Residents, organizations gather together to send a message — Laguna stands with Ukraine
Throughout the city of Laguna Beach, city officials, local organizations and residents are coming together to send a message they hope will transmit resonant waves of peace and solidarity during a time of international crisis — Laguna stands with Ukraine.
In the days following the Russian invasion, Lagunans have described a growing sense of dread watching tragic events unfold overseas. This week, a series of local acts and tributes have begun sprouting up throughout the beach town.
On Wednesday at dusk, city officials flipped the switch on the lights of the Laguna Beach Lifeguard tower, now illuminated in blue and yellow to represent the Ukrainian flag.
The symbolic gesture was initiated by Mayor Sue Kempf during a City Council meeting.
“The lifeguard tower is probably the most iconic piece of architecture we have in our town, and when important things happen, periodically we will light it up,” Kempf said Friday.
“We have a number of people here who are worried and sympathetic to what’s happening in Ukraine,” she continued. “I think there’s an underlying concern people have to the world in general right now.”
City Clerk Ann Marie McKay said people have stopped by her office to ask what can be done at the civic level to support those impacted by the war as well as residents from Ukraine or who may know people there.
“It’s important the city does what it can to say our hearts are with them,” she said.
McKay on Thursday morning took part in one act of solidarity, standing with at least 50 local residents outside Laguna Beach City Hall for a group photo. Wearing blue and yellow and clutching sunflowers — a sign of Ukrainian resistance — they assembled on the lawn.
The effort was organized by local resident Denny Freidenrich, a retired marketing executive who’s galvanized similar showings of support during epochal moments, including the May 2020 death of George Floyd and the reopening of businesses last June after long-lasting pandemic closures.
Before the photo, Freidenrich, 73, addressed those assembled.
“People, in real time, are seeing the horrors of war,” he said. “Can you imagine what it would look like if here in town bombs were dropping? Imagine having to make a split decision to stay or leave.
“A picture is worth a thousand words, but I want to amend that just a bit to four words — Laguna stands with Ukraine,” Freidenrich said, as the crowd chanted the phrase and shutters snapped.
Among the participants was Kathleen Quinlivan, 63, who works at the Chakra Shack, a metaphysical supply store. She came out of a desire to help foster a sense of peace and to help relieve her own feelings of helplessness.
“My heart is broken for them,” said Quinlivan, who created a small laminated Ukrainian flag with the image of fingers making a peace sign for the photo. “This is what we need now — we need peace. It’s all about love right now. It’s absolutely necessary, even if it’s just a group of 50 of us.”
Freidenrich encouraged people to share photos on social media and also consider making a donation to the humanitarian aid organization UNICEF, at unicef.org, or to the European Food Banks Federation, at eurofoodbank.org.
On Thursday evening, during a special monthly prayer service at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, residents were encouraged to light a candle, meditate and say a prayer for those suffering abroad.
“We’re telling people if they have a sunflower to bring it to the prayer service,” office manager Ryan Martin said beforehand. “We’re going to be reflecting and offering prayers for Ukraine.”
Laguna Beach residents are aware gestures alone will not solve the global crisis. It’s more about creating energy and awareness around peace and togetherness.
“When you see other people from your community gathering on the lawn of City Hall in support of others, it gives you a feeling of the warmth and compassion we have,” Kempf said, “not just in our community but for people suffering all over the world.”
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