The Holodomor “Candle of Remembrance” campaign made its way to the United States from October 1-4, 2018
In conjunction with the U.S. Holodomor Committee and the Embassy of Ukraine, a “Candle of Remembrance” observance was held on Thursday, October 4 at the Holodomor-Genocide Memorial in Washington, DC. The program consisted of prayer and an official lighting of the Candle of Remembrance with the reading of 85 names of children, a small representation of the nearly 3 million youth ages 0-18 who died in the Holodomor 1932-1933. As the names were being read, a gentle rain, as if tears from heaven, began to fall upon the many who gathered to mark this somber event of human history.
Coincidentally, in the late hours of Wednesday, October 3rd, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent S. Res.435, a resolution commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide (Holodomor) of 1932-1933. The resolution recognizes the findings of the 1988 Commission on the Ukraine Famine that expressly states “Joseph Stalin and those around him committed genocide against the Ukrainians in 1932–1933.” This made the candlelight vigil all the more poignant.
The “Candle of Remembrance” campaign is a joint initiative with the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and its partners – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance and National Museum “Holodomor Victims Memorial.” The campaign was launched to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the genocide of the Ukrainian people, the Holodomor.
Over 85 days until International Holodomor Memorial Day on 24 November 2018, a candle will be lit daily in a different part of the world uniting Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine in remembrance of the innocent victims of the genocidal policy of the Stalin regime, while raising awareness of the issues of human rights, respect and tolerance.
The remembrance flame began on September 1, 2018 in Ukraine and will continue its 85-day journey across five continents in Kyiv, Ukraine, at the National Museum “Holodomor Victims Memorial” and will conclude on 24 November 2018 in conjunction with the Ukrainian national commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor in Kyiv.
Photo Caption: The Ukrainian Catholic clergy of Washington DC with the seminarians of St. Josaphat Seminary helped to lead the people in prayer.
