Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Nikolai Sherstnev held a ceremonial reception for veterans of the Great Patriotic War
The region's leadership honored war veterans, home front workers, partisans and underground fighters, and former underage prisoners of Nazi concentration camps ahead of May 9.
The upcoming event was given a special solemnity and symbolism by the welcoming party – eight brave soldiers from the 103rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade (after participating in the Victory Parade in Vitebsk, they will dedicate another two months to preparing for the procession in honor of Belarus Independence Day) and young women from the primary organization of the Belarusian National Youth Union of the Veterinary Academy, who tied festive ribbons to the veterans.
Even before the festive table, during informal conversation, after the greeting, Nikolai Sherstnev immediately asked the elderly people: "How is your health?" – and, hearing in response: "Within normal limits," he was genuinely pleased. For example, Nikolai Zharikov, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, like the head of the region, greatly respects sports, leads a healthy lifestyle, traveled all over the Baltic states on a motorcycle in his youth, and on May 9 this year, on Victory Day itself, he celebrates his 92nd birthday.
— Our country is the most peace-loving and hospitable. We are content: our old age is peaceful, and the main thing is that we are surrounded by our loved ones, and the state takes care of us, — shared Tatyana Zabello, chairman of the primary veteran organization of Housing and Utility Enterprise No. 17, a war participant. — Esteemed veterans! — Nikolai Nikolaevich addressed the men and women with gray hair. — It is a great pleasure to see you today at the festive table. I won't hide it: unfortunately, it is striking that there are fewer and fewer of you. Do you remember, we agreed last year and the year before that, the more people pass away, the longer the rest should live. Perhaps we have become accustomed to the fact that there has been peace for many years, but the post-war generations must cherish these achievements. Peaceful skies, well-being – this is the most precious thing for you: the shed blood, the years of sorrow and hardship – it was all not in vain.
The upcoming event was given a special solemnity and symbolism by the welcoming party – eight brave soldiers from the 103rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade (after participating in the Victory Parade in Vitebsk, they will dedicate another two months to preparing for the procession in honor of Belarus Independence Day) and young women from the primary organization of the Belarusian National Youth Union of the Veterinary Academy, who tied festive ribbons to the veterans.
Even before the festive table, during informal conversation, after the greeting, Nikolai Sherstnev immediately asked the elderly people: "How is your health?" – and, hearing in response: "Within normal limits," he was genuinely pleased. For example, Nikolai Zharikov, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, like the head of the region, greatly respects sports, leads a healthy lifestyle, traveled all over the Baltic states on a motorcycle in his youth, and on May 9 this year, on Victory Day itself, he celebrates his 92nd birthday.
— Our country is the most peace-loving and hospitable. We are content: our old age is peaceful, and the main thing is that we are surrounded by our loved ones, and the state takes care of us, — shared Tatyana Zabello, chairman of the primary veteran organization of Housing and Utility Enterprise No. 17, a war participant. — Esteemed veterans! — Nikolai Nikolaevich addressed the men and women with gray hair. — It is a great pleasure to see you today at the festive table. I won't hide it: unfortunately, it is striking that there are fewer and fewer of you. Do you remember, we agreed last year and the year before that, the more people pass away, the longer the rest should live. Perhaps we have become accustomed to the fact that there has been peace for many years, but the post-war generations must cherish these achievements. Peaceful skies, well-being – this is the most precious thing for you: the shed blood, the years of sorrow and hardship – it was all not in vain.
Nikolai Sherstnev raised the first toast to the Great Victory, to the dear veterans – all those by whose efforts, feat, and labor it was achieved.
The solemn reception was attended by the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev, Military Commissar of the region Colonel Ruslan Shkodin.