A memorial plaque to Hero of the Soviet Union Semyon Pustelnikov was unveiled on the school building in Orsha
The event was attended by the Deputy Chairman of the Orsha District Executive Committee Viktor Kolochov, heads of ideological work departments of the Smorgon border detachment and the Lyntupy border post Andrey Zakharov and Nikita Lebedev, as well as representatives of the education department of the Orsha District Executive Committee, the public association of veterans, the clergy, schoolchildren and their parents.
Semyon Pustelnikov is our countryman. He was born on February 10, 1921, in the village of Svistelki. In 1938, he graduated from the 7th grade of Secondary School No. 5 in Orsha. He met the Great Patriotic War in the border troops of the Red Army. In 1945, in one of the battles, he discovered an attempt by retreating saboteurs to hide in the forest. Correctly assessing their position, he jumped on his horse and rushed to intercept the enemy, who were already a few meters from the forest. Semyon decided to detain the bandits until reinforcements arrived. At the edge of the forest, Pustelnikov overtook the enemy and engaged in battle with 25 opponents. Severely wounded, the fearless warrior blew himself up with his last grenade, along with the Nazi mercenaries who had approached him.
– Thanks to such heroes of the Great Patriotic War, to all who stood up to defend the Motherland, who fought the German invaders without sparing their lives, we live today in a free country, under a peaceful sky, have the opportunity to study, work, and raise children, – Viktor Kolochov addressed the rally participants.
He also noted the work of the teaching staff and students of Secondary School No. 5 in perpetuating the memory of the Hero of the Soviet Union, especially in the Year of Historical Memory. Since 1960, the school's pioneer squad has borne the name of Semyon Pustelnikov. In 1981, a museum was opened at the educational institution. Based on the historical materials collected in the museum, more than one generation of Orsha schoolchildren has been educated.
The guests of the event and the principal of Secondary School No. 5, Natalia Voitsekhovich, were granted the honor of unveiling the memorial plaque. Students lit candles of remembrance for the fallen. The priest of the St. Spyridon of Trimythous chapel, Dmitry Savushkin, was given the floor for a commemoration according to Orthodox custom. As a sign of generational continuity, the school students prepared amateur performances. The exemplary dance ensemble "Veselushki" performed the dance "Maladaya Belarus". Then, flowers were laid at the memorial plaque.
It should be noted that the school building also features a memorial plaque in honor of a school graduate – a hero of the Afghan War, awarded the Order of the Red Star, Igor Ryzhenkov.
