Tiraspol, 9 May. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Together with the country, Tiraspol residents are celebrating the 71st anniversary of Victory. Immortal Regiment has marched along the streets of Tiraspol today to pay tribute to heroes of the most bloodshed wars of the 20th century. Preparations for the march began in April. As in the previous year, one of its organisers is the Zvezda youth movement, which has not stopped working even for a day over the past month.
«We've been working until late in the past days, printing out photographs. This year very many people wanted to take part in the march, they kept coming to us — from young to elderly people. And if last year we edited and printed out 100 photos, this year we have printed out 700," said Zvezda's deputy chair, Svetlana Molake.
The actual number of march participants have exceeded this figure manifold. Today over 16,000 people have paraded through the streets of the capital with portraits of their relatives. Many have admitted that they decided to take part in the march after they learnt last year Immortal Regiment was organised in Pridnestrovie.
«I have come here together with my daughter and husband and with a portrait of my grandfather, Alexander Grechin. He was a tankman, fought with Japan. It is our first time here, and we have specially sewn a military uniform. It is very nice that so many people remember about this holiday. There is a very warm atmosphere and a certain feeling of unity here," said Anna Grechina.
«I am holding a photo of my great grandfather, who served in the 126th rifle regiment and fought near Leningrad. He was wounded, reached the rank of sergeant and was awarded nine decorations. Many friends of mine are interested in military history, and so am I. Victory Day is a great holiday, and I think we must keep celebrating it even in hundreds of years as it was the great victory of our people," said Nikolay Skripnik.
It was the second march organised in our country. This year it started at the city's centre — participants marched through the square, laid flowers at the Glory Memorial and headed for the OGRF's home station. This year's march has not been only larger, but also more representative. Alongside Tiraspol guests and residents, it included school children and students, representatives of public organisations, MPs and local councillors, heads of ministries and agencies. Among those who have come to honour the memory of their relatives were top public officials — President Yevgeny Shevchuk, Supreme Council speaker Vadim Krasnoselsky, Chair of the Government Pavel Prokudin.
«Among my relatives 17 went to war, six of them were killed, and six more children died from hunger during the war and after it. I am holding a portrait of my grandfather, who died in January 1945 in Eastern Prussia. There were twin brothers — one died in December, the other in January. The war claimed the lives of many of our countrymen. Judging from these portraits, you can see how many people could have lived but for the war. That's why peace is the most important for any country," said Yevgeny Shevchuk.
Photographs of quite young people, enlarged war-time photos, pictures of elderly veterans in parade uniforms with decorations taken after the war… Portraits of various forms, sizes and colours… A flow of people has been running for half an hour, carrying the spectators through time and creating an illusion that it is not children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are marching along the street, but Great Patriotic War veterans themselves.
