Read U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s congratulations to Ukraine on its Independence Day
BALTIMORE, Maryland — The Ukrainian community in the U.S. commemorated the 28th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence with celebration tinged by the somber knowledge that Ukrainians continue to die each week in the ongoing war ignited by Russia’s 2014 invasion.
Thanks for Ukraine’s independence figured in services held by Ukrainian Orthodox, Catholic, and Baptist churches. Crimean Tatars joined some of the events and prayers or speeches were made about the Ukrainian military risking their lives and sometimes dying to defend Ukraine.
Apart from religious events there were many concerts, festivals and other events that aligned with Independence Day itself, August 24. Ukrainian-Americans flock to these but they welcome anyone who wants to attend and the hope is they will learn something about Ukraine’s history and culture and taste the traditional Ukrainian dishes and drinks always available at such events.
There were festivals and concerts in Chicago, Los Angeles, the city go Parma in Ohio , Sandy Springs in Georgia, and Borsham, Pennsylvania, among others. The events features traditional dancers and choirs and contemporary musicians, including rock bands such as Madheads, who flew in from Ukraine.
Particularly in demand last weekend were 34 Ukrainian sailors being trained at the port city of Baltimore in the state of Maryland to operate two former U.S. Coast Guard cutters – compact, swift, armed vessels – donated last year by America to the Ukrainian Navy.
The sailors arrived in July and are due to complete their training in September. The craft they will crew have been receiving extensive refits since being handed over to former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in a ceremony last fall. The vessels should arrive in Ukraine before the year.
Ukrainian sailors were guests of honor in Baltimore, Maryland, for Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations at St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church.
On Independence Day the men attended a service at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St Michael in Baltimore and were later the congregation’s guests at a picnic at scenic Rocky Point Park and Beach elsewhere in Maryland.
The next day the sailors were back in Baltimore at the city’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, which, confusingly, is also named after the Archangel St Michael. After the liturgy the sailors were guests of honor at a celebratory lunch and concert.
On the eve of Ukrainian Independence Day, Aug. 23, 2019, the leadership of the Ukrainian World Congress met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In part they wanted to follow up on remarks Zelensky made in his inauguration speech where he said he was keen to work with the diaspora and even mentioned making citizenship readily available to people of Ukrainian origin born elsewhere.
Many expect Zelensky may visit U.S. President Donald Trump as early as next month. Some of Zelensky’s closest aides have been to the American capital in recent weeks to lay the groundwork for such a visit and have met with Ukrainian community leaders here for advice.
Andriy Futey is president of the largest Ukrainian diaspora group in the U.S. — the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America — and also a leader in the Ukrainian World Congress, said: “There is currently a critical opportunity for improving the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States, and ensuring constructive dialogue between the presidents of the two countries.”
