In Lepel today, veterans of the Great Patriotic War received guests

On the eve of the great holiday – Victory Day, we are especially grateful to those who fought for the freedom of our Motherland in the distant years of 1941-1945. Veterans receive special attention in Belarus. They are visited by representatives of the authorities, social services, the department for labour, employment and social protection of the district executive committee, the military commissariat, public organisations, the district council of veterans, the younger generation, and others. Unfortunately, with each passing year, there are fewer and fewer living witnesses of those memorable and heroic days.
Today, veterans of the Great Patriotic War were congratulated by the Chairman of the District Council of Deputies, Igor Urban, and representatives of various structures.
First, we visited Maria Marusevich, who, despite her venerable age of 98, remains cheerful and greets all guests with a heartfelt smile.
During the war, Maria Fyodorovna, along with other young people, participated in the partisan movement – helping to defeat the enemy as part of P. K. Ponomarenko's brigade.
For reference. In October 1943, an operation by partisan units to defeat the Lepel and other major German-fascist garrisons took place, which went down in the history of the Great Patriotic War under the name of the Lepel Operation.
More than 20 partisan brigades participated in it, including Ponomarenko's brigade, as well as regiments under the overall command of Fyodor Dubrovsky, which fought against superior enemy forces. The courage and heroism of our heroes did not allow the enemy to win on Belarusian soil.
The woman is awarded the Order of the Great Patriotic War, 2nd Class, and other awards, which she keeps as a cherished relic.
In peacetime, Maria Fyodorovna worked as a tailor for individual custom-made light dresses at the KBO (Consumer Services Combine).
-- Thanks to you, we live in a peaceful and free country. We bow low to you for this. It is important that we have the opportunity to hear the whole truth from you, as a witness of those terrible events. Especially in the current times. We wish you health, long life, well-being, and a wonderful mood, -- congratulated Maria Fyodorovna on the upcoming holiday Igor Gennadievich.
Listening to her guests, the woman could not hold back tears, but they were tears of joy.
-- We are eternally indebted to you; you endured, you won, and you raised from the ruins andour country. We sincerely wish you health, well-being, and long life! – joined the congratulations, the head of the department for labour, employment and social protection of the district executive committee, Marina Inozemtseva.
Next, we visited Adam Shidko, who fought for the Motherland in the 16th Air Army as a private during the Great Patriotic War.
When the war began, Adam Petrovich was 20 years old. During the difficult years, the man had to endure a lot, like other veterans. But talking to him, I understand that neither time nor the hardships that "befell" him in those distant, terrible years have power over his optimism. Last year, when we visited him, we found him tending to his onion and other greens patch. This year, it was drizzling, so the respected resident of Lepel received congratulations and warm wishes indoors.
Adam Petrovich is awarded the Medal "For the Victory over Germany", the Order of the Great Patriotic War, 2nd Class, the Medal "For Military Merit", and other awards.
In peacetime, the veteran worked as a driver at a military hospital and was a winner of socialist competition in the 90s.
– Adam Petrovich, we are eternally indebted to you. You fought so that we could have a peaceful sky, – noted Igor Gennadievich. – Your front-line and labour feat, the suffering, deprivations, and losses you endured are an example of courage and genuine patriotism for everyone. Thank you for being with us!
- Thank you for your feat. We wish you health, high spirits, great joy, and endless care from your family and loved ones. Thank you for everything! - joined the congratulations, the director of the Territorial Centre for Social Services of Lepel District, Natalia Ivanova.
-- During the war, we did not think about difficulties, hunger, or cold; we defended our Motherland, – noted the veteran. – It is gratifying that the authorities, as well as the younger generation, treat us with such great attention. This shows that the memory of the terrible events and the feat of the heroes who fell in battle lives and will live on.
On this day, we also visited Boris Poryadkin, who can rightfully be considered a resident of Lepel, as he and his wife Maria Tarasovna moved to Lepel for permanent residence in the 90s from Saint Petersburg.
During the war, the man was a resident of besieged Leningrad. When the war began, he was only 7 years old. Like most children in Leningrad, the days of the blockade were spent indoors. Only adults went outside, and even then, only because they were forced to. At the beginning of the war, there were still some supplies in the cityfood products, and later, due to food shortages, ration cards were introduced. There was not enough food, and adults gave almost everything to their children.
After the war, the family lived in Murmansk, Boris Alexandrovich served in the Navy for over 30 years.
Unfortunately, due to health reasons, the man met guests while sitting, but he was glad and visibly livened up upon our arrival.
During a heartfelt conversation, Igor Gennadievich also inquired about how the veterans live and what problems they face.
In 1945, they celebrated the Great Victory as young men and women. Time flies quickly, and now they have already passed their eightieth year. But despite their advanced age, our heroes remain in good spirits.
***
Also, the veterans who were visited on this day received a one-time financial assistance payment for Victory Day. In the coming days, the remaining veterans will also receive it – a total of 20 citizens residing in the Lepel district.
Financial assistance for Victory Day is paid annually to veterans of the Great Patriotic War and persons who suffered from the consequences of the war, in accordance with the decision of the Head of State.
It is gratifying that in our country, veterans are always in the spotlight and surrounded by care. And it should be no other way, as we owe them for the peaceful sky above our heads.
Natalia Khrapovitskaya "Lepel Krai"https://lepel-kraj.by/novosti/belarus-pomnit/v-lepele-segodnya-veterany-velikoy-otechestvennoy-voyny-prinimali-gostey-27-04-2023