Ｖｉｓｉｔｉｎｇ　Ｕｋｒａｉｎｅ　ｉｎ　Ｍａｙ

Ｄｕａｎ　Ｂｅｉｓｈｅｎｇ

In Ukraine the sky was blue in May and the ground was green. Everywhere on the roadside small yellow flowers were in full bloom bursting with vitality.

Invited by the Vinnytsia Municipal Government, a 27- member China Childrens Art Troupe, sent by the CPAFFC, took part in the Third International Children Festival of Folk Choreography “Barvinkove Fruzhalo”. It happened to be the 63rd anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War against Fascists when we made a performance tour in Ukraine. We saw the local people in various ways cherish the memory of the heroes, recall the past and look ahead to the future. On the morning of the anniversary day, all the delegations participating in the Festival and numerous local people gathered at the Square in Memory of the Heroes of World War II where red and colourful flags were fluttering among which the national flag of the Peoples Republic of China was particularly eye-catching. There came chief municipal government officials, representatives of the army, teenagers and children, priests from churches, and veterans in their old uniforms with medals on the chests.At 12 oclock sharp, the commemorative ceremony started. Doves of peace were released to fly in the blue sky. Representatives of various circles took the floor one after another, and then group by group placed flowers before the Monument to Revolutionary Martyrs in a solemn atmosphere. In the following Victory Day parade, we saw dozens of young soldiers guided by a national flag bearer holding ensigns of the Ukrainian First, Second, Third and Fourth Front Armies during the Great Patriotic War and red flags march at the front row of the paraders, followed by veterans wearing medals for military merits. They waved greetings to the spectators on the roadside from time to time. When a veteran with outstanding military exploit appeared in a wheelchair in the procession, people shouted “Ura” continuously. People of different ages presented flowers to this hero. Each delegation was guided by a person holding a placard on which the nationality of the delegation was written. When the Chinese children came, spectators on both sides of the road cheered. Many hospitable Ukrainians joined the parade and had photos taken with the Chinese children, and young mothers with children in their arms also joined us. The Ukrainian people felt grateful to the Chinese children for their coming from afar to participate in their celebration; the Chinese children felt greatly honored for having the rare chance to pray for peace.

In the intervals of performances, the sponsor arranged a visit to the museum for the delegation. The guide told us that the Ukrainian people had made great sacrifice and contributions to the victory of the anti-fascist war. During the Great Patriotic War, over 7 million Ukrainians lost their lives, and more than 2.4 million people were sent to Germany to do forced labour. 714 cities and towns and 28,000 villages were destroyed. According to the statistics of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, in the country there are now 3.48 million veterans and persons enjoying the same treatment, among whom over 200,000 were disabled during the war. Hearing these, the Chinese children were deeply touched. They came to understand that homeland could be lost temporarily and their dear ones could suffer from misery, but as long as they had a strong will and confidence, they could overcome any difficulty and hardship.

After returning to Kiev, capital of Ukraine, the delegation visited the National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War on the famous “Mother-Motherland” hills. The Museum collected many precious photos, letters and army uniforms of the Soviet Red Army officers and men, and panoramically displayed the Ukrainian peoples heroic fight against fascists. The exhibition was laid out in order of the progress of the war. In one section, letters to or from home, photos, diaries and poems found in the uniforms of many Red Army martyrs who died on the battlefield were displayed. We stood before the things left behind by a deceased signalman, among which there was a photo taken with his mother that he had brought to the battlefield. On a long bench in front of a fence was sitting the mother with grey hair on her forehead who wore a cotton print scarf and leaned her head against the shoulder of her handsome son in military uniform. There was a happy smile that could be rarely seen on the face of an old woman who worked hard all day long. When watching this picture, we were moved to tears.

Now, numerous flowers were laid by the side of the group statues around the Museum which had become an attraction on the Victory Day. Some presented flowers to express remembrance of their comrades-in-arms, others to mourn for their lost dear ones, and more to remember history and express their memory of the heroes. The Mother-Motherland Statue, a component of the main part of the Museum, was built in commemoration of the heroes who had sacrificed their lives during the Great Patriotic War and was completed on the Victory Day in 1981. The 62-metre high statue of Mother holding a shield in her left hand and a long sword pointing to the sky in her right hand demonstrates the Ukrainian peoples confidence in and determination of protecting their homes and defending their country, and has become a rare landmark of Kiev.

Standing on the viewing stand at the foot of the “Mother-Motherland” hills, the children of the Art Troupe looked ahead and saw in the distance the Dnieper River flowing silently, and nearby newly-wed couples walking hand in hand towards the Monument to the Heroes. The red roses and white bridal gowns looked so harmonious under the blue sky. Turning round, they saw war chariots, tanks and cannons shining under the sunlight, silently telling the difficulties and hardships over half a century ago. Suddenly, a familiar song rang in my ear: “This is our beautiful motherland where I grew up…When friends come, Ill treat them with nice wine. When man-eating wolves come, Ill treat them with myhuntingrifle...”