Columbia ceremony recognizes World War II naval battle and current attack on Ukraine
A naval battle in 1944 and battles going on today in Ukraine were on the minds of participants Thursday in a ceremony at the Boone County Government Center.
"Today is such a special day in which we honor sacrifice and service," said Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson.
She spoke the words of the late former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, which she said apply to today's events in Ukraine as much as they did when he said them during World War II.
"Never, never, never give up," she said.
The Exercise Tiger Foundation put on the event on the anniversary of the April 28, 1944, Battle of Exercise Tiger. Eight U.S. Navy tank landing ships were rehearsing for the forthcoming D-Day invasion when they were attacked by boats from the German Navy.
The tank landing ship that was torpedoed first sank in six minutes, killing 424, including 201 from a Missouri unit. One of the other tank landing ships was sunk, and a third was crippled, with 749 confirmed dead in total.
The landing rehearsal continued later in the day with the remaining ships, and the D-Day invasion went forward at Normandy, France, on June 6.
Chris Cook, pastor of Parkade Baptist Church, spoke at the event, with Yaroslav Pyzh, president of the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary in Lviv, Ukraine, on his phone via video link. The local church has a long-term relationship with the seminary.
"The Ukrainians are freedom-loving people," Cook said. "I've seen their tenacity and determination."
"Thank you for supporting Ukraine," Pyzh said.
Before the ceremony, Cook asked Pyzh about situation in Lviv.
"There were no air raid sirens today," Pyzh said. "The day's not over."
Cook said he admired Ukrainians fighting for their freedom.
"We're just fighting for survival," Pyzh said.
The seminary in Lviv has been a sanctuary for refugees during the Russian invasion, with 10,000 passing through since the beginning, Cook said.
Boone County Commissioner Justin Aldred read proclamations honoring the Battle of Exercise Tiger and the sacrifices of the people of Ukraine..
Walter Domanski, public affairs officer for the Exercise Tiger Foundation, presented commendation medals to Cook, the county commissioners and Scott Hanson, pastor of Midway Heights Baptist Church. A medal will be mailed to Pyzh.
After the ceremony inside the government center, wreaths were laid at the military memorial outside.
The Exercise Tiger Foundation is raising money for tourniquets for Ukraine at its website, exercisetiger.org.
Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Battle of Exercise Tiger, Ukraine recognized in Columbia ceremony
