[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      TRIBUTE TO THE UKRAINIAN CULTURAL CENTER IN WARREN, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Ukrainian Cultural 
Center, Warren, Michigan, as they celebrate 20 years as the heart of 
the Ukrainian community in Michigan. The Center will commemorate this 
occasion with a banquet and cultural celebration on October 18, 1998.
  The Ukrainian Cultural Center is home to more than forty arts, civic, 
cultural, educational, social, sports and youth organizations. Included 
in these are the member organizations of the Ukrainian Congress 
Committee of American branch for Southeastern Michigan.
  In addition to lending financial support in grants and aid to 
community organizations and individuals, the Center's beautiful 
conference halls, classrooms, gym and social club host a variety of 
programs and special events throughout the year. The Ukrainian Cultural 
Center is not only a showpiece in the community but serves as a key 
site for instruction on Ukrainian literature, history, language, arts 
and leisure activities.
  The Ukrainian Cultural Center houses the Ukrainian Museum, which 
collects and displays historical artifacts and religious relics. The 
Ukrainian Library makes available to all many Ukrainian language books 
and periodicals. Additionally, the Center publishes print, audio and 
video material relevant to Ukraine American community.
  The Ukrainian Cultural Center is key to assuring the strength of the 
Ukrainian ethnic identity and to all teach fellow Americans bout the 
rich Ukrainian Culture. The Center also serves as an important forum to 
ring to others the history of Ukraine's successful struggle for 
independence.
  The Center is integral part of not only the Ukrainian community, but 
all of metropolitan Detroit and Michigan. It remains as one of the best 
examples of the many colorful ethnic backgrounds that weave such a 
wonderfully diverse community profile.
  The Ukrainian Cultural Center has hosted many distinguished guests in 
the past 20 years, including two sitting U.S. Presidents and the first 
President of Independent Ukraine.
  I have had the distinct pleasure to attend a wide variety of 
functions at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. Some have been meetings 
with leaders of Ukraine; others have been social or cultural events; 
and still others have been for exchanges of ideas with a wide range of 
leaders and other members of the Ukrainian-American community which 
thrives in the 12th Congressional District.
  On so many of these occasions, I have seen the particularly effective 
endeavors of Borys Potapenko, the Center's Director of Operations, 
Bhodan Fedorak, President of the Center's Board of Directors, and other 
officers who all devote so much of their time to the Center's unique 
position in the Ukrainian-American and the broader community.
  So, I ask my colleagues to join me as we extend our sincere 
congratulations to the Ukrainian Cultural Center for their 20 wonderful 
years, and our hopes for continued success in the future.

                          ____________________