Approximately 150 people crowded onto the Hunt Memorial Building's front lawn to commemorate Ukrainian Independence Day. Highlights of the event included children singing traditional songs, brief speeches and prayers by local Ukrainian clergy and the music of the bandura, described by local resident and event coordinator Peter Kosciolek as, "the national instrument of Ukraine."

The event was attended by several members from local Ukrainian camps as well as Reverend Peter Gronski of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Church in Kerhonkson and the Very Reverend George Bazylevsky of the Ukrainian Orthodox Chapel, also in Kerhonkson. The two men offered prayers in their native language to the group gathered in Liberty Square as, for a little while, the Ukrainian's gold and blue flag flew over downtown Ellenville.

This is the second time that the event has been held in Liberty Square and Kosciolek hopes to make it an annual event. Kosciolek feels that it is a day to celebrate Ukrainian heritage for those that are far from home.

"We raise the flag and sing the national anthem. It's important for the children to know where their parents came from," he said.

As for why so many people of Ukrainian heritage adopted the Hudson Valley as their home, Kosciolek smiled and said, "The landscape reminded people of the Ukrainian countryside."

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