Riverhead Town officials and Ukrainian residents gathered on the lawn of Town Hall this afternoon to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day, as the fight to keep the country’s independence continues to rage in Eastern Europe.
In a flag-raising ceremony attended by around 40 people, Rev. Bohdan Hedz, pastor of the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Riverhead, spoke about the importance of the celebration in the midst of Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion.
“I want to thank our town officials for supporting this event. It is very important for us to keep this flame going; the flame that tells people about the injustice and war that’s going on in Ukraine,” Hedz said. “War did not stop. The media attention might have died down a little bit, but the war is still going on. The injustice is still happening.”
Ukrainian Independence Day was celebrated yesterday, Aug. 24, to commemorate the anniversary of the day in 1991 the country declared independence from the Soviet Union. Coincidentally, yesterday also marked six months since Russia first launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Far from Riverhead, people in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, celebrated independence day with a prerecorded televised concert and award ceremony, as mass gatherings are banned in city due to the risk of air strikes, according to the New York Times.
“The invasion is still going on. Innocent civilians are dying,” Hedz continued. “The heroes and defenders of Ukraine are giving their lives daily, hourly, minute by minute as we speak, defending the freedom of Ukraine.”
The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights reported on Monday that 5,587 civilians have been killed and 7,890 wounded since the attack on Ukraine started in February. The office believes that the actual casualty numbers are “significantly higher.” The head of Ukraine’s armed forces said that nearly 9,000 of the country’s military personnel have been killed since the war started, according to Reuters.
Hedz said that when the war started six months ago, Russia thought Ukraine would fall under its control in a few short days.
“They were expecting that the war in Ukraine will take four days, and we will be conquered, and Ukraine will be no more. And us gathering here, it’s not going to happen, because there will be no independence to celebrate,” Hedz said. “Yet, here we are six months later, you’re still here [celebrating] because of the support of the world. Because the people of the world stood up together as one against the injustice and aggression and invasion of Russia.
“So let us remember that. Let us remain steadfast and united against the aggression and injustice in the world that is still happening,” Hedz said. “And we as people, as united people, as freedom loving people, have all the power to change that. To stand up and defeat the evil that is rising right now and showing its face. And it’s very important.”
Supervisor Yvette Aguiar, and council members Ken Rothwell, Frank Beyrodt and Tim Hubbard, were also in attendance at the ceremony. Aguiar told the history of Ukraine declaring independence following a coup attempt in the Soviet Union by the Communist Party days earlier.
“Although one time controlled by other nations, Ukraine has always maintained its own culture, language and a rich heritage, which is a source of immeasurable national pride for Ukraine,” Aguiar said. “It is also a day of honor and to recognize Ukraine’s past and present heroes who have given their lives to secure their country’s independence.”
“But this year’s celebration has a special meaning, as Ukraine continues to fight to keep its independence,” Aguiar said. “Today, we stand in solidarity with the people in Ukraine, and with the members of the Riverhead community with ties to those in the midst of battle to retain their freedom. We pray for the fighting to end, for the successful retention of Ukraine’s independence, and for the prosperous Ukraine once again. And thank you, Reverend, for everything you do for our community.”
The children of the Ukrainian community helped raise the flag to the top of the pole at Town Hall, as Hedz led the crowd in singing the Ukrainian national anthem.
“We are fighting for survival right now, but we are fighting for a better Ukraine in the future for these guys. This is going to be their country,” Hedz said of the children. “They will pick up the flag in due time and carry it proudly.”
The parish of St. John the Baptist, under the leadership of Hedz and other local parishioners, have been collecting donations to send to Ukraine. The church recently held its annual barbecue, which drew the attendance of more than 1,000 people and raised more than $25,000 to help in the church’s humanitarian efforts, according to Hedz.
The church continues to collect donations to ship to Ukraine. An updated list of items can be found on the flier below.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Alek Lewis
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