During the Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago, a group of Ukrainian soldiers joined U.S. veterans in the Soldier Field 10, one of the most recognized memorial sporting events in the United States.
According to the Kyiv Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, which co-organized the Ukrainian participation, ten Ukrainian servicemen traveled to the U.S. to raise awareness about the ongoing war in Ukraine, which continues to inflict daily casualties and destruction.
At the opening ceremony, the Ukrainian delegation participated in the ‘Circle of Remembrance,’ a memorial honoring fallen soldiers. The event organizers also paid tribute to five Ukrainian heroes who lost their lives before the start of the 10-mile and 10-kilometer races.
Among the participants was veteran Yuriy Tsintylevych, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation following severe combat injuries. He completed the Soldier Field 10 as a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian soldiers.
During their visit, the delegation toured several significant sites, including the Ukrainian National Museum, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, the school at St. Nicholas Cathedral, and St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale, which serves as a memorial for the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, victims of the Holodomor, and Ukrainian and American veterans.
The Ukrainian servicemen also laid a wreath at the grave of Mykhailo Yavorsky, known by his call sign ‘Chicago.’ A U.S. Army veteran of Ukrainian descent, Yavorsky returned to Ukraine to defend his homeland following the full-scale invasion and was killed in action in 2023 while saving his comrades. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers participated in Memorial Day events in Chicago, highlighting the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The delegation honored fallen heroes and engaged with local communities.