With the Shield

Nonprofit Organization
501(c)(3)
EIN: 92-3623991

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With the Shield, or on It

Today, Ukrainians are often referred to as the “New Spartans”.

They have become known and admired around the world for their courage, loyalty to their Motherland, unity, devotion, defiance, strength and honor.

This is true not only of Ukrainian men but also of Ukrainian women: these mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters are probably among the most dauntless, boldest and strongest in the world. Much like ancient Spartan women, Ukrainian women, throughout years of war and resistance, are bred to say to those whom they love and treasure the most that they must return home from battle “with the shield or on it” - either carrying it victoriously or carried upon it.

‘H TAN H EПI TAΣ’ (“With it or on it”)

The Greek writer, Plutarch, tells the story of a Greek mother who, when sending her son to the battlefield, gave him his shield with the words, ‘H TAN H EПI TAΣ’ (“With it or on it”). This became an admonition given to Spartan warriors who were headed into battle - “Victory or Death.” Victorious warriors returned home carrying their shields; warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice were borne home on them. Only those who fled battle, shedding themselves of weapons and equipment to hasten their flight, came home without their shields. To return without one’s shield was to return without honor. To ancient Spartans, just as to Ukrainians today, being a coward, fleeing from the battlefield or losing is not an option! Over the years, the phrase has evolved, and “return with honor” remains a fundamental tenet of the US military service. So too does the tradition of never leaving a man behind.

Be The Light abides by this sacred creed of honor and dignity. We stand with the true Warriors of Light - the Armed Forces of Ukraine - and we believe in leaving no soldier behind, permanently supporting as many military units as possible, each unit, each soldier at the frontlines. Hence, Be The Light projects, aimed at supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was named after the sacred call of honor ‘With the Shield’ and continues its proud legacy by helping each soldier to return home alive and with honor.

Shield Leadership

The Leaders of ‘With the Shield’ Project stand united with each soldier - shielding with their lives the values of Liberty and Justice, Freedom and Democracy, Sovereignty and Integrity of Ukraine. These leaders stand in accordance with the sacred call of honor - “With the Shield or On It”. They stand with the true ‘Warriors of Light’ - the Armed Forces of Ukraine. With the goal to help each soldier return home alive and with honor.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

- is a Ukrainian four-star general who has served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 27 July 2021. He is also concurrently a member of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Nicknamed “Iron General”, Zaluzhnyi was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. He has received praise for his skill at "adapting to a fast- changing battlefield" through effective delegation and information gathering during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zaluzhnyi has been awarded the Cross of Military Merit, Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the insignia "Personalized firearm", All-Ukrainian Literary & Art Prize of Lepkyi Brothers, Order of Saint Great-Martyr George the Victorybearer and Officer's Cross of the Order of the Cross of Vytis. Valerii Zaluzhnyi not only stands as a commander-in-chief with the Armed Forces of Ukraine but also supports them even on a deeply personal level: receiving a $1 million inheritance, he has transferred it to a special account of the National Bank of Ukraine to raise funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Knights of the Shield

Knights of the Shield are 'With the Shield' knights of the Round Table. They abide by the sacred creed “Victory or Death,” never fleeing from the battlefield, never giving up and never leaving a fellow soldier behind. To them just as to the Spartans before them, being a coward, fleeing the battlefield, or losing, is not an option!
To 'return with honor' is their creed. They stand with the true Warriors of Light - the Armed Forces of Ukraine - helping each soldier return home alive and with honor.

Mamuka Mamulashvili

- is a legendary Georgian military unit leader with military call sign 'Hero', who currently commands the Georgian Legion, part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Mamulashvili fought for Georgia in the War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) when he was only 14, alongside his father who was a Georgian military officer. Mamulashvili later recalled, "My first war was in the 1990s, in Abkhazia."
During the war, he was captured by Abkhaz forces and held for three months before being released. Mamulashvili was both the child soldier and the child POW who never lost his honor, dignity and loyalty to the Motherland. For his courage at the age of 14 he was awarded the 3rd degree Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali (1992) and went on to be a highly decorated commander throughout his military career. His awards have included: Order of the People's Hero of Ukraine, Order for Courage, Cross of Ivan Mazepa and medal "For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine". In 2014, Mamulashvili was one of the founding members of the Ukrainian Georgian Legion and is currently leading it against the 2022 Russian invasion. The Legion under his command took the lead in the Battle of Hostomel Airport.

Dmytro Kuznetsov

- is the Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Head of the Central Department of Material Support of the Military Rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Throughout the war he has been and remains focused on maximizing supplies to the Armed Forces units, fully devoting himself to the mission of logistical and material support for the soldiers. Kuznetsov is truly one of the unsung, behind-the-scenes heroes, making the impossible possible throughout many years of war with Russia. He works to make sure that soldiers have all the necessities needed to continue defending Ukraine, Democracy, Liberty and the rest of the Western World. He is the 'guardian angel' for the 'Warriors of Light', always guarding their rear, always having their backs. Be The Light is honored to work together with Kuznetsov on supplying soldiers with necessities, to make sure that they can enjoy at least some sense of normalcy and comfort at a time of on-going war.

Warriors of Light - Armed Forces of Ukraine

Be The Light abides by the sacred creed of honor and dignity. We stand with the true ‘Warriors of Light’ - the Armed Forces of Ukraine - and we believe in leaving no man behind. We permanently support as many military units as possible, each unit, each soldier at the frontlines. Here are some of the units we support on a regular basis:

Servants of the Shield

Every member of our Be the Light team are devoted 'Servants of the Shield'. Every day our team members make the impossible possible. Since the first days of the open invasion and war, our team is gathering, packaging and delivering aid to the frontlines. This is our labour of love and devotion, our loyalty to the sacred creed of honor and to Ukraine.

Our Team Delivers to the Frontlines Personally!

Our Be The Light team members are always “With the Shield”. We take pride in personally delivering aid and comfort to the frontlines and to the units. We know soldiers personally: we call them by name, we listen to their heartfelt stories, we respond to their calls for help.

Heroes of the Shield

Our Team is supporting permanently more than 210 military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the frontlines:

Become the 'Hero of the Shield' - Help us to Continue to Support the Armed Forces of Ukraine!

All donations made through the official Be The Light Account go solely towards the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

ACCOUNT NO. : 952772975
ACCOUNT TITLE : BE THE LIGHT INC.
BANK NAME/NUMBER : JPMorgan Chase Bank, N .A ( 802 )

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