The memory of the people's feat during the war years must be carried through the centuries - A. Kosinets
July 5, Verkhnedvinsk district /Sergey Kochetov - BELTA/. The memory of the people's feat during the war must be preserved and carried through the centuries. This was stated today by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, at a solemn rally dedicated to the 50th meeting of veterans from Belarus, Russia, and Latvia at the Mound of Friendship on the border of the three countries, BELTA correspondent reports.
Without the unity of the peoples of the Soviet Union, there would have been no Victory, and the memory of it must be carried through the centuries like a relay race, emphasized Alexander Kosinets. He also read out a welcome address from the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to the meeting participants.
This year, the main events took place in the Sebezhsky district of the Pskov region. As noted at the rally by the Governor of the Pskov region, Andrey Turchak, the festive events are primarily an occasion to remind the modern generation of the price at which the Great Victory was achieved. Rally participants honored fallen comrades with a minute of silence. Festive garlands were laid at military memorials on Russian and Belarusian territories. Then, participants handed over baskets of flowers to Latvian veterans for them to lay at the monuments to fallen Latvian partisans.
Veterans were addressed by the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Leningrad Military District, and creative groups from the Pskov and Vitebsk regions. The memorable meeting concluded with the traditional "Friendship Fire". A total of over 1,000 people participated in the anniversary meeting of veterans from the three countries.
The day before, on July 4, an international anti-fascist forum "Let's Protect the Memory of the Great Victory!" was held in the Sebezhsky district with the participation of delegations from Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, and Russia. During the youth event, a rally was held, a round table was organized, and a photo exhibition was set up. Vitebsk residents presented a book on the history of the Friendship Mound, "Brotherhood. Courage. Memory," published in the region for the anniversary meeting of veterans. All participants of the veterans' meeting received the colorful publication. The Russian delegation presented a film, "Friendship Mound - 50!".
The Friendship Mound was erected in 1959 on the border of three republics - Belarus, Russia, and Latvia - in honor of the combat camaraderie of partisans and underground fighters. Soil for the mound was taken from the graves of partisans and Red Army soldiers who gave their lives for the Motherland; an oak tree grows at its summit as a symbol of the unbreakable friendship of the three peoples. Three granite slabs are embedded in the mound, inscribed in three languages: "The Friendship Mound is erected at the junction of the borders of three fraternal republics in honor of the combat friendship, cemented by blood during the Great Patriotic War by Russian, Belarusian, and Latvian partisans. Opened on July 3, 1959." Three alleys lead from the mound: the alley towards Belarus is planted with birches, towards Russia - with maples, and towards Latvia - with lindens. At the end of the birch alley, on the territory of the Verkhnedvinsky district (Vitebsk region), there is a memorial museum dedicated to the partisan movement.-0-