From Ukraine with love: Thanks for the memories

From Ukraine with love: Thanks for the memories
EDITOR:
Last year, as the result of fate and hard work, I became one of the finalists of the Freedom Support Act Future Leaders Exchange Program that placed me in Youngstown and Boardman. I did not expect to end my senior year in an American high school with a diploma with honors from Boardman High, and am grateful to have achieved this. Experienced and attentive teachers of the schools (Chaney and Boardman) that I attended gave me new knowledge and helped me adapt to American school life easily.
My stay here has come to an end and I am thankful to Americans for the warmth and the attention they surrounded me with. I am leaving (hopefully not for a long time) with a feeling that is very hard to describe: On one hand I want to go home to Ukraine, but on the other hand, it is very hard for me to leave the kind people, my friends and my host family. The Agnews treated me as a member of their family (or even better). They organized trips for me to New York City, South Carolina, and cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh, which helped me see more of the United States. I am also thankful to my host organization CCI, my local representative Kathy Llewellyn, and to the Wards, the Shuttleworths and the Jays, with whom I also stayed.
This is not my first time going abroad. I have been to England and Canada before. Adding the United States to these earlier experiences made me want to contribute to the developing of international relations. The friendliness of Americans and the ease of communication with them persuaded me that the relations between Ukraine and the United States in particular should continue to develop.
I also consider it my obligation to tell people of Ukraine about the great citizens of Boardman and Youngstown, and the citizens of the United States overall. It would be very interesting for Ukrainians to know how Americans live, because they care about life on Earth and about developing better relations in the future world.
Thank you for sharing you resources with me.
ATALIYA SHTURKHETSKA
Ukraine
X Ataliya wrote this shortly before returning home last month.
Time for some flag waving
EDITOR:
I was happy to read Gail White's column on Flag Day. Years ago, America anticipated Flag Day, as my Mom recalls. It was a great part of summer.
Parades, picnics and patriotism. It was great.
It is time to revive this lost tradition. In our community we are planning on organizing a real celebration next Flag Day.
KRISTINA INGENITO
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Friendly's staff in Polandunderstands eatery's name
EDITOR:
June 26, my sister and her husband came from Hubbard to listen to music in Mauthe Park. By the way, he is 87, and she is 78 and on a walker. After the music we went to Friendly's in Poland. We ate, and about 10 p.m. we were ready to leave and the waitress said it was raining. Well it was pouring. The help couldn't be more helpful.
A young man who works there got an umbrella, but it couldn't cover my sister, her husband and walker. Three waitresses were overly concerned. We were parked in a handicapped spot, but it wasn't that close. The boy got an umbrella from the outside table, which covered my sister, her walker and her husband to get to the car. Then he walked me to the car.
I couldn't thank him enough. If his boss reads this, give him a pat on the back. The name Friendly's fits like a glove. Thank you, employees, and I hope if you need help someday you will truly get it.
ANGELINE SWANTNER
Struthers