Ukrainian veterans join Chicago's Soldier Field 10 run during Memorial Day Weekend
PROJECTS
5/25/20262 min read
A delegation of ten Ukrainian active-duty service members and veterans travelled to Chicago to participate in the Soldier Field 10, one of the United States' most iconic Memorial Day sporting events, held on May 23 at the legendary Soldier Field stadium in the heart of the city.
The visit brought together Ukrainian soldiers alongside American veterans as part of a broader programme of sport-based rehabilitation, international solidarity, and veteran community support.
Ceremony and Remembrance
Before the start of the 10-mile and 10-kilometre races, the Ukrainian delegation joined the event's official opening ceremony and took part in the Circle of Remembrance — a solemn tribute honouring fallen servicemembers. Organisers paid separate tribute to five fallen Ukrainian heroes, named individually before the start of the races.
In a significant ceremonial moment, the delegation was presented with the flag of the United States — a formal gesture of respect toward the Ukrainian people, its armed forces, and the veterans continuing to fight for freedom.
Cultural programme and community meetings
Beyond the race itself, the delegation's visit included a full programme of cultural and memorial events. They visited the Ukrainian National Museum, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, the school of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, and Saint Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale — a site of remembrance for the Heavenly Hundred, victims of the Holodomor, and both Ukrainian and American veterans.
A particularly solemn moment came with the laying of a wreath at the grave of Mykhailo Yavorsky, known by his call sign "Chicago." A Ukrainian-American US Army veteran, Yavorsky returned to Ukraine to defend the country following Russia's full-scale invasion and was killed in action in 2023 while saving fellow soldiers. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.
The programme also included an informal gathering with the Ukrainian community of Chicago, a joint viewing of Oleksandr Usyk's fight, and a visit to the house made famous by the film Home Alone — a moment that drew genuine warmth and laughter from the delegation.
Background and partners
Ukrainian military personnel have regularly participated in Soldier Field 10 as a symbol of solidarity between Ukraine and the United States, and of a shared understanding of war, service, and loss.
The visit was organised in partnership with the Kyiv Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, Charitable Fund "Vesna!", Revived Soldiers Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Running Club Chicago, with support from the Heritage Foundation of the First Security Federal Savings Bank.
The project was sponsored by Infozahyst, a Ukrainian defence technology developer, whose team participated directly in the race alongside the Ukrainian delegation.
Veterans Dozen Foundation (V10)
registered in Kyiv, Ukraine
БФ "Ветеранська десятка"
Код ЄДРПОУ 2753602