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UKRAINIAN AMERICAN VETERANS HOLD 49TH CONVENTION by STEPHEN M. WICHAR, SR. On Septem ber 20-22, 1996, Ukrainian American Vete rans who had served in the armed forces of the United States of Am erica in W orld War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian G ulf gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a three day convention. Chaired by Edward Zetick and Lubo- myr Tryciecky, the convention opened on Friday m orning with the form al registration of guests, reading of minutes, reports by retiring officers, and the assignment of delegates to designated com m ittees which then met for individual conferences to prepare reports for the follow ing day’s business. A “ hospitality night” reception followed. Saturday’s agenda included reports of the Convention Chai rmen and the election of officers for the 1996-97 adm i nistrative year: National Com m ander Dm ytro Bodnarczuk, Sr. Vice-com m ander Steven Szewczuk, Financial O fficer Michael W engryn, Judge Advocate Matthew Koziak, Adju tant anf Historian Vasyl Luchkiw, Q uartermaster Roman Didycki, Chaplain and Service O fficer M yroslaw Pryjma, W elfare O fficer Michael Demchuk, Publications and Public Relations O fficer George Miziuk. The National Ladies A uxiliary conducted their own business sessions, electing a new Executive Board which consists of the following: President Rosalie Polche, Sr. Vice-president Irene Pryjma, Jr. Vice-President Ann Bez- korowajny, Secretary Olga W engryn, Treasurer Harriet Du- sanenko, Assistant Treasurer Amelia Berezowsky, Judge Advocate Pauline Pender, Chaplain Pauline Pender, Histo rian Jean Elnick, Service O fficer Alberta Baitinger, Sergeant- at-Arms Nadia Wichar, and W elfare O fficer Helen Drabyk. A Convention Banquet, hosted on Saturday night at Philadelphia’s Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center, opened w ith a presentation of colors by the U.S. Navy C olor Guard, the singing of the Am erican and Ukrainian national anthems, and the form al installation of newly elected officers. Ted Zenuk spoke on the beginnings of the UAV when Philadelphia veterans established Post No. 4 in 1946. Robert Gulay, the moving force behind the UAV’s A dopt a Hospital program in Ukraine, spoke on the im por tance of this program, commending in particular New Jersey UAV members who have contributed over $11,000,000.00 in medical aid to Ukraine. Philadelphia’s M ayor Ed Rendell emphasized the im portance of ethnic groups in the Am eri can political arena. The keynote speech was delivered by Anna Krawczuk, who served with the United States Arm y and is currently serving a second term as the president of the Ukrainian National W om en’s League of America. (The text of Mrs. Krawczuk’s speech is reprinted in full below). Delegates and their guests enjoyed a delicious dinner and then danced to the music of the Vodohray orchestra. The convention ended on Sunday m orning with a meeting of the new UAV board during which plans for the organization’s future were discussed. THE ROLE OF UKRAINIAN WOMEN IN THE MILITARY Keynote address delivered by Anna Krawczuk during the 49th Convention Banquet of the Ukrainian American Veterans September 21, 1996 Reverend Clergy, Honorable Guests, Ladies of the UAV Auxiliary and Dear Veterans: It is a great honor for me to give this presentation today at the 49th Ukrainian American Veterans Convention. In the history of Ukraine, we find women in leading com manding roles, from Kniahynia Olha at the end of the first millennium to Olena Stepaniv, Sofia Haljecko and Handzia Dmyterko Ratych in the 20th century — just to name the few who made the history books. We know that hundreds of women served in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) who can give witness to the post World War II events. Their testimonials are included in the chronicles of the UPA. As UNWLA Scholarship Chair, I had my first opportunity to visit Ukrainian settlements in Poland in 1989 (when Poland was still under the communist regime) and had the privilege of visiting the homes of former UPA members. I listened to the horror stories, and saw the scars of torture on the bodies of the men and women who survived. With financial support from the UNWLA Scholarship Pro gram and moral support from their parents, the children of these former UPA members were secretly collecting oral histories for future historical publications. Since then, Myroslaw Sychhas published many historical articles about those times and is completing his dissertation. Many others have pursued careers in Ukrainian studies. As Ukrainians dispersed and settled around the globe in the last hundred years, we have found them fulfilling their military obligations with honor — whether by draft or voluntarily — in their adoptive countries. It was not any different in the United States of America. Young men were drafted during World War I, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Young women volunteered! Although 11,000 American women served during WWI as nurses (out of a total of 33,000), it wasn’t until WWI I that women took a permanent place in the armed forces — they were over 350,000 strong in WWI I. They served in the medical corps, as support units behind the front lines, and as service units throughout the military. 88 were taken prisoner. Many lost their lives. The same was true during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. How many among them were of Ukrainian descent is unknown. How many men of Ukrainian descent were killed in action is also unknown. 1995 was a milestone year for 50th anniversaries. The United Nations celebrated with over 186 dignitaries from around the world taking part — including President Leonid Kuchma of UAV Ladies Auxiliary Executive Board. Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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