Dwight David Eisenhower, the 34nd U.S. president, speaking about Taras Shevchenko

Dwight David Eisenhower, the 34nd U.S. president, speaking about Taras Shevchenko

Washington, DC, June 27, 1964

"On September 13, 1960, when I signed into law a measure to authorize the erection of this statue, it was my expectation that you would arrange a ceremony of dedication commensurate with the greatness of Taras Shevchenko. That day is here and you have come by the thousands from all over the United States; you have come from Canada, from Latin America and Europe, and from as far away as Australia, to honor the memory of a poet who expressed so eloquently man’s undying determination to fight for freedom and his unquenchable faith in ultimate victory."

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This article is about Taras Shevchenko Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

The Taras Shevchenko Memorial is a bronze statue and stone relief-adorned wall located on the 2200 block of P Street NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of many monuments in Washington, D.C. which honor foreign heroes who symbolize freedom in their native countries. The memorial honors Taras Shevchenko (1814 – 1861), a Ukrainian poet and artist who influenced the development of modern Ukrainian literature.

The committee to build the memorial included former U.S. President Harry S. Truman as the honorary head. Opposition to the memorial's installation was led by The Washington Post. It was dedicated in 1964, the 150th anniversary of Shevchenko's birth. Dignitaries at the dedication ceremony included prominent Ukrainian Americans, former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, members of the U.S. Congress, and Hollywood actors.

Sculpted by Leo Mol, the statue is one of two Ukrainian monuments in the nation's capital. The second, a memorial to the Ukrainian victims of the 1932 – 1933 famine, was completed in 2015. The Taras Shevchenko Memorial and surrounding park are maintained by the U.S. federal government.

Source: https://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/, https://en.wikipedia.org/

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Leaders of the USA made a unique contribution to honoring Shevchenko. Harry Truman was an honorary head of the Shevchenko Monument Committee. Dwight Eisenhower finally cleared the way for the monument to be installed in Washington and John F. Kennedy sent his greetings to American Ukrainians as they dedicated the site in September 1963 and facilitated implementation. In his letter, he called Shevchenko’s poetry a “noble part” of American historical heritage. Lyndon B. Johnson said:  "He was more than a Ukrainian — he was a statesman and citizen of the world. He was more than a poet — he was a valiant crusader for the rights and freedom of men. He used verse to carry on a determined fight for freedom".