RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG

A few months ago, we received a cold call from a woman inquiring about the Ukrainian flag that has been flying from our front porch since the wretched mess in the Ukraine began going on 4years ago. I explained that while I am Hungarian rather than Ukrainian I felt a Slavic kinship and more importantly, I believe that Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong. The person introduced herself as Irene Renstrom, vice president of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA), Branch #3 in Phoenix.

The UNWLA was celebrating 100 years of dedication, cultural preservation, and service to the Ukrainian-American community and in recent years to support the current battles that ravage the Ukrainians now. Their Centennial Gala was holding a fund-raising event in January and Irene asked if, given our feelings and shared interest in the goals of the UNWLA, might we consider making a donation. We jumped at the opportunity and felt honoured to have donated a 2-night stay in support of their worthy endeavors. Then we waited as many donated stays are never redeemed for whatever reason.

In March, our wait was rewarded when we heard from Gerry Kovar, winner of the stay in the silent auction. Miss Gerry is Irish but her husband, Tony, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to refugees fleeing the Ukraine. Like so many other refugee families, much history and many family members and ties are assigned to the past so Tony will be the last of the Kovar clan. Tony visited the Ukraine in 1992 and again in 2004 but is intent on taking one more sojourn since Gerry has never been. Clearly that trip will need to await a calmed government climate.

Strangely enough, I am the last of the Prince family line that immigrated from Germany and Hungary with my grandpa Prince. He and his wife had a family of 8 children – 4 boys and 4 girls – my dad, Andy, being the 5^th. Right after the birth of their last child, my grandmother Gloria (nee Schwartzkoff) Prince died leaving Grandpa to raise the children with the help of the two oldest kids, Aunt Mary and Uncle George. Obviously, I never knew my grandmother Prince but remember my grandpa Prince vividly. Tony knows a handful of similar stories from the Kovar lineage, stories that were unfortunately quite common in those times.

Gerry and Tony stayed with us for two nights and were gracious enough to allow a quick photo shoot with the Ukraine flag waving proudly alongside the French flag. Gerry and Tony remain key activists and supporters of the UNWLA Branch #3 in Phoenix, as do Irene and her husband who have travelled various times to do hospital and humanitarian duty in their beloved country. We gratefully appreciate the opportunity given to us by these folks and this organization. Thanks for the chance to speak and live what we believe.