Saratov State University was a place of Saratov Region organization board “Victory” meeting. Among the participants were Gov. V.V. Radaev, SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko, Saratov region administration representatives, the Great Patriotic War veterans, business representatives, university administration, Book of Memory editors, Chair of the regional War and Military Service Veterans Committee G.V. Frolov, students, cadets, schools students, search parties representatives.
Gov. V.V. Radaev opened the meeting noticing why its time and place were special. On December 5, the world celebrated Volunteer’s Day; SSU is the only university in the region that has a Volunteer Center. “It is the first time we invited the youth to tale part in this meeting. They, university and school students, would keep the memory of the great years of our history. It is wonderful that the young generation has taken up the baton and promotes military and labour victories of their fellow countrymen. Our task is to help them”, said the Governor.
V.V. Radaev also spoke about volunteers’ participation in the anniversary program. Saratov Volunteer movement is growing. Their campaigns really help those in need.
SSU Rector, Prof. A.N. Chumachenko welcomed the party and reminded that the Victory Day is one of the most important holidays for the university. He told about university contribution. Over 600 university professors and staff went to the war front as volunteers; others collected money for the army, worked in hospitals, carried on their educational and research work. Saratov State University values its history and keeps record of those years. “It is important what modern students think about the Victory, how they respect the veterans. The volunteers organize lots of campaigns; they also restore the memory about war years”, concluded A.N. Chumachenko.
Then a copy of the Victory Banner and Saratov region Book of Memory were brought in.
The new edition of Book of Memory was presented by the Chair of the regional War and Military Service Veterans Committee G.V. Frolov. Work on the first volume of the book started in January, 1993 and goes on steadily. The editors and volunteers collected stories of 12 thousand warriors. Behind these stories are long meetings with veterans and hours of archival work. G.V. Frolov presented the 30th volume of the book to administration representatives and gave a copy of the Victory Banner to SSU Rector.
Then the participants shared a moment of silence in honor of those who died during the war. The meeting continued with discussion of anniversary organization issues.
SSU Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics student Maria Shmygina told the party about the 70th Victory Anniversary Volunteer Corps work. They already have 374 registered volunteers. Six people from Saratov will participate at parades at the Red Square and in Sevastopol. On behalf of all young people she thanked the veterans for their courage in defending our country. “We honor your victory and promise to keep the country and history as you did for us!” said Maria Shmygina.
