VVA Chapter 10, Cincinnati, Ohio Resolution 1/2022
To our Sister-City Kharkiv, Ukraine and to all Ukrainian Citizens.
WHEREAS the city of Kharkiv, which was founded in 1654 and has a current population of 1.4 million is the second largest city of Ukraine which is the seventh largest nation in Europe and further that,
The cities of Kharkiv, Ukraine and Cincinnati, Ohio USA have a formally established “Sister-City” partnership since September 11, 1989, will celebrate their 33rd anniversary this year and further that,
On or about February 24, 2022, the independent nation of Ukraine was subject to unprovoked and vicious military attacks on various fronts by Russian air, sea, ground, cyber and military forces which attacks are continuing and further that,
Said military attacks have resulted in hundreds of Ukrainian combat and noncombatant deaths, thousands of injured and tens of thousands of war-weary refugees mostly women and children, fleeing for their very lives and further that,
Although Russia has a modernized military and numerically superior forces; nonetheless, it has suffered defeats and setbacks by undaunted Ukrainians struggling to maintain their independence and further that,
Historian, Alexis de Tocqueville once penned “Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality…while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.” And, Herodotus, a Greek historian wrote that “Of all possessions, a friend is the most precious.” and further that,
The Ukrainian national anthem begins with “Ukraine’s freedom has not yet perished, nor has her glory. Upon us, fellow Ukrainians, fate shall smile once more. Our enemies will vanish like dew in the sun. And we too shall rule, brothers, in a free land of our own. We’ll lay down our souls and bodies to attain our freedom. And will show that we, brothers, are of the Cossack nation. We’ll stand together for freedom from the Syan to the Don.” It ends with “We will not allow others to rule in our motherland.” and further that,
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky said “ If there is no Ukrainian strong army, there will be no Ukraine, and that will be the case when everyone will understand…this is not the war in Ukraine, (but) it’s the war in Europe.”
THEREFORE, be it hereby resolved that we recognize your sovereignty and stand with you during this crisis; that we support your cause and remain your friends during these perilous times for your nation, and while we may not be with you physically, we are together with you in spirit. We are your ”American” brothers of the Cossack nation.
Signed this 15th day of April 2022 by proclamation of the members of Chapter 10, Vietnam Veterans of America Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio USA.
Edward Brown,
President, VVA Chapter 10
Cc: Cincinnati-Kharkiv Partnership
City of Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval
U.S. Senator Rob Portman
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
U.S. Representative Steve Chabot
U.S. Representative Brad Wenstrup
