Penza, 9 December 2014. PenzaNews. Flight engineers of the 42nd International Space Station expedition — Elena Serova, Anton Shkaplerov, and a native of Penza Alexander Samokutyaev — sent the Russians their greetings video for the Heroes of the Fatherland Day on Tuesday, December 9.

“Dear friends! Today in our country we celebrate the Heroes of the Fatherland Day. This large holiday was established by a Presidential Decree seven years ago. Our heroes are the people of honor and dignity, courage and nobility, valor and bravery, they are the patriots of their land, they are a national heritage of the country,” Alexander Samokutyaev said.

In his turn, Anton Shkaplerov, the Hero of Russia himself like Alexander Samokutyaev, said that his compatriots pay tribute to people who outdid themselves for their country on December 9.

Elena Serova, too, congratulated the people of Russia.

“On this auspicious day we wish our heroes good health, happiness for them and their families, and unending success in all of their endeavors for the glory of our homeland, the great Russia,” she said.