The Connecticut State Ukrainian Day Committee has a long and proud history of serving our diocese and the Ukrainian community in Connecticut. Each year in September the Committee organizes a Ukrainian festival on the Stamford diocesan grounds for thousands of visitors from the East Coast. This year marks the 50th festival which will be held on Sunday, September 10th. All proceeds are donated to various diocesan and Ukrainian community causes.

Recently the Committee made a generous $2000 donation to support wounded Ukrainian soldiers receiving medical treatment in the U.S. To date, 4 Ukrainian soldiers have been treated in Connecticut at various hospitals throughout the state. New Haven’s St. Michael’s parish has worked closely with Revived Soldiers Ukraine (www.rsukraine.org), a non-profit which has helped some 25 soldiers receive treatment  throughout the U.S. Both the Hartford and Bridgeport Ukrainian communities have provided assistance.

New Haven Post 33 of the Ukrainian American Veterans (UAV) is actively engaged in this critical ongoing project for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Most recently Connecticut UAV chapters, under the direction of State Commander Ihor Rudko, have joined Post 33 and Connecticut’s United States Senator Richard Blumenthal to secure medical care at U.S. military hospitals.

Shown standing before the commemorative plaque of New Haven- area Ukrainian American veterans and presenting  the donation are ( left to right): Michael Muryn, Treasurer of the Connecticut State Ukrainian Day Committee, Donald Horbaty, Committee General Co-Chairman, Myron Melnyk, UAV Post 33 Welfare Officer, Carl Harvey,  Post Commander, New Haven UAV Post 33, Gloria Horbaty, Connecticut State Ukrainian Day Committee Corresponding Secretary.

Other Connecticut State Ukrainian Day Committee  members are: Roman Stanislavskyy, Committee General Co-Chairman; Olena Stanislavskyy, Committee Recording Secretary and Mary Muryn, Committee Raffle Chairman.

by Myron Melnyk