I sure didn’t expect I’d get the chance to meet the president of Ukraine, but it happened. Like so many events here, it just casually popped up out of the blue—like, hey, do you want to go grab some coffee? So one day I’m sitting in the office and my counterpart breaks from her phone conversation and asks, “John, would you like to go see Poroshenko on Wednesday?”
“Sure,” I answered.
“He says, ‘da.'”
And just like that I was on the list.
Turns out President Petro Poroshenko was coming to Mykolaiv for a working visit and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Ukrainian Marine Corps. Since
he’s kind of a big deal, I decided to throw on my suit and tie and wear my Peace Corps lapel pin for an ambassador-like appearance. I met the contingent of veterans from our organization in the morning, all of them in uniform and adorned with their medals, and we headed over to the ceremony down by the river.
Once we all signed in and cleared the security checkpoint, I was happy to see a Navy ship at anchor gleaming spotless in a fresh coat of haze grey, dressed from bow to stern flying her colorful ceremonial pennants. I felt nostalgic as it took me back 30 years to my Navy days, and could relate to all those swabbies busting their asses getting that ship “Four O (perfect).”
Passing by a big rose garden, I saw a special unit with bomb-sniffing German Shepherds, metal detectors and shovels turning up the dirt here and there. It was somewhat reassuring to see such extra precaution taking place, and was also a reminder that these are still dangerous times with the war going on.
Nevertheless, the show went on. The military band struck up the music and everybody took their places as commander-in-chief Poroshenko arrived on the scene by motor barge. Following the Ukrainian national anthem, the president delivered his speech. I couldn’t understand much of what he was saying, but he sure sounded forceful as he was no doubt denouncing the Russian aggressor.
Then came the service awards ceremony, where Poroshenko presented medals to soldiers for acts of heroism and to the next of kin of the fallen. Although the recipients saluted him, I was surprised he didn’t salute back. I thought maybe it was because he didn’t serve in the military, but I looked it up and indeed he did serve, from 1984-1986. (So I also learned he’s 53. A year older than me!)
Once the ceremony ended, people ran up to him to take selfies. Since I was pretty close, I thought this was my chance too. But all of a sudden one of our guys, Sergei, grabbed me and told me to come follow him. I was trying to tell him I wanted to get a picture but he kept motioning for me to come with. Thinking I was missing my chance, I almost blew him off but, he was really being persistent. So like an angry little kid, I said a few choice words under my breath and trudged along.
Turns out he had something else in mind. We stationed ourselves near the front steps of the city council building, where the president would be heading to meet with other government officials. Sure enough after about 30 minutes I could see him and his entourage approaching. Taking a bold step forward and putting out my hand, I said, “Добрий дерь Містер Президент, Я Американець (Good day Mister President, I’m an American.” Mayor Senkevich, whom I’ve met a few times, leaned over and told him I was in the Peace Corps.
Poroshenko, showing off his English fluency asked, “So, how do you like Mykolaiv?” “Oh, I love it!” I told him. “I’m having a great time in your beautiful country.” Then he proceeded to tell me about the reason for the day’s celebration, the 100-year anniversary of the Ukrainian Marine Corps, which I knew but let him go on anyway. And as he did, the girl I asked to take a picture with my phone snapped this one:
And with that, one of the more memorable days of my service was complete. Except for capping off the long day standing in the hot sun and quenching my thirst with a couple cold mugs of Lvivske lager.