Unsung Heroes: Letters from Kyiv
A tribute to those who do their unrecognized duty in Ukraine during war
Ukraine is full of heroes today and every day, every hour, every minute, every second, someone steps up to “Git-R-Done”. We easily see the heroes on the killing fields from the soldiers of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to the Rescuers from State Emergency Services to the Territorial Defense Forces to the Doctors, Nurses and Medical workers on the battlefield on off who are stepping up to take care of the sick and wounded to those who are driving, delivering and distributing humanitarian aid to those who need it. Who will sing the song of the Unsung Heroes?
I will sing it. I see you the Unsung Heroes on the streets and in the parks of Kyiv every day. I see you when I am walking my dogs or out on an errand while the air raid sirens are blowing and the thuds of munitions are heard.
It is you, the girl at the Convenience Store around the corner who is working alone while banned liquor is easily seen behind the counter. I see the fear in your eyes as those who look like alcoholics come in and eye-ball it. Yet you go on ringing up purchases even though you are clearly scared.
It is you, the Landscape and Maintenance Man at the University of Leontovicha St across from St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral. Air raid sirens are going off and I watch as you neatly rake one of the gardens under your care. The other morning when dawn had just broken and night was still trying to cling to day, I saw the freshly trimmed branches on the tree on the garden you care for. I wish I could tell you how much that meant to me to see that the fresh cuts were a day old at most. Now, I pass by to see what work you might have done and look for the flowers that are grasping for the sun of impending spring. I see your compatriot in the Botanical Garden cleaning up, emptying the trash and actually singing as he does it while the missiles make their dull thuds in the distance.
It is you, the Sanitation Workers, I see as I walk one of the surrounding streets with my dogs. Riding on the back of your sanitation truck and collecting the garbage of those of us who have stayed in this ancient, beautiful and strong city. You are keeping our health and hygiene as a top priority and your Garbage Truck is your armored tank in this awful war.
It is you, the Priest, the Deacon, the Choir and babushkas who extinguish the candles before the icons and keep the church clean at St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral. You, the Priest, Deacon and Choir who conduct the Divine Liturgy with such joy and enthusiasm even though the sirens are screaming against you and the missiles are trying to silence you. Even though only a handful of us faithful are there, you sing as if the cathedral is full. It is you, the Priest who remembers my name and hears my Confession, absolves me and makes the sign of the cross so I can take Communion even though you don’t understand a word I say and I understand little of what you say.
It is you, the ladies and girls who work at the local bakery making fresh bread, sweets and croissants. The best chocolate croissants I have ever had on this earth and I thought that before the Russians attacked. Imagine how wonderful it is now for me to bite into one during the war and know that you probably stayed overnight to make them in the bakery because you couldn’t travel during the curfew hours to or from work. How wonderful your bread tastes and how thankful we all are that you show up.
It is you, the cashiers, stockpersons and managers of the grocery stores that keep us fed, nourished and clean during this. You bravely come to work each day while all this violence disrupts are lives. Yet, you show up, open the doors and help us stay alive with your sacrifice. And we all thought COVID was bad. Kinda funny, huh?
I know there are many more Unsung Heroes out there that I have not recognized or seen. Forgive me for that. Please all of you that are out there and living in this war zone, remember to be polite and appreciate these people that we so easily take for granted. Without them, we could not go on with some semblance of normalcy in our lives. Viva the Unsung!
