A delegation from the Vitebsk region took part in a solemn assembly on the occasion of Victory Day at the Palace of the Republic
- Our land is abundantly watered with tears and blood, - noted Alexander Subbotin. - An incredible number of tragic events occurred during the Great Patriotic War. In the Verkhnedvinsk district alone, 426 villages were burned down. But there was courage, resilience, and fierce resistance to the enemy. This inspires pride in our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Awarding pennants to settlements that particularly distinguished themselves during the war is a connecting thread between past, present, and future generations.
Thus, ten settlements in the Vitebsk region have been recognized as citadels of courage – the largest number among the country's regions.
- The memory of the feat accomplished by the young partisans is dear to every resident of the urban settlement of Obol. The news that Obol was awarded the pennant "For Courage and Resilience during the Great Patriotic War" was met with joy by the residents of the urban settlement. After all, everyone knows the contribution made by the Obol partisans to the common victory. According to tradition, on Victory Day, a procession takes place in Obol, with portraits of the young partisans at the head of the column.
Sergey Galynchik, Chairman of the Shumilinsky District Executive Committee:
- A special thrill and sense of pride is evoked by the fact that I had the immense honor of receiving such an important award for the urban settlement of Obol - the pennant "For Courage and Resilience during the Great Patriotic War". The feat of the Obol Komsomol members is truly immortal. Their example should be the main guideline for the younger generation, fostering the best qualities that were inherent in our grandfathers and great-grandfathers – boundless love for the Motherland, self-sacrifice, courage, and bravery. Through the memory of the past, we create the future. This pennant is a symbol of the dignity and honor with which our Obol residents went through all the severe trials. And therefore, it is a symbol of our pride in them.
- My feelings were overwhelming as I walked onto the stage, - said Vasily Shilov, Chairman of the Verkhnedvinsk District Executive Committee. - This award is soaked in the blood of our countrymen, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers. If every third person perished in Belarus, then in our district, it was every second. The urban settlement of Osveya, which was the district center at the time, was completely destroyed by the fascists during the war. More than 180 settlements of the former Osveya district were burned to the ground. We will honor and pass on the memory of the victors to future generations.
Ulyana Voitekhovich, a student at Polotsk College of PSU named after P. Masherov:
- I experienced vivid and moving emotions at the award ceremony. We must cherish, be proud of, and remember the feat of those who fought for the freedom of our Motherland.