In Russia on May 4, educational institutions nationwide joined a prominent patriotic event known as the Immortal Regiment. The initiative was organized to honor the upcoming Great Victory Day, with the civil-patriotic movement Immortal Regiment of Russia reporting the activities. Across many regions, communities marked the day with acts of remembrance that wove together personal stories and national history. Ceremonies included dignified lines and processions carrying portraits of war heroes, while veterans and current defenders of the homeland were invited to speak and share memories. Students engaged in courage lessons that highlighted heroic moments from the country’s past, helping younger generations connect with the experiences of their ancestors. Throughout the day, regional branches of the Immortal Regiment displayed red flags, signaling unity and the continuity of memory.
At Lyceum No. 51 in Rostov-on-Don, Ksenia Biryulina, an adviser to the education director, led the effort to bring the Immortal Regiment to schoolchildren and kindergartners as part of the New Philosophy of Education forum held earlier in the year. Her message was clear: preserving the memory of the Soviet soldier’s sacrifices during the Great Patriotic War remains essential for today’s youth and for the nation’s shared identity.
In the Moscow region, a school gathering evolved into a living tribute. Children sang songs associated with the Great Victory, performed the May Waltz, and first graders staged a dramatic piece titled Cranes, Do Not Disturb the Soldiers. Dozens of youngsters arrived with portraits of family heroes, turning the event into a personal and collective homage that connected classrooms with living history.
Maria Anisimova, a member of the regional Immortal Regiment headquarters in the Moscow Region, spoke at one of the gatherings, stressing the importance of memory. She explained that remembering why humanity endured its darkest hours matters today just as it did in the past: it honors those who secured victory, it remembers every Unknown Soldier, and it stands against any attempt to rewrite history. The Immortals’ procession, a line of people carrying family histories forward, moved through the event with renewed purpose this year, echoing a pledge to protect memory from distortion and erasure.
Across the capital and its surroundings, school concerts offered audiences a chance to see portraits of relatives who stood on the front lines during the Great Patriotic War. At school number 953, the day drew notable visitors including veterans Klavdia Mikhailovna Malashina and Evgeny Vilgelmovich Fomichev. The young performers shared front-line songs and staged theatrical pieces as part of the Parade Song Review and the Patriotic Song Festival, turning classrooms into small stages where history came alive. The day’s programming reinforced a simple message: memory keeps faith with those who served and taught the country how to endure and prevail. In every corner of the educational landscape, students and teachers found ways to connect personal family stories with national history, creating a living mosaic of remembrance that resonates with communities far beyond Russia’s borders. The Immortal Regiment movement, through these school-based activities, continues to serve as a bridge between generations, a reminder that the lessons of the past still influence the choices of today and shape the spirit of tomorrow.
Note: The account reflects a broader pattern of memorial activities that occurred in multiple regions, highlighting how schools, educators, veterans, and families collaborated to keep the memory of the Great Patriotic War vivid and meaningful for younger generations. The emphasis remained on dignity, respect, and the shared responsibility to preserve the truth of history for future citizens, both in Russia and in allied communities around the world.