Memorial Honoring the Lost Children of Ukraine
We are thankful to everyone who joined us on November 29 at the Washington Monument for a solemn memorial service dedicated to honoring the memory of Ukrainian children who have lost their lives due to russia’s ongoing genocidal war against Ukraine.
At the event, we paid tribute to over 600 children killed during the full-scale invasion, represented by 600 teddy bears adorned with yellow and blue ribbons. These bears, funded by donors and American children through fundraisers, will later be sent to Ukrainian children in orphanages, hospitals, and internally displaced communities.
In her remarks, the president of US Ukrainian Activists, Nadiya Shaporynska, stated:
“We stand here today not just to mourn but to demand justice. We must hold Russia accountable for its crimes and ensure the world does not turn a blind eye to this genocide. We must fight to bring every stolen child home and to protect the lives of all Ukrainian children who remain in harm’s way.
Our gathering today sends a powerful message: Ukraine’s children will not be forgotten. Their lives matter, and their future matters. Together, we can honor their memory by standing with Ukraine, advocating for Ukraine’s victory and independence, and working for a world where children live free from fear and violence.”
Our deep appreciation goes to Rescue Ukraine, led by Director Jeff Abrams, for organizing this important event, which was supported by several Ukrainian and U.S.-based organizations, including US Ukrainian Activists (USUA), Anomaly, United Help Ukraine (UHU), the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA / Посольство України в США, and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA).
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jeff Abrams (Rescue Ukraine) for leading the Prayer and opening the event, the Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova for her powerful opening remarks, followed by those of Nadiya Shaporynska (US Ukrainian Activists), Olesya Golovchenko (United Help Ukraine), Michael Sawkiw (Ukrainian Congress Committee of America/UCCA), and David Plaster (Anomaly).
After the official speeches, we prayed for the Ukrainian children killed by the Russian Federation and solemnly read their names, accompanied by the toll of a bell. We also prayed for all children affected by the war, including those who are wounded, orphaned, displaced, or missing.
This event was dedicated to honoring innocent lives lost and bringing global attention to the ongoing tragedies affecting Ukraine’s children.
Link to Ukrainian website that posted about this event: У центрі Вашингтона зібрали сотні плюшевих ведмедиків у пам’ять про загиблих дітей в Україні
Photos Credit: Nadiya Shaporynska, US Ukrainian Activists
FB Event: https://facebook.com/events/s/memorial-honoring-the-lost-chi/2344303882589119/
