During her visit to the land of her ancestors, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper is surprised and happy with the way she was met by her countrymen

Volodymyr KARPIY,  reporter, photo by Ihor Tebinskyi

With a great thrill we followed the space flight of the American "Shuttle" last September. To a great extent it was because "our" Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper was taking part in the voyage. Although she was born on American soil  went to school in St. Paul (Minnesota), received her education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology  and worked for the USA Ministry of Interior Affairs, all the same she is "ours" because the roots of her ancestors are on the Ukrainian land. Therefore we followed her 12-day flight with anxiety, and were worried when Heidemarie spent more than 13 hours in outer space. We were very pleased when, setting her foot on the Ukrainian land, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper said with pride:

"I feel not only an American but a Ukrainian as well".

"Yes, she is a part of a big Stepanyshyn family coming from the village of Yakymiv, Kamiansko-Buzkyi district. When the world was shaken by the Second World War, fascists sent the future father of Heidemarie to work in Germany. When the slaughter was over, it turned out that the Ukrainian Mykhailo Stefanyshyn,, like thousands of his countrymen expatriated to Germany for hard labour, found himself in the western area of the country. Americans needed young working hands that time and they dissuaded Ukrainians from returning to their motherland, because they would be presumably faced with death. That was what motivated the boy from the Halychyna land to look for his luck overseas.

Mykhailo Stefanyshyn married a German woman who was also looking for better luck, In America they raised daughter Heidi and three sons. But Heidemarie always stresses that her their father never forgot about his true motherland, and he taught the language and Ukrainian traditions to his children. That is why Heidemarie went to a Ukrainian school, Ukrainian church and different national and cultural institutions, she speaks Ukrainian well. When she was getting married, she arranged it with her future husband Glen that she would have a double surname to have its first part remind her always about her family roots. When their son was born, they did not hesitate and named him Mykhailo after his grandfather.

Heidemarie lived with a constant dream to visit her father's land. She emphasised this once more after the accomplishment of the space flight.

Several days ago Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper was taking part in the World Economic Forum in the Swedish town of Davos. At the traditional lunch-conference dedicated to the development of Ukraine, which was arranged by Victor Pinchuk Fund and Interpipe Corporation, it was Victor Pinchuk who invited the American astronaut to visit Ukraine. She agreed eagerly.

After her flight landed in Kyiv on January 29, Heidemarie travelled to Lviv. And the following morning she visited the town of Novyi Yarychiv, where her relatives lived. Then later she visited Yakymiv, her father's village.

The meetings became unforgettable. Hundreds of village residents gathered in the centre of Novyi Yarychiv, near the monument that symbolises the revival of Mother-Ukraine.

The youths shouted:

"Heidi! Heidi! Heidi!"

"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!"

The famous guest was treated with flowers and a korowai (a Ukrainian national loaf of bread). The village head Roman Kulyk gave Heidemarie a father-like embrace and passed her warm welcoming words on behalf of the Halychyna people.

Everybody sang the Ukrainian anthem and the voice of the American originated form Ukraine sounded in this powerful chorus.

Cousins, nephews and nieces embraced Heidi ("Thank God! At last you are with us!"). Her cousins Maria Bihun, Mykhailo with his wife and children, cousin Yaroslav with his daughter Lesia and son Taras, and the rest of her relatives reminded Heidi that she is was awaited in the village of Yakymiv where her father was born. In total, she has about 15 cousins in the Halychyna area. And there are also aunts, cousins' children, grandchildren... Yes, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper's relatives are very numerous here.

Heidemarie said proudly:

"I am American because I was born on that land and it gives me merit and recognition. But I am Ukrainian as well. Because a part of my soul belongs here, with you. I want to teach and I do teach my son to let him realise that he is Ukrainian."

She added:

"If you come to my place, you would be assured that this is a home of a Ukrainian! I have pysankys (painted eggs), embroideries and icons on the walls. I often play Ukrainian music."

She distributed her souvenirs to her countrymen - American and Ukrainian flags she took with her to the outer space.

People also give her embroideries, pysankys and many other things, which will remind her about her native Ukrainian land. The meeting was family-like and touching.

The same happened in Yakymiv, her father's town. Near the ancient church the residents ordered a public prayer for her health.

Heidi made a low bow to her father's house, which, like a mascot, is kept by Maria Zavalna, a cousin of Mykhailo Stefanyshyn.

The daughter of the Ukrainian people showed her respect to her grandfather and grandmother at the village graveyard.

Such was the exciting meeting of people from the Halychyna with a Ukrainian-rooted American who is a part of the Ukrainian nation.

Lviv region

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