On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, the America 250: Independence Day Picnic was held at the Ukraine House in Washington. The event brought together representatives of the Ukrainian community, American friends of Ukraine, volunteers, diplomats and families of American volunteers who died defending Ukraine from Russian aggression.
This was reported by Ukraine House.
During the opening, the Chairwoman of the Board of Ukraine House and Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Reconstruction and Investment Oksana Markarova thanked the American people for their unwavering support for Ukraine. She emphasized that the friendship between Ukraine and the United States is based on shared democratic values, freedom and mutual solidarity, which Ukrainians are defending on the battlefield today.
A special symbol of the event was the installation “The Bridge of Heroes”, presented to the general public for the first time. The memorial was created based on the flag memorials on Kyiv’s Independence Square and is dedicated to the American volunteers who gave their lives defending Ukraine. The idea for the project was proposed by Richard Harris, and the installation itself was made by American designer and craftsman Arthur King. According to the authors, the “Bridge of Heroes” symbolizes the unity of the Ukrainian and American peoples and reminds us of those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.
One of the most emotional moments of the meeting was the speeches of the parents of American volunteers who died in the war in Ukraine. Carla Stevens-Webber shared her memories of her son Andrew Webber, whose call sign was “Dubbs,” Richard Harris spoke about his son Tommy Harris (“Tommy Gun”), and Jennifer Balivi honored the memory of her son Alex Banas (“Bananas”). In their speeches, they emphasized that their sons voluntarily went to Ukraine because they could not stay away from Russian war crimes and considered the defense of freedom their moral duty.
The organizers expressed sincere gratitude to all American families who experienced the loss of their children in the war for Ukraine, and also supported the families of those American volunteers who now continue to serve in Ukraine and defend common democratic values.
The musical part of the event was opened by Olga Perepelytsya, who performed the US national anthem on the bandura. Traditional treats were also prepared for the guests - American burgers and barbecue with Ukrainian flavor, which were provided by the RUTA team.
The celebration was not only an opportunity to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, but also once again demonstrated the strength of the Ukrainian-American partnership. The participants of the event honored the memory of fallen heroes, expressed gratitude to the American people for their support of Ukraine, and confirmed that the struggle for freedom and democracy remains a common cause of the two peoples.
Photo: Ukraine House
Author: Inna Mikhno