Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine | Організація Оборони Чотирьох Свобід України
The ODFFU was formed on October 27, 1946 at a conference of representatives from various Ukrainian American organizations in New York City. Yevhen Liakhovych, an engineer by training and a Ukrainian patriot at heart, established the ODFFU to support the struggle for a free and independent Ukrai
ne. The name is based upon President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech before the US Congress on January 25, 1941. This speech formed the basis of a strategic partnership between the United States and Great Britain that became embodied in a declaration known as the Atlantic Charter. Following an extensive remodeling at the National Archives, President Roosevelt's speech sits alongside America's founding documents like the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. The ODFFU grew from a small group of dedicated individuals with one branch in the city of Newark, New Jersey, to a large national organization with over 57 branches located throughout the United States. In 1991, Ukraine declared its independence, sealing the fate of the Soviet Union and bringing about an end to the Cold War. In 2004, with the "Orange Revolution" Ukraine stepped onto the road to democracy. The ODFFU continues its work to ensure that the four freedoms are protected in Ukraine today.
