The representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA and the Ukrainian-American community laid flowers to Taras Shevchenko Monument in Washington DC as Ukrainians all over the world mark the 209th anniversary of birth of the most famous Ukrainian poet, artist, thinker and public figure.

In her address to the crowd Ambassador Oksana Markarova, the President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Andriy Futey and director of the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS)  Mykhailo Sawkiw underlined, that Ukrainians always recall Shevchenko’s poetry and life during their fight for freedom. They also reminded about recent Russian attacks which targeted Ukraine right at the Shevcenko’s birthday. Shevchenko is a key symbol of the Ukrainian culture and a part of understanding our fight for freedom. That's why Ukrainians have been protecting monuments to Shevchenko and museums dedicated to him from shelling. In contrast, Russians are trying to destroy them just as they did 150 years ago.