NY Times: Ukrainian flags are on display all over Maine. Why? (No paywall)

[Tomconroy]

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WALDOBORO, Maine — Clam diggers visit Elaine and Ralph Johnston’s hardware store in the coastal town of Waldoboro for shellfish rakes and waders. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, they have also been able to pick up a more unusual item: the Ukrainian flag, sold for $15.99.

Across Maine, the yellow and blue banner — yellow symbolizing the plentiful wheat fields of Ukraine, blue, the sky overhead — flutters from flagpoles. It decorates lobster buoys and barn doors, clapboard houses sprayed with sea salt and cabins nestled in pine forests.

Unlike in cities like New York and Chicago, where symbols of Ukrainian pride in part reflect a large diaspora community, there are few people of Ukrainian heritage in Maine. But the flag’s widespread presence in the state shows another kind of solidarity. Mainers like to say theirs is a flinty spirit, born of enduring harsh winters and an equally harsh economy.

“People over there are doing a good job fighting for their land and their survival, and we in Maine, we like that,” Ms. Johnston said. “We sell flags to people who feel the way we do.”

Ukrainian Flags Are on Display All Over Maine. Why? https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/us/ukrainian-flags-are-on-display-all-over-maine-why.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqYhlSVUZBSbIRp86rQePhP7Oybp5iHv3IzPQQCxPiuMTRoSB4F_JbLsmbt83mjOFScUENbYuQvE30e9OeUxxTg3i6r21pKM4GQRn44SiQjFxmJvXQbEz9TKtYDXjdrolmLD64EjcYX3tD6yJzSYjd1568pU0dVv70SNYxvrFAfc1joclpYopAZpwQzYEYCWY7bK_W1glZoLwPlyL4RI2WupZRTnQgdWYjroDew1WAljEJ2httSd-sJgPfYNKY9usakIoa8H8gr4OCmd3LI7PB5U5R4fclb0Coqf5ZF_4N2J9zCqNw7r4ZTgt

Mine flies in CT.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Perhaps people in Maine cherish freedom & know loss of freedom one place diminishes ALL. . . nt

[KS Toronado]

2. Fly mine in KS every day weather permitting

[Donkees]

3. "We sell flags to people who feel the way we do." 🇺🇦$15.99

Portland officials are concerned about where to house potential Ukrainian refugees

Ray said GPCOG hasn’t heard anything yet about Ukrainians resettling in Maine. She said she wasn’t sure how local communities can help, given how thin current resources are stretched.

Dow said she is also worried about the logistics of helping Ukrainians who want to settle in Portland.

“I’m not really sure where the refugees would go,” she said.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/news/2022/04/29/ukrainian-refugee-announcement-worries-portland-officials

[niyad]

4. Colorado Springs here, and mine is not alone.

[progree]

5. Russian flag - white on top symbolizes snow covering everything. The blue below it is meltwater

(July-August only). And the red below that symbolizes hell.

Anyway, that's how I remember the order of the 3 colors.

the yellow and blue banner — yellow symbolizing the plentiful wheat fields of Ukraine, blue, the sky overhead

[paleotn]

6. Ubiquitous in VT as well....

The front entrance to Pico Mountain Ski Resort is bedecked in US, Vermont and Ukrainian flags. Mine flies from the garage. It won't come down until Ukraine wins the war. Solidarity!

[DFW]

7. Last Monday, I was in Madrid

In every major square or roundabout, there were Spanish and Ukrainian flags flying.

[mainer]

8. I see them everywhere here

But I had no idea we had more than in other states. Makes me proud to be a Mainer.