«Light Up a Candle” ceremony held at the Embassy of Ukraine to mourn victims of the famine-genocide

November 22, 2008 – Ukrainian diplomats, representatives of Ukrainian community in Washington metropolitan area, friends of Ukraine from US Department of State gathered at the Embassy of Ukraine to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33 – the Holodomor.

The ceremony commenced with an ecumenical prayer followed by remarks of Ambassador of Ukraine H.E. Oleh Shamshur, who read out the address of President Victor Yuschenko to World Ukrainians and International Community. Ambassador reminded also of the groundbreaking ceremony to take place on December 2, 2008, at the federal land site to host the future Holodomor memorial in Washington DC.

The words of the Ukrainian President were echoed in proclamations from US President George W. Bush, President-elect Barak Obama and Mayor of the District of Columbia Adrian Fenty who called the Holodomor “crime against humanity”, “horrendous  crime… that may never be repeated” and “the brutal genocide by famine committed by the USSR”.

Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer and Principal of the Ukrainian school in town Roman Ponos gave their respective perspectives of the US government and the Ukrainian American community on this horrible crime of Stalin.

The Embassy guests were thrilled to watch an extraordinary performance by the faculty and students of Kean University conceptualized and directed Dr. Ruth Griffith and Susan Halmi. The one act drama “It began with a dream” tells an emotional story of the Holodomor through the eyes of its survivors and their children.

The ceremony proceeded with lighting a cross of candles outside the Embassy building in full view of Washingtonians and town visitors. The Holodomor candle flame stayed through the night in the Embassy windows.