On May 6, the joint meeting of SSU and SSMU dedicated to the Victory Day took place at the Memorial sacred to the memory of those who died at the Great Patriotic War. Veterans of war and labour, SSU and SSMU staff and students, and honored guests came to the celebratory meeting.
The meeting opened with the Russian national anthem. Then SSMU Rector V.M. Popkov congratulated veterans, colleagues and students. He said the Victory Day is special for all Russian people.
In his welcoming speech, SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko thanked those who were off at the war front and those who worked at home front. “During the war, Saratov State University, Saratov Medical University and Leningrad University worked closely and did everything for the Victory”. He also read an extract from the students and professors’ message put under the Memorial in 1975. “We keep and beg you to keep the sacred memory of those who died for the sake of the victory”, says the letter.
Chief Federal Inspector in Saratov Region, Chair of SSU Board of Trustees M.V. Aleshina said the Victory Day is the most important holiday for the humankind. “Teachers and students went to war, they worked at home front. At hospitals, at factories, doing everything for the Victory. Very few people who saw these are alive today; so it’s important to keep the real history and memory of those who died. I wish good health to those who are still with us”.
On behalf of students, Faculty of Physics fifth-year student Anna Menskaya congratulated the veterans. “We are 70 years apart from those who this monument dedicated to. They did everything so that we have a peaceful sky above our heads. During the war, the University collected humanitarian aid, sheltered not only students but a whole university – Leningrad State University. But SSU also was a sanctuary of science. We know our history and we are proud of it”, said Anna.
Student clubs members and artists sang military songs.
The meeting ended with a minute of silence and floral offerings.
After the meeting the participant went to a new celebratory ground where they could try soldiers’ porridge and saw a concert.
