Victory Day in Ekaterinburg

Наш автор Эдгар Бланко (Edgar Blanco), который приехал в Екатеринбург учиться из Испании, впервые в жизни в этом году 9 мая попал на парад Победы. О том, что интересного увидел любопытный испанец, что его удивило и растрогало, он написал для «It’s My City» (как всегда, на английском).

When the alarm went off on May 9th I woke up with hope of a great day because I had never seen a military parade, but what I found exceeded my expectations. Arriving at the center I discovered that many streets were blocked, so I continue walking, in my way to the Square of 1905, I found a score of grandparents in uniform. They were cheerfully joking as they hung their last medals and straighten up their uniforms.

When I arrived to the Square of 1905 I found a magnificent place in the first row, just behind the head of a policeman (there were a lot of policeman), and from there I could see at least 100 soldiers in full uniform just in front the City Hall. It was 8:30 but there were already a lot of people around the fences.

People were coming gradually, parents with their children (the children with cameras and balloons, parents with a hangover), mothers trying to slip in (like they were the Invisible woman) and many people were pushing me.

Little by little the crowd was gathering behind me, until 9:30 when the joyful gentlemen of the boarded the military car and began the parade; child soldiers, women soldiers, normal soldiers, sailors, more soldiers, tanks and missiles at the end, each one bigger than the previous. At about 10.45 when the smoke of the vehicles dissolved, the parade was over and while the crowd dispersed, I stayed a while longer to make pictures of the crowd, and to my surprise began the best part.

People with applauses and shouts of "Hurrah” met veterans. In the same time some children stopped them to give them flowers (mostly carnations) or a kiss. Then I realized that these flowers were not paid by the city hall, the flowers were paid by their parents. People spend their money to buy flowers and to give them to strangers!

In my way back home I met two of the joyful gentlemen who were singing a song accompanied by an accordion and surrounded by people. When I was making the pictures, I’ve heard different music and I crossed Yeltsina Street and saw many grandparents’ couples dancing, white shirt and black pants for gentlemen and ladies in white. And despite what one might think, they were really having a great time; laughing, changing partners or just dancing, they were really enjoying their time.

The party continued and the joyful gentlemen and ladies sang and danced, and although I had to go, I like to imagine that enjoyed a Great Day.

I had never seen a military parade before, and I must admit I went to see the tanks and see the soldiers march, but how wrong I was! The parade is just the beginning of the celebration, the day of the veterans; It is a day of joy for everybody, the veterans receive red carnations, but also the respect and admiration they deserve. And it’s a shame that sometimes we forget about it.

I wish that Spain had such a day, a day to honor our history and effort of the ones who build it, one day to thank all those who sacrificed themselves for the dream of a better future and especially those that was taken. And I like to think that since yesterday I feel that all of them are also a little my grandparents too.

Фото автора