Volynkina Mariia, 14 years old

Winner of the 2024 essay contest, 3st place 

Kamianets-Podilskyi lyceum No. 5

Teacher who inspired to write an assay - Nataliia Volodymyrivna Zolochevska

 

«1000 days of war. My way»

Letter from a 25-year-old fallen hero,

a graduate of our lyceum,

Andriy Yuriyovych SHEVCHUK

I once heard a story in history class about the desperate Spartans, and their courage and bravery were admirable. Back then, courage and fighting skills were considered the highest values.

Sitting at my school desk, I was surprised by the practice of carrying a fallen soldier from the battlefield on a shield.

According to legend, a Spartan mother, sending her son to war, handed him a shield with the words: ‘with him or on him’, which symbolised the choice between victory or death, but preserving the warrior's honour. The expression with a shield or on a shield meant victory or a dignified death.

Today I am returning to my home on a shield. I will ride through the streets of my hometown for the last time, wipe away my mother's tears with a breath of wind and hug my little brother.

My journey as a defender probably started when I was a schoolboy, and I dreamed of being a military man. Like my parents, I have always been a truth-teller, honest and ready to help others. Like everyone else, I dreamed of creating my own family, which would be similar to the family I grew up in, with warm evenings, fun weekends or conversations with my grandfather.

But the brutal war made its own adjustments.

My dear mother, today you are not conscious from grief and pain, but you told me to always be honest, loyal and strong. I could not do otherwise. I know you can forgive me for not protecting myself. Your Andriyko did his duty - he managed to keep the enemy out of our land.

Mummy, don't cry. I want your beautiful face to have a charming smile again. Remember, every time your eyes look up to the sky, they will see me, your Andriy.

My brothers, today my path of struggle was stopped by an enemy mine. I know that you will never give up on our common goal of being free and happy in our Ukraine. We have been with you side by side on this path. Go forward confidently, do not retreat, because every drop of our blood must not be forgotten, and thousands of lost souls must find peace after the victory.

We must liberate our land, which was bequeathed to us by our ancestors. Ukraine is a symbol of the present, and Ukrainians are a symbol of freedom and indomitability.

It is the unbreakable spirit and strength of the Ukrainian nation that will help you in the fight against the enemy. After all, we are the descendants of a freedom-loving people who every 100 years, or even more often, try to gain their freedom, their right to a happy and peaceful future in a free Ukraine.

My dear Ukraine, we are fighting with courage and dedication for every piece of our land.

Your sons and daughters do not spare their health, strength and lives. Hold on, my dear, you must survive and become free, independent, prosperous and the most beautiful. I am sure that you will. Now I will keep your peace in heaven.

My dear Motherland, I believe that your endless fields will be sown with fragrant rye and golden wheat, not mines and downed missiles. Poppies will blossom among the grain, reminding us of the souls of our heroes.

Heroes don't die, they just fly away. Andriy died during a combat mission as a hero. He could not have done otherwise. For each of us, our defenders who have become light will be real guardian angels.

And what can we do? We have to be worthy of their sacrifice and become a solid wall of salvation for the country.