Penza, 15 December 2014. PenzaNews. The opening of the memorial plaque dedicated to Penza residents who participated in World War I was held by the building No. 2 of the Penza State University military faculty on Monday, December 15. The event was attended by the representatives of the government, the clergy, students, teachers, students of Artillery Engineering Institute, and the cadets.

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The right to withdraw the veil from the commemorative plaque was given to Sergei Pulikovsky, deputy chairman of the Penza region government, and Alexander Gulyakov, the rector of the PSU.

After the unveiling, the Bishop Serafim of Penza and Nizhny Lomov consecrated the monument. This was followed by a minute of silence in tribute to the WWI soldiers.

“We are honoring those Penza residents who went to the front of the First World War. May their memory live forever. Rest in peace. The truth will always triumph, and the history will put everything in its place. An example of this is the memorial plaque opened in Penza today,” Sergei Pulikovsky said.

In his turn, Alexander Gulyakov stressed that it is not by chance that the plaque is placed on the wall of one of Penza State University buildings.

“In the years 1910-1914, the building housed the barracks of officers and soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division. In August 1914, they left it to fight the German-Austrian troops. At the time, our countrymen, as well as all the people of Russia went boldly to defend their homeland,” he added.

At the end of the ceremony, the students of the artillery institute took part in a march, followed by the laying of wreaths and flowers.

The author of the memorial plaque is Valery Kuznetsov, Honored Artist of Russia, Penza sculptor.