FADEL: At Viktor [Dudar]'s graveside, his wife, Oksana, stands with their daughter. In Oksana's arms, she carries the folded flags that draped her husband's casket.
If you could just tell me about Viktor?
OKSANA: (Through interpreter) I met Viktor when we were students. And he was always kind.
FADEL: They were always together. And there was only one day in their lives He didn't call, the first time he fought against the Russians eight years ago.
And this time, did he volunteer to go back? And did you ask him not to?
OKSANA: (Through interpreter) Yes, he went as a volunteer. But I didn't say no to that because I knew that even if I would say that, you cannot really change his mind if he feels he would go. In order to support him, once I said it's better to be a widow of the hero than the wife of the person who is afraid.
I gather that it could also be more pithily translated as "it's better to be the widow of a hero than the wife of a coward."
If Mrs. Dudar lives a good, long life, she will tell her children and her grandchildren about her husband's heroism in fighting the Russian invaders. They will pass the story along.
Russia's war will yield a long harvest of hate, well into the next century.
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