Zakhar Prilepin presented a book about the heroes of the special military operation at the exposition
The first collection of stories about the veterans of the
special military operation - the book "Life for Your Friends" - was
published by the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation under the editorship of
writer Zakhar Prilepin. The book is based on personal stories of veterans of
the SMO and family members of fallen fighters. The presentation of the book
took place at the RUSSIA EXPO.
"As we all know, in the beginning was the word. We all
live in the space of historical memory. As far as we preserve this memory, so
we are self-valuable as a nation and as a people. Memory is first of all
transmitted through the word, through the text. In general, any nation that
exists in the world today was created around a campfire, when people sang some
victory ode, usually a military one. Around this ode, memorizing it, different
nations, including ours, were created. And through "The Tale of Igor's
Campaign", through "The Tale of the Battle with Mamai", through
"Borodino", through "Poltava", through "And Quiet
Flows the Don", through "The Road to Calvary" we get a colossal
national memory of ourselves. We recognize ourselves in these characters, in
these heroes, in Prince Igor, in Yaroslavna, who cries on the wall, in Grishka
Melekhov. As long as this memory exists, we exist as a people," said
writer and politician Zakhar Prilepin.
According to the writer, the events taking place today will
become part of the national consciousness in Russia - for this it is very
important to have time to record them.
"Today we are present at one of the very first steps
when the tragic, agonizing events taking place become part of the national
myth. What is happening now in our native, dear, beloved Ukraine - this, of
course, will become part of our national consciousness, like the events of
ancient Kievan Rus', like the reunification of Russia and Ukraine. Today this
myth is beginning to take shape," Zakhar Prilepin emphasized.
Anna Tsivileva, Chairman of the Defenders of the Fatherland
Foundation, revealed the history of the creation of the collection of stories
about veterans of the special military operation.
"This is a unique project. The very idea of its
creation was born when we held the first Defenders of the Fatherlan forum. Then
our heroes - veterans of the special military operation from all over Russia -
came together. In communication, they told us amazing, often instructive
stories from their lives. These are real people, real stories, real fates.
Their stories are so profound and inspiring that we had the idea to capture
them in a book so that our future generations and our contemporaries will have
the opportunity to look at the tragic stories and moments of our country and
life with different eyes - the eyes of those who defend the interests of our
country at the cost of their own lives," said Anna Tsivileva.
Sergei Novikov, head of the Presidential Department for
Public Projects, noted that the stories in this book come from the heart of the
participants of the special military operation. "These stories will remain
in memory for many years and will go down in history. It is important to
disseminate them, to create literary works on their basis. It is important that
they were written in a language that is understandable to the younger
generation. Because we need to interest young people and tell them the truth
through the artistic word, which can captivate millions of readers," said
Sergei Novikov, Head of the Presidential Department for Public Projects.
Alexander Bugaev, First Deputy Minister of Education of the
Russian Federation, agreed with Sergei Novikov. "Now a large number of
veterans who have returned from the front come to public organizations,
schools. This book can become the main book
for them to prepare appropriate materials, adapted by age for children. There
is nothing more valuable than direct live communication with a veteran, a
participant of a special military operation," said Alexander Bugayev.
Nadezhda Prepodobnaya, State Secretary of the Minister of
Culture of Russia, believes that the collection of short stories "Life for
Your Friends" should appear in the collections of Russian libraries, it is
also important to digitize the book.
"This means that it will be available to everyone," Nadezhda
Prepodobnaya said.
The integration of special military operation veterans into peaceful life and the interaction between regions and municipalities were discussed as part of the Forum "SMALL HOMELAND – THE STRENGTH OF RUSSIA".
The second All-Russian Municipal Forum "Small Homeland – the Strength of Russia" is taking place at the National Centre RUSSIA.
