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Ukrainian American Veterans |
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Ukrainian
American Veterans UKRAINIAN AMERICAN VETERANS
Copyright © 1997-2002 by Walter Demetro of PC HELP L.L.C. and
Ukrainian American Veterans, Inc. All rights reserved.
Post 301
Yonkers,
New York
YONKERS, NEW YORK
P0ST 301
BY POST COMMANDER NICHOLAS SKIRKA
At the behest of Jurij Hirniak and support from Steven Shewczuk, Mathew Koziak, and Peter Polnyj, all members of Post 27 in Brooklyn, New York, a Ukrainian American Veterans Post was established in Yonkers. The very first meeting was held on Friday,February 26, 1999, at the Ukrainian Youth Center in Yonkers. Ten veterans were present at this meeting: Taras Szczur, Nicholas Skirka, John Tkachuk, Jerry Sachar, Russel Olijarczyk, Maksym Makarczuk, Bohdan Mykitschak, William Zakotiria, Nick Arden, and Theodore Hoszko. By the second meeting, the members asked the National Executive Board if the Post could be designated as Post 301 as its number to honor the people who helped build the Yonkers Center. The first elected Commander was Taras Szczur and Vice Commander was Nicholas Skirka. By the fifth meeting other new veterans sworn in were: Peter Olijarczyk, Peter Kaszczak, Stephen Rudyk, Steve Warycha, Sam Warycha, and Bohdan Lotocky, Michael Lotocky, Jerry Sachar, Theodor Kocur, Eugene Brozyna, and Bohdan Byniowsky. Honorary member is Bishop Basil Losten of the Stamford Eparchy.
The blessing of Post 301 took place at St Michael’s Church on April 19th, 1999, at 7 PM. in Yonkers. Father Paul Wolensky, from Brooklyn Post 27, performed the church service. Following the church service, ceremonies for the installation of officers and induction (swearing-in) of new members took place in the Ukrainian Youth Center. At the ceremony, the opening speech was bestowed by National Commander Steven Shewczuk. The master of ceremonies was Natalie Newmerzhycky and dignitary attendees were Mayor John Spencer from Yonkers, Mayor’s Office Secretary Helen Ann Henkel, Ukrainian Military Attache to the United Nations Colonel Wasyl Sydorenko, Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans Commander Sam Riti, Judge Tom Dickerson, and County Legislator Lou Mosiello. County Legislator Lou Mosiello presented Post 301 with a Proclamation designating April 19th the “Ukrainian American Veterans Post 301 Day” in Yonkers.
Post 301 participates in many veteran affairs in the Ukrainian and Yonkers communities. In the Yonkers community, Post 301 is a member of the Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans and participates in Color It Proud, Oratorical Contest, Grave Decorations, Veterans Day Ceremonies, Raising of the Ukrainian Flag at City Hall, and the Memorial Day Parade. In the Ukrainian community, Post 301 attends the Holy Spirit Cemetery yearly to decorate the graves of Ukrainian American Veterans with American flags. In conjunction with Gift of Life, Post 301 assisted in making it possible for Denis Baistruchenko, a 9 year old boy from Ukraine, to receive heart surgery. We have helped a stranded Ukrainian freighter (Znamya Oktyabrya or Banner of October) in Brooklyn with food. Post 301 partakes in Panachyda masses for veterans. We are a member of the National Ukrainian American Veterans Organization and Commander Nicholas Skirka is on the National Board that heads the National Scholarship Fund that gives monetary assistance to undergraduate students of Ukrainian American Veteran descendants. Other Post 301 members who assist in the National Scholarship Fund are: John Tkachuk, Peter Olijarczyk, and Bohdan Mitkitschak. For more information on Post 301, please contact:
Commander Nicholas Skirka
109 Windsor Terrace
Yonkers, New York 10701
Telephone: (914) 965-3707
Email N.Skirka@Worldnet.Att.Net
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