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The
Memorial to
Soviet Ace Lydia Litvyak
by Henry Sakaida |
When I go back
to Ukraine for Victory Day in May this year, I plan to go back to Krasny
Luch, with Maj Dolina, some English textbooks for their English teacher,
and a donation to the museum. The museum is in need of major repairs.
A dollar goes a long way in Ukraine, and if you are interested in making
a donation, I can assure you that I will personally hand deliver it to
the curator with your business card or note. This selfless woman has devoted
her life and savings to keep the museum open, and I consider her a real
Heroine! Let's give them a helping hand. After thanking our hosts and
promising to help the museum, Sergey and I departed. We opted to return
to Kiev by plane, which cost the same as the 1st class train. We arrived
back in about an hour and a half. Before I left for home, we visited Maj
Dolina and told her of our trip. She had presented me with a copy of her
Hero Star as a keepsake, but I politely declined and told her that it
belongs in the Litvyak Museum. She said, "What a great idea! Agreed!
If I get better, we will all go together!" (Awards
Digest Article 16 has a nice view of her custom-made HSU copy; Article
15 is my article about my visit to see her). |
