Meaning «man who exhibits great bravery» in any course of action is from 1660s in English. Sense of «chief male character in a play, story, etc.» first recorded 1690s. Hero-worship is from 1713 in reference to ancient cults and mysteries; of living men by 1830s. In Homer, of the Greeks before Troy, then a comprehensive term used of warriors generally, also of all free men in the Heroic Age. In classical mythology from at least the time of Hesiod (8c.) B.C.E.) «man born from a god and a mortal,» especially one who had done service to mankind; with the exception of Heracles limited to local deities and patrons of cities.     the term is also used in a specialized sense for any figure celebrated in the ancient legends of a people or in such early heroic epics as Gilgamesh, the Iliad, Beowulf, or La Chanson de Roland.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was asked to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the US government but turned down the offer.    Zelensky said in response: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat.

I still remember the effect that reading the children’s version of La Chanson de Roland had on me. I had the image of his death after all his comrades had fallen, refusing to be rescued.  

In 1961, when member of Brigade 2506, a group of around 300 other members and two ships, Atlántico and Lake Charles waited anxiously for Washington (read John Kennedy) to give the order to comply with the air support that was promised to us.    Finally belatedly the approval came.    While waiting to join the fight, I was given the go ahead by the Ships Capitan to hear all of San Roman’s pleas for air support, at his radio’s short wave.

My anger grew and was teary-eyed up from the frustration of our inability to join our comrades.    When ready to make our approach for our landing, the news came that it was too late. Orders came to change the reinforcement plan to a rescue operation. When advised, our Commander Pepe San Roman made another heroic decision denying the rescue with his words “we will never abandon our Homeland”.  

As a member, not representing our association, have no doubts that they, led by Colonel De la Cruz and soon by Raffi Montalvo, a scion of Cuba’s patriots, will join me in shouting “we fought, and continue to, for our freedom, but now we “are all Ukranians”