In response to a report in the Washington Post about the missile attack on innocent civilians at a train station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, who were trying to flee the conflict zone, Michigan-based composer Gerald Custer created the text for a new piece, “For the Children,” and posted it on Facebook on April 13:
For The Children
This is for the children— The blinded ones, The wounded ones, The ones taken far too soon. This is for the mothers— The ones who search, The ones who weep, The ones whose hope is gone. This is for the omas and the opas— And all those left behind, For all who grieve and mourn, Who see old ghosts returning. And this is for the fighters— Asleep now in the dust, Scattered across the roads, Never to be forgotten. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis, Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Hundreds of people had assembled ahead of an arriving train in Kramatorsk, jostling for space on the platform and in the main hall of the red-brick train station, hoping to flee a looming Russian offensive.
It was then that at least one missile struck the station, tearing through the evacuees, at least 50 of whom were killed. Another 98 were wounded, according to the regional governor. Reporters arrived about 15 minutes after the attack and counted at least 20 dead, including children.
A large piece of a missile had landed about 100 yards from the building entrance. On one side, the words “for the children” were written in Russian. (Washington Post)