The school in Novopolotsk was named after Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Margelov

Secondary school No. 15 in Novopolotsk has been named after Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General Vasily Margelov, who commanded the Airborne Forces. The solemn ceremony took place today, reports BELTA correspondent.

The ceremony was a long-awaited event for more than 400 students, the teaching staff, and the administration of the school. A great deal of preparatory work was done: a thematic project was launched, during which each class, with specially assigned tasks, studied the hero's biography and visited places associated with him and other memorable sites. The students presented their findings in the form of an oral journal, and later, at the solemn event, each class reported on its work.

"From its first mention in 1812 to the present day, Borovukha (a microdistrict of Novopolotsk where the school is located. - BELTA's note) has rightfully been considered a center of military glory, a place of service for generations of many Soviet soldiers. Children from military families, heirs, study at our school. Therefore, education through the example of the personality of the legendary man, warrior, and patriot Vasily Filippovich Margelov will become an important part of the common cause of educating a person, a citizen, a patriot of our country," noted the school principal Irina Vasilenko.

Currently, the educational institution hosts the military-patriotic club "Sineva," and a special elective course for young border guards has been opened on the basis of one of the classes.

Students and teachers shared their celebration with honored guests. Among them was State Secretary of the Security Council Alexander Volfovich, who had previously participated in the opening of a memorial sign near the school in honor of paratroopers and the crew of an Il-76 aircraft who heroically died on December 25, 1979, near Kabul. Also among the guests of the solemn event were representatives of the city organization of the public association "Belarusian Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan," guests from Russia, pupils of military-patriotic clubs of the city, and a delegation from Secondary School No. 18 named after Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General Vasily Margelov, from Pskov.

"Each generation of Borovukha residents proudly carries the memories and history of the military glory of Borovukha-1. There is practically no family here that is not in one way or another connected with service in the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Belarus, or the Russian Federation. We cherish the historical heritage, which is of immense value to us, our common property. We are obliged to pass this truthful history from generation to generation," noted Dmitry Demidov, Chairman of the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee.

A great responsibility, according to him, lies today on the shoulders of the younger generation: "I am confident that they (the students. - BELTA's note) will become worthy citizens of the country, ensure its independence, sovereign development, and, in turn, will also pass on this sacred memory to their own children and grandchildren."

During the ceremony of naming the school after the Hero of the Soviet Union, the director of the institution was presented with a miniature bust of Vasily Margelov.

Source: belta.by