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UNWLA Branch 54 Hosts "Homage to Ivan Franko" by Sophia Sluzar Conducted by Olga Wiradelaga, community choir performing Ivan Franko’s “Ne Pora” Traditionally, UNWLA Branch 54 in Wil mington, Delaware (Philadelphia Regional Coun cil), has organized March events in honor of Taras Shevchenko. For this year’s event (planned and organized during 2006), Branch members decided to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Franko’s birth and the 90th anniversary of his death. Like Shevchenko, Franko had a major influence on Ukrainian national identity, yet his contribution is less well known. As is no doubt true in other small Ukrainian-American communities, in Delaware it is the Ukrainian churches that are the focal points of the community. The parish members include recent arrivals from Ukraine, those who came in the mid- 20th century, those bom in the United States, and those who married into the Ukrainian-American community. Events planned for a community of people coming from such diverse backgrounds have to meet different levels of interest. They also have to be bilingual. Thus, while planning functions for the local community, Branch 54 tries to make them both entertaining. It is this approach that keeps Ukrainian culture appealing and vital within our Ukrainian- American community in Delaware. It was with all of these factors in mind that members of Branch 54 organized a concert and presentation in honor of poet Ivan Franko. Hosted on March 25, 2007, the program was introduced by Branch 54 President Daria Lissy and conducted in Ukrainian by Olga Wiradelaga. To allow non- Ukrainian speakers in the audience to follow the program, an English-language literary biography of Ivan Franko that meshed with the Ukrainian presentation was prepared by Sophia Sluzar and distributed. The story of Franko’s life and writings, narrated by Ms. Wiradelaga, was interwoven with recitations of his poetry by adults and by children from the community. The local church choir, which includes many Branch 54 members, sang several songs based on Franko’s words. Especially well received was the light-hearted skit Pan Kotskiy. Roza Duffy, coordinator of the program, had prepared masks for the children and adults who played the roles of the animals in the skit. One indication of the appeal of the skit was that children in the audience asked that similar plays be staged so that they too could take part. The program concluded with the singing of Franko’s Ne Pora. Those attending then had the opportunity to socialize while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and beverages prepared by Branch 54 members.
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