One hundred twenty-five. That was how many years of service to our community the Ukrainian National Association celebrated in 2019. And the celebrations, which took many forms, lasted all year long.
Issues of Svoboda dated February 22 and The Ukrainian Weekly dated February 24 included special sections dedicated to the milestone anniversary of their publisher, the UNA, the oldest and largest Ukrainian fraternal organization. Indeed, the UNA is among the oldest fraternal organizations in the United States.
Larry Deklinski/The News-Item
At Shamokin City Hall on February 22 for the presentation of a proclamation recognizing the UNA on its quasquicentennial (from left) are: Editor-in-Chief of Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly Roma Hadzewycz, Chief Operating Officer/National Secretary Yuriy Symczyk, Auditor Luba Walchuk and Advisor Irene Jarosewich of the UNA; City Councilmen Dan McGaw and Scott Roughton; City Administrator Robert M. Slaby; Mayor John J. Brown; UNA President/CEO Stefan Kaczaraj and his wife, Swiatoslava; and the Rev. Mykola Ivanov and David Kaleta of Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church.