Penza, 12 June 2012. PenzaNews. Celebration of the fifty-first graduation of officers from Penza Artillery Engineering Institute was held in Penza on Sunday, June 12. More than 400 former students from Russia and about 50 foreigners received lieutenant’s shoulder loops on parade ground of the institute. After the solemn ceremony the young officers paraded to the central square of the city. At the exit from the territory of the institute they traditionally threw their cadet shoulder loops and coins in the air.

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Chief of Penza Artillery Engineering Institute Alexander Plyusch, chairman of the State Board for Certification Major General Fraiz Saluev, Bishop Veniamin of Penza and Kuznetsk and Governor Vasily Bochkarev congratulated the young officers on graduation at Lenin Square.

“Today I particularly want to congratulate the girls who have become officers. They have chosen the hard way and perfectly overcome the first stage of military life,” said the head of the region.

Then, all the graduates received diplomas in a solemn ceremony.

After being sprinkled with holy water, the young officers said farewell to the Colors and then paraded at Lenin Square singing a song.