Joseph Sabino Mistick: Sacrificing and standing with Ukraine

It was one of those little surprises, a card sent to the office by a friend from overseas in the thick of the pandemic, not getting into my hands until months later because we were all still working from home. It was from Simon Kale, from Bath, England, a keen observer of American politics and a stamp collector.

Using his own stamps and some from his mother-in-law Jean’s collection, Simon created a vintage stamp collage for his American friend. He calls it “Stars & Stripes,” an assembly of 28 American stamps, reminders of the price of freedom that people everywhere have paid.

Many of the stamps were issued when Americans stood with other freedom-loving people to fight a common enemy — times when we knew that wars are won on battlefields and at home. There are Statue of Liberty stamps and some that honor Washington, Lincoln and FDR.

It is better that I received it late instead of when it was originally mailed because now it symbolizes the Ukrainian people and their freedom fighters. And it reminds us that, while there is no greater sacrifice than dying for freedom, war anywhere can make things tougher everywhere, even far from the battlefield.

Gas, energy and food prices are spiking here, increasing the cost of living for everyone. In a perfect world, those who are better off would feel the sting more than the needy, but the world is not perfect. And, for now, these shared sacrifices are the best we can do to stand with the Ukrainians.

Across Europe, where they thought they were mostly done with tyrants after World War II, our NATO allies are wondering if they will be next. So far, they are standing together against Putin, a remarkable alliance especially for those countries that rely on Russian fuel and grain.

We know how to do this. During World Wars I and II, thrift campaigns and victory gardens became national policies, and Americans scrimped and invested in war bonds. Ration cards were needed for meager shares of gasoline, meat, coffee, milk, fuel, oil and shoes — supplies best diverted to our soldiers.

Trade disruptions created shortages of cars, bicycles and tires. Young boys and the wives of soldiers filled the jobs left vacant in the mills and factories, changing the direction of their lives forever.

Since 1973, when the United States ended the draft, a small number of young volunteer Americans have made the greatest sacrifices. That has made it easy for the rest of us to forget our duty to sacrifice what we can at home for the sake of freedom.

But Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has put us somewhat back on track. Just last week, when nothing seemed important enough to heal our bitter national political divisions, the House of Representatives and Senate voted — on a fully bipartisan basis — to pass a massive spending bill that includes $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine.

We will all sacrifice what we can for Ukraine. And many of us will follow the advice on the 13-cent American bicentennial stamp that appears on the lower right corner of the collage. There it says, “Pray for peace.” And we will remember that we stand for something.