Community shows solidarity at Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission’s ‘Montgomery County Stands With Ukraine’ event

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Civic leaders and hundreds of members of the public came together on Friday to show support and raise awareness for Ukrainians in need. As the Russian invasion into the sovereign nation continues, global outrage has grown, and locally it found a voice at the event held at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park in Conroe.

The program was led by Kelly McDonald and MCVMC executive director Janeen McSwain. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard raised the colors as local singer Kenzie Soape sang the national anthem and Precinct 2 Constable Gene DeForest led the pledges to the United States and Texas flags.

After JP Precinct 1 Judge Wayne Mack led the assembly in an invocation, McDonald acknowledged the active military personnel and veterans in the audience, then McSwain recognized the elected officials present. Next, to a standing ovation, Judge Jimmie C. Edwards III, USMC (retired) and chairman of MCVMC took the podium to deliver a rousing speech.

Next, Ukrainian national Dariya Dashutina gave an inspiring address to the crowd. Dashutina was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine and came to the Houston area at the age of 16 as a professional tennis player. From the moment she received a phone call from her father informing her of the bombardment of her hometown, she empowered herself to advocate and amplify the voice of the Ukrainian community.

For the next part of the program, local political and community leaders were escorted as they raised Ukraine flags along the Sgt. Luther James Dorsey Memorial Bridge; conducting the presentation were Conroe Mayor Jody Czajkoski, Montgomery County Commissioner Robert Walker, County Judge Mark Keough, Judge Kathleen Hamilton of the 359th District Court, Texas District 16 Representative Will Metcalf, and US House Representative Kevin Brady.

“I’m glad to be here today to support the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission and equally glad to be here supporting Stand With Ukraine here in the United States,” said Metcalf.

The program was concluded by Dashutina, accompanied by Ukrainian exchange student Anya Arseienko, who is attending Lake Creek High School, raising the US and Ukraine flags.

Congressman Brady, who is retiring at the end of his term, minced no words with his thoughts. “It’s so important that America stands with Ukraine, not just with economic sanctions but with needful aid in our hearts. They’ve been so courageous in this battle that can be so inspirational to us,” he said. “I admire the fact that Montgomery County leaders, citizens, veterans, and military are rallying today to stand with Ukraine. It says an awful lot.”

When asked what local residents could do actively and proactively to show their support for Ukraine, Brady was firm in his response.

“First, look for ways to provide help to those you know in Ukraine or the refugees coming out of that country. Second, make sure your lawmakers are standing up – not just with economic sanctions but also with needful assistance and all the support we can give Ukraine. We all know Putin isn’t stopping there, so we have got to stand with them economically, militarily, and every other way.”

To learn more about the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission, visit www.honoredmission.org.