Ukrainian Flag Raising Ceremony in Toms River, NJ

 

St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Parish celebrated the 18th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence with a flag-raising ceremony in front of the Ocean County Administration Building in Toms River, NJ. With many Ukrainian organizations and about 3,000 Ukrainians living in the Ocean County area, the Ukrainian Independence Day is marked annually in this community. The parishioners of St. Stephen Church attended the ceremony this year and were proud to see how the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag flew over the city for a one day. Various city officials attended the ceremony and issued a proclamation in honor of Ukrainian Independence.

Ihor Dworjan, a member of the Ukrainian American Club of Ocean County delivered a beautiful speech describing the centuries-long struggle of the Ukrainian nation seeking reinstatement of the independence they so wanted and deserved. In his remarks Mr, Dworjan, said that for us Ukrainian Americans in Diaspora, 1991 was the answer to uncountable prayers and the reward for many sacrificed lives.

Ukraine today is a beautiful, complicated and inspiring country. It is a democracy. And it is changing every day, in every way. Some people feel this change now, others will feel it later. For some the change is exhilarating, for others it is frightening and hard. But for the first time in our history, we take pride in our language and history and culture, we have our Independence and our freedom and our identity.

The Rev. Ivan Turyk – pastor of St. Stephen Parish, delivered the spiritual blessing in which he wishes the Ukrainian people strength and courage as they rebuild their state from the ruins of communism and implement the necessary reforms needed to establish a truly independent state.

The Independence Day gathering at the Ocean County Administration Building in Toms River concluded with all participants singing the Ukrainian and American anthems.