Tribute to Taras

I began to think something unusual was occurring  when I noticed that the five men in unusual military uniforms were really just boys - teenagers.


And I didn’t have to worry that I'd missed the chance to photograph them as there were many more of them walking down the broad pedestrian walkway.

It was Sunday morning in Lviv, the cultural capital of Ukraine. People were out and about enjoying the fine day in this beautiful pedestrian boulevard in a park setting with friends and family.

I was returning to my hotel to re-check-in after a couple of days 
spent at another hotel away from the city center necessitated by my main hotel’s inability to give me a continuous reservation for the 3 weeks I’d desired since they were already booked for some of the days when I made my reservation.

On my way I stopped at the Opera House at one end of the boulevard to buy a ticket  and was proceeding to the other end, to the historic square in
front of my hotel.

The walk takes 5 to 10 minutes from one end to the other,  but it can take up much of the day as there is so much to see and so many places to simply sit and enjoy the trees, fountain, flower gardens, surrounding architecture and the people.  Or a game of chess or checkers. 

Or music. Or young people climbing. 

Or photographing or being photographed in front of the Opera house or in front of the statue of Ukraine’s greatest hero.

If you were to know just one thing about Ukraine perhaps it should be the name and character of its greatest hero Taras Shevchenko.  

That he, a Poet and Painter, would be honored as the hero of Ukraine tells you, I think, a lot about its people.

Tonight’s performance at the Opera house is to be a tribute to Taras Shevchenko and as I came to realize, the boys in their uniforms were part of a growing gathering of young and old in uniforms and in the colorful traditional dress Ukrainians wear for holidays and celebrations.

I suspected a parade was in the offing so I hurried down the walkway, checked into my hotel, grabbed a bite to eat at the nearby cafeteria I frequent and was quickly back with my camera to view the activities as the parade assembled.

The young people lined up at the end of the main boulevard while the older people assembled on a street leading into it.

The young marchers began casually, in non-strict formation and with a good deal of good natured joy and a sense of the participants having a fun time and not taking themselves too seriously.  A delight to behold





And yet, as I moved alongside with them, I noticed as we became close to the main reviewing area their expressions changed, they became impressively serious and disciplined  marching in perfect formation and with great pride.



What followed was the laying of flowers and wreaths at the foot of Taras Shevchenko’s statue. The mood of the crowd and accompanying music was hushed, respectful, somber.

And finally, 

The people then sang their very beautiful national anthem at the end of which there was just a smattering of polite applause.


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No cheers as at the last singing of the national anthem, I witnessed in Kyiv.

This was a day of deep respect and somber dignity. A reflection perhaps of the uncertain times in which Ukraine and indeed the whole world now lives.