Hawley 'VOTE' sculpture repainted to honor Ukrainians
HAWLEY — Traveling through Hawley on Route 6, as you pass the Hawley Silk Mill, you may see the vibrant colors of the Ukrainian flag — half yellow and half blue, recently painted on the 12-foot steel "VOTE" sculpture.
It is especially visible for anyone driving west on 6 into town, its colors most striking in the afternoon sun.
Christopher Hughes, a professional architectural metal fabricator, repainted the sign on March 3, moved by the atrocities of the ongoing war being waged by Russia on Ukraine.
The sculpture previously had been colored mostly orange with a little blue.
"It hit me at lunch to paint it in the Ukrainian colors," Hughes said. "I was so outraged about what is going on."
He said someone mentioned to him that if he made this gesture of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, perhaps someone would take a picture and post it online. Then it is just possible, someone in Ukraine might see the picture.
He said if that would offer a "little encouragement," he would be pleased.
Of interest: Ukrainian Homestead rallies with Poconos community in Jim Thorpe
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A message of support for Ukraine
The sculpture, which was unveiled at the Silk Mill in August of 2018, isn't meant to be political or tell anyone how to vote, he said.
The structure weighs nearly 1,000 pounds. The "V" in "VOTE" is formed like a checkmark within the frame of a ballot box, and the “O” appears like a globe. At first it was displayed with its original pewter color.
The idea is simply to encourage Americans to participate and support their democracy by voting.
Hughes, a strong believer in the Democratic process, lamented how voter turnout had been dwindling. He said whomever is elected really impacts your life. He said he supports voting by mail as a means to lift barriers to voting.
Hughes created a "Forever Stamp" sculpture, which he had affixed to the VOTE piece to encourage the right to vote by mail.
As for painting it in Ukrainian colors, Hughes affirmed it supports the message to support the idea of democracy. For the Ukrainians, he said the repainted sculpture makes a statement: "We support you."
"Combining the Ukrainian colors and 'VOTE' sort of says, 'we're with you.'" Hughes said.
While he was out there repainting it, he said a lot of drivers came by and honked or raised "fist bumps" in support. One man, however, stopped and suggested it should be red, white and blue, for the U.S. flag.
The yellow in the national flag of Ukraine represents wheat, and the blue represents the sky.
Of interest: Here are ways to help Ukraine if you're in northeast Pa.
Hawley citizens react
Ann Bomba Kreiter is a senior citizen who was raised in Hawley and still lives there. Her late parents, Charles Konstanty Bomba and the former Anna Hadupiak, were from Galicia in western Ukraine. Her father was born in 1893, and her mother in 1894.
They immigrated to the United States and were wed here in 1915. Kreiter is the youngest of four children. Their father owned and operated C.K. Bomba & Sons car dealership for many years at the corner of Church Street and Penn Avenue in Hawley.
She stated she remembers well the air raid drills and black-outs in World War II.
"It's very upsetting," Kreiter said of the plight of the Ukrainians. She said she was not aware if she had any relations still living there. Her parents spoke Ukrainian to each other at home though she never learned it.
"Those people are suffering; they didn't hurt anyone. They don't deserve this," she said.
"It's very disturbing. It's a shame people can't let people live who are not doing anything to them... I hope its soon over and the people can go back— I don't know if they ever can."
"It's terrible...the images we see on TV, the pain and suffering of the Ukraine people," Hawley's Mayor John Nichols said. "I don't think any human being with a soul could agree with this."
Nichols, who served 37 years in the U.S. Air Force, said Hughes' idea to repaint the sculpture was a "great idea" and called it a reminder to be "thankful for the blessings we have here." The mayor also serves as 2nd Vice Commander at American Legion Wilson-Kelch Post 311 in Hawley.
"Chris Hughes' veneration for freedom inspired him to build a sculpture dedicated to remind the people that the foundation of democracy is the right and the duty to VOTE," Juan Espino, a Hawley artist and art gallery owner, commented.
Hughes commented it was no surprise how valiant the Ukrainian people have been, rising up in one accord to defend their country from an unprovoked attack by a foreign invader. He suggested that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has encountered a brave resistance he did not expect and is too proud to step back now without finding an easy "off ramp."
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This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Pike County sculpture painted in colors of Ukrainian flag
