Veterans of the Great Patriotic War were honored today at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee

May 8, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War were honored today at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, a BELTA correspondent reports. More than 100 veterans and war participants attended the ceremony. Among them were Heroes of Socialist Labor Vitaly Zhurov and Evgeny Chervyakov, Hero of the Soviet Union Leonid Filipenko, and others. Each of them was presented with gifts and jubilee medals "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War". Congratulating the honored guests on Victory Day, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets thanked the liberators for their heroic deed. "Veterans are the pride and embodiment of the Belarusian nation. It is only thanks to you that we have a peaceful sky over our heads today and the opportunity to continue your glorious labor traditions," he emphasized. On the eve of the 65th anniversary of Victory, 14.6 thousand people in the Vitebsk region received financial assistance in the amount of Br2.7 billion. Additionally, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee provided assistance to 9.2 thousand people in the amount of Br1.1 billion. Br2.5 billion was allocated for orthopedic care in 2010, and Br2.3 billion in 2009. The living conditions of 316 veterans have been improved this year. More than 400 veterans received assistance with current and capital repairs. According to the latest data, about 6.5 thousand veterans of the Great Patriotic War live in the Vitebsk region, including 3.5 thousand participants of the Great Patriotic War and 1250 disabled veterans.-0-