This month, 54 residents of Lepel are due to be conscripted. 30 young men attended the "Conscript Day" event held at the district cultural centre. The remainder were outside the district.
Military Commissar Vasily Shapko read out the Presidential Decree and the Minister of Defence's Order on the conscription of young men for military service and the demobilisation of conscripts. The Chairman of the Conscription Commission, Vitaly Dmitriev, noted that memories of school fade over time, but the army will be remembered forever.
Vitaly Franchuk, a representative of the Lepel District Officers' Union, spoke about the difficult military service. However, he noted that military brotherhood lasts a lifetime. Decades later, fellow soldiers meet like best friends, recalling the joys and hardships of military service.
Major Matlash of the self-propelled howitzer battalion named the residents of Lepel who have served and are serving diligently in the military unit, and reported that the unit is not fully staffed, so the autumn conscription is eagerly awaited. He mentioned that veterans of compulsory service are surprised by the current military ration, as they never saw cheese, sausage, milk, or rolls...
Natalia Shunevich, mother of a conscript, noted that the army instils a sense of dignity in young men for themselves and their people.
Conscript Alexey Lyashchov assured those present that he would serve his eighteen months with honour in the autumn conscription and return to his temporarily postponed civilian affairs.
Vasily Shapko handed out summonses to 30 conscripts. The remaining 24 had received them earlier.
Songs were performed for the conscripts by Vitaly Khvatinets, Tatyana Nevyedomskaya, and Natalia Matyush.
They dispersed to the legendary march "Farewell of Slavianka," performed by the military band.
Vladimir SHUSHKEVICH. Photos by the author
In the photos: Military Commissar Vasily Shapko handing out summonses.