COMMEMORATIVE EVENT IN THE US CELEBRATES

ANNIVERSARY OF YANKA YUPALA

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

ARROW PARK – JULY 7, 2017

 

On the day of the 135th anniversary of Yanka Kupala's birth on July 7, the Permanent Mission of Belarus organized a poetic recital and a commemorative ceremony by the monument to the “People’s Poet of Belarus” in ARROW Park.

The monument to Yanka Kupala in the American private park “Arrow” (ARROW Park, Monroe, New York, USA) is the only monument in the western hemisphere to the Belarusian poet. The author of the monument is the famous Belarusian sculptor Anatoliy Anikeichik. The architect of the Kupala memorial is Sergei Batkovsky. The opening ceremony of the monument, which took place on July 1, 1973, was attended by its creator A. Anikeichik and the famous Belarusian playwright, People's Writer of Belarus Andrei Makayonak.

Near the monument to the outstanding Belarusian poet in the memorial park there are monuments to the greatest poets of the American, Russian and Ukrainian people: Walt Whitman, Alexander Pushkin, Taras Shevchenko. Over the decades this ‘community’ of monuments has been a meaningful embodiment of togetherness of the literary traditions and closeness of the cultures of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, a symbol of friendly ties between the cultures of Eastern Europe and the United States.

– Article and photos courtesy of

Permanent Mission of Belarus, United Nations

At the monument to the greatest Belarusian poet, staff of the Belarusian Mission to the United Nations, the UN Secretariat, the Belarusian diaspora in the United States and American citizens read Kupala's poems.

As a sign of gratitude and recognition of the exclusive role of Yanka Kupala in the formation of the Belarusian nation and the establishment of its independent statehood, Belarusian diplomats planted picturesque rosebushes around the monument to the first People’s Poet of Belarus.

On behalf of the State Literary Museum of Yanka Kupala, the staff of the Belarus Mission to the UN donated to the library of the Memorial Park unique editions of Kupala's poetic pieces translated into foreign languages.

Addressing the participants of the ceremony, Andrei Dapkiunas, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations, spoke of vitality of the creative heritage of Yanka Kupala and the consonance of its themes with the challenges the Belarusian society faces today. The head of the Belarusian Mission to the UN called on his colleagues to perceive the heartfelt and fraught with painful anxiety for the lot of his Motherland Kupala’s poetic word not as a historical artefact but as an inexhaustible source of daily creative and professional inspiration, an example of work and struggle for the better future for the country and her people.

Members of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations met with Members of the Arrow Park Board of Directors.

The POETS GARDEN at ARROW PARK includes Four Literary Immortals: Taras Shevchenko, Walt Whitman, Alexander Pushkin, and Yanka Kupala.

Arrow Park has been a center for multi-cultural meetings, events and programs for many decades. We welcome the diversity of those that use our property for their events, retreats and social gatherings. Ideally situated within an hour drive from major cities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, our protected forest areas, lake, beach and historic mansion offer a unique and memorable location for a variety of cultural, artistic, educational, healing and business programs.

The property is available for private retreats and meetings, seminars, workshops and exhibitions. We also work with many non-profit organizations and institutional programs throughout the tristate area. From arts residency to healing programs, concerts to nature education, Arrow Park provides a safe, natural and memorable sanctuary for events. We have worked with the NYC Fire Department Counseling Unit, NYU Medical Center, the Orange County Bureau of Education, Orange County Land Trust, Calvary Hospital, United Nations, Sterling Forest Living Memorials Project, Museum Village, the College of New Rochelle and US Army Special Training Sessions for Professionals – to name only a few.

If you or your organization, club or business are interested in more information – we encourage you to contact the Main Office to arrange for a tour of Arrow Park.