This holiday, which is celebrated on July 1, is akin to Victory Day, because it is also “with tears in our eyes.” Oh, not all the soldiers who took part in hostilities or in eliminating local conflicts are alive today. Therefore, a bright moment in memory of the heroes is an obligatory tribute that veterans pay to their colleagues on July 1.
And even though at first the holiday was celebrated somehow spontaneously, uncoordinatedly, the main thing is that the initiative group achieved results. And now, on Combat Veterans Day, wreaths are laid in an organized manner at the Eternal Flame and at monuments to internationalist soldiers in various Russian cities. And in the capital, concerts are held, artists who sang for the wounded in military hospitals perform for veterans, and performers for whom the word “veteran” is not an empty phrase perform. Let our veterans live peacefully, with care and due respect.
You have passed the combat points
In Afghanistan and Chechnya,
In Egypt, in Syria, in Lebanon,
Fighting for peace in war.
They honestly deserved their awards
For hard, backbreaking work.
Because they didn’t spare their lives,
In the Fatherland they call you heroes.
Thank you, dear veterans,
For dedicating your life to the fight,
And we will not forget your names,
And let your glory thunder everywhere!
Happy Combat Veterans Day,
I wish you a lot of happiness in life.
Let everything be as in your plans and dreams,
It will come true in real life.
Let the family love you, but let everyone be friends
They give support, loyalty, respect.
Once again, happy holiday to you.
Know that you are worthy only of admiration!
Happy Combat Veterans Day and wish you to always keep wisdom, courage, dedication, confidence and strength in your heart. May there be peace on the planet and joy in your soul.
You are a veteran of combat actions,
You served at firing points,
With weapons in hand, I went through fire and water,
For the people, for happiness, for freedom!
You are a hero, a real man,
There is more than one reason to respect you,
Chest with medals and scars from wounds,
Still young, but already a veteran!
Happy holiday, Happy Veterans Day of all wars,
We congratulate you, our hero!
You often can't sleep at night.
You are drowning in cigarette smoke.
The pain of mental wounds tears the body to shreds.
And greetings are unbearable to the memory...
Here is mother, home, beloved...And there -
I heard the breath of death constantly.
You are a veteran of a war in a foreign country.
We are tirelessly proud of you.
Not the sound of coins, just the word “debt”
It opened the way for the brave heart.
And you passed. You survived. You could.
Our deepest bow to you and glory!
Happy Combat Veterans Day!
You protected from enemy attack
The expanse of fields, forests and native rivers.
May life give you peace and happiness!
Everything will be very good in fate,
May your family and friends love you very much.
And let the roar of war go away forever,
And may all your days be beautiful and peaceful!
Being a veteran doesn't mean being old,
The wars on the planet cannot be counted, they cannot be appeased,
That's all we have left on this day,
What to pour, lift, remember...
Peaceful day, the sun is shining in the sky,
The wind plays through the leaves in the trees,
I'm on Veterans Day today
Congratulations on your silence.
The fighting has died down, the noise has ceased,
And only memory fights in a dream,
Fighting friends come with her,
What remained in someone else's war.
Let him not know the actions of combat
Neither your son, nor your grandson, nor your brother,
You repaid your debt to your Motherland honestly,
Combat veteran, soldier.
On Combat Veterans Day,
I congratulate you, heroes!
I wish you golden days
And I wish you good health.
And let them surround you only with care,
Both relatives and friends.
Live happily and carefree,
May the love of you and your family protect you!
Let's raise the first toast to you,
The rest follow him,
For what was scratching my soul,
For nerves, for steel,
For what was and is past,
But it was not forgotten at all,
During the time that knocks on the glass,
For the aching bones.
For combat veterans,
We push our speech,
Today we honor them
And we wish you good health!
Today is a day full of pride, courage,
There is respect in the air,
Putting on a jacket with orders,
The veteran is sad in his own way.
He is sad about his exploits, tasks,
For comrades who died with courage in battle,
He's drowning in memories
Carefully keeping your dream.
And on a day so significant, special,
I wish you peace, kindness,
For life to be good
You will never know trouble.
