The Memory of Generations: A Victory Day Story
Victory Day breathes new life into the Left Bank Memorial Park — a place named to honour the 30th Anniversary of the Great Victory. In this year’s celebration, 27 interactive stations told Omsk’s residents the story of the Great Patriotic War.
A full 7‑hour programme, brought together by cultural institutions, security agencies, and community groups, turned the park into a living tribute to history.
Eternal Flame
On entering the park, many visitors head first for the Liberator Soldier monument
The Eternal Flame before the majestic statue was lit in 2015
By now, it’s hard to imagine the memorial complex without its granite star
Omsk residents, young and old, lay flowers at the flame
The military place carnations and salute the fallen
By midday, the monument is already buried in flowers
Every family has something to remember as they gaze at the undying flame
In the 21st century, it’s customary to photograph and film life’s important events
The little ones will remember what matters most and, as they grow up, learn more about the Great Victory
Soldiers’ Porridge Festival
For the first time, the Soldiers’ Porridge Festival joined the celebration program
Three kinds of porridge, plus potatoes with meat, are cooked in field conditions
The cooks tend the fire in each field kitchen themselves
No time to be distracted — the whole city has to be fed!
It looks vivid and ever so appetizing
By 1 PM, the student volunteers are getting ready to welcome guests
The serving is in full swing
The queue looks long, but it moves quickly
There’s enough soldiers’ porridge for everyone
Wartime songs ring out from a small festival stage of its own
When else can you taste an ordinary dish in such an extraordinary setting?
By the way, the audience choice award went to… pearl barley!
The open‑air auditorium delights everyone ready to feast on spiritual nourishment as well
Most of the program is performed by ensembles from the “Spike” Cultural Center
For organising the festival, thanks go to the Cultural Center of the Kirovsky District of Omsk
Park Alleys
The park alleys hum with activity as the “Vidzhi” dance studio prepares to perform
The workshops are well worth a visit — like the one on needlework
In mere minutes, you can make a little angel doll to remember the celebration day
Huge letters have been laid out in flowers — just the craft they teach at a nearby station
Next to it, children are enthusiastically colouring a big mural of the milestones of Victory
The phrase “We Remember, We Are Proud” was added beyond the sketch authors’ original design
Photo areas with costumes and prop weapons are open to all
Still, the park also offers a chance to learn how a real machine gun works
And such a snapshot, of course, will grace the family album too
Local history experts from the municipal libraries lead guided tours of the park’s landmarks
The walk ends at the Liberator Soldier sculpture
The guide knows everything about the artists’ vision and the engineering behind the statue
Wartime songs fill the air everywhere
At the House of Cinema site, passages from the poem “Vasily Tyorkin” are recited
The young recruits’ basic training course includes an obstacle course
Students of the art schools take part in the “Painting Victory” campaign
Their teachers offer advice on composition and imagery
Live music fuels the creative process
At 3:20 PM, park visitors look up in wonder and greet parachutists in the sky
They descend onto the park’s meadow carrying a copy of the Victory Banner and other flags
The paratroopers’ landing makes a spectacular festive surprise for the people of Omsk
An exhibition of modern military hardware is open as well
The imposing tanks and armoured personnel carriers fascinate children to no end
May such vehicles take part only in parades and exhibitions by the time these kids grow up
Main Stage
The patriotic concert runs on the main stage all day long
Vocal acts give way to dance numbers
And, of course, there’s room here for theatrical performances too
The Ministry of Internal Affairs ensemble performs the song “The Immortal Regiment”
The audience sings along eagerly and reacts with great emotion throughout
Paper planes as symbols of peace — a wonderful directorial touch
Many of the acts avoid tragedy, yet are deeply lyrical in form and substance
The performers’ sincerity strikes a chord with veterans and wartime home‑front workers
Art has the power to convey the memory of those years with delicacy and precision
To the song “The Girls”, the “World of Dance” troupe takes the stage
The modern song “We Shall Rise!” by Shaman fits seamlessly into the concert’s fabric
In a single surge of feeling, the audience answered the call of the “Grand Band” vocalist
And the finale could only be one song: “Victory Day”
It is performed by Maxim Komendantov, a laureate of vocal competitions
All the performers of the closing part of the concert join in the congratulations
The Great Patriotic War lasted four long years
144,000 residents of Omsk Region gave their lives to bring Victory closer
Our task is to live, to remember, and to pass this memory on to the generations that follow
