It was not accidental that Lviv has been chosen as the venue for the crowded meeting of scouts, because it was here in 1911 that the first Ukrainian Plast (scout) societies were established at the Academic Gymnasium, and on April 12, 1912, nearly 40 persons took the Plast oath: to be loyal to God and Ukraine, and actually this day is considered the official day of establishing the Plast.
The anniversary event attended by over 2,000 members of Plast from eight countries of the world, Ukraine, Canada, the US, Australia, Argentina, Poland, Great Britain, and Germany, was held at the square near the monument to Kobzar. And that was the most numerous action of Plast in Ukraine. “One hundred years is only a start!” the participants of the meeting were chanting.
During a solemn ceremony the Iron Cross orders were granted to the relatives of the Plast members who perished in the struggle for Ukraine’s independence. [The Iron Cross Order was one of the awards in Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917-21. At the same time it is the only order of battle of the UNR Army. Its full title is “The Iron Cross for Winter March and Fights.” – Author.]
During the international meeting events the Plast members broke Ukraine’s record, making the longest (393.3 meters) chain of Plast kerchiefs, which was fixed by a representative of the Book of Ukraine’s records.
It should be admitted that the jubilee international meeting of Plast is the closing stage of the celebrations dedicated to Plast’s 100th anniversary. The first one included the scout camps in the first decade of August and on the whole there were 26 of them, which is an absolute record in all the years of existence of scout camps.
On the eve of the international meeting in Lychakivske cemetery the scouts laid flowers at the monument “To Plastuns who did not break their oaths,” as a tribute to those who perished in their struggle for the freedom of Ukraine, specifically UPA members.
The Plastuns had an opportunity to entertain themselves, because the bands Rock-H, Burdon, and Liudy dobri greeted them with concerts. Plast members emphasize though that the most important thing is communication with friends.
The Plast members will be on a visit in Lviv till the end of the week at the least. They have promised to show the Lvivites all appeals of the scout life, throwing a tent village in the very heart of Lviv, near Danylo Halytsky monument.
