A meeting of the regional organizing committee of the project "Nobody is Forgotten"

The office of the Center for Patriotic Education and Pre-draft Training of Youth “Duty” hosted a regular meeting of the regional organizing committee of the project “Nobody Is Forgotten” chaired by Alexey Ostrovskiy, during which the results of the action “Immortal Regiment” and the first stage of “Memory Watch 2019” were summed up, and other topical issues of civic patriotic education were also discussed.

For your information: the organizing committee of the project “Nobody is Forgotten” began to work in preparation for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory in 2013. It consists of representatives of the Administration of the region, the regional public organization “Search Association “Duty”, the Smolensk Metropolia, municipalities, regional branches of political parties and public associations.

Opening the meeting, the Head of Smolensk region emphasized that the activities of the organizing committee of the project “Nobody is Forgotten” literally unites representatives of all sectors of society.

“At our annual meetings, we evaluate the performance over the past year, discuss and set new challenges for the future. This meeting is especially significant, since in 2020 we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, said Alexey Ostrovskiy. - It's nice that the project brings real results”.

The Governor also drew the attention of the audience to the importance of the work of search organizations, public associations and organizations, as well as the great assistance provided by the Smolensk clergy and residents of the region:

“All this deserves the kindest words. After all, these people literally gather our memory bit by bit, restore the names of the heroes of the Homeland who gave their lives for it and who are still resting in obscurity, take care of military graves, monuments and memorials. In general, they are doing exactly what can be called citizenship, spirituality and patriotic education. The main thing is that all this comes from the heart and soul”.

In her turn, Nina Kulikovskikh, the head of the regional public organization “Search Association “Duty” and “Memory Watch” in Smolensk region, Deputy of the regional Duma, adviser to the Governor counselor made a proposal to include the heads of the Vyazma and Elnya Districts involved in civil-patriotic education project in the organizing committee areas.

Alexey Ostrovskiy fully supported this initiative.

The next issue on the agenda was devoted to the results of one of the largest events in the framework of the celebration of the 74th anniversary of the Great Victory - the international public action "Immortal Regiment", which has taken place in Smolensk region for the sixth time.

According to Denis Pestunov, the head of the regional executive committee of the All-Russian public civil-patriotic movement “Immortal Regiment of Russia”, in the regional center the action gathered more than 30 thousand residents. In the ranks of the “Immortal Regiment” there were representatives of search squads with portraits of solders, whose names they managed to identify, juvenile prisoners of Nazi concentration camps - with portraits of their parents, members of Yunarmia.

“This year, as before, the Administration of Smolensk region provided significant assistance in preparing for the march. In addition to organizational support, funds were allocated from the regional budget to offset the costs of producing information materials and accessories for volunteers. Moreover, it was possible to do this not only for Smolensk, but also in each district center,” Denis Pestunov emphasized.

He also said that the work on setting up points of the "Immortal Regiment" in the district and regional libraries would be continued. There resident will be able to find out all the information about the action and get help in making banners.

“Next year we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory. I am sure that our heroic Smolensk region will adequately prepare for this long-awaited and important event. I suggest once again trying to jointly find ways to resolve the issue of a possible extension of the column’s route along Bolshaya Sovetskaya Street, which will give greater importance to the action and will undoubtedly attract even more participants”.

In his turn, the Governor said that he had already discussed this issue with the leadership of the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs. “I think next year the Immortal Regiment will pass along an elongated route,” the Head of the region said.

Denis Pestunov also proposed creating a memorial panel for the 75th anniversary of the Victory. This is a large image, for example, of a Soviet soldier raising the Victory Banner over a defeated Reichstag, made up of many photographs of soldiers of the Immortal Regiment, whose relatives live in Smolensk region.

Alexey Ostrovskiy fully supported this proposal and instructed Oleg Ivanov, the head of the Main Directorate for youth affairs and civic-patriotic education, to find volunteers who would be ready to create graffiti images on patriotic themes on the walls of houses in Smolensk.

Next, the meeting participants discussed the results of the All-Russian action “Candle of Memory” in Smolensk region. This action is international. Since 2009, it has been held annually on the eve of Memory and Sorrow Day. On June 22, its participants light candles in honor of all those who died in the battles for their Homeland.

Oleg Ivanov, the head of the Main Directorate for youth affairs and civic-patriotic education, pointed out that every year the number of participants in this action in our region is increasing. This year, about 25 thousand Smolensk people joined it.

Oleg Ivanov awarded special attention to the action "Dawn without war." It is held annually by the Rudnya youth search squad Avangard. On June 21, young people gather around a fire on Bolshaya Rutavech Lake, where they read poetry about the war and sing songs with the guitar. At midnight, the participants launch a small raft with lighted lamps in memory of the last peaceful hours before dawn on June 22, 1941.

Also, as part of the agenda, the meeting participants discussed the experience in civic-patriotic education in the territory of Elnya district, where more than 200 events are held annually.

Another issue brought up for discussion was the results of the first stage of the “Memory Watch-2019” in the region.

Nina Kulikovskikh said that Memory Watch is a continuous process, especially active during 8 months, when field expeditions and search actions take place, during which participants find the remains of soldiers and equipment:

“This year we have been doing this work for 3 months now, starting in April. I believe that we have decent financial support and I want to especially thank our Governor for this. We receive funds for events through a state institution – “Duty” Center. In addition, we are quite successfully participating in the Presidential Grants Competition. And for the fifth time we have won. Therefore, we have the opportunity to implement all our plans, and at the same time feel a certain security and confidence”.

After that, Priest Vladislav Bagan, the secretary of the Smolensk diocese, informed the audience that the Council of Bishops of the Smolensk Metropolia approved the theme of regional diocesan and municipal Christmas readings in 2020 - "The Great Victory: Heritage and Heirs."

In her turn, Nina Kulikovskikh addressed the Governor with a proposal to organize on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory a series of programs about soldiers, whose remains were picked up by search squads in the battlefields in Smolensk region, on one of the regional television channels.

The Head of Smolensk region approved and supported this proposal, assuring that it would certainly be implemented, but in a slightly different format:

“On my instructions, Smolensk regional television channel Region 67 was created not so long ago, so you can use this resource and prepare a full-scale program. The format needs to be thought out - once a week, once a month, or some other option. I ask you, Konstantin Vladimirovich (Nikonov, Deputy Governor), together with Nina Germanovna to work out this issue in order to determine the timing and schedule for broadcasting”.

The meeting of the organizing committee ended with the award ceremony for the winners of the regional stage of the “My Great-Grandfather” All-Russian Research Competition. Among the winners there was Alina Poylova (Safonovo), Victoria Eremeeva (Smolensk), Karina Belousova (Velizh), Vera Korotaeva (Kardymovo district).

In addition, Alexey Ostrovskiy presented the Letter of Appreciation from the Governor to Nadezhda Novikova,  Director of "Modern Decor", OOO (Limited Liability Company) who is a participant of the search union "Duty"  for assistance in creating a new exhibition of the Museum of the Unknown Soldier at the Center of Patriotic education and pre-draft  training of youth "Duty".