Festive events in honor of Endel Karlovich Pusep, the legendary pilot and polar explorer, World War II hero were held in Tallinn, Estonia on December 8, 2007. It was planned that the celebrations would be held on the 65th Anniversary of the first negotiations about D-Day.
The events were the second part of the charitable program commemorating E.K. Pusep, carried out within the project of the Center of National Glory “Serving the country: events and names”.
The goal of the charitable program is to consider publicly what E.K. Pusep personally contributed in the cause of fighting Nazism, in developing the air force and the skills of pilots.
Vladimir Ivanovich Yakunin, Chairman of the Center of National Glory Board of Trustees, President of the Russian Rail Ways joint-stock company greeted the World War II veterans and the participants of the event. “The events happening in Tallinn to commemorate Endel Karlovich Pusep don’t have a political purpose. The Center of National Glory is a public organization, its members are representatives of different nationalities, and the purpose of the events is strictly civil and public. ” – he pointed out.
“There are milestones which should bring countries together in any circumstances today. As a result today’s event will encourage relations between our countries to change for the better” - V.I. Yakunin said.
In the end V.I. Yakunin greeted the veterans “who did all they could so that we could live” and thanked them for their deed.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibit veterans from countries, members of the Anti-Hitler Coalition told the guests about their battling past and how carefully their countries treat those who died in the Second World War.
The presentation of the book written by Endel Pusep was held in the same exhibit gallery. The book is called “The Troubled sky”, it was republished in Russian and Estonian and presented by Evgeny Akselevich Tomberg, Chairman of the Council of the Russian House public organization in Estonia. The book came out in a new publishing house and was enriched with illustrations. The new edition also has a complete version of the book in Estonian.
After the briefing of the Russian and Estonian Press, V.I. Yakunin, Chairman of the Center of National Glory Board of Trustees, President of the Russian Rail Ways joint-stock company and the participants of the festive events were invited to a reception held by Edgar Savisaar, the Mayor of Tallinn in the City Hall.
Edgar Savisaar, the Mayor of Tallinn welcomed the guests and said that Tallinn has always been open both to the West and to the East, it is an ancient tradition. “Despite some tension in Russian-Estonian relations Tallinn continues to cooperate with Russian cities, first of all Moscow and Saint Petersburg”, - he pointed out. Edgar Savisaar said that “the Center’s activity is a noble mission to restore forgotten names and it deserves all the attention”.
In his speech V.I