On 7 November 2015 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij delivered greetings during the dedication ceremony for the Holodomor Memorial erected in Washington, U.S.A. to honour the memory of the millions of victims of the Ukrainian genocide of 1932-33.
Over 5,000 people gathered in the U.S. Capital to witness this historic moment and to demonstrate the unity of the Ukrainian nation in remembering the victims of the Holodomor, honoring the survivors, and appealing to the international community to heed the lessons of history.
The moving ceremony that powerfully connected the past with the present included a video greeting from the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and greetings from the First Lady of Ukraine, Maryna Poroshenko, Representatives of the U.S. Congress and Co-Chairs of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus Sander Levin and Marcy Kaptur.
Consecrating the Memorial were Patriarch Filaret, Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate, Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Metropolitan Antony, Prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.
The erection of the Holodomor Memorial on Federal land was a result of the joint efforts of the United States and Ukraine spearheaded by the U.S. Committee for Holodomor Genocide Awareness 1932‑33 chaired by Michael Sawkiw. The Memorial was designed by accomplished Washington-based Ukrainian architect Larysa Kurylas.
“In 1932-33, the international community turned a blind eye to Ukraine’s unimaginable suffering and to Russia’s brazen violation of our common fundamental freedoms and basic human rights. As a result, less than a decade later, another despot was emboldened to orchestrate another genocide, the Holocaust against the Jewish people, and to provoke the Second World War,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij. “That is why the Ukrainian World Congress reiterates its call upon the international community, under the leadership of the United States, to effectively assist Ukraine in defending its borders, to stop Russian aggression from progressing further into Europe and to ensure global peace, security and stability.”
The following members of the UWC Board of Directors also attended this dedication ceremony: Askold Lozynskyj, Stefan Romaniw, Tamara Gallo-Olexy, Andrew Futey, Irene Mycak, Marianna Zajac, Walter Zaryckyj and Alexander Neprel.
The text of the remarks of the UWC President can be seen on the UWC web site.
