I Attended a Vigil in Honor of Ukraine

Summary

The author attended a vigil in honor of Ukraine, where they participated in a community event filled with solidarity, shared stories, and expressions of hope and support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing struggles.

Abstract

The author describes their experience at a vigil for Ukraine, which was attended by over 100 people. The event featured a series of speakers, including a woman with Ukrainian roots who shared her personal connection and sang a traditional song, and Jim Krut, a Ukrainian-descendant actor known for his role in "Dawn of the Dead." The author also contributed by reciting Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," which resonated with the theme of hope in challenging times. The atmosphere was one of unity and support, with attendees waving Ukrainian flags and drivers passing by honking in solidarity.

Opinions

The author expresses a sense of pride and solidarity with Ukraine, as evidenced by the distribution of Ukrainian flags and the supportive atmosphere of the event.
The author found the speakers, particularly the Ukrainian woman and Jim Krut, to be inspiring and engaging, highlighting the personal connections and cultural significance of the event.
The poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" was chosen for its inspirational message, reflecting the author's belief in the importance of hope during difficult times.
Despite initial nervousness about public speaking, the author felt a sense of accomplishment and connection with the audience while reciting the poem.
The author appreciated the community's collective support for Ukraine, noting the positive reception of the event and the broader message of unity it conveyed.

Slava Ukraini!

Recently, I had an opportunity to attend and participate in a vigil to show my support to Ukraine and the horrors they have been going through. With 100+ people in attendance, this event was well received and everyone was so supportive. I saw nothing but colors of blue and yellow — the colors of Ukraine, as people held and waved little handmade Ukrainian flags. My task was handing out these flags and it did not take long for me to run out.

There were several speakers.

There were a few interesting speakers as well as an open mic for anyone to share their views as long as they were respectful and didn’t steer too far on the political spectrum. This was an event all about community and coming together.

One interesting speaker was a woman who was originally from Ukraine. During the open mic section of the vigil, she shared her story of how her belief in the Ukrainian people was strong and that she still had family back home that she ached to see (as I’m sure many Ukrainians do). She even sang an inspiring song in Ukraine about a young couple getting married.

Another speaker was someone that was a little famous. His name was Jim Krut and not only was he of Ukrainian descent, but he also played the role of the Helicopter Zombie in the George Romero horror film, Dawn of the Dead (1978) https://www.helizombie.com/. He was one of the first speakers and his speech kept me both inspired and intrigued.

I read a poem of my choosing — “Hope is the Thing with the Feathers” by Emily Dickinson. I chose this poem because I found it very inspirational and very fitting for not only the event but the circumstances of our world. We could all use a little hope nowadays. Or a lot.

With 100+ people at the event, I was undoubtedly nervous and I found myself referring back to the program guide anticipating my turn to speak. Sure, I had the poem right in front of me and I didn’t have to recite it, but I was still nervous. I’ve never spoken in front of that many people!

As I read the poem, I began to relax. It went much better than I could have ever hoped. No one asked me to speak up, I didn’t fumble with my words or start talking fast due to nervousness and since it was a poem, I remembered to be mindful to pause and enunciate certain parts.

The vigil was a great turnout and everyone was so supportive. For once, for just that one hour, I didn’t mind the crowd or the slight chill in the air that day. Even people driving by honked their car horns in support.

Slava Ukraini!