In Memory of 1920 Slutsak Defence Action fighters

On November 27th at the Belarusian cemetery in East Brunswick the laying of wreaths at the monument of fighters, who died for free Belarus, took place.

On this cold and sunny day in that area of the United States the red-white-red flags fluttered. Under the flags Belarusians paid tribute and respect "To those who died for their Fatherland." These words were on the flag, which was donated to the fighter in 1920th by the women of Grodna.

Vitaut Kipel, the director of Belarusian Institute of Science and Art, made a short speech. Hanna Voitenka and Liudmila Bakunovich talked about the foundation of the monument to the fighters in East Brunswick back in 1970th. At the end of the ceremony they sang a song "Sleep under a mound of the heroes".

 Wreath lying at the monument of Belarusian fighters, East Brunswick, NJ

On November 28th in the Saint Mary of Zyrovicy Church in Hyland Park, NJ took place a solemn memorial service.

A Solemn memorial service at the Belarusian Church in Highland Park, NJ

Belarusian American Association (BAZA) New York and New Jersey branches chairmen Yurka Azarka and Vital Zajka gave the speeches.

An interesting moment of speech was devoted to the Belarusian foreign lands military Union red-white-red flag presentation. It has the words "The Independence" and "The Victory" and numbers "1918" and "1947" on it. The flag was made in 1947 by Belarusians who were living in Germany that time in one of the camps for "displaced persons" in Windischbergersdorf. Annually in the 70th and 80th Belarusian veterans participated in the parades across the US with this flag, but for nearly a decade it even haven't appeared on public.

Yurka Azarka tells about the Belarusian Military Association abroad

Dzianis Talpeka, Belarusian Youth Movement of America press secretary, gave a 15 minutes speech about the 1920 Slutsak Defence Action. 1905 revolution, the beginning of the World War I added new energy to the new fight for Belarusian independence. First Belarusian newspaper “Nasha Niva” (“Our Field”) founding, the Belarusian schools openings, the creation of hundreds Belarusian cultural and educational centers throughout the country and especially the Belarusian teachers activity and tens of thousands Belarusian books volumes publication plus thousands activists desire to have their own independent country helped to rise the local population for the fight.

Interesting fact that participants of the uprising remember in their notes: farmers and employers across the all Belarusian territory provided the army with food and supplies themselves and thousands of them joined the fight for the Renaissance of the Belarusian People's Republic (BNR), created two and a half years before national fight in Slutsak region.

Speakers at the event: Valiantsina Yakimovich, Vitaut Kipel, Siarzhuk Sokalau-Voyush, Valiantsina Trahubovich, Vital Zajka, Ales Shaternik, Dzianis Talpeka

The TV company Belsat movie "Slutsak Uprising" continued to give to the public connection between the past and our days.

100th year Larysa Heniyush anniversary celebration

The second part of the event was devoted to Belarusian poetess and dissident Larysa Heniyush. Siarzhuk Sokalau-Voyush and his sons prepared the program, during which guests were listening her voice, her poetry and her songs - including the modern musicians records.

Valiantsina Yakimovich and Vital Zajka read Larysa Heniyush poetry.

Valiantsina Trahubovich knew famous Belarusian poetess personally. Mrs. Trahubovich came from Belarus to the US exactly on that morning. During past six month she's been a member of the organization committee for the 100th anniversary of Larysa Heniyush in Belarus. Dozens of festivals were held across the country and dozens of new volumes of her poetry were issued during past half year. Some of them never were published before,
Mrs. Valiantsina noted that it was all done without any financing or support from official Belarusian authorities. On the contrary, the attempts to forbid the actions took place.  

She also said, that unfortunately even in independent Belarus Heniyush remains dissident. This suggests, that the real Belarus for which Slutsak fighters have given their lives 90 years ago and for which lived all her life Larysa Heniyush, is still waiting us somewhere ahead.

It is in our power to make the fighters’ dreams and thoughts true.

All the activities in honor of Slutsak Defence Action were organized by the New Jersey and New York Belarusian American Association Branches with the Belarusian Youth Movement of America help.