Roman Hlushko, president of the US National Board of the UAYA Yurij Nakonechnij, president of the Yonkers branch Orest Kozicky

The Yonkers chapter of the Ukrainian American Youth Association celebrated it's 50th year of existence with a Jubilee banquet and dance at the Ukrainian Youth Center on Saturday night, November 11th, 2000. Repre- sentatives from the Ukrainian Consulate and United Nations joined the over 400 guests and members who took part in this very memorable event. Most Reverend Monsignior John Terlecky representing the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese and who grew up within the chapter and Father Philip Weiner, pastor of St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church opened the banquet with a prayer. Mr. Yurij Nakoneczny, the national president of the Ukrainian American Youth Association, paid tribute to the Yonkers chapter which has been honored as the premier chapter in the United States. The banquet opened with a formal synchronized greeting drill and a commemorative ceremony in memory of deceased members carried out by the 135 Yonkers chapter youth members and prepared by Mrs. Olga Rudyk and Mrs. Maria Kozicky. Mr. Jaroslaw Palylyk served as the master of ceremonies and chapter president Dr. Orest Kozicky delivered the keynote speech. A greeting from Mr. Roman Zwarycz, a former chapter member who currently serves as a member of the parliament of Ukraine was presented. Mr. Andrij Burchak and Mr. Andrew Horbachevsky headed the Jubilee Committee which prepared the event. Twenty seven members were honored for their distinguished service. A video and a photo collage depicting the 50 years of chapter activites embellished the celebration in the hall decorated with blue and yellow balloons and sunflowers.

After the formalities, the 135 youth members entertained the audience with a Ukrainan folk dance and with a bandura string ensemble performance. This was followed by performances by the Unist (choreographer- Mr. Gregory Momot) and a reunion of the former Chaika (choreographer Mr. Orest Rusynko) Ukrainian folk dance ensembles. The banquet festivities were closed with a performance of the chapter's mother ) choir under the guidance of Mrs. Daria Horbachevsky and with a passage of a flame from the eldest to youngest members of the Yonkers chapter. After the banquet the members and guests celebrated with a dance to the music of the Zolota Bulava band from Montreal.