And I also wish you happiness,
Let your dream warm your heart,
I wish the bad weather would pass,
Happy Combat Veterans Day to you!
Congratulations: 45 in verse, 10 in prose.
Emerging difficulties with holding the holiday prompted veterans to resume activities to assign official status to Combat Veterans Day.
On my page on the social network Odnoklassniki, I conducted a preliminary survey on the topic: “Is there a need for a holiday that unites veterans of military operations, local wars and armed conflicts?”, which showed that out of 670 participants, 657 answered affirmatively, 8 - negatively and 5 - found it difficult to answer.
It was assumed that the will of the public to establish the holiday would be published in the magazine “Police Trade Union” (possibly other media) and sent by official letter for consideration at the All-Russian Coordination Council of public associations of military personnel, military veterans, law enforcement officers and members of their families. Due to the insignificant activity of representatives of public organizations who were ready to draw up appeals, consideration of the issue did not take place.
Meanwhile, Igor Bystrov from Yekaterinburg on the Change.org website (link: https://www.change.org/p/president-of-the-RF-combat-veterans-should-have-their-own-memorable-date-in-historical -calendar-Russia) on behalf of the participants of the V tourist rally of combat veterans of the Ural region 'Zvezda', dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War and the 120th anniversary of the birth of Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov, uniting residents of Sverdlovsk, Tyumen , Chelyabinsk, Kurgan regions and the Republic of Bashkortostan addressed an open letter (petition 'Combat veterans should have their own memorial date in the historical calendar of Russia') to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Sergei Naryshkin.
In his letter, he indicated that the list of memorable dates in Russia, legislated by Federal Law dated March 13, 1995 N 32-FZ (as amended on December 1, 2014) 'On days of military glory and memorable dates of Russia', does not take into account the merits of all categories of combat veterans . The provision of the law does not take into account those who liberated the territory of our country and the waters of our seas from the mines of fascist invaders, does not take into account those who defended the borders of the Fatherland in the area of Damansky Island and in the area of Lake Zhalanashkol, does not take into account those who fought terrorists in the North Caucasus, and this list goes on.
‘The history of Russia is rich in significant events. In all centuries, heroism, the courage of Russian soldiers, the power and glory of Russian weapons have been an integral part of the greatness of the Russian state. In addition to military victories, there are events worthy of being immortalized in people’s memory.
The time has come to eliminate the inconsistency of the federal laws ‘On Veterans’ and ‘On Days of Military Glory and Memorial Dates of Russia’.
On July 7, 2017, on behalf of the trade unions of law enforcement officers and the editors of the magazine ‘Police Trade Union’, I sent an official letter to the Chairman of the Central Council of the ‘Defenders of the Fatherland’ party N.V. Sobolev with a request for assistance in establishing a memorable date - Combat Veterans Day with the determination of the date of celebration - July 1.
On May 17, 2019, on the initiative of the Chairman of the Presidium of the all-Russian public organization ‘Officers of Russia’, Hero of the Russian Federation S.A. Lipovoy in Moscow, a meeting was held with the participation of veteran public associations on the issue of organizing the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Combat Veterans Day and its legalization.
During the meeting, an Organizing Committee was created, the head of which was appointed one of the founders of the holiday, Dmitry Prudnikov.
This holiday is akin to Victory Day, because it is also “with tears in our eyes.” Not all soldiers who took part in hostilities or in eliminating local conflicts are alive today. Therefore, a bright moment in memory of the heroes is an obligatory tribute that veterans pay to their colleagues on July 1.
Everlasting memory…
We are given the honor of being born in uniform,
Destiny began in Afghanistan, Chechnya,
And how many black nights there were,
And the day began with a count of friends,
Both night and day, death appeared more than once,
Leaning against his back, laughing mockingly,
With my scythe I cut both the sphere and the armor,
Hot blood flows to the ground.
Listen, oblique, here is our verdict,
No one can tarnish it.
Here BeTer irons forest roads,
You know I'm nearby! Mines laid!
For lacerations, a shrapnel in the chest,
Only I (death) reward, they posthumously!
And how much you will suffer later,
A nightmare vision, a lost dream,
After all, life there is different, they don’t know me,
The official does not look death in the eye.
Listen, oblique, here is our verdict
We were brought up this way by a great country,
A star fell on a man's shoulder,
No one can tarnish her,
An officer's honor is dear,
For reference:
In addition to Afghanistan, Soviet troops took part in countless foreign missions in dozens of countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America after World War II. In particular, units of the Soviet army and special forces units carried out combat missions in Korea (1950–1953), Hungary (1956), Laos (1960–1970), Yemen (1961–1969), Cuba (1962), Algeria (1962– 1964), Vietnam (1961–1974), Czechoslovakia (1968), Syria (1967–1973), Angola (1975–1979), Mozambique (1967–1969, 1975–1979), Cambodia (1970), Bangladesh (1972–1973) ), Lebanon (1982) and other countries of the world, reports Military Review.
Since the late 1980s, our country has faced serious internal threats: there was an explosion of separatist sentiments and nationalism in the republics of the USSR. Soviet troops were forced to respond to events in Baku (1988–1990) and attempts to overthrow governments in the Baltic states (1990). After the collapse of the USSR, a “favorable” situation was created for the development of new military conflicts and brutal wars. It was created, it must be admitted, not without external “help”. The Caucasus, the Balkans, Central Asia, and Transnistria caught fire. Millions of families found themselves separated by borders, new ideological principles, or a complete lack of ideas other than imposed pseudo-freedom. How many human destinies these conflicts have crushed is no longer calculable. How many people have lost relatives and friends, how many have become refugees, how many have been eaten up by the antisocial environment - as a variant of the syndrome of participation in hostilities.
In the 1990s, the Russian army and special forces had to put out fires in Chechnya and Dagestan. In August 2008, in South Ossetia, Moscow carried out an operation to “enforce peace” against the unruly Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. In February-March, the “little green men” protected Crimeans from aggression from Ukraine. Since September 2015, Russia has been carrying out a military mission in Syria - the first large-scale foreign operation since the disappearance of the USSR.
It is important to note that such participation was often secret: Korea, Vietnam, African countries. Many names of deceased combat veterans remain classified secret to this day. This is the other side of protecting the Fatherland, when the family of the deceased may not know for decades where their son/husband/brother/father died and was buried.
Over the ten years of war in Afghanistan, about 750 thousand soldiers, officers, sergeants and warrant officers were involved. This is a whole army, many of whose representatives rightfully celebrate the holiday of military veterans today.
These people carried out their assigned tasks with outstanding courage and knowledge of their craft. More than a third of the internationalist soldiers received state awards for military merits, and 90 people were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union and - later - Hero of the Russian Federation.
Our people have their own history of participation in wars and armed conflicts, have their own list of names of heroes, both those who fell on the battlefield and, fortunately, those who lived to see the end of the armed confrontation. I would like to believe that the names of veterans of the fight against terrorism, internationalist fighters - those who gave peace - will never go down in history.
Today reminds us all of the participants in combat operations living next to us, and those who are no longer nearby. This day in the calendar of memorable dates is a tribute to everyone who defended the Fatherland with arms in their hands and went through severe trials during the war.
1985-87 Bagram, 108 MSD
The editorial staff of Gardinfo congratulates everyone involved in this Day! You were given the opportunity to comprehend the most severe trials of life, to see what no one wants to see, to face the most difficult losses. We wish you endless health, peaceful skies above your head, peace in your soul and heart, as well as calm happiness surrounded by loved ones!
The pages of the calendar are full of special dates that are not approved at the state level, but are still important for people. One of these dates, Combat Veterans Day, is celebrated annually. On the eve of the festival, Russians remember the brave warriors who fought in conflicts of various sizes, honestly fulfilled their duty to the Fatherland and gave their lives for the peaceful future of the country, and also express sincere gratitude to the retired soldiers living nearby.
History of the establishment of the memorial date
The idea of innovation has been under consideration since 2009. The need for a thematic event is due to the sincere desire of battle veterans to gather in one company on a single day, which would not be tied to a specific historical event or branch of the military. Thus, an unknown initiator chose July 1 as the date of the festival. This decision was supported by a number of effective arguments:
- During the existence of the USSR, Veterans Day was secretly celebrated on February 15, together with the date of memory of fallen internationalist soldiers. The new dating took place during the warm season and was quite easy to remember; in addition, activists considered it necessary to highlight the celebration as an independent one.
