The young people have already visited Brest, Grodno, Mogilev, and Vitebsk, and now they arrived in the oldest city in Belarus, the cradle of Belarusian statehood and culture.
The land of legendary rulers like Prince Rogvolod and Vseslav the Sorcerer, Polotsk is also the birthplace of Rogneda. Over the centuries, the city has gifted Belarus and the world with outstanding scholars and enlighteners such as Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Francysk Skaryna, and Symeon of Polotsk.
Chairman of the Polotsk District Executive Committee Vasily Shilov addressed the participants with a welcoming speech: «We are delighted to welcome you to our land. It boasts so many people who have contributed greatly to the development of culture. First and foremost, this project offers you an opportunity to learn about the combat exploits of the Great Patriotic War, visit the places of glory of our veterans, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, and dive deep into the history of each city.»
According to him, more than 30,000 people lived in Polotsk before the war. By 1944, just over 229 families remained. Just last week, the remains of 1,022 civilians were reburied, including 367 women and 316 children who were executed by the Nazis. These figures are simply devastating and beyond comprehension.
«Every year, expeditions and excavations are carried out around our city, uncovering new evidence of the genocide of the Belarusian people. We cannot stay silent about this. This memory must be passed down from generation to generation. You are our future, the heirs of the Victory. It is up to you to honor the heroic deeds of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, and carry our Victory forward with pride,» Vasily Shilov added.
The official emphasized that today the participants will experience both the ancient valor and vibrant energy of modern Polotsk and will visit the local cadet school.
Anastasia Timokhova, a participant from Brest, expressed great joy at being in Polotsk, noting that her travels through other Belarusian cities had already left a deep impression on her. Grodno stood out to her the most, surprising her not just with its palaces and churches, but also with a museum featuring various stuffed animals, among which the taxidermy polar bear was particularly memorable.
«I have already made friends with participants from Armenia, France, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the USA. Since I am from Brest, I immediately asked them how they liked the Brest Fortress, and I was thrilled by their responses. The historical reenactment brought many to tears. I believe that is exactly how it should be, because it is crucial to know the events that took place back then. It fosters our patriotism and love for our homeland,» Anastasia Timokhova said.
In her opinion, the Memory Train provides a great, unique opportunity to travel through cities in both Belarus and Russia, discover new things, and honor the memory of ancestors.
«It feels like every single one of us on this project, including me, has so many relatives who fought for our country in the Great Patriotic War and military conflicts. I am so proud that in every city across Belarus, I feel a deep connection to my ancestors and get a chance to pay tribute to them,» the girl noted.
Ahead of the participants lie thousands of kilometers of travel through the cities of Belarus and Russia. As part of the Memory Train project, initiated by the heads of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, the school students will visit numerous memorial sites and learn more about the heroic history of their ancestors during the Great Patriotic War.
