|
|
|
Fall 2001 ARCHANGEL CONVOY VETERAN WILL ARRIVE SOON! Boris Korotyaev, the Vice President of the Russian Northern Convoy Brotherhood, will lead a small delegation from Archangel to the United States and Maine in early November 2001. Boris is a World War II Arctic Convoy veteran and helped host Maine convoy veteran Hugh Stephens in Archangel earlier in 2001 (see next article). Also coming are interpreter Tatiana Vorobieva and Greater Portland Committee members Tanya Kochegarova and Dr. Nikoli Sosnin. After two days of being hosted by Betty Stephens in New York, the Delegation will arrive in Maine on Friday evening November 9th. Boris and the Delegation will participate in a number of veteran-related activities, including the Liberty Ship Memorial Dedication at Bug Light Park in South Portland on November 10th at 10:00 a.m. (open to the public), the Reception at the Portland Harbor Museum at Southern Maine Technical College immediately after the Dedication, the huge Veteran's Day Parade and Reception at Portland City Hall on November 11th starting at 10:30 a.m., and the Baxter Boulevard Memorial Tree Rededication in Portland at 2:00 p.m. on November 11. Finally, on Tuesday, November 13th, Boris will be hosted by the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, ME. FMI: Dennis Marrotte 854-3763 or Neale Duffett 775-1515 CONVOY CELEBRATION IN ARCHANGEL Hugh Stephens, a World War II Arctic Convey veteran and resident of Manchester, Maine recently represented our Committee, the State of Maine and the United States in Archangel at the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the first Allied merchant ship convoy into Archangel during World War II. Hugh and his wife Elizabeth were accompanied and guided by Committee member Natasha Petrovsky of Portland. Our American delegation joined the much larger delegations from Russia and the United Kingdom and participated fully in all the official functions and programs. The Celebration was called "Dervish 60" and was named after the code name of that first allied convoy. "Dervish 60"events took place between August 31 and September 3, 2001 and included the arrival of the Russian Navy Ship Zadorniy and the British Royal Navy Ship HMS Campbeltown; a Memorial Service at the Eternal Flame on the Northern Dvina Embankment; performances by orchestras and navy bands; exhibitions of war and naval history; and visits to the veterans' cemetery. The Celebration culminated in Archangel's Central Square with a program of inspiring speeches, music and fireworks. Finally, our Delegation was invited by Archangel Oblast Governor Anatoli Yefremov to join him and a small group of officials for a delightful day on Solovetsky Island. We have sent our warmest appreciation to the many of our friends in Archangel who helped and hosted our delegation, including Sergey Kochegarov and the Greater Portland Committee, the office of Mayor Oleg Nilov, the office of the Chairman of the Regional Duma Vitali Fortygin, and the office of Oblast Governor Yefremov. Hugh, Elizabeth and Natasha were overwhelmed with kindness and have expressed that it was the "experience of a lifetime". ARCHANGEL TV CREW TO RETURN Unfortunately, because of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the news crew from Channel 6 in Archangel could not fly to Maine on that date after visiting New York City, Washington, DC and Memphis, TN. The visit of reporter Anastasia Skrebtsova and cameraman Andrey Korelkin was sponsored by the Office of Broadcast Support in the U.S. Department of State. Fortunately, while in New York City in early September, the TV 6 crew met with Manhattan resident and Archangel Committee member Masha Vorobieva. George Santulli of the State Department has told us that he will attempt to bring the TV 6 crew to Maine in 2002. LEGAL DELEGATION TO ARCHANGEL Justice Caroline Glassman (an Archangel Committee member) and Andrey Strukov (an interpreter and computer consultant from Fairfield, ME) visited Archangel briefly in early October 2001. The trip was part of the ongoing Rule of Law Program and focused on the publication of Archangel Oblast Supreme Court decisions in book form and also on a Website that is under development. This project is apparently leading all of Russia in the publishing of decisions and has the enthusiastic support of Oblast Chief Judge Mikhail Averin and Deputy Chief Judge Vladimir Bounkov. SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT FROM ARCHANGEL In the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, our many friends and associates in Archangel sent numerous messages of sympathy and support: "On behalf of all the people of the Archangel Oblast, I want to express deep condolences to the American people. We completely share and feel the pain of our American friends." Governor Anatoli Yefremov "Dear American Friends: We were terrified when we heard about today's tragedy. The New York events are on the TV screen for the whole day. It is a great tragedy for us as well. We condole with you. Can we help you in any way?" Greater Portland Committee, Chairperson Sergey Kochegarov "Please accept the sincere condolences concerning tragic destruction of the inhabitants of America. Terrorism is unpredictable, therefore we need to be united for joint work against this evil." Duma Chairman Vitali Fortygin "We mourn together with you." Pomor University Vice-Rector Vladislav Goldin "We are feeling as have lost the members of our family. Please take our deep commiserations." Archangel State Technical University, Vice-Rector Galina Komarova INTERNET NEWS The Archangel Committee extends our gratitude to Great Works Internet, 9 Pomerleau Street in Biddeford, for hosting our Website. Please check out our improved Website at www.arkhangelsk.org. |
|
Send e-mail to webmaster with
questions or comments about this web site.
|