On August 23, 2019, O.O.Osmerkin Art-Memorial Museum held a patriotic art event to Ukraine Flag Day. A traveling themed photo exhibition “The Symbol of Dignity and Freedom” was presented near the museum building. The museum visitors, bypassers, who stopped to look at the photographs, took photos with a blue and yellow flag.
    Twenty color photographs of Ukrainian Flag from the museum collection brightly reflect turning historical events during the Revolution of Dignity in the capital and our town, as well as festive events. The authors of the photo records are famous Kropyvnytskyi photo reporters – Merited Journalist of Ukraine Ihor Demchuk, members of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Oleksandr Shuleshko and Oleksandr Kolominov, and also a member of the National Union of Photo Artists of Ukraine Yurii Lebediev. The photographs have already been exhibited in the museum at different themed and traveling photo exhibitions; the most resonant of them was “Revolution of Dignity. Chronicle of Events”, dedicated to the anniversary of the tragic events on Maidan in February 2014.
    The museum flash mob caused mixed emotions among the town dwellers – from surprise, and sometimes even discontent, to pure fascination among the majority of the visitors. After learning about the event, Oleh Kupriashkin, the son of the museum worker, put on his military uniform with battle honors and brought a flag with signatures of his sworn brothers, the majority of whom were killed in Volnovakha. Keeping the flag, he took a photo with his mother, who waited for him to come from the war, with tears in her eyes, because other mothers weren’t so lucky to see their sons.
    So, may the State Flag be a symbol of dignity and freedom for all of us not only on holidays but every day. And despite all obstacles, we must respect it with faith, hope, and confidence in the future of Ukraine, where a small Kropyvnytskyi boy Oleksiiko, who raises the flag up to the sun, will have a happy life.