Meeting with heroes - legendary veterans
Meeting with heroes - legendary veterans
It was not just an event - it was a day filled with the light of memory, love and endless gratitude, eyes filled with tears and souls - with pride. We gathered to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and bow our heads before those who achieved it - veterans of the Second World War. They are all from 97 to 103 years old. They came to remember. And we - to remember.
The inspiration for this truly touching event was the President of the American Association of Disabled and Veterans of World War II Leonid Borisovich Rosenberg, born in 1921, who at 103 years old shows miracles of oratory. His fiery speech pierced the audience. His words contained the pain of loss, strength of spirit, gratitude and faith. His elegance, refined taste, sincerity - all this aroused admiration. But special respect - to his children, son and daughter, who are always there, support, surround with care. And this is not just support - this is an example for all of us, how love can prolong life. Many thanks to the photographer and wonderful person Alexander Rosenberg and his sister Flora, who with their attitude to Leonid Borisovich Rosenberg show an instructive example of what children should be.
Today, next to Bender's parents Isaak Markovich and Lokantsov Dmitry Petrovich, two military doctors from Kyiv who turned 100, was Lyubochka Lokantsova, who cares for her dad with immense warmth, Isaak Bender's son, as well as the grandchildren and children of Semyon Geterman - all of them represented a living thread of generations, the very connection that carries truth, memory, and gratitude through the decades.
Yakov Polyak, who is 101, writes poems filled with the light of love and respect for the generation of victors. Earlier, he attended a literary club with Maya Roitblat, who also cherishes the memory of veterans. Boris Sirota, together with Adochka, raised everyone to their feet - their dance was not just a movement, but an act of spiritual unity. Boris Sirota is 100 years old, he dances magnificently with his wife Adochka, whom he met in a holiday home 15 years ago, and when I recorded a video of their dance and how he spins an exercise bike at his 100th birthday, it got thousands of views, people were delighted.
Anatoly Kunitsyn celebrated his 100th birthday last month, he dances and plays chess beautifully. It seemed to me that it was magic, which is hard to believe, so I recorded short videos that can be seen on the Lagunova News YouTube channel.
Rabbi Mark Zarkh, a longtime friend of the Association, delivered a heartfelt prayer. He asked the Almighty to protect those who remained, with gratitude for those who had already passed. His words became the spiritual center of this holiday, a reminder of the eternal value of life, memory, and peace.
And all this is accompanied by the most delicious dishes of the hospitable restaurant "Eastern Kitchen" on the fifth Brighton, a photo exhibition about veterans, warm communication. But most importantly - under the gaze of those for whom all this was. Eight veterans aged from 97 to 103 years, each of whom is a book, history, destiny.
My dear heroes, how I want to write about you again and again! Write, set your children, your strength, your kindness as an example. Because you are living history. And as long as you exist, we exist.
Thank you. For the Victory. For life. For this day.
Marina Lagunova