- The proposed day of celebration is free from reference to specific local military operations, and therefore generalizes the soldiers who participated in diverse operations. In addition to this, both military and civilians can consider this holiday theirs.
In accordance with these arguments, in 2009, more than 3,000 citizens sent electronic petitions to the President to satisfy the request to postpone the date. However, the current Presidential Administration gave a categorical refusal, citing the already existing day of internationalists and not considering the arguments sufficient for consideration. A year later, members of the public re-sent the document to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, but the second attempt was equally futile.
Traditions of celebrating the day in Russia
Despite the failure, caring fighters and their relatives continue to unofficially celebrate an important celebration for them. Initially, Combat Veterans Day was celebrated only in Moscow, the very heart of our country, but every year its scale is increasing. Veterans of the capital, according to custom, gather in the same place - on Poklonnaya Hill, after which they go together to lay bouquets and wreaths at monuments in honor of soldiers killed in military conflicts. In other cities, fighters independently negotiate a meeting place, and then also go to lay flowers at memorial complexes.
The media helps to publicize the event and celebrations. Regional and federal television channels add to their broadcast network stories about the valor of soldiers and the significance of their exploits, remind about the most major historical events, and broadcast interviews with the organizers of thematic meetings. Such activities bear fruit, instilling patriotism and pride in their homeland in the younger generation.
July 1st is a memorable date in Russia - Combat Veterans Day. And although it does not yet have official status, it is becoming more and more famous every year. Since 2009, this holiday is also called "Day of Remembrance and Sorrow of Combat Veterans".
This is a day of remembrance for everyone who fought for Russia, no matter in what wars and armed conflicts, fulfilling their duty to defend the Motherland. As a tribute to them - the veterans who live next to us, and to the memory of those who are no longer alive.
The idea of creating a single holiday among combat veterans who took part in numerous wars and armed conflicts on the territory of the Russian Federation and other countries has been circulating for a long time. And they began to celebrate it informally at the beginning of the 21st century. This was caused by their desire to gather on one day, not tied to one or another event of the numerous wars in which they were destined to become participants (currently in Russia there are separate memorable dates - Days of Military Glory and other holidays dedicated to the history of specific military operations ).
And so, in 2009, more than 3,000 veterans voted for July 1, as a day of remembrance for all participants in hostilities that took place after 1945 (and these are military operations in Afghanistan and Chechnya, in many countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa). This was recorded in a special document, and an appeal was sent to the Government of the Russian Federation with a request to officially establish such a Day. However, this issue has not yet been resolved, since, according to the authorities, such a holiday already exists - its function is performed on February 15 (the Day of Remembrance of Russians who performed official duty outside the Fatherland).
But the initiators of the new date are not giving up - they are confident that all veterans should have their own common date, not wanting to confuse the date of the end of the Afghan war and honoring other veterans. And, for example, unlike June 22 (the Day the Great Patriotic War began), it should be dedicated to local conflicts. This will allow you to maintain the specificity of the dates. We all remember and honor the veterans of the Great Patriotic War, of whom there are fewer and fewer every year. But in our country there remain many relatively young veterans who risked their lives and health in the interests of the Motherland after the Great Victory over Nazi Germany. They also deserve recognition and respect.
Therefore, a separate date will be an occasion to congratulate not only the military, but also employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB, as well as other participants in combat operations who are not military personnel, on Combat Veterans Day, and for all of them to once again get together and remember their fallen comrades.
It must be said that, despite the lack of official status, on July 1, Combat Veterans Day is already celebrated in an organized manner in a number of Russian regions. For example, in Moscow, the traditional meeting place for veterans of all years, places, countries of military operations is Poklonnaya Hill, where commemorative events begin with laying flowers at the memorial to the internationalist soldier, and then a cultural program is organized with the participation of famous artists.
