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the choir of the AUYA – Pavlushkov Branch in Chicago
singing carols for the veterans and guests at the VA Hospital
CHICAGO PARTNERSHIP HONORS
U.S. VETERANS
December, 2010
Holiday season is usually a time when we extend our thoughts and good deeds to those who are in need or in some way less fortunate. It is in this spirit that the Ukrainian American Veterans General John B. Turchin Post #32 partnered with the choir of the American Ukrainian Youth Association – Pavlushkov Branch in Chicago (Chicago CYM) to bring some Christmas cheer to patients and staff of two veterans’ hospitals in the Chicago area. On Sunday, December 12th , they visited the Jesse Brown VA Hospital on South Damen Avenue in Chicago and on Saturday, December 18th, the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital on 5th Avenue in Hines, IL.
Preparations for these visits started months earlier, when the members of UAV Post #32 organized activities to collect food items, funds, clothing and other necessities to provide as Christmas “goodie bags” for residents of the Chicago area veterans hospitals. In the meantime, the Chicago CYM choir was beginning preparations for a holiday tradition that they’ve maintained for most of their 10 year existence, and that being the singing of Christmas carols at local Ukrainian churches and institutions. This year, however, choir director Wally Popovych had a different idea. He approached post commander John Steciw of the Chicago UAV post with a proposal to carry the joyous sounds of Christmas to those who have given so much for the cause of freedom and democracy in the US and around the world – to the US veterans, and specifically to those who are convalescing at the Chicago area Veterans hospitals. However, in order to do this, choir director Popovych had to adapt a repertoire of non-Ukrainian carols, a first for the CYM-Chicago choir. In addition to preparing a new repertoire, Popovych worked with a number of Chicago-area Ukrainian musicians, adapting musical arrangements for them to provide musical accompaniment for the chorus.
Thanks to the efforts of the members of UAV Post #32, all of the arrangements for the visits were made in advance. These included working with the hospital administrations to schedule the visits, advertising on-site, and facility preparations on the days of the visits. Many of the members of UAV Post #32 and their families attended the festivities, bringing additional cheer to the events. In attendance were also representatives of the US Army Reserve training facility from Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, including the second in command, Lt. Col. Michael Chyterbok, who grew up as member of the Pavlushkov branch of the American Ukrainian Youth Association.
During the choral performances, as the choir began to sing, you could feel the mood in the room get a little lighter, brighter and more cheerful. A few of the veterans even joined in and sang along with their favorite songs. There was even a veteran who showed his talents by joining in with the band on his trumpet. Included in their set of songs specially prepared for the occasion were various English language carols including “O Come O Come Emmanuel”, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”, as well as a special Christmas medley arranged by the choir director himself. Additionally, they sang the “Carol of the Bells” or “Shchedryk" in the original Ukrainian language. And to show their gratitude for the sacrifices that the veterans have made for America, the choir sang a medley of patriotic songs, including “God Bless America”, “Oh, Beautiful” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. As they sang this medley you could feel the gratitude emanate from the members of the choir. It sent a shiver down my spine to see the faces of the veterans in the audience beaming with pride. Although it was just a small gesture – the visit from the choir was very well received and the veterans clap heartily. They even requested that another carol be sung in Ukrainian, in the language that the choir typically sings. The choir graciously agreed, completing their performance by singing the Ukrainian carol “Hrayte Dzvony” (“Play, Bells”).
It was certainly heartwarming to see how the collaboration between the Chicago General Turchin UAV Post #32, the Chicago CYM Pavlushkov Branch choir, and the US Veterans Hospitals administration was able to bring the Christmas spirit of giving to the heroes that have given so much for us, for our freedom. The traditional holiday greeting of “Merry Christmas” was supplemented with the added sentiments of “God Bless America!” – “God Bless the Veterans!”
Taras Drozd, Lesia Drozd
UAV Post #32 commander John Steciw introducing members of the post and the choir
A Veteran joining in with the band on his trumpet
Veterans at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital enjoying the performance by the choir
representatives of the US Army Reserve training facility at Fort McCoy, WI saying a few words of gratitude before distributing gifts to the Veterans
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