Ukrainian American Veterans
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Ukrainian American Veterans |
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Ukrainian
American Veterans
Copyright © 2003 by the
Post 40
North Port,
Florida
History of the CPL. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of
The Ukrainian American Veterans, North Port, Florida
By Karen Bapst, Ph.D, Post Adjutant
Atanas Kobryn, a Past National Commander of the UAV who had previously
belonged to Post 7 in New York City, organized Post 40 in 1999.
Mr. Kobryn requested the designation of “40” for the new post as
a way of honoring its home City of North Port, which serves as
the center of Southwest Florida’s Ukrainian American Community and
which celebrated its 40th birthday in 1999.
The post held its first official meeting on April 30, 1999,
in the clubroom of the Wm. A. Garvey VFW Post 8203.
The post’s first members were Karen A. Bapst, Atanas T. Kobryn,
Orestes S. Lazor, Roman G. Lazor, and Edward Rokisky. Although
small, this group of four men and one woman reflected the diversity
of the Ukrainian community, with representatives of various waves of
immigration and generations, and with birthplaces in Ukraine,
the United States and Canada. With such a small membership,
it was necessary for each member to take an office.
The 1999-2000 officers were:
The post celebrated its first Memorial day on May 31, 1999, by placing flags on the graves of veterans, sponsoring a Panakhyda at the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church, to which members of the community and of other veterans’ organizations were invited, and then joining other local veterans’ posts and citizens for a ceremony at Veterans’ Park. The following November 11, the post observed its first Veterans’ Day in a similar manner. The post has continued to celebrate these two holidays annually, alternating the location of the Panakhyda services between St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center. On Independence Day, July 4th, post members march in the North Port town parade.
On September 29, 2000, the post elected its 2000-2001 officers:
On December 19, 2000, post members joined members of the Ukrainian-American club of Southwest Florida at Pelican Pointe Golf and Country Club in Venice for a holiday party, organized by the Club president and UAV member Karen Bapst, thereby establishing yet another of the post’s annual events.
When Roman G. Lazor passed away on May 18, 2001, post members decided to honor him, first by giving him a full military funeral, and then by making him the post’s patron. Born September 23, 1929, in Ukraine, Mr. Lazor immigrated to the United States in 1948 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1949. A highly decorated combat veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Lazor subsequently earned a B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from Temple University and worked for thirty years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from which he retired. Roman Lazor and his brother, Orestes, were two of the post’s original members, and Roman served as the post’s first Adjutant. Roman Lazor is survived by his wife, Chrystyna, a highly respected and active member of the local Ukrainian community, their son, Askold, their daughter, Bohdanna Fairchild, and grandchildren.
At the 54th UAV convention, held October 12-14, 2001 at “Soyuzivka” in Kerhonkson, New York, Post 40 was represented by Marian Bojsiuk, William Drabyk, and Atanas Kobryn, who managed to secure the passage of an amendment to the national By-Laws providing for a “hot weather uniform”, which had been submitted by Post Judge Advocate Karen Bapst.
On November 10, 2001, Post 40 held its first annual Veterans’ Day dinner-dance at the parish hall of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. National Adjutant Peter Polnyj presented the post, which now included twenty-six members, with its charter, and presided over the installation of the post’s 2001-2002 officers:
Chrystyna Lazor, the widow of post patron Roman G. Lazor, was honored, and Vice Commander Marian Bojsiuk present Atanas Kobryn with a plaque “in recognition for outstanding contributions and achievements to the Ukrainian-American Community in North Port”. After the ceremonies, over 130 people enjoyed a delicious dinner organized by Mrs. Maria Ciko, followed by music and dancing.
It its first three years, UAV Post 40 accomplished a great deal, thanks, above all, to the outstanding leadership and hard work of its first two commanders, Atanas Kobryn and Jerry Zinycz. Starting with five members, it has grown to include over thirty and has become one of the most respected organizations in the local Ukrainian community. It has fulfilled its dual mission, serving as both a Ukrainian organization and an American veterans’ organization, and has thereby provided some much needed linkage between the ethnic community and the larger community. Having established a solid foundation, Post 40 looks forward to continuing its active role, to new members, and to new projects.
Post 40 supports many charitable causes.
North Port, Florida, 2002
Some members of Post 40, left to right
Atanas Kobryn P.N.C., Orestes Lazor, Jerry Zinycz Post Commander, Dr. Eugene Steckiw, Wasyl Machiw, Petrer Polnyj National Adjutant, Marian Bojsiuk Vice Commander, Edward Rokicky, Bohdan Petryk, Julian Helbig Post Quartermaster, Demetrius Yadzyn and Myron Ferenc
Present Officers
Roman G. Lazor information page
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