On May 5, there took place a traditional meeting-concert of Saratov State University and Saratov State Medical University dedicated to the 78th anniversary of the Great Victory on the campus.
The veterans, teaching staff, and students of two universities came to the Memorial to the Staff and Students Deceased during the Great Patriotic War.
The event was accompanied by a concert prepared by the SSU Student Club and SSMU students. Touching songs of the war years sounded from the improvised stage. Soldiers in service shirts and girls in dresses performed a waltz, and the creative team of the Palace of Creativity of Children and Youth named after O.P. Tabakov showed a beautiful dancing performance.
The solemn rally was led by Sergei Sidelnikov, a combat veteran, Colonel of the medical service in reserve, Associate Professor of the Department of Mobilisation Training of Health Care and Disaster Medicine, SSMU.
‘78 years have passed since the last cannon volleys of the Great Patriotic War died down. But the memory of the people preserves the heroism, steadfastness, and bravery of our soldiers and officers, the highest dedication and heroism of the home front workers. The memory of those who did not spare their lives for the sake of the Motherland and future generations will forever live in our hearts,’ said Sergei Sidelnikov, and then the Russian anthem sounded especially heartfelt.
SSMU President Vladimir Popkov remembered with special warmth the doctors, nurses, and orderlies who helped wounded soldiers day and night. Thanks to their efforts, thousands of soldiers and officers returned to service after treatment.
‘This war has brought a lot of grief to the Russian land. The dust of roads, the fumes of burned equipment and buildings, the tears of mothers, the groans of the wounded, the frozen faces of the dead – all these are the moments of the war that lasted for almost four years. Today, we remember those met their death, gave their lives in the battles,’ he noted.
SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko in his speech pointed out the high importance of the day. ‘Every year, on the eve of the greatest holiday for all of us, Victory Day, we gather here at the obelisk to remember those who volunteered for the front in the first days of the war. We come here to pass on the horrors of that war with Nazi Germany from generation to generation, as well as to share the joy of the Great Victory that took place on May 9. It still seemed to us that fascism and Nazism could not be revived, that this history could not be rewritten in any case. But today, unfortunately, this is happening. We have something to fight against and for,’ he said.
Aleksei Chumachenko noted that Russia was ready for any challenges, since a young generation had appeared in the country, which was engaged in charitable activities, helped mobilised soldiers and evacuated residents of the People's Republics Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions.
Head of the executive committee of the Saratov Region branch of the Immortal Regiment of Russia, a participant in the special military operation Andrei Berdnikov said what he had understood at the front. ‘In 1941, our grandfathers defended our homeland from fascism, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren are following the same roads today. I know this more than anyone else: I have seen the enemy in the face on the battlefields. Surely, we know the truth and we will win! We will remember every hero.’
Oksana Pavlova, Deputy Head of the Saratov regional branch of the Victory Volunteers movement, shared facts about the organization's activity. ‘During the year, we visit veterans, congratulate them on holidays, provide targeted assistance, and conduct memory lessons. Soon, the headquarters of our movement will open in SSU. We are ready to achieve new victories together!’
After a minute of silence, the meeting participants solemnly laid flowers at the memorial.
