Christmas and New Year are holidays when all wishes should come true, when no one should be left without a gift, when the eyes of every person, especially a child, should shine with joy. And we, each of us, can ignite this joy. This is what the servicemen of the 52nd Separate Search Battalion thought.
These people are not used to putting things off: what is said is done. The money may not be much, but it is from the bottom of their hearts. They turned their attention to family-type children's homes. The idea of the servicemen was supported by the chief specialist of the education, physical culture and sports department of the district executive committee, Natalya Bakharova:
— The best way to give a new impetus to the life of an orphan or a socially orphaned child is adoption. However, not everyone dares to take such a decisive step. Therefore, the next optimal form for such children is a family-type children's home. In two such homes, maximum conditions have been created for the socialization of children. They see the roles of mother and father with their own eyes, and foster parents serve as a visual example for them on how to arrange their future lives. Foster parents have a very difficult time, as they do all the work themselves, they do not have technical staff, a nurse, or a social pedagogue, who are available in a social shelter. Therefore, I consider it right to support the pupils of children's homes and their foster parents as much as possible.
First, they visited the home of Natalya and Vladimir Mikhailov. The adults and children were already waiting for the guests; in the large room, the Christmas tree shone and sparkled with festive lights and garlands. Although, it must be admitted, the children were initially quiet and thoughtful about how to approach such unusual visitors – tall, strong, especially one in military uniform with shiny stars on his shoulder straps.— Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Trubeko, commander of the 52nd Separate Search Battalion, — he introduced himself later.His assistant was the deputy commander for ideological work, Captain Andrey Zinkevich:— Good day, dear children, we have come to visit you on behalf of Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), and not empty-handed. How are you living, how are you studying, do you help your parents? Do you obey them?
— Yes! Yes! We help! — the children answered in unison.
At that time, Volodya Valevich, Vladislav Dvorak, brother and sister Kostya and Polina Negnedovichi, and Snezhana Telyapen were at home. Over the time the children's home has been operating, about 20 children have passed through it. The first pupils have already grown up, and will soon start their own families, but they do not forget about the home, they still consider it
their own, visit periodically. So, during the upcoming New Year holidays, they called their parents, Natalya and Vladimir, whom they always address this way and no other, and informed them that they would definitely gather.
"To meet, feed, and accommodate them are pleasant troubles," says the mother.
Over cups of tea, guests and hosts got talking, each sharing their family situations.
"My son really loves going to kindergarten," says Alexander Petrovich. "He likes it when he arrives first. And he is happy that he came earlier than everyone else. And now they are preparing New Year's matinees there. We are thinking about what costume to wear."
"One of our eldest once wanted to come to a matinee in a mouse costume," Natalya Nikolaevna picked up the topic. "I sewed a magnificent costume with a long tail. It was memorable. Especially since children in recent years are increasingly less likely to come to celebrations in carnival costumes..."
"And I remember how I wanted them to sew a costume of the scout Stierlitz for my school matinee," recalled Andrey Zinkevich. "I even told my mother, but that youthful idea of mine remained unrealized. And now I imagine how I would have been greeted if I had come in that uniform. And then try to prove that you are Stierlitz, not Müller."
* * *
Then they visited the neighboring house, managed by Lyudmila Ivanovna Shnitko. Together with her, the guests were met by Vanya and Dima Smazhevsky, Lyosha Razumov wore a snowman costume, and Stas Atrashkevich wore a dog costume. "Good day, children! Congratulations on the holiday! We have brought you gifts from Ded Moroz. And have you learned any New Year's poems?"
The boys were a little embarrassed by the surprise. It turned out that they hadn't learned any New Year's poems. Vanya and Dima were going to learn one each for the matinee, but didn't have time.
"Alright," agreed Andrey Zinkevich, "next time, when Ded Moroz comes in person, promise that you will be prepared and will delight him with poems and songs."
After that, the guests were invited for a cup of tea. Lyudmila Shnitko thanked them:
"You know, the balls are very timely. It so happened that we have mostly boys in our care lately. And these children, so to speak, are atypical – they don't spend much time on computers and mobile phones, they prefer active outdoor games. Football, volleyball are their favorite activities. Over the summer, we tore almost all the balls, so the current gift is very appropriate. And now, although it is winter, there is no snow or frost. Last year, with the first frosts, they flooded an ice rink near the sports complex, so we..."sent them there.
The boys skated for an hour or more, played hockey. And this year they can't wait for the ice. You saw it yourself: skates hang in the corridor, unpacked hockey sticks lie around.
The officers recalled their youth, when, even before the era of fancy gadgets, they spent days on end with friends on sports grounds. They came to a common agreement:
— It's great that your children are active, that they don't neglect physical education and sports. Because this is health, a reserve laid down for the future years of life. The servicemen invited them to visit, especially since it will be particularly interesting and educational for the boys to visit military units, to see military equipment and armaments with their own eyes. And the museum of the 52nd search battalion will not leave anyone indifferent – definitely. Unique exhibits are collected there. Some of them are probably not even in the exposition of the Great Patriotic War museum. They will be interested to see military life from the inside.
As they parted, they agreed to keep in touch and maintain relations in the future.
In the photo: Captain Andrey Zinkevich, Natalya Bahareva and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Trubeka visiting Lyudmila Shnitko and her wards: Vanya and Dima Smazhevsky, Lyosha Razumov and Stas Atroshkevich.
Vasily MATYRKA
