On June 22, the Memorial Day, Saratov State University hosted a meeting. SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko, President L.Yu. Kossovich, vice-rectors, members of SSU Veterans Union, university students and staff came to honour the memory of those who died at the Great Patriotic War.
SSU Veterans Union Chair Usanov, Dmitri Aleksandrovich opened the meeting. The Professor called June, 22 one of the most tragic dates in our national history. “Over 8 million soldiers and 17 million common people became victims of the war. That is why the beginning of this bloody war is considered a Memorial Day in Russia”.
In his speech, SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko highlighted the importance of this historic date for Russia. “This year, we celebrate the Day of Victory at the Great Patriotic War that started on June, 22. For us, this day is not just a date; it symbolizes all the pain of our people. We would always remember it because many boys and girls went not to admissions committees but to military enlistment offices. We would remember because the beginning of the war was announced in our library and young people went to the front”. The rector reminded that over six hundred university students and teachers went to defend their motherland at the first days of war. “We mourn the loss encountered by our country, university, and region. We thank the veteran for their victory at this horrible war. We will do our best so that it does not repeat”, said A.N. Chumachenko.
Hero of the Russian Federation, Guards General-Major G.I. Asakhanian also attended the meeting and delivered a speech. “Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers gave the most valuable – their lives – for our future. Unfortunately, today many people neglect these heroic deeds and rewrite the history. A people that does not know its history is doomed to die out”, thinks G.I. Asakhanian. “I hope our life will be bright and easy but it depends on the younger generation – everything is in your hands!”
G.I. Asakhanian received a high cross for courage and bravery when performing military duty at the North Caucasus and an invitation air-borne troops jubilee celebrations.
Closing the meeting, D.A. Usanov thanked the members of SSU Veterans Union who, according to the Professor, keep the history at Saratov State University. Then the guests honoured the memory of those who died with the minute of silence and laid the flowers to the Memorial.
It is a university tradition that guests have an excursion around the university. After the meeting, G.I. Asakhanian had a tour around SSU History Museum. Museum Director G.N. Bous told about university war history, its first rector V.I. Razumovski, its architect Karl L. Miufke. General-Major G.I. Asakhanian got especially interested by congratulatory addresses on the opening of Saratov Imperial University.
The final event of the day was the meeting with students. Young people were interested in psychological and moral stance at war, General-Major G.I. Asakhanian’s decorations, his career and family history. G.I. Asakhanian took part at wars in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Yugoslavia, Abkhasia. He always wanted to be a military man and has never regretted his decision. He wished success to university students and staff.
