Victory Day at Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg

On May 6, Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg JSC (SP SPb) held a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The company employees and veterans paid tribute to the memory of fallen heroes and laid flowers to the memorials and monuments. 

According to the tradition, the celebrations began with the meeting at the Monument to Heroic Seafarers of the Baltic Shipping Company and the Leningrad Port, 1941-1945, on the Mezhevoi Canal. Representatives of the company told about the memorial history and about Yan Neiman, the architect who created it. In his greeting speech, Nikolai Gaidyshev, Chairman of SP SPb Veterans Board, said:

– Victory Day is a personification of honour, heroism and courage of our people shown when defending our Motherland many years ago. It is crucial for us not only to keep the memory about the deeds of soviet soldiers but also to transfer it to the younger generations. Port employees do not forget about the veterans, organize meetings and activities for us. I wish glorious future to all of us and prosperity to our city and country! 

After the meeting, its participants visited memorial sites of the port with the first stop made at the monument to Port Defenders. Managing Director Andrei Iaroslavtsev greeted the ceremony participants: 

– Victory Day unites the generations being a symbol of the soviet people’s feat. It takes a special place in the history and in the hearts. Our dear veterans, accept our gratitude for your courage and power shown when defending our Motherland. We thank you for our freedom. Congratulations on the Victory Day!

While at the monument, port representatives had an opportunity to talk to its author, veteran of the port, artist and architect Anatoly Oleynikov.  Veterans Elvina Yurchenko and Ludmila Gil shared their memories about the years of war and the siege of Leningrad. A tour around the company territory and a celebration lunch was organized for the former port workers. 

SP SPb employees visited several other memorials in the port and the Monument to Fallen Workers of the Kanonersky Shipyard on the Kanonersky Island where they laid wreaths and flowers. 

It has been one of the best traditions of Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg JSC to celebrate the Victory Day together with the veterans.