Bloomingdale church dedicates monument to Ukranian Revolt

Gov. Bruce Rauner walks to a podium Sunday to speak during the dedication of the monument The Heavenly 100 at the Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Bloomingdale. The monument is the first of its kind outside Ukraine honoring those who perished defending freedom there, informs UaPost with reference to Daily Herald.

The Ukranian Revolt of 2014, known as the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, may not seem a significant geopolitical event to many Americans, but the courage and sacrifice of those who took part still resonate deeply with one community in the Western suburbs.

Joined by dignitaries including Gov. Bruce Rauner and Ukranian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko, members of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale on Sunday dedicated a monument to the Heavenly 100, the name given to the 100 protesters killed during the February 2014 revolution against the country's pro-Russian government.

The monument features a large stainless steel Cossack cross containing a pattern of smaller crosses to represent those killed.

"Each one of these heroes stood up against the use of force, unfairness and the abuse of power," said John Jaresko, head of the parish council at St. Andrew. "Each showed the greatest courage and the greatest sacrifice