Looking on as this young veteran speaks is Maxsym, the CEO of a facility where injured soldiers swim as part of their rehabilitation. Maxsym, a father himself, has such a look of tenderness on his face that I become teary, recognizing his compassion for and dedication to this young man and a myriad of other injured veterans, strangers to him before the war, but now an inspiration for his generosity.
At the end of the table, interpreting for the group in general, is Sasha, an eternally gracious, kind, and smiling Ukrainian man who came to the USA in the early 1990's, making Cincinnati his home. He is a dedicated member of the CKSCP Board, and a conduit for continuous dialogue between Kharkiv and Cincinnati.
Standing behind Sasha is Taras, a Ukrainian soldier who is still on active duty. His body contains shrapnel from injury incurred in the war, but the casual observer would not be aware that he deals with ongoing discomfort. A leader by nature, he exudes a quiet confidence, exhibiting a strong, reassuring presence in the group.
Next we find a young Ukrainian newlywed, Max (yes, he was married only 10 days ago!) who coaches veterans as they swim their way toward rehabilitation. He himself is a paralympic swimming champion, but today he is just one of the guys putting their heads together to find a way to create a central hub in Kharkiv that will provide comprehensive services for the continuing rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers.