On 7 May, the students and staff of Voronezh State University gathered in the park near the main university building to celebrate 73rd anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, to honour the veterans, and commemorate those who lost their life fighting for the Motherland and peace.
Such meetings near the memorial dedicated to the university staff and students who died in the Great Patriotic War have become a tradition in the university. The event started with the procession of the honour guard and a group of military students of VSU Military Training Centre. Then the Rector of the university, Dmitry Endovitsky, addressed the colleagues, students, and veterans.
‘Our university experienced a lot of hardships: it was destroyed, it had to move, it was restored. Its staff and students joined peoples’ volunteer army. We can be proud of this glorious day. We have to remember the lessons that history has taught us, and the young people have to get reliable information about the terrible price our country paid for the freedom and existence of our motherland.’
‘It is another warm, happy May day, very much similar to that unforgettable day in 1945. That was the year when our country, our warriors put an end to the horrendous fight between good and evil. Our dear veterans, all generations will bow before you for the opportunity to live, love, and bring up our children. You did all you could to advance the Victory Day,’ said Ludmila Vladimirova, the chair of the Trade Union Committee of VSU.
Senior Lecturer Boris Zheleznyakov and cadet Kirill Ponomarev congratulated the audience with the Victory Day on behalf of the staff of the Faculty of Military Education.
The participants of the event paid the tribute to the memory of those fallen in the battle for Voronezh with a minute of silence and laid flowers at the memorial. Then the celebration held in honour of veterans was continued in VSU. Members of the patriotic club “Platsdarm 36” came to congratulate the veterans with the main holiday.
