Monday, 16th May 2022
Ceremonial meeting of members of the Chicago Association of World War II Veterans
On May 16, 2022, a ceremonial meeting of members of the Chicago Association of World War II Veterans took place at the Petergof restaurant. This meeting is traditional and special at the same time. Members of the Association meet annually in May to celebrate their victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. But this year also marked the 30-year anniversary of the existence of the Chicago Association. A lot has changed since then, but one thing has remained the same; The Chicago Association continues its positive presence in the Chicago community, especially for the Chicago residents who emigrated from the Soviet Union and saw the terrors of the war with their own eyes. With each year, less courageous veterans, such as those who founded the Association 30 years back, remain. Despite the loss, the veterans remain in our grateful memories, and the Chicago WWII veterans Association continues to live. It has been revived by ghetto prisoners, survivors of the Leningrad blockade, and wonderful volunteers, children and grandchildren of the veterans who help the Association.
There were 80 people at the gathering, including sponsors, volunteers, board members, association members, and their families. It is important to thank the excellent organization that helped drive the veterans to the meeting. The first to offer a warm congratulations to the veterans was lawyer Yulia Bikbova. President of the Chicago Association and active participant in the organization’s endeavors since its founding, Valentina Margolina, congratulated everyone on both holidays and expressed her gratitude to the sponsors and volunteers for their help throughout the last 30 years. First, she thanked Michael and Tanya Polsky’s family for their financial support, which, for many years, has allowed the Association to exist, develop, and support its veterans. Valentina noted Evgeny Altshuler and Alyona Toropov– volunteers who made the Hall of Remembrance– and encouraged everyone to visit the Hall. In her speech, other important sponsors were not forgotten: Lifeway Kefir and Alef Sausage, which annually provide their products as gifts to the veterans; Lyudmila and Boris Vaisman, who help prepare gift sets and support the Association with their tremendous efforts; and the Reklama newspaper for providing the opportunity to cover, in print, activities and events that take place in the Chicago Veterans Association. She applauded young volunteers– schoolchildren Liza Kalika, Natan Bershadsky, and Rafail Shabotinsky, who have actively participated in the Association’s work.
And then, the music began. Tatyana Melamed’s wonderful ensemble helped create a festive atmosphere, reminding everyone of the past. Speeches continued throughout the night. Among the speakers were veteran Yakov Pukhovich, ghetto prisoner Elena Pismenny, homefront worker Yakov Kagan, and Leningrad blockade survivors Nina Soboleva, Pavel Zavlin, and Lev Neimark. 77 years have passed since these brave veterans saw the Great Victory before their teary eyes. The Association of Chicago WWII Veterans lives on for 30 years, preserving the memories of the horrific war and the heroism of the veterans. May this association live on.