In other cities, event participants also begin this day by laying wreaths at the Eternal Flame, at monuments to internationalist soldiers and other memorials. In addition, recently this date has been receiving increasing attention from the media, which also contributes to the recognition and spread of the holiday. At the same time, regional authorities in a number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation also support the very idea of holding the Day of Veterans of Combat Actions and Local Conflicts.
Combat Veterans Day is celebrated in Russia on July 1. The holiday is unofficial, but among all other unofficial dates its importance is actually difficult to overestimate.
The holiday began to be celebrated in the Russian Federation only a few years ago. At the general meeting, more than 3 thousand veterans voted to celebrate the memorial date on the first day of the second summer month. According to combat veterans, all participants in armed conflicts that occurred after 1945 should be united by a common day. And so that on this day we can honor not only veterans of the Armed Forces, but also combatants from the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB and other law enforcement agencies.
It must be said that, despite the lack of official status, Combat Veterans Day is celebrated in an organized manner in a number of Russian regions. Thus, in Moscow, commemorative events begin with laying flowers at the memorial to the internationalist soldier on Poklonnaya Hill, and then concerts are held with the participation of famous artists.
In other cities, events begin with the laying of wreaths and flowers at the Eternal Flame and memorials: from Sevastopol to Vladivostok, from Makhachkala to Murmansk.
In Azov, on this day in 2004, a monument to fallen internationalist soldiers was inaugurated on Victory Square. The names of thirty-four city residents who laid down their lives in various conflicts that our country had to face are carved in gold letters on the monument: from conflicts on our own territory to military operations outside the country to provide international assistance to those who were officially considered allies.
It is important to note that such participation was often secret: Korea, Vietnam, African countries. Many names of deceased combat veterans remain classified secret to this day. This is the other side of protecting the Fatherland, when the family of the deceased may not know for decades where their son/husband/brother/father died and was buried.
Over the ten years of war in Afghanistan, about 750 thousand soldiers, officers, sergeants and warrant officers were involved. This is a whole army, many of whose representatives rightfully celebrate the holiday of military veterans today.
These people carried out their assigned tasks with outstanding courage and knowledge of their craft. More than a third of the internationalist soldiers received state awards for military merits, and 90 people were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union and - later - Hero of the Russian Federation.
After the collapse of the USSR, a “favorable” situation was created for the development of new military conflicts and brutal wars. It was created, it must be admitted, not without external “help”. The Caucasus, the Balkans, Central Asia, and Transnistria caught fire. Millions of families found themselves separated by borders, new ideological principles, or a complete lack of ideas other than imposed pseudo-freedom. How many human destinies these conflicts have crushed is no longer calculable. How many people have lost relatives and friends, how many have become refugees, how many have been eaten up by the antisocial environment - as a variant of the syndrome of participation in hostilities.
Our people have their own history of participation in wars and armed conflicts, have their own list of names of heroes, both those who fell on the battlefield and, fortunately, those who lived to see the end of the armed confrontation. I would like to believe that the names of veterans of the fight against terrorism, internationalist fighters - those who gave peace - will never go down in history.
Today's holiday is something that reminds us all of the participants in combat operations living next to us, and those who are no longer nearby. This day in the calendar of memorable dates is a tribute to everyone who defended the Fatherland with arms in their hands and went through severe trials during the war.
Every morning, waking up under a peaceful sky, listening to the singing of birds, and not bomb explosions, walking with a confident step on the ground, covered with green grass, and not ashes from fires, some sometimes forget whose merit it is.
Fearless, strong people, risking themselves, entered the fight against the enemy and prevented any encroachments of the enemy towards our Motherland. Many military conflicts of local and global significance were resolved thanks to these courageous people - combat veterans. Having exerted a lot of health, strength and combat skill, they earned a worthy right to respect.
Peaceful day, the sun is shining in the sky,
The wind plays through the leaves in the trees,
I'm on Veterans Day today
Congratulations on your silence.
The fighting has died down, the noise has ceased,
And only memory fights in a dream,
Fighting friends come with her,
What remained in someone else's war.
Let him not know the actions of combat
Neither your son, nor your grandson, nor your brother,
You repaid your debt to your Motherland honestly,
Combat veteran, soldier.