In 1937, Danylo Skoropadsky, a representative of the Skoropadsky Hetman dynasty and the son of Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky, arrived in the United States. His trip to North America lasted from September 11, 1937 to January 10, 1938 and was the first official visit by a member of the Skoropadsky family to America. The first city that Hetman visited was Chicago. It was there that he delivered his first official speech to Ukrainians overseas as a representative of Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky.
This was reported by Halyna Parasyuk.
The newspaper “Nash Styag” reported on Danylo Skoropadsky’s upcoming visit to Chicago:
“His Excellency Mr. Hetmanich Danylo will visit an important ceremony in Chicago – the dedication of a modern Ukrainian airplane that will bear a name sacred to every Ukrainian – the name of the golden-domed capital of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyiv.”
Danylo Skoropadsky’s trip was under the slogan “For Ukraine.” During the trip, he visited Ukrainian communities in North America, regardless of political or religious divisions. He was also received by American and Canadian politicians, city mayors, and military figures. The figure of Danylo Skoropadsky, a descendant of an old hetman family, had symbolic significance for Ukrainian emigration and was evidence of the existence of a Ukrainian state tradition.
Even during the celebration of his 60th birthday, Pavlo Skoropadsky declared his political will to continue the struggle for Ukraine’s independence. In his will, he noted:
“After me, the leadership of our cause and all the rights and obligations of the eldest in our family pass to my son Danylo.”
At the end of 1932, Danylo Skoropadsky left his job as an engineer and devoted himself entirely to political activity. One of his biggest projects was his visit to Ukrainians overseas. The almanac of the Union of Hetmans-States wrote:
“He broke that ice with his exceptional individuality. Tall, slender, strongly built, a famous athlete, courageous and affectionate, energetic in movements and speech, calm but decisive, reserved, respectful but not cold, elegant, and at the same time full of truly hetmanic respect.”
On September 11, 1937, Danylo Skoropadsky arrived in New York, where he was met by a delegation of the Union of Hetmans-States in the USA. After brief meetings, he and Colonel Oleksandr Shapoval set off by train for Chicago.
The choice of Chicago to begin his American visit was not accidental. Ukrainian Hetman cells operated in the city, in particular at the Church of St. Nicholas. Active members of the Union of Hetmans-Sovereigns lived here - doctors Stepan Hrynovetsky, Ivan Smuk, Myroslav Simenovych, lawyer Bohdan Pelekhovych, and businessman Ivan Duzhansky.
Hetmanych arrived in Chicago on September 12, 1937. He was met at the station by representatives of the Union of Hetmans-Sovereigns in Hetman uniforms. The Chief Ataman of the Union, Mykola Gul, delivered a congratulatory address, and the centurion foremen formed a guard of honor. Ukrainian entrepreneurs Vasyl Muzyka and Mykhailo Kanyuk provided cars for the guest of honor.
After a short speech, Danylo Skoropadsky went to the house of the Basilian Fathers, and later took part in the Sunday Divine Service in the Church of St. Nicholas. The main event of the day was the consecration of the Ukrainian plane “Kyiv”. Due to rain, there was a threat of disruption of the event, but by lunchtime the weather improved.
Danylo Skoropadsky was met by thousands of Ukrainians at the River Road airport near Chicago. More than five hundred cars arrived at the place of the celebrations, and about three thousand people came to support the Hetmanych. The plane was decorated with blue and yellow ribbons, and the Ukrainian Hetmans solemnly marched past it. The consecration of the plane was conducted by Father Mykola Simenovych.
During his speech, Danylo Skoropadsky addressed the Ukrainians in the free land who aspired to the independence of Ukraine. He recalled that a year ago, at the congress of the Union of Hetmans-Statesmen, he promised to purchase a new plane and, after fulfilling this promise, come to America. After that, the Hetmanych proclaimed:
– Let this plane, acquired through the efforts of sincere patriots, bear the name “Kyiv”! May it serve Ukraine!
After the celebrations, a banquet was held in the courtyard of the St. Nicholas Church. Youth departments demonstrated military attire, and the women's hundred asked Hetmanych for a joint photo. Participants in the events recalled that Danylo Skoropadskyi aroused general sympathy among those present.
During his stay in Chicago, Danylo Skoropadskyi held meetings of the Union of Hetmans-Statesmen, met with members of the organization, visited the Ukrainian school of St. Nicholas, museums, and youth schools. In his honor and in honor of Bishop Kostyantyn Bohachevsky, a Ukrainian Day was also organized with a service, a parade under Ukrainian flags, and a solemn banquet.
On October 9, Danylo Skoropadskyi departed for Detroit on the Kyiv plane, continuing his journey through North America. The Union of Hetman-Statesmen in the USA had three planes – Lviv, Kyiv, and Ukraine, which the Ukrainian press called the “Hetman Trinity.”
Photo: Halyna Parasyuk.
Author: Danylo Pievchev