On Friday, March 14, upwards of 250 area residents gathered to demonstrate their solidarity with Ukraine in a nonpartisan march and rally in Kilmarnock.
Through the mile-long “Stand for Ukraine” march through downtown Kilmarnock, participants alternated chants of “We are all Ukrainians!,” “Zelenskyy is a Hero!” and “Slava Ukraine! (Glory to Ukraine!),” reported Lucia Schoelwer. The organizers, Carolyn and Bill Young, served as Peace Corps volunteers in Ukraine during 2005-2007, and said they hold a special place in their hearts for the people of Ukraine.
Carolyn opened the rally with a recollection of her first meeting with her Ukrainian students who demonstrated their solidarity with America following the terrorist attacks on 9/11 with chants of “We are all New Yorkers!” “Now we march with posters held high saying, ‘We are all Ukrainians!’,” she added. Young also read the Ukrainian national anthem, “a sad, doleful anthem… about death, starvation, exile” that reflects Ukraine’s horrific history under Russian rule. The anthem concludes, “We’ll not spare either our souls or bodies to get freedom.” The crowd chanted loudly, “Slava Ukraine!”
