Students of ASU Lay Wreaths & Flowers to WW2 Victory Memorial

The solemn event arranged by the Department of Secondary Professional Education of Astrakhan State University took place at the Memorial at Astrakhan’s Old Cemetery. The group of students was headed by the Patriot Search Team, which has been operating at ASU for over a decade.

Students of Astrakhan’s Secondary School #12, with whom our Department is performing regular professional-orientation activities, took part in the event as well. The joint laying of wreaths took place for the first time, but the school administration assured that their delegation would join the event next year.

Dr. Evgeniy Shevelyov, Dean of the Department, gave a welcoming speech. He remarked that he himself is a representative to the first post-war generation, while the present-day young people represent the fourth generation already. Over many years, our country has been living in peace; it is crucial for present-day boys and girls to keep memory of those horrible years in order not to let them happen again.

“The longer time ago the War took place, the stronger that memory ought to be”, the Dean said. “We ought to remember that it was our people who broke the Third Reich’s backbone, who reached Berlin, and who raised the Banner of Victory over the Reichstag”.

Ms. Elena Kornienko, who is in charge of the historical museum that operates at the Department, reminded the audience about heavy fights that took place near Astrakhan. To defend the mouth of the Volga River, the 28th Army was formed for the third time. Thousands of soldiers were defending our city and fighting near it with Nazi invaders. Mr. Alexander Kuznetsov, Veteran of WW2 and a soldier of the 28th Army, sent a written message to the event participants on behalf of his fellow soldiers. “Once again we appeal to you for keeping the peace for yourself and for your descendants”, the veteran wrote.

After laying wreaths, the event participants honored the memory of the deceased soldiers with a minute of silence.

This event is held on an annual basis; it is not the only event arranged by students to commemorate the soldiers of World War 2. The search team of ASU come to the Memorial on December 03, which is the Day of Unknown Soldier in Russia. They also take care of the local Memorial Ground of Deceased Soldiers, where remains of 227 soldiers are buried.