Her relatives didn't talk about the period when the former Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, forced famine among its people. History classes didn't teach her about the estimated 7 to 10 million people who died. The Ukrainian genocide of 1932-33 is known as the Holodomor, or death by hunger.

Many Ukrainians didn't start discussing the event until the country became independent in 1991, Herrod said.

"It's a bad history, so it's hard to remember," said Herrod, 38, who moved to Utah in 1993. "Some people still don't want to acknowledge it happened."

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the genocide, Herrod was one about 25 people who gathered for lunch Thursday to welcome the International Holodomor Remembrance Flame to Salt Lake City.

In a short ceremony at the downtown Alta Club, Ukrainian officials and Utah representatives talked about the importance of not forgetting the tragedy. The group then passed the torch around the table.

"These things should never be repeated," said Palmer DePaulis, Utah Department of Community and Culture executive director. "It's in remembering that we prevent these events from happening again."

Mykola Tochytskyi, the Ukrainian consul in San Francisco, told the crowd he was grateful for Utah's support in commemorating the genocide and being a part of the torch's 23-state tour. The torch is also scheduled to visit 33 countries this year before reaching the Ukraine in November.

An honorary consulate was established in Utah in April. About 200 Ukrainians live in the Beehive State, said Jonathan Freedman, honorary Ukrainian consul in Utah.

Dasha Pokhilko, a 24-year-old college student from the Ukraine who studies English in Orem, attended the luncheon. She said she grew up listening to stories about the genocide from her grandfather, Vasiliy Pokhilko, who still lives in the Ukraine.

He was 10 years old. He remembers his father was put in prison and his mother gave him water mixed with flour and salt to drink because they didn't have any food. He also ate roots and leaves with his friends because they were so hungry. In the neighborhood, there were rumors about families eating relatives to survive, said Dasha Pokhilko.

She said she is glad her grandpa lived through the genocide and that people now want to learn more about it.

"It helps me be more grateful for everything I have in my life," she said.

jsanchez@sltrib.com