HOST JACKIE TANTILLO -The Iron Will Of Ukrainian Women with Guest Anya Tomko

<p>The details of the 2022 Ukraine/Russia conflict change minute by minute and hour by hour.  What's difficult for  my guest and her 80 year old mother,  Mariyka, to understand is how shocking this event is. Here we are in the 21st century, and Ukraine is under attack.  Certainly not plausible, but clearly possible. What makes this all the more difficult is the fact that Anya and her mom have many relatives still in the Ukraine today.  They've set up group chats on their phones to make sure that they can all stay in touch with updates regarding their safety and where-a-bouts.</p><p>The rich Ukrainian culture has played a significant role in my guest's life.  She attended the Ukrainian Cultural Center of NJ in Whippany, as a child growing up. She and her sibling, studied the language, traditions, history, etc. Anya also raised her own children  with the same ideation that their Ukrainian culture was very important and they too had to learn and understand the significance  of these traditions.  </p><p>In 1949, Mariyka's  family was sponsored by a German family and they were able to move to the US. However,  they moved to Wisconsin.  They often felt isolated. There was no family close by, yet they held on to their values, language and traditions. It was vital that they remember all that they had been through and because of their beliefs and strength they survived.</p><p>On the contrary, Anya's father, as a child moved directly to the lower east side of Manhattan with his family and were immersed in a rich Ukrainian culture 24/7. They had full support from their neighbors and community which helped them overcome their longing for their homeland.</p><p>The same patriotism  still exists today as it did long ago, when both mom and dad arrived in the United States and held utmost respect and longing for Ukraine. That's why Anya says of her relatives still in Ukraine today, "they are scared but there is not a single doubt in their minds that they need to stay. They love their country and they will fight to defend it."  Th