The Bank of Russia commemorates veterans on Victory Day
On the eve of 9 May, the Bank of Russia hosted its traditional commemorative ceremony honouring the veterans of the Great Patriotic War who went on to work in the Bank of Russia in the post-war period.
“Having unified our people, the great Victory continues to inspire us to pursue the glorious path our parents laid down. We bow down to the heroic defenders of our Motherland who ensured our freedom and independence, honour and dignity, and our life itself. Allow me to offer you my congratulations on this glorious holiday and wish all of you good health and longevity, happiness and prosperity.” Those were the words addressed to the veterans by First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia Dmitry Tulin.
Alexander Zolotov offered his heartfelt congratulations to his comrades in arms. At the age of 20, he was among the defenders of Moscow. His military experience included the Kursk-Orlov battle which was the turning point in the war, followed by the liberation of Polish cities and Warsaw from fascists. He saw fighting come to a close and ushered in victory in the suburbs of Berlin in May 1945. “It is my wish that we may shore up our national defences, specifically economic resilience, so that our country may follow a peaceful route of development for many years ahead!” said the esteemed veteran to the meeting participants.
The attendees held a Minute of Silence in honour of those killed during the Great Patriotic War. The event also featured flower-laying ceremonies at the Eternal Flame and the memorial board with the names of Bank of Russia employees killed during the war.
The head office of the Bank of Russia makes a great effort to support the veterans who survived the war and worked at the Moscow office of the State Bank of the USSR after the war.
Today, only 26 veterans remain. They include war veterans, prisoners of fascist concentration camps, and survivors of the Leningrad blockade. On the eve of Victory Day, the regulator’s HR staff paid personal visits and congratulated all those who were not able to attend the festive events at the Bank of Russia's premises.
This year, prior to Victory Day, the Bank of Russia held a campaign entitled “Write a Letter to a Veteran”. Head office employees and their family members wrote around 800 missives in the style of “letters to the front”, a.k.a. “triangles” owing to their unique folded shape, with their words of gratitude addressed to the veterans. The letters contained deeply moving pictures drawn by the children of Bank of Russia staff.
Over 18 thousand staff members of the State Bank of the USSR from all over Russia left for war in June 1941. All of the Bank of Russia’s regional branches will honour veterans on the eve of 9 May.
