Young Tatarstan patriots rally on Remembrance and Mourning Day

The Otechestvo (Fatherland) youth association early in the morning today held a procession, to commemorate the beginning of the most devastating war in the history of our country, the Great Patriotic War.

The young patriots, including activists from the Otechestvo association and scouting teams who expressed willingness to pay tribute to the national heroes, gathered in a central park and lit candles with Eternal Flame flares. The young procession, accompanied by wartime songs, walked from the park across the central part of Kazan, to the Victory Park. The itinerary was to symbolise the heroic way made by the Soviet soldiers, from the beginning to the glorious end of the Great Patriotic War.

The meeting was timed to coincide with the beginning of the bombardments on 22 June 1941 at 3: 30 am, said the Tatarstan Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Industry’ press service.

The memorial date, Day of Remembrance and Mourning, was set by a presidential decree from 8 June 1996 as a date designed to pay tribute to the victims of the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, as well as to the victims of all the wars for Russia’s independence and freedom.