The march of immortality by the Russian students carrying the pictures of their ancestors (Photo courtesy of the Russian Cultural Centre Media Office)
The Russian school affiliated with the Russian embassy in Cairo on Thursday celebrated the 74th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union in World War II.
The ceremony was attended by wife of the Russian ambassador to Egypt Natalia Kirpichenko, director of the Russian School in Cairo Olga Denisova, and Sherif Gad, president of the Egyptian Association of Russian and Soviet University Graduates and president of the Arab Union of Soviet and Russian Universities Graduates.
(L-r) One of the teachers, Sherif Gad, the school director Olga Denisova, wife of the Russian ambassador Natalia Kirpichenko and other teachers of the school
Denisova opened the ceremony with a speech in which she appealed to the younger generation not to forget the great sacrifices made by their forefathers, stressing that without this great victory, which saved humanity from destruction, where the world lost 50 million people, we would not enjoy peace and stability today.
She pointed out that half the victims of the war were citizens of the Soviet Union, estimated at 26 million people, and said “that we will pass them on through generations.”
The ceremony began with an artistic performance of some of the most famous national wartime songs. Then an archival documentary was screened showing details of the tragedy experienced by the peoples of the Soviet Union, including suffering, siege, destruction and hunger. The film also dealt with the strong will of the Red Army and the volunteers in repelling the German aggression.
For his part, Gad stressed the importance of transmitting this history and heroism to the younger generation, to turn historical facts into a torch to illuminate their future.
The celebration concluded with the “march of immortality”, in a touching scene where each child carried a portrait of a war hero. Some of them were killed outside the country and buried in Eastern Europe or Germany, while others lived long to see the fruits of the great victory.
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