Penza, 8 September 2016. PenzaNews. The restoration of “Lastochka” stele located on the federal highway M5 “Ural” at Penza city entrance was completed on Thursday, September 8, the press service of the city administration told PenzaNews.

Photo: Penza-gorod.ru

The work began last month at the initiative of Mayor Victor Kuvaytsev with the help of the enterprises of Oktyabrsky district of the city.

“We must keep all the best that we have inherited from our fathers,” the mayor stressed.

When the work was over, the City Hall of Penza and the administration of Oktyabrsky district expressed gratitude for the help in the reconstruction to the general director of Production Association “Elektropribor” JSC Yuri Pochivalov.

The “Lastochka” composition is the prototype of the city emblem in the Soviet period. The stele bears the city name and the year of its foundation. “Lastochka” became a part of Penza history when in 1964 the city emblem was approved: the shield and the escape wheel of the clock mechanism — a symbol of industrial development, at the bottom — three sheaves, which are associated with the agricultural abundance, and in the wheel there is a swallow as a sign of aspiration to the future.