South Bound Brook, NJ – Memorial Day 2025

On a tranquil yet solemn afternoon, the spiritual heart of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America in South Bound Brook, NJ, became a sanctuary of reverence and gratitude as clergy, seminarians, faithful, and veterans gathered to prayerfully observe Memorial Day. The sacred grounds of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, nestled before the majestic St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church, hosted a moving tribute to the men and women who offered their lives in service to the United States of America - especially those of Ukrainian-American descent.

The Ukrainian-American National Memorial, which stands as a silent sentinel on these holy grounds, became the focal point of the observance. Surrounded by several dozen faithful parishioners and representatives of the Ukrainian American Veterans (UAV), the Memorial service was a deeply spiritual and patriotic occasion.

Presiding over the memorial prayer service were clergy from the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions:

• Very Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas, assistant pastor of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church – South Bound Brook, NJ
• Fr. Paul Makar, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church - Bethlehem, PA
• Fr. David Chidzhokie, Three Holy Hierarchs Chapel of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary – South Bound Brook, NJ
• Protodeacon Pavlo Vysotskyi, St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church – South Bound Brook, NJ

Together, they led the faithful in prayer and solemn remembrance, honoring those who gave their lives to uphold the values and freedoms cherished by the nation.

In his remarks, Fr. Vasyl Pasakas offered a powerful exhortation, drawing from the official statement of the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA:

“As our nation pauses to mark Memorial Day, we offer a prayerful reflection and exhortation to all faithful across our country. Let us not merely observe this day as a civic tradition, but embrace it as a sacred moment of remembrance, thanksgiving, and prayer. Let us remember with reverence the Ukrainian-American men and women who, inspired by both faith and patriotic duty, served in the Armed Forces of the United States - offering their strength, courage, and, in many cases, their very lives. They stood not only in defense of their fellow citizens, but also as witnesses to the values we hold dear: freedom of conscience, dignity of the human person, the sanctity of life, and the God-given right to live in truth.”

He concluded his reflection with a spiritual appeal to those gathered:

“Let this day be a sanctified remembrance, a sacred hour of gratitude, and a moment to commit ourselves to the high ideals for which so many laid down their lives. Let us, too, live not for ourselves, but for others - and for the glory of the Kingdom of God.”

The seminarians of St. Sophia Seminary, embodying the future of the Church, chanted the responses with deep reverence as the veterans of the Ukrainian American Veterans organization stood in solemn salute before the monument. Their silent vigil, marked with salutes and tears, paid heartfelt tribute to their fallen comrades - brothers and sisters in arms who now rest in the Lord.

At the conclusion of the service, Colonel (Ret.) Michael Hrycak, commander of the New Jersey chapter of the UAV, addressed the assembly with words of gratitude. He thanked the clergy and faithful for preserving the memory of those who served, and with bowed heads and heavy hearts, he and the clergy laid a commemorative wreath at the base of the memorial.

As the final notes of the chant “Вічная Пам’ять / Memory Eternal” rose into the spring air, they echoed not only through the grounds of the memorial center but into the hearts of all present. It was a solemn cry of prayer - for the heroes of America’s Armed Forces, for the valiant defenders of truth and liberty, and for the sons and daughters of Ukraine who have recently fallen during the brutal and unjust invasion by the Russian Federation.

This Memorial Day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA reminds us all: the true measure of our remembrance is not merely in wreaths laid or flags raised, but in the lives we choose to lead - lives inspired by sacrifice, steeped in faith, and committed to truth, justice, and peace.

May their memory be eternal! May our hearts never forget...