More than 15 Saint George Academy (SGA) students attending the unveiling of the long-awaited Holodomor Memorial on November 7 in Washington, D.C. The building of the memorial to the 7-10 million innocent victims of Stalin’s forced collectivization policy in 1932-33 was spearheaded by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA).

Dressed in Ukrainian embroidered blouses and shirts, SGA students, accompanied by their principal Andrew Stasiw, their history teacher, Liza Donovan and a few of the students’ parents, boarded one of four buses organized by the UCCA NYC Branch and sponsored by Self Reliance NY Federal Credit Union, and prepared themselves for the experience of a lifetime. Upon arrival at Union Station in Washington, DC they were greeted by thousands of Ukrainian Americans and friends of Ukraine who had gathered to commemorate this historic occasion, including St. George Academy administrative assistant, Irene Saviano who was photographing the event.  
The students watched the huge screen and listened attentively as numerous speakers addressed the crowd including First Lady of Ukraine Maryna Poroshenko, Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH),  Former Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky and Holodomor survivor Oleksander Severyn among others.  Video messages were broadcast from President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Statements were also delivered from presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush.  From the numerous speakers students learned about the atrocities of the Holodomor and the plight of the Ukrainian people during this tragic chapter in Ukraine’s history. Many of the senior students documented the event through pictures and videos in order to write about it later for their Journalism class. Then, together with their teachers, the students proceeded to the Holodomor Memorial where they lit special commemorative candles created by Ms. Saviano in memory of the millions of victims of the Holodomor. At 5pm the students boarded the bus once again for the long ride back to New York.
For those St. George Students who attended the event, many of whom are not Ukrainian, the experience was one they will never forget.