Page 13 - GLFEB2023

Feburary 2023
GRANITELIFE.ONLINE
The Love Lights of Ukraine
Page 13
By William niemann
A few days before Christmas, I was watching the news. A pic- ture caught my attention. It was a nighttime image of Europe taken from a satellite. Except for a large region north of the Black Sea, the continent sparkled with myriad lights. The dark region was the nation of Ukraine. Drone and missile strikes on power-gener- ating facilities had compromised the nation’s ability to bring lights to the lengthening winter nights.
That darkness notwithstand- ing, if one descends from the satellite’s perspective and ap- proaches Ukraine, perhaps not far above the woodland that is a scene in our story, several beams of light come into view. Reflected off freshly fallen snow, they have illuminated the way for a truck, accompanied by a van, on an important, heartfelt mis- sion. The two vehicles appear parked outside a large building. The truck’s cargo includes food, clothing, generators, gifts, and much more. The van has car- ried a team of four New Hamp- shirites, who have planned and are now bringing to fruition, an endeavor to help thousands of Ukrainian children survive, and perhaps even thrive, amid a bru- tal, unjust war. The team com- prises two couples, all of whom are Co-Founders of Common Man for Ukraine. They include Steve Rand, owner of Rand’s Hardware in Plymouth, and his partner Susan Mathison, a well-regarded environmentalist and humanitarian. The other couple is Alex Ray, the Founder, and owner of the Common Man chain of restaurants and lodg- ings. He is accompanied by his partner, Lisa Mure, a well-known advocate for access to behavioral health and affordable housing. Together the team has directed the fundraising of two and a half million dollars under the auspices of commonmanforukraine.org to be carefully dispensed by Polish Rotarians under the direction of Ryszard Tuczyn, respectfully nicknamed “Richard the Lion- hearted.” Richard, two other Rotarians, and an interpreter ac- companied the New Hampshire contingent during this journey. It is late afternoon. Recently, the truck and van appear to have
Orthodox blessing. Photo courtesy of Plymouth RC.
A young Ukrainian girl stands in front of a burned building holding a Plymouth Rotary sign. Photo courtesy of Plymouth RC.
ning from room to room, waving flashlights and shouting, “The lights, the lights, see the lights!” or crying out, “It’s Mommie, it’s Daddy.” (Not all the children are orphans. Some had been sent away to this refuge by parents fearful that their homes would be destroyed or damaged by the Russian air attacks.)
Soon, a quiet pause occurs in the gaiety. The lights are no longer approaching the building. Worry replaces joyful anticipa- tion. The adults in the orphan- age, knowing the identity of the approaching travelers, send older boys out to help dislodge the ve- hicles. A four-wheel drive car has been impressed into service, and other adults in the vicinity join in to help as well. The van passengers, anxious to get to the orphanage, disembark from the van and walk briskly to the orphanage. The early evening brings a deepening chill.
The New Hampshirites and their friends enter the one-time monastery building just as the unstuck truck pulls within sev- eral yards of the large front door. The older “orphan” boys, as well as Alex and Steve, begin to off- load the welcome cargo. Some of the children, excited by the unfolding event, have left their evening meal untouched on the long cafeteria tables in the “din- ing room .”Each child’s portion speaks of Ukraine’s wartime aus- terity. Each plate presents a single potato, a piece of bread, and a banana.
As they enter, the visitors begin to assess the old building
and its occupants. The interior is gray. The concrete walls em- brace each room’s chill of 40 de- grees. The damp floor is slippery. Sleeping is arranged in a couple of large rooms; the cots are lined up barrack-like. Otherwise, the space is not furnished. Neverthe- less, the youngsters live like true Spartan warriors. Entering the dining area, the four teammates, very familiar with restaurant fare, take note of the orphans’ spare meals and are grateful that the truck has brought a variety of foodstuff.
Meeting the guests, the chil- dren at first show neither joy nor fear. Their shared expression is that look of children everywhere encountering a changed environ- ment; they exhibit curiosity. This soon changes. The visitors, rep- resenting the Plymouth Rotary Club and hundreds of generous Granite Staters, aware that it is the holiday season, have brought not only necessities but gifts and treats as well. Lisa Mure, playing the role of “Father Frost,” begins to distribute the welcome pres- ents. The children’s faces, once revealing only concerned won- der, now reflect a lively joy in the oscillating glow cast by oil lamps. Bright eyes and wide smiles are beaming.
To Susan, Lisa, Steve, and Alex, the faces appear as wel- coming beacons........ the love lights of Ukraine.
Let the Love Lights of Ukraine continue to shine. Please donate at com- monmanforukraine.com and support the next delivery of much-needed food and goods. Thank you.
reached their journey’s end. Many hours before, this truck andvanhadbeenapartofa single large convoy of 30 trucks that would ultimately split up to fan out over Ukraine to reach 20 orphanages. The convoy, which originated in Poland, was sacred, having received the water bless- ing of the Orthodox Church. Indeed, it was also blessed by the work of hundreds of other car- ing individuals, Polish, Ukrainian (who facilitated the border cross- ing and routes to the orphan- ages), and American. Critically important for the success of this mission of mercy was the collab-
oration of the Rotary Club of Plymouth, NH, and Rotarian brethren in Poland.
As the convoy journeyed to Poland’s eastern border, it was waved past hundreds of other trucks waiting to enter Ukraine. That this convoy was of great im- portance was public knowledge. It was welcomed by government officials and celebrated in the local media. However, the exact destinations of the 30 trucks were kept secret. The Russian strategy of attacking schools and medical facilities had led to many fatalities and injuries. (Common Man for Ukraine would deliver a mobile medical unit to help compensate
for those health facilities dam- aged by Russia’s indiscriminate attacks.) Therefore, because of Russia’s indifference to civilian suffering, the location of the or- phanages had to be undisclosed.
Those watching the final ap- proach to the orphanage by the truck and accompanying van have witnessed a concerning event. The journey had been challenging. Many roads were unplowed. Road signs had been purposefully mixed up to slow the possible advance of Russian troops. Nonetheless, Alex, Lisa, Steve, Susan, and their Polish colleagues made the trip safely. The truck with its supplies has been running smoothly. How- ever, within a hundred yards of their team’s goal, the vehicles lost control on ice and drifting snow. As a result, they slid off the roadway. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the vehicles were snow- bound.
Inside the orphanage, one of the children’s guardians has been watching the approach of the vehicles’ lights. He had been exclaiming cheerfully to those in the building, “The lights are coming; our friends are al- most here!” Responding to their guardian’s exuberance, many of the children could be seen run-