The Commemorative March of the Eternal Regimen was the highlights and the most important part of the 70th Victory Day celebration/commemoration in Russia.
Thousands of people in every city have taken part in the march bringing the portraits of their relatives who died during the WWII.
As you probably know that Russia and the former USSR republics lost some 25 000 000 ++ lives in the war. It then will not surprise you to know that every Russian person you meet has someone in his family or someone he knows amongst the casualties of the war.
70 years passed but the sorrow it brought to every family is still strongly evident. People could not have forgotten a close relative passing away in such a tragic event.
Many of those portraits are parents, brothers, grandparents & great-grandparents to some.
It is heartbreaking to witness such march especially when you know many of them in the crowd.
It is one thing when you just learn about it in history books. It is one thing when you just hear people talk about it. But it is another when you hear stories yourself from first hand witnesses, survivors and families of those who perished.
"NO ONE IS FORGOTTEN, NOTHING IS FORGOTTEN"
That's what they would tell you and that's what the message they would like to convey.
The march halted at the eternal flame where people laid flowers, uttered prayers and stood in silence while watching the flame.
Flames can be very mesmerizing. If you stand in silence and stare at it, many thoughts will flourish into your mind ... especially philosophical questions about life & death.
Note: This is a different flame from the other war memorial I have posted before. There are at least 2 in the city.
The pictures of many people holding portraits of their deseased loved ones are not my shots, I took them from the interenet since I didn't get a good chance to take photos myself. The rest however are mine.
I'm linking this post to:
Amazing to see a crowd so large not marching against something but together, united and solemn. We must remember the past or we are doomed to repeat it.
ReplyDeleteThe Soviets shouldered the war in a major major way. No other country but Israel is so alive with memories of that time.
ReplyDelete( '>
/))
//""
ALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
very touching, i am sure.
ReplyDeleteReally so tragic as you state!
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful tribute to the war casualties. We do have Memorial Day parades here too but somehow the single personalities have been forgotten. Sad.
ReplyDeletePutin must have been very satisfied and proud to see so many people, although the occasion was rather sad !
ReplyDeleteHe was one among those who paraded bringing the portrait of his father in naval uniform.
DeleteI think it's wonderful that those who fought and died are not forgotten.
ReplyDeleteWar brings such heartbreak with it. I hope one day we'll learn to live in peace instead.
ReplyDeleteThe world's leaders never seem to learn from history. Tom The Backroads Traveller
ReplyDeleteThis is very, very powerful. The photos grip my heart.
ReplyDeleteSeeing all those people bearing photos of lost relatives really brings home the impact of the war.
ReplyDeleteThis moving post brings me tears.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful way to keep the memory and stay together.
wow, that is a lot of people. i enjoy the red. i find a lot of people are scared of red. i love it. i even had a girl in my class say to me - i would have never thought you would wear red. i never knew there was a rule about red. but apparently folks think the same about white after labor day??! so silly. i love all colors. so pretty. ( :
ReplyDeleteYou're probably talking about Labor day. I don't really know the issues about red and white but people who marched in this parade to commemmorate those whose lives were sacrificed in the WWII didn't really think about colors.
DeleteMy goodness...this post, and your photos along with your narration was absolutely incredible!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a memorial...nation wide.
As you said, learning in history is one thing, but it's another when you hear stories yourself from families etc.
ReplyDeleteIt's very moving to see so many people with portraits marching together.
This was a very moving experience just from reading the post and viewing the images. I can only imagine how much more powerful being there would have been. The past, good or bad, is just that, past and we can always hooe that it is not forgotten but that lessons are learned to benefit all.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to remember history and of course our family members who sacrificed so much. A very moving post. My father served in WWII and he would, if he were still alive, be a great-great grandfather, I myself was a small child then, but I am already a great-grandmother. This makes me realize how important ceremonies like this can be, otherwise as time goes on, the tragedy would be forgotten
ReplyDeleteDearest Mari； Oh, I was SO moved to read this post. My father fought in in WWII and said almost nothing about it. But I'm sure he would like to see the ceremony like this for the purpose of sending message that the tragedy would be forgotten!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for my absence to your blog, Dear friend.
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in Russia, xoxo Miyako*
It's so sad to think of the many lives that were lost. So tragic for the families.
ReplyDelete