Ukrainian American Veterans (UAV) Post 19 was founding in 1966 in Spring Valley, NY. Walter Sywilok was the first Post Commander.
Post 19 Founding
On November 19, 1966 a charter meeting was held at the Ukrainian Hall in Spring Valley, New York with the purpose of establishing new UAV post. Walter Sywilok chaired the meeting. He introduced National Commander Eugene Segasz and National Judge Advocate Andrew Matz who supervised the election of the post officers.
The elected officers were
- Walter Sywilok, Commander
- Nicholas Moskal, Senior Vice Commander
- Michael Zedayko, Junior Vice Commander
- Mary Scott, Adjutant
- John Smolley, Finance Officer
- Joseph Brega, Judge Advocate
- Ernest Offerman, Trustee.
Post 19 Headquarters
The Post headquarters and the mailing address were established at the Ukrainian Hall, 16 Twin Avenue, Spring Valley, NY.
The cut off date for the ”charter members” was March 15, 1967. The First Dinner and Dance Journal, of May 6, 1967 lists additional post members: Harold Furman Bobcock, John Boshonek, John Brega, William Harrison, Andrew Kashinski, Nicholas Kashinski, Anthony Keyl, Nicholas Macaylo, Edward Nowinski, Amold Scott, Steven Smolley, Walter Trusewicz, Michael Wengrenovich, and Walter Zedayko.
Post 19 Projects and Activities
One of the UAV organization’s responsibilities was to alert the American people to the dangers emanating from the Soviet Union. That objective was immediately reached by Post 19. The “Dinner Dance Journal” contained a list of comprehensive facts about Ukraine’s predicament in the Soviet Union. The journal was distributed to the guests and local government officials. On June 7, 1967, United States Congressman John G. Dow congratulated members of Post 19 on the establishment of the Post and presented them with an American flag.
The life and work of Post 19 was influenced and directed by capable commanders
- Walter Sywilok (1966-67)
- William Harrison (1968-69)
- Michaek Wengrenovich (1970 – 71)
- Michael Zedayko (1972-73)
- Vasyl Luchkiw (1974)
- Joseph Brega (1975-76) and (1979-80)
- Michael Tymoch (1977-78)
- John smolley (1981-82)
- Teddy B. Dusanenko (1983-95)
- Dmytro Bodnarczuk (1995)
- Michael suchodoloski (1996-98)
- George Sikorski (1999-2000)
- Vasyl Szozda (2001- )
Post 19 National Service
Since 1970 there has been at least one member from Post 19 serving on the UAV National Executive Board, and sometimes as many as three members. The National Commanders of the UAV fulfill the function of the executive in the organization, provide it with ideological direction, and set the long range objectives to be followed by their successors. Four National Commanders have come from Post 19. They are
- William Harrison (1972 – 1973)
- Vasyl Luchkiw (1975 – 1976)
- Joseph Brega (1985 – 1986)
- Dmytro Bodnarczuk (1995 – 1997)
Mary Scott served as the UAV National Historian.
Post 19 Ladies Auxiliary
The Ladies Auxiliary at Post 19 was established in 1974. Many women from Post 19 have served on the National UAV Ladies Auxiliary in various capacities. They are
- Kay Brega
- Harriet Dusanenko
- Mary Luchkiw
- Olga Wengrenovich
- Ann Zedayko
Olga Wengrenovich was the second National President (1976-1978) and Harriet Dusanenko was National President of the National UAV Ladies Auxiliary in 1990-1992.
Veteran of the Year
On November 6, 1994, the Rockland County Veterans Coordinating Council (New York) honored Teddy B. Dusanenko with the “Veteran of the Year” award. This award was given periodically to a war veteran for altruistic contributions to his community. During World War II Teddy Dusanenko served with the 88th Blue Devils Division in Italy.
School – Internat in Ivano-Frankivsk Orphanage
While visiting Ukraine in April 1999, Dr. Vasyl Luchkiw, PNC, met with the Director and staff of the School – Internat in Ivano-Frankivsk. This is an orphanage of some 260 abandoned children ages 3 – 18, some of them fron Chornobil. He distributed gifts to the orphans donated by the summer school children of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Pearl River, NY. The program to help orphans is a joint project of St. Ann’s Sodality of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Spring Valley, NY; The Children’s Fund of Rockland Country, NY; St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church; UAV Post 19; and several individual families in the United States and Canada. They have shipped this orphanage some 3,000 pounds of clothing and have donated over $1,000 in cash. Dr. Luchkiw, PNC is the coordinator of this project.
Contact Post 19
The current Post Commander is William Szozda.
William Szozda
66 North William Street
Pearl River, NY 10965-1820
845-920-8325
wandjsz0@optimum.net