How City Leaders Can Honor Those Fighting in Ukraine

By John McArdle, Mayor of Independence

Like all of us I’ve watched the Russian invasion of Ukraine with shock, distress, and sadness. Our community of Independence has previously hosted Ukrainian exchange students, resulting in relationships that transcend years, and through this we have received regular reports forwarded from inside Ukraine. To say we are aghast is an understatement. As bad as the news has been about the attacks on civilians, I was shocked, horrified, and taken aback by the execution of Olga Sukhenk, the mayor of Motyzhyn, a suburban village just outside the capital, Kyiv. This Ukrainian mayor, along with her husband and son, had their hands tied, were blindfolded, tortured, executed, and dumped into a pit. For more than a decade Mayor Sukhenk was doing what mayors around the world do: providing her community with water, sewer, roads, public safety, economic development…making her community better now and for the future. These horrific murders caused me to reflect. Years ago, my wife and our young son went door to door for a presidential candidate. He would knock and my wife would visit with those who answered the door. Weeks later, after the election day results, I told my son his candidate didn’t win. He started to cry, and said, “But I don’t what to move to Canada.” Drying his tears, I explained that we live in the United States, that we are safe regardless of our politics, our jobs, or what we do in the community. As a naturalized citizen, I am especially mindful of what we have in our country, the choices that we make, and that we have a collective responsibility to nurture our democracy. With the horrific images we see, and an understanding of the work mayors and other local elected officials do in their cities all over the world, I struggled to think of a way I could help. How could I support mayors and communities half a world away? A good friend of mine suggested that while we are blessed to be in the United States, where we are, for the most part safe, one thing we can do is resolve not to complain about the lessor hardships we are facing here at home as our country supports the battle against those that brutalize children and families, that want to strip away democracy, and crush good local people serving their communities. I will not complain. I am willing to pay more, I will endure the inconveniences of delays and minor hardships to support our country’s efforts to help protect Ukraine from invaders, to do what I can to honor the work of the people of Ukraine committed to their communities, country, and freedom. I will work to share with others a deeper understanding of the blessings of safety, freedom, liberty, and democracy. I will do this in honor of those that stood and continue to work and fight, as well as those doing the work that we all strive to do: Make a better life for our residents, neighbors and our community, I will do this alongside all of you, my fellow elected leaders.