It was a cool, chilly night at Dowdy Park in Nags Head last night for a candlelight vigil for Ukraine. There were perhaps 100 people who came to to the event—an event that marked the one month anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
the evening was a reminder of the horrific brutality of what is happening, a tribute to the bravery and tenacity of the Ukranian people; and also a reminder of how diverse our Outer Banks population is and how truly connected to the larger world around us we are.
Although the evening was organized by Rev. David Morris of the Kitty Hawk Unitarian Universalist Church, it was the members of the Ukrainian Outer Banks community that bound the evening together and gave resonance and voice to what the world is witnessing.
The evening began with members of the Ukrainian community bringing their nation’s flag to the stage and the came to the stage bearing the Ukrainian flag that was the focus of the evening.
Kill Devil Hills resident Anastasiia Forlano acted as the spokeswoman for the Ukrainians, and her remarks brought home the fears and horrors of what she and the women with her feel every day.
“The first day of war is just as important as a person dying yesterday, today and every person that unfortunately is most likely going to die,” she said.
Yet as hard as it may be, she went on to say that knowing the support of the Outer Banks community has helped her in immeasurable ways.
The evening was sponsored by the North Dare Ministerial Association and there were prayers and there were prayers offered from members of the Jewish faith, reverends and pastors of a number of Outer Banks churches, but nothing, perhaps, was as powerful as the words of a traditional Ukrainian folksong, “Prayer for Ukraine.” The song was sung in Ukrainian, but in translation the words are a cry to God to preserve their nation.
“Lord, oh the Great and Almighty,.Protect our beloved Ukraine, Bless her with freedom and light,” are the words.