Veterans of the Great Patriotic War were honored in Vitebsk

Veterans of the Great Patriotic War know the value of life best, and it is their duty to pass this knowledge on to the youth. This opinion was expressed by war veteran Alexey Ivanov before the ceremony of awarding jubilee medals at the Vitebsk City Executive Committee.

"When I learned about the Victory, I only thought – it's good that I survived. I wrote a letter home and received a message from my younger sisters. I was glad that they were okay, as they were left alone, their father died in the war. And now, year after year, we, veterans, our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren live in a peaceful country. This is such great happiness! This is what we should and always tell the youth about – cherish, value life, and remember the feat of those who gave it to you," said Alexey Ivanov.

On February 25, a ceremony honoring the veterans of the Great Patriotic War was held at the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, where 14 people received jubilee medals for the 70th anniversary of the Victory from the hands of representatives of the regional center's leadership, as well as the city veterans' organization. Among the awardees were participants of the partisan movement, front-line soldiers, a participant in the battles for Berlin, a minor prisoner, a resident of besieged Leningrad, and a home front worker. Those who could not attend due to illness will not be left without medals – they will be personally presented at their homes.

The opinion of Alexey Ivanov on the role of veterans in the patriotic education of youth was supported by other honored guests of the event. They noted how much veterans, despite their weakening health, communicate with children in schools. They talk about how difficult it was during the war, how they had to starve and rebuild what was destroyed after it.

All veterans, participants of the Great Patriotic War, receive medical care. Territorial centers for social services of the population in the city districts survey the social and living conditions of their lives, and they receive the necessary social assistance.

Ekaterina Knyazeva - BELTA