Veterans Post
Roman Rakowsky PNC
1881 Jacqueline Drive
Parma, OH
44134-6849
Telephone: (216) 884-1673
UAV OH Post 24 met
President Bush in 1992
[UAV Home Page]
[Post 24 Fall activities 2003 page 1]