11.08 Monument to Russia’s WWI heroes unveiled in Lipetsk

LIPETSK, August 11 (RIA Novosti) - A monument to Russian soldiers, heroes of World War I, was officially unveiled in Lipetsk on Friday, a spokesperson for the regional administration’s press service told RIA Novosti.

“The 7.5-ton, 17-meter tall metal stele was installed in central Lipetsk. The monument is adorned with a two-headed eagle, the Russian state emblem, and also decorated with St. George Crosses,” the source said. “The monument was built to designs by famous sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov and architect Mikhail Korsi and in cooperation with the Russian Military History Society,” the source noted.

The heads of regional and city administrations, representatives of the public, veterans and young people, as well as guests from 43 Russian regions, attended the opening ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Culture Alla Manilova noted that Russia was now doing a lot to restore historical justice with regard to World War I soldiers.

“Contemporaries called World War I the Great War. After that, it was called the Imperialist War for many years and was undeservedly forgotten later on,” Manilova noted.

“We are doing our best to see that people don’t forget these events, that no one  and nothing is forgotten,” she said.

This is the third monument to be unveiled in Russia this year marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I that lasted until 1918.
Another historical mistake has been corrected in Russia on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, Lipetsk Region Governor Oleg Korolyov said at the ceremony. “A 100-year period of forgetfulness has ended, and the significance of those events has now been made clear. Today, we are paying tribute to the heroes of World War I,” he said.

Meeting participants honored the memory of fallen heroes with a moment of silence, and three rifle volleys were fired. Flowers were laid at the pedestal.