National event for POW/MIA

That stands for prisoner of war and missing in action.

In February a genealogist hired by the Dept of Defense determined who my grandfather’s relatives were. I was invited to the even today. 

A ghost war hero takes up a lot of space in family lore. 

The event went well.  Speeches. March. Band. Fly over. Soldier passed out. Asked families of MIAs and POWs to stand.

The Ukrainian ambassador was there. This is the second time I’ve been near her. There were Ukrainian soldiers there too. I shook one’s hand and said, “Slava Ukraine.” 

My grandfather disappeared in WWII. They are still working to reunite remains with families. I thought of Russia, abandoning soldiers, alive and dead, presumably to avoid paying benefits to families and to avoid people understanding the real toll of the war. 

Menstruation envy.

Ukraine’s military said it has recaptured a village south of Bakhmut, Andriivka. 
Critical videos by Russian soldiers continue, including one saying commanders are blackmailing soldiers into fighting and that the government is stealing their salaries.