[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1268] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HONORING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHEVCHENKO MONUMENT ______ HON. DANNY K. DAVIS of illinois in the house of representatives Thursday, June 24, 2004 Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, four decades ago, on June 27, 1964, the Ukrainian American community marked a significant event--the unveiling of a monument to the Great Kobzar, Taras Shevchenko. Taras Hryhorovich Shevchenko, the great Ukrainian poet, artist and thinker, the revolutionary-democrat, and the ardent fighter against tsarizm and serfdom. He is considered the great son of the Ukrainian people. As the autocratic government of tsarist Russia attempted to erase Shevchenko's name from people's memory and suppressed all attempts to immortalize in sculpture the image of the poet of genius, the people could not forget this man. The first monument in the country, the bust in marble, to the great Kobzar was set up illegally in 1899 in Kharkov. On March, 24, 1935, it was a great holiday for the people in Kharkov as they joined together for the unveiling of the first legal monument of Shevchenko. Almost 30 years after the people of Ukraine celebrated their monument, the Ukrainian Americans were able to have a holiday of their own. Through hard work, generosity, and dedication, the Ukrainian American community was able to honor their country's hero with a monument in the Nation's Capitol. Over 100,000 attendees participated in the festivities 40 years ago dedicated to the unveiling of the Taras Shevchenko monument. The Ukrainian American community is fortunate to celebrate this significant milestone 40 years later. I am proud to represent an area of Chicago that we call ``Ukrainian Village.'' I want to honor this special day with my constituents and praise the Ukrainian community, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the Ukrainian National Women's League of America (UNWLA), the U.S.-Ukrainian Foundation and all the organizations involved in honoring the 40th Anniversary of this special monument. Mr. Speaker, this monument stands for more than just honoring a great man but also as a way to never forget the struggles and the human rights violations by the former Soviet regime and political repressions against those who struggled for Ukraine's liberation. ____________________