UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
On August 24th my day began early as I traveled to Jersey City, NJ to partake in both a commemoration and celebration of Independence Day at City Hall in the center of town. The event was hosted by the mayor’s office and organized by Ukrainian JC, a local non-profit organization that has been working to resettle over 100 refugee families from Ukraine within the community.
In the late afternoon I walked into New York City’s famed Central Park and headed to Sheep Meadow, where I was told that at 5:30pm the world's largest Ukrainian flag would be unfurled. The rally was organized by RAZOM, an organization based in the city that has been instrumental in raising funds to help those in need in Ukraine and sending supplies directly to those organizations on the ground.
I was not disappointed. The scene was breathtaking as 100s of Ukrainian men, women and children gathered to not only unfold the giant flag, but to sing national songs and pay tribute to their loved ones at home.