The Sower page 13, May 27, 2018 EXPLORING OUR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY The Establishment of the Ukrainian Nation (1917-1921)- Part IV Military and Commemorative Medals and Awards By Lubow Wolynetz, Curator under its jurisdiction, and conditions -- fighting on two fronts of yellow, blue and black colors. This wear their uniforms and against the Russian White and the award was designed by M. Bytynsky. insignias. Bolshevik Red Armies. This Order is in 3. The Cross of the Legion of The first Ukrainian the shape of a black enamel square cross Ukrainian Sich Riflemen (Hutsulian). It army unit was formed in with yellow edging. In the center of the was established in 1918 by the Central 1914 in Halychyna, name- Cross is a gold four-pointed star with the Executive of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen in ly the Legion of trident in the center on blue background. Vienna, Austria. It was awarded to all sol- Ukrainian Riflemen On the reverse side the inscription reads diers who were members of the Legion. It (Legion Ukrainskykh “For Winter Campaign and Battles, 6.12 was designed of gilt bronze and blue Sichovykh Striltsiv). 1919- 6.5 1920”. The same Cross was also enamel. There are two sizes of the Cross. Although it was a part of issued in miniature form. The designer The larger one for “parade” and the small- the Austro-Hungarian was Yulian Butsmaniuk. er one for daily usage. On the face of the Army it was strictly a 2. The Order (Cross) of Symon Cross, at the ends of each arm, are the Ukrainian national army Petliura. This Order was established on Ukrainian letters “УСС” and the year unit. The soldiers first May 22, 1932 and was instituted by the 1914. The attached ribbon has two verti- wore the blue Austrian High Command of the Army of the cal yellow stripes over horizontally placed uniform which later was Ukrainian National Republic and was dark blue and yellow narrow stripes. changed to green and confirmed by the President of the UNR Medals and Orders of this category introduced its own mili- in Exile, A. Livitsky. A miniature form of were worn on the uniform jacket from (1) The Iron Cross, Y. Butsmaniuk, tary cap “the mazepynka”, this Cross was also issued. It was a wide- the center of the chest towards the left Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford as well as specific armed Cross of black enamel with white side above the pocket. They were usually Ukrainian insignias. Later metal edging. In the upper part of the attached to an appropriate ribbon which the Army of the Cross is a silver trident. In the lower part, in Ukrainian medals had a combination of The tradition of expressing recogni- Ukrainian National Republic was formed, there is a silver sword with the tip point- blue and yellow, vertical or horizontal tion to individuals or groups for distin- and then the Ukrainian Galician Army. ing upwards. Attached is a moire ribbon stripes.❑ guished acts of valor, dedicated service, During the years of Independence, main- outstanding achievement in the form of ly in 1919, rules and regulations were various awards, medals, and decorations added to charters, deeds, projects of war has been known for many centuries. This crosses, medals, ribbons and the like. form of expression, as well as the use of However, because of continuous wartime emblems, insignias, regalia symbolizing fighting, not all of the projects were pro- powers of authority, coat of arms of noble duced at that time, but at a later date. In families, and state seals was also used in our Museum and Library archives we historical periods in Ukraine. In time the have an extensive collection of Ukrainian use and production of different types or military Medals and Orders. I would like classes of medals became very popular. to acquaint you with three of them. For examples: organizational or societal 1. The Order of Knights -- the Iron insignias as a badge of membership, com- Cross of the Army of the Ukrainian memorative medals for individuals or National Republic. It was established and events, souvenir type of medals for expo- confirmed on October 19,1920 by Symon sitions, medal awards for agricultural and Petliura, Supreme Commander-in-Chief trade shows, sports organizations, politi- of the Army of the Ukrainian National cal party insignias, etc. Republic. It was produced in Warsaw. Military medals and awards as a dis- This Medal was to be awarded to all par- tinct Ukrainian category came into usage ticipants of the First Winter Campaign in the 20th century during the years of which took place from December 6, 1919 Ukraine’s struggle for freedom, 1917-1920. to May 6, 1920, under the command of Prior to that time, Ukraine was divided General Omelianovych-Pavlenko. There between two great empires -- the Tsarist were two issuances of this Cross. This Russian and the Austro-Hungarian campaign is considered to be one of the empires and did not have an army of its most heroic feats accomplished by the own. Young Ukrainian men had to serve (2) The Order (Cross) of S. Petliura, M. (3) The Cross of the Legion, M. Bytynsky, UNR Army under the most difficult of Bytynsky, Ukrainian Museum and Library Ukrainian Museum and Library of in the army of the rulers in power and be of Stamford Stamford Book Review by Museum Director Msgr. John Terlecky University, whose writings have fooled again”. [check its lyrics even here in the United States. The second half of the book concentrated on recent events and note some similarities]. The Maidan was filled with gen- focuses on how the Maidan in Eastern Europe. This book is The book is divided into two uine citizens longing for change events were received in Eastern unique in its coverage of the sections: the experience of the and the dissolution of the social Ukraine. The city of EuroMaidan protests in Kyiv Maidan events and the experi- chains that were suffocating Dnipropetrovsk eventually during November 2013 through ence of the Maidan upon the them. There were different eth- embraced what took place and February 2014). psyche of Eastern Ukraine. Both nic groups involved in the heart accepted such rights as freedom Many have called the topics are well documented by of the movement: Ukrainians, of assembly and the rejection of Maidan protests a “revolution the author as if she was right Russians, Poles, Jews, state-sponsored propaganda. I for dignity”; the author uses the there in the middle of the action Armenians, Tatars and others. think each one of us knows by phrase “a revolution for new val- taking place from the protestors’ There was no quarreling over now what happened in the ues”. The book is not about the point of view. what language a citizen should Donbas basin. politics and government of I experienced a lot of emo- be required to speak – those This is a wonderful book of Ukraine which dominated the tions in reading the first half of who were involved basically raw exposure to what took place national psyche during that the book. The stories of motiva- accepted the makeup of one in the most memorable event in time. I think the book is rather tion that rallied not only young another binding them in unity a 21st century Ukraine to date. a celebration of many firsthand people but people from all walks during crisis and chaos. It was One element that I found miss- interviews with those who were of life, I believe, would be quite difficult for me emotional- ing in the Maidan experiences ready to sacrifice their lives for deeply felt by any reader. What ly reading about the beatings, shared with the author was how THE UKRAINIAN NIGHT: AN values that any open society uplifted me in the moments of the medical attention needed, the Church and religion may INFINITE HISTORY OF REVOLU- longs for and often is deceived this protest tragedy was learning the harsh conditions of living have contributed to the spirit of TION by Marci Shore. New Haven, by those who hold power. In about the solidarity of Ukraine’s outdoors in the midst of winter, that time. Nevertheless, this is a CT: Yale University Press, 2018. reading the first half of the citizens and the new values that and of course the heroic lives book that any engaged reader (ISBN 978-0-300-21868-8) book, I was reminded of the distinguished them from tradi- that were sacrificed along the just cannot put down and must Marci Shore is an associate rock song performed in the tional modes of Ukrainian way through the dynamics of read to the very end.❑ professor of history at Yale 1960s entitled “We won’t be thought that I was raised up revolution. For more information about The Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford, please, visit www.ukrainianmuseumlibrary.org, call 203-324-0499 or 203-323-8866. The museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment, and is located at: 161 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06902..