BREST, 22 June (BelTA) - About 20,000 people took part in the commemorative ceremony in the Brest Hero Fortress memorial complex. Among them was U.S. citizen Vyacheslav Staskevich. In an interview with BelTA, he told why he considered it important to be on the Brest land on the night of 22 June.
The native of Pinsk moved to the United States in 1989. He visits Belarus once every few years. "I learned that Best Fortress will host the events on the night of 22 June. I considered it important to attend them. I made every effort to come. I really wanted to bring my son here, but he was busy graduating from school and did not have time to do the paperwork. He has never been to Belarus. I hope we will be able to come together soon," the man said.
The commemorative event and the military-historical re-enactment of the Brest Fortress defense were held at the same hour when the Great Patriotic War began on 22 June 1941. "For me, Brest Fortress is the place where the war began. Yes, there was an invasion along the entire border. But since I am from Pinsk, this is the closest place for me. Your heart aches when you read all these names on the slabs of the necropolis. This is a place where people lost their lives for peace. I don't want those events to happen again, but the world is so close," the U.S. citizen said.
Vyacheslav plans to stay in Brest for another day, then go to Minsk. "I am planning to travel around Belarus on a bike. I do it every time I am here," the man added.
The native of Pinsk moved to the United States in 1989. He visits Belarus once every few years. "I learned that Best Fortress will host the events on the night of 22 June. I considered it important to attend them. I made every effort to come. I really wanted to bring my son here, but he was busy graduating from school and did not have time to do the paperwork. He has never been to Belarus. I hope we will be able to come together soon," the man said.
The commemorative event and the military-historical re-enactment of the Brest Fortress defense were held at the same hour when the Great Patriotic War began on 22 June 1941. "For me, Brest Fortress is the place where the war began. Yes, there was an invasion along the entire border. But since I am from Pinsk, this is the closest place for me. Your heart aches when you read all these names on the slabs of the necropolis. This is a place where people lost their lives for peace. I don't want those events to happen again, but the world is so close," the U.S. citizen said.
Vyacheslav plans to stay in Brest for another day, then go to Minsk. "I am planning to travel around Belarus on a bike. I do it every time I am here," the man added.
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