Penza, 22 June 2012. PenzaNews. The action “Candle of Memory” was held at the Monument of Military and Labor Glory of the residents of Penza on Thursday, June 21. 1,418 candles were lit in memory of those fell in battle, symbolizing 1,418 days of the Great Patriotic War during the event. As the press service of the Penza regional office of United Russia party told news agency “PenzaNews,” representatives of the Regional Council of the All-Russia People’s Front, the Young Guard of the United Russia, World War II veterans and veterans of local wars came together at the Eternal light at 22:00.

© PenzaNewsBuy the photo

“The action “Candle of Memory” has international status. On the night of June 22, at the initiative of the State Patriotic Club of the United Russia party within the “Historical Memory” project, citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, South Ossetia, the Baltic States and other countries lit candles in memory of the millions of fellow countrymen who had died in WWII in the line and in the rear,” informed the press service.

Participant of Great Patriotic War, veteran of the battle of Stalingrad and the Kursk Bulge, Chairman of the Board of Veterans of Zheleznodorozhny district Vladimir Kerhanadzhev gave a speech.

“He told those gathered that on the night of June 21 – June 22, 1941 being a 17-year-old boy he was at school prom. A week after the war had started, he together with 900 young men had to outpost plants that produced weapons. In September he went to the front. Then he was trained demolition and taken to an unknown destination. On the way, their battalion was heavily attacked by the Nazis: they were bombed by German planes. 200 boys were killed before reaching the front line,” said the press service.

Vladimir Holzinev, Chairman of the Penza regional organization “Russian Union of Veterans of Afghanistan,” wished everyone “peaceful sky” and not to experience what the older generation had to go through during the World War II.

In turn, Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region Nikolai Lukyanov thanked the participants for attending the event and urged to remember the heroism of WWII veterans.

The action “Candle of Memory” was held in all districts of the Penza region.