Vitebsk is widely celebrating Victory Day
In the morning of May 9, Vitebsk residents lined up in a festive column of thousands on Lenin Square and adjacent streets. On the occasion of two state holidays (this year, the Day of the State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus and the Day of the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus, which is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, coincided with Victory Day), a festive procession began.
Along the central street of the city – Lenin Street – a column of thousands, escorted by traffic police officers in a car and two motorcycles, solemnly marched from Lenin Square to Victory Square.
At the head of the column, soldiers of the 103rd Vitebsk Separate Guards Airborne Brigade carried the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus, the Banner of Victory, the flags of the Vitebsk region and Vitebsk, and the standards of the 1st Baltic, 2nd, and 3rd Belarusian Fronts. Behind them, veterans of the Great Patriotic War rode in open-top cars.
Next were the cadets of the Vitebsk Cadet School with portraits of their relatives – defenders of the Motherland – and a large banner of the republican patriotic campaign "Belarus Remembers!". Airborne soldiers carried a huge banner – the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus, as well as the flags of the districts of the Vitebsk region. The military brass band of our airborne brigade marched in step.
The column includes government officials, heads of law enforcement agencies, representatives of numerous work collectives, public organizations, and students. Near the Resurrection Church, whose bells rang with well-known Victory melodies, and then the Protection Church, clergy and parishioners joined the procession.
Along the entire length of Lenin Street, veterans and all participants of the procession were greeted by schoolchildren standing on the sidewalks, their mentors, and adult residents of the city. Everywhere, people had smiles and joy on their faces. And this is not by chance: May 9 is a holiday that unites all generations.
Upon the arrival of the column, a helicopter carrying the State Flag of our country flew over Victory Square. The entire square was filled with a sea of people. Opposite the monument to the soldiers-liberators, partisans and underground fighters of the Vitebsk region, chairs were set up for the main participants of the celebration – the veterans of the Great Patriotic War.
A solemn wreath-laying ceremony took place at the monument.
A solemn rally was held, dedicated to the 76th anniversary of the Great Victory and the Day of the State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus and the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus. Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Nikolai Sherstnev addressed the veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the entire crowd of thousands with a welcoming speech.
– Today we celebrate one of the greatest and most sacred holidays of our Fatherland. 76 years ago, this date became the starting point of a new history of the country, a peaceful and creative life. Over the years, the significance of the feat of the Soviet people has become increasingly evident. It was accomplished on the fronts and in the rear, in partisan detachments and underground, in the dark dungeons of ghettos and concentration camps. The liberation struggle against the invaders became truly nationwide, – emphasized Nikolai Sherstnev.
The rally participants honored the memory of the fallen defenders of the Motherland with a minute of silence.
Nikolai Nikolaevich addressed special words of gratitude to our dear veterans:
– You set an example of high spiritual strength and true devotion to the Motherland. With deep gratitude, we are doing everything to ensure that you live in peace and prosperity. We bow low to you for what you have done for Victory, the development of the country and the region.
Nadezhda Grakova, head of the Oktyabrsky district organization of the Belarusian Association of Former Minor Prisoners of Fascism, and Mark Aslanov, a student of the Vitebsk Cadet School, also spoke at the rally.
After the solemn rally, representatives of the authorities laid flowers at the bust of Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of Socialist Labor P. M. Masherov.
Then, a concert began on the main square of the Dvina capital.
Throughout the day, festive events will be held at various concert venues. Their finale will take place late in the evening: a patriotic event "Let's Sing 'Victory Day' Together" will be held on Victory Square, after which the sky over the city will be illuminated by the lights of a colorful fireworks display.