August 23 –Taste of Ukraine at St. Cloud Commons. 6:00 p.m.

Most of us, I expect, have stockpiled memories of great war movies, “Stalag 17,” “All Quiet on the Western Front”, “Bridge on the River Kwai”, or “Apocalypse Now” and “The Deer Hunter.” As well as courageous video coverage of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Air filled with the scream of incoming rockets, grenades exploding amid a patrol grappling up a hillside, GIs or marines ripped apart by automatic weapons fire. Whole villages torched by napalm, native people shrieking as they run into the woods to escape a fusillade of bullets.

A documentary film of a war in progress, however, is rare. I’m talking about a planned effort over a period of months to capture the feel of sudden explosions, buildings bursting into flames, blood and guts images of the wounded and the dying. And combat medics attempting to save lives. All done using body cams and cell phones.

A film that puts a war—the bloody fight between Russia and Ukraine– right in your lap. Real life, unrehearsed, no acting, just natural conversation amid the tension and terror of a live conflict.

Such a documentary arrived in Huntington recently from amid the fighting in Ukraine between that nation’s brave troops and Russian aerial assault and armor. It is titled “Cuba and Alaska” and follows two female medics bearing those code names, as they jostle along highways and rugged dirt paths in their trusty jeep responding to calls to treat the wounded.

Sunflower Seeds, Inc., Tri-State Aid for Ukraine, obtained and screened the film at three locations locally this month as part of its ongoing mission of raising funds and raising awareness for Ukraine. The locations were Marshall University, The Woodlands Retirement Community, and Alchemy Theater just off Norway Avenue.

Cuba is dark haired and Alaska is blonde, both attractive gals in their early thirties and bonded buddies. They joke and laugh constantly to relieve the tension of what might rock their jeep around the next
bend in the road. Just like their male counterparts their jabbering is spiced with vulgarities. I was reminded of the way F-bombs punctuated practically every sentence in “Hurt Locker”—a powerful film that tracked soldiers assigned to scout out and defuse IEDs in Iraq.

“Cuba and Alaska” has won first-place awards in documentary at festivals in Rome and Belgium. Directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Yego Troyahnovsky, it is a Ukrainian-French-Belgian co production.

The clincher for Huntington-area residents and me personally among them is how supplies paid for and shipped right from our fair city figure into the life-saving mission of these two intrepid women. Tourniquets they apply to wounded soldiers might indeed have come from funds raised in the Tri-State.  We here in the Tri-State are literally “part of the war.”

Among other projects to bolster Ukraine, Sunflower Seeds has adopted the medics Cuba and Alaska as special recipients of our aid. I say “our” because I am a co-founder of this 501 (c) 3 nonprofit and serve as its vice president. My good friend, John Yeager, retired from the Corps of Engineers and from pastoring Enslow Park Presbyterian church, is our president.

Light touches in the film include the realities that both medics are studying with tutors elsewhere in Ukraine. Cuba working on her dress designs and Alaska trying to learn English. They are thus on their cell phones doing lessons all the while hustling off to their next rescue site. Cuba, amid her medic runs, is sketching what she hopes will light up the runway at a forthcoming fashion show in Paris.

Incredibly enough during the film, Cuba does get her chance for a trip to the City of Lights to dress models with her latest creations—to much applause from the haute couture crowd.

There is also heartbreak. A romance struck up between Cuba and a Ukrainian marksman leads to a frontline wedding, followed all too soon by the soldier’s fatal encounter with shrapnel.

Another poignant moment comes when Alaska suffers a leg wound that puts her in the hospital with uncertain prospects for recovery. Suddenly Cuba is alone in the jeep and pining for her best friend. Alaska pulls through, however, and wants nothing more than to be back in the fray. Brave ladies, both.

      Slava Ukraini! Glory to Ukraine!

— Article by John Patrick Grace reprinted from Herald Dispatch, April 29, 2026

Sunflower Seeds recognized the four years at war milestone with a Prayer Service on February 24, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, Huntington, West Virginia at 7:00 p.m.

About 30 people gave of themselves for a solemn time of prayer and reflection. The El Coro Octet performed in the church’s chapel. Dr. Bob McCollister presented the current status of the war and negotiations. John Yeager provided a status report on Sunflower Seeds activities.

This service was an opportunity to grieve the loss of so many lives and the trauma of the wounded and all affected. It is hoped that spiritual healing will come to those who participated and to those who were prayer for.

Special thanks to FUMC for the use of their chapel and to Rev. Scott Sears and Allie Bright (office mgr.) who helped coordinate the event.   

Cover design of the “How to” manual

(Book summary by Dr. Bob McCollister)

The book is entitled Autocratic Capture – The Assault on American Democracy is available on Amazon. Here’s a chapter by chapter summary:

• Chapter 1 – The Orbán Model of Authoritarian Capture
• Chapter 2 – Implementing the Orbán Model at the National Level
• Chapter 3 – Implementing the Orbán Model at the National Level Part II
• Chapter 4 – Implementing the Orbán Model in State Capitals
• Chapter 5 – Implementing the Orbán Model in State Capitals -Education, Courts, and Corruption
• Chapter 6 – History is Rhyming – When Democracy in America Failed After Reconstruction
• Chapter 7 – Lessons from Reconstruction
• Chapter 8 – The Movement to Save Democracy Afterword

Interns receive Sunflower Seeds Certificates designed by Debbie Yeager

We did it, Tri-State! Thanks to you, Sunflower Seeds has officially reached $250,000 in monetary and medical supply donations for Ukraine.  Your support keeps our community blooming, and we’re not stopping here. Next goal: $300K. Let’s grow together.

Hi, its me Sunny. I’m spending more time outdoors of late. Playing with my ball, zoomies, and taking walks. It got me thinking about what sports in Ukraine involve human and animal interaction. Here’s what I learned from AI.

Popular sports involving animals in Ukraine primarily center on equestrian activities, including show jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing, often featuring the native Ukrainian Riding Horse. Traditional Cossack-style horse games are also part of the cultural heritage, while animal welfare initiatives have seen local women’s football teams incorporate rescue dog adoption into their matches.

The Cossack ethos is still strong in Ukraine