Several Mennonite organizations are in the process of raising money for a memorial in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, to display desecrated tombstones recovered from the foundation of an old building there. Those gravestones were discovered a couple of months ago when the building was being demolished in the village of Chortitza, which is now part of Zaporizhzhya. Historians say it was common practice in the 1920's and 30's for the Soviets to destroy cemeteries to try and erase the history of past inhabitants.

Louie Sawatzky of Winnipeg is project director for the Mennonite Family Centre in Zaporizhzhya, which works with seniors and children there. He says they are working with Mennonite Central Committee and other Mennonite groups to raise $10,000 (U.S.) so the museum in Zaporizhzhya can set up a memorial.

"It is not in any of our mandates to do this kind of work, but we are getting together as a unit and taking on a project to work with the museum to find a suitable way to show respect the families, to show respect to the ones that were buried and who lived and worked in that region. The museum has set a budget to, first of all, provide safe storage for these stones, to collect them and then to clear a plot of land to develop a memorial where people could visit and that this memorial would tell the story. "

Sawatzky says the Ukrainian people are very apologetic about what happened and don't want to forget this history, but they lack the financial resources to develop the memorial on their own. Sawatzky says the various Mennonite groups have already raised $3,000 (U.S.) and need another $7,000 (U.S.).

Interested people can contact Sawatzky by email at louiesawatzky8@gmail.com or by calling 204-253-3631.