UAVets Philly POW Flag Raising 0001

The Ukrainian American Veterans (UAV) ( uk, Українські Американські Ветерани) is a 501(c)(19) non-profit organization of the United States, composed of Honorably Discharged Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, who are of Ukrainian heritage or descent. The UAV obtained its tax-exempt status from the IRS in 1984 and was incorporated in the State of New York in 1987. The organization is governed by a volunteer National Executive Board (NEB), headed by a National Commander, elected at a National Convention.

Purpose

Mission

In the introduction to its National Constitution, the Mission of the Ukrainian American Veterans is stated:

''The UAV seeks to unite American Veterans of Ukrainian descent and is pledged to sustain the Constitution, Government and Laws of the United States.''

Objectives

In Article II of its National Constitution, the following Objectives of the Ukrainian American Veterans are listed:

''a) To unite, strengthen, and preserve in comradeship, all American Veterans of Ukrainian descent.''

''b) To perpetuate the memory and deeds of our comrades who gave their lives to secure, for us, the blessings of Liberty.''

''c) To foster and perpetuate our American way of life.''

''d) To uphold the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America.''

''e) To guard and defend the United States of America from all her enemies.''

''f) To promote a spirit of peace and goodwill amongst all the peoples on earth.''

''g) To preserve the principles of Justice, Liberty and Democracy for ourselves and our posterity.''

''h) To assist all comrades in distress as well as all the widows and orphans of our fallen comrades.''

''i) To maintain the Ukrainian identity in a status of high esteem and respect in these, our United States.''

''j) To provide scholarships to students who are descendants of or related to Ukrainian American veterans.''

History

Ukrainian American Veterans Post 1 was formed in September 1921 in Philadelphia. Other posts were organized in different cities, but due to great distance and lack of numbers, a national organization did not materialize in this time period.

After World War II, a larger number of veterans emerged, new posts were formed, and interest rose in creating an organization of national scope. During the 1947 Convention of the Ukrainian Youth League of North America, several delegates met and expressed their desire to form such an association. Major Michael Darmopray (Ukrainian transliteration as Darmohray) made the preparations for Post 1 to host a National Convention at the Penn Sheraton Hotel in Philadelphia, during Memorial Day Weekend of 1948 (May 29–31, 1948).

Fifty-five delegates arrived to participate in the first National Convention, from such cities as Bayonne, N.J., Clifton, N.J., Newark, N.J., New York City, N.Y., Perth Amboy, N.J., Philadelphia, Pa., Rome, N.Y., and Troy, N.Y. The delegates discussed variations on a name for the group, and settled on ''Ukrainian American Veterans.'' A Constitution and By-Laws was adopted. A National Commander and National Executive Board were elected to lead the organization. Various resolutions were adopted, and it was decided that subsequent conventions would be held on an annual basis.

Membership eligibility requirements

Any person of Ukrainian heritage or descent shall be eligible for membership in the Ukrainian American Veterans, if such person has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and has been honorably discharged. Any person who is not of Ukrainian descent, but who meets other requirements of eligibility and is married to a person of Ukrainian descent will be eligible for full membership in the UAV.

Organizational structure

Posts

The Post is the basic unit of the UAV and usually represents a local geographic area such as a metropolitan area, city, town, or county. The Post is used for formal business such as meetings and a coordination point for local projects. Often the Post will host community events such as bingo, breakfasts, and holiday celebrations. It is also not uncommon for the Post to contain a bar open during limited hours. A Post member is distinguished by a navy blue garrison cap with gold lettering and gold piping.

State departments

The Posts are grouped together into a state level organization known as a State Department for the purposes of coordination and administration. There can be a total of 51 State Departments; one for each of the 50 states, and the District of Columbia. A State Department Commander or Department Board Officer is distinguished by a white garrison cap with blue lettering and blue piping.

National executive board

The authority of the Ukrainian American Veterans is vested in the National Executive Board (NEB), which meets quarterly or as needed, to conduct the business of the organization. The NEB is headed by a National Commander, who presides over meetings. Other NEB officers may include: Vice Commander, Adjutant, Judge Advocate, Finance Officer, Quartermaster, Chaplain, Historian, Public Relations Officer.

A National Commander is distinguished by a gold garrison cap with blue lettering and blue piping. An Officer of the National Executive Board is distinguished by a garrison cap with a blue crown and gold peak, gold lettering and gold piping.

Ladies Auxiliary

A Ladies Auxiliary to the Ukrainian American Veterans has been established. The Ukrainian American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary is a U.S.-headquartered patriotic service organization for women interested in voluntary service. It is a non-profit organization, affiliated with The Ukrainian American Veterans.

Although individual Ladies Auxiliary units existed alongside UAV Posts prior to the 1948 Convention, a National organization did not materialize until March, 1974. Rosalie Polche was elected temporary President to lead the group at that time. At the 27th UAV National Convention, in June 1974, at Jersey City, N.J., the Ladies Auxiliary was officially recognized as a part of the Ukrainian American Veterans organization. A Constitution and By-Laws was adopted the following year, in June 1975, at the National Convention in Spring Valley, N.Y.

The Ukrainian American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary is an organization with dedicated, empowered women across the country, who are devoted to America's veterans, children and youth, with the notion of inspiring Auxiliary members' communities.

Activities

Patriotic

The Ukrainian American Veterans organize and participate in various patriotic ceremonies, including: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, and others. These are usually hosted at the Post level. The ceremonies may include visitation to cemeteries and marching in parades. Many individual UAV Posts have placed memorial markers or monuments in a cemetery that is centrally located for them. These monuments are the gathering place for members during Memorial Day and Veterans Day services.

Many Posts also commemorate Ukrainian Independence Day as a holiday, which was observed on January 22 in the past. After 1991, the date of observance was changed to August 24.

Representatives of UAV State Departments often participate in patriotic ceremonies, such as Proclamation signings that are sponsored by the Governor's Office or Resolution readings that are passed by the State Legislature. State Department Officers are also frequently invited to attend an annual "Governor's Review" of the State's National Guard troops.

At the National level, the UAV participated in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 1964, at the dedication of the Taras Shevchenko statue. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower was present as the keynote speaker.

The UAV participated and marched in a parade in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 1976, to mark the Bicentennial of American Independence, sponsored by the Ukrainian Bicentennial Committee. A few days later, on June 27, 1976, the Ukrainian American Veterans, along with representatives of the Veterans of the First Division of the Ukrainian National Army, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The wreath laying was preceded by a memorial service (Moleben), which was conducted jointly by Metropolitan Mstyslav Skrypnyk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, and Bishop Basil Losten of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. UAV National Commander Harry Polche was quoted during the ceremony:
''We stand here with pride and reverence, and we pause a moment to remember all the brave men who gave their lives for this country throughout its history. They paid the supreme sacrifice for freedom, for human dignity, for everyone's hopes and dreams and rights, above all, for peace in the world. We pray that the world will achieve that peace soon.''

The UAV has placed a Memorial Plaque at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii. Past National Commander Bohdan Bezkorowajny, accompanied by his wife Anne of the UAV Ladies Auxiliary and Past National Commander Walter Bacad, presented the plaque to the U.S. Navy in 1980. The UAV has also placed a Memorial Plaque at Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. An additional Marker was placed at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Michigan, in 1996.

In 2005, National Commander Anna Krawczuk announced that a UAV National Monument would be built at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, in South Bound Brook

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