UAV Tribune PO BOX 172 Holmdel, NJ 07733-0172
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UAV Tribune PO BOX 172 Holmdel, NJ 07733-0172 email: [email protected] • www.uavets.org Dear Fellow Veterans: We all owe them our gratitude! I also thank all other UAV Na- Warm greetings and best tional Monument Committee members for their service—each wishes for a Happy and Healthy of you contributed to the success of this great undertaking. 2016 to all of you and your fami- TWO lies. I hope that the Christmas Our second successful undertaking was the 68th UAV An- season brought only the best for nual National Convention. This was a very special convention you. in many ways. The planning and coordination began in 2014. Historically, the holiday The UAV National Executive Board and the New Jersey Posts season is a time for giving thanks collaborated not only on planning and coordinating the actual for our blessings; it is a time to convention, but also on conducting the Monument dedication reflect on the year’s activities, to Ihor W. Hron UAV NC ceremony headed by measure our successes, and to IPNC Leonid Kondrati- assess what needs improvement. For the UAV, the end of 2015 uk, who was also the MC was no different. We looked back on many successes and iden- at the banquet. Great job! tified areas for improvement. If ever there was a Looking back at 2015, there were many noteworthy ac- “case study” on effective complishments: cooperation and coordi- ONE nation, the UAV National The first major undertaking was the October 3, 2015, Un- Convention would surely veiling, Dedication and Blessing of the long-awaited UAV stand at the forefront, National Monument, which was erected at St. Andrew Cem- serving as a template for etery, in South Bound Brook, New Jersey, on land donated by all similar endeavors. All the UOC of USA. We are very grateful to Metropolitan Antony who attended and partici- for allotting this plot of land and are also grateful that a project pated in this convention envisioned long ago has finally come to fruition. After more witnessed the extraordi- than a decade of planning, which included a monument design nary success arising competition, time spent selecting the appropriate granite, con- from the combined tract negotiations, brochure design and printing, and continu- efforts of the UAV Na- ous solicitation for donations, our vision was finally realized! tional Executive Board, We thank all our benefactors who made this possible. UAV National Monument The success of this endeavor does not take away the sor- Committee, and the UAV row we felt when losing friends and colleagues along the way. New Jersey Depart- Over the course of the 10 years of the existence of the UAV ment of State. Even the National Monument Committee, we bid a final farewell to weather cooperated! some committee members. We were saddened to lose them but The business side of were fortunate to find willing and dedicated volunteers who the convention was crisp picked up where they left off and helped us bring the project to and professional. We a successful conclusion. had the largest number I want to recognize Mathew Koziak, PNC, and Anna of delegates and attend- Krawczuk, PNC, for their inspirational dedication and service ees in recent history. to the National Monument Committee. Matt and Anna did the The celebratory banquet “heavy lifting” on this project; without their commitment, we was elegant and well would still be waiting for the UAV monument to be completed. attended, and the perfor- mance of the Ukrainian - photo by Bishop Daniel. UAV Tribune February 2016 1 Copyright 2016 by Ukrainian American Veterans, Inc. Continued from page 1 American Youth Association (SUM) Chicago choir brought a It was, as this report suggests, an extremely busy year for great deal of joy and pleasure to all. UAV Post 32 Commander the UAV, and our work and our members have been validated Peter Bencak and his staff were instrumental in bringing the by our activities and our visibility. One result of this is that our all-volunteer choir from Chicago to New Jersey for our con- organization is being recognized more and more as a vital part vention. Special thanks to Peter and all the members of UAV of the Ukrainian American community. This is a good thing, Post 32 and to the Chicago Ukrainian American community but we cannot become complacent and rest on our laurels. We for their personal and financial support, which made it possible need to keep the momentum of 2015 going and this means for the choir to attend and perform at both the UAV National recruiting new members as well as continuing to volunteer to Monument dedication and at our convention. take part in local activities and events! As customary, the UAV National Ladies Auxiliary, under the leadership of Oksana Koziak, manned the registration table IN MEMORIAM during the convention, making a generous donation to the I ask that you keep in your prayers UAV Past National UAV National Monument. Ladies, your pleasant demeanor, Commander (1949–1950) Walter Shipka who passed on June spirit, and professionalism made all our jobs easier. We know 28, 2015, and Paul John Hlynsky, UAV NEB VC (2006–2008) we can always count on you, and we are very grateful for that. and long-time UAV Post 28 Commander, who passed on Sep- tember 23, 2015, and UAV Past National Commander Joseph THREE Brega (1984-1986) who left us on January 16, 2016. The third major successful undertaking of the UAV during 2015 was our official presence at and participation in the I end with a reminder to each Post Commander that Holodomor Monument Dedication in Washington, D.C., on the viability of each post is contingent on good planning November 7, 2015. The UAV Color Guard included: National and execution. The goal is to have a formal meeting of Post Commander, Post 42 members: PNC Mathew Koziak, members at least once every two months. The meeting should Jerry Kindrachuk, NFO, PC Oleh Balaziuk, IPPC Viktor have an agenda that addresses annual goals, budgets, and Litkewycz, and UAV NJ State Commander Michael Hrycak. related matters. On a more global level, we need to focus on FOUR keeping the UAV strong. On a personal level, each member Last but not least, I must mention that the UAV Color has an implicit responsibility to represent the UAV in the most Guard (UAV Post 42 members Jerry Kindrachuk and Viktor professional manner possible. In connection with this, I leave Litkewycz) participated in the Veterans’ Day Parade of you with a thought for the New Year: Colors ceremony. They marched and saluted proudly with Sometimes the ones who work the hardest and give the representatives of other American veterans organizations at most are the quietest about what they’ve done…….That’s called Arlington National Cemetery on November 11, 2015. HONOR! They inspire the rest of us. That’s called PRIDE! Thanks to all you are and all you do! God Bless America! God Protect Ukraine! Ihor Hron, National Commander UAV 68TH CONVENTION DELegateS Seated L/R: NC Ihor W. Hron, Marian Bojsiuk, Anna Krawczuk, Roman Rakowsky and Michael Fedirko, WWII veteran. 2 UAV Tribune February 2016 UKRAINIAN AMERICAN VETERANS, INC PO BOX 791 Osprey, FL 34229–0791 Ihor W. Hron National Commander National Executive Board 2014 – 2016 Post Commanders 2016 IHOR W. HRON BERNARD W. KRAWCZUK Post 1 Philadelphia, PA Post 30 Freehold , NJ [email protected] National PR/Publications Officer Edward A. Zetick, PNC John Dzera, PVC National Commander [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] WILLIAM SZOZDA UAV Tribune Co-Editor Post 6 Newark, NJ Post 31 Boston, MA Michael Fedirko, Stephen Kostecki [email protected] JOE NASEVICH [email protected] [email protected] National Vice Commander [email protected] Post 14 Hartford, CT Post 32 Chicago, Il ROMAN RONDIAK www.uavets.org Peter Bencak [email protected] National Webmaster Ihor B Rudko [email protected] [email protected] National Adjutant LEONID KONDRATIUK, IPNC JERRY KINDRACHUK [email protected] Post 15 New Britain, CT Post 33 New Haven, CT Emrick Prestash, PNC Carl R. Harvey [email protected] Immediate Past National Commander [email protected] [email protected] National Finance Officer ANNA KRAWCZUK, PNC Post 17 Passaic, NJ Post 35 Palatine, Il MATHEW KOZIAK, PNC [email protected] James Fedorko Roman Golash UAV Registration Project Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] National Judge Advocate [email protected] UAV Tribune Co-Editor Post 19 Spring Valley, NY Post 40 North Port, FL STEPHEN KOSTECKI William Szozda Roman Rondiak IHOR B RUDKO [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] National Quartermaster Post 23 Buffalo, NY UAV CT State Dept. Commander Post 42 Lehigh Valley, PA MARIAN BOJSIUK Michael W. Liskiewicz MICHAEL P. HrycaK Oleh Balaziuk [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] National Service Officer/Chaplain Post 24 Cleveland, OH UAV NJ State Dept. Commander Post 101 Warren, MI MYROSLAW PRYJMA, Bohdan Samokyszyn PETER POLNYJ Matthew Wroblewski [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] National Welfare Officer Post 25 Trenton, NJ UAV NY State Dept Commander Post 301 Yonkers, NY Gregory Posewa NICHOLAS SKIRKA Nicholas Skirka OKSANA KOZIAK [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Post 27 Brooklyn, NY National Scholarship Officer President UAV National Members - At - Large Peter Polnyj Ladies Auxiliary William Szozda, UAV NVC EDWARD A. ZETICK, PNC [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] National Historian Post 28 Akron, OH Roman Kostiuk, PVC [email protected] photo by: Ihor B.