The setting rays of the sun Monday evening caught rows of potted sunflowers strategically arranged on tables in front of WVU’s Mountainlair.
Each petal of each plant flared under nature’s light show, causing the people who also gathered to wonder if it might be a metaphor that could go either way.
Rather: Is Ukraine glowing in its moment of defiance?
Or is it simply in the twilight of its modern-day democracy due to Vladimir Putin’s onslaught?
Those who turned out on the mellow evening chose the former, in the terms of the flower that is the national symbol of Ukraine.
As they were gathering, two students bustled past with their graduation gowns on hangers — the university’s 2022 Commencement is this weekend — but for those in front of the Mountainlair, it wasn’t about moving forward.
It was about staying put.
Monday marked the 75th day of the war that Russian military advisors predicted would be over in 72 hours.
The Ukrainian Community of Morgantown organized the vigil and encouraged contributions to the various nonprofit organizations founded in response to the fighting.
Local clergy encouraged prayers of peace and heightened awareness of the cruelties of imperialism, in order to be ready for the next war.
Members of WVU’s academic community who are from Ukraine or have strong ties to it pleaded for participation in both of the above.
Khrystyna Pelchar sounded weary and older than her 24 years as she recounted the carnage she could only watch from halfway across the globe.
Pelchar is a WVU Ph.D. student in political science who hails from Lviv, a sprawling city in western Ukraine that is now in the shadow of war — which means her mother, sister and grandmother are as well.
The women had opportunities to leave early on, but all three chose to stay and aid in the home effort.
Right now, the women are safe, but that comes with a cruel caveat: What constitutes “safe,” in the war zone, Pelchar said, is a definition that couldn’t be more fluid.
Her voice quavered as she recounted that, now, she can only watch the attempted dismantling of her home from halfway across the globe.
She said she could only hope that Putin continues to lose the war of hearts and minds, even as the bullets continue to fly and the shells continue to explode.
Pelchar and others who spoke urged U.S. citizens to keep donating dollars to the cause, while considering to take in refugee families from the fighting.
Meanwhile, you can find out about the local groups out there, and all the ways you can help, by typing, “Ukrainian community of Morgantown,” into your Web browser or other social media search field.
While some blinked tears Monday evening, there were also smiles and handclaps, as rousing protest songs and patriotic songs of the homeland were sung — both in Ukrainian and English.
The doctoral student from Lviv appreciated both the decibels and dynamic.
“We are Ukrainians,” Pelchar said.
“We are Americans. First and foremost we are here to remember that we are people. And we will show Putin that we can be louder than ever.”
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