On January, 25, 2003 our yunatstvo, along with their vychovnyky and vporyadnyky, met at St. Nicholas School in Chicago to commemorate Sviato Kruty. The youth organizations: CYM, PLAST, ODUM, students from "Rinda Shkola" and parents, listened to songs and declarations made by many. Podruha Diana Wruskyj led the apel and introduced Rev. Bohdan Nalysnyk, rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral who said the opening prayer. Podruha Wruskyj then introduced Podruha Ulana Dzwinyk to say the sviatochne slovo. She explained why we come together for this commemoration year after year.

Afterwards, Podruha Wruskyj introduced Mrs. Iwanna Gorchynsky, a member of UCCA, greeted and thanked everyone from the youth organizations for coming for this commemoration. “Vinok”, our vocal ensemble, performed and students from the Ukrainian School “Ridna Shkola” sang a few songs with their teachers.

Rev. Nalysnyk spoke a few words about this tribute and about the Christmas season which we are still in. Afterwards, everyone sang our Ukrainian National anthem. Podruha Chrystya Wereszczak, our holova, thanked members of Oseredok CYM im. D. Vitosvkoho in Palatine for helping to organize this tribute, Mrs. Nadia Chojnacki, principal of “Ridna Shkola” and all who participated in anyway.

(written by pod. Natalka Kowal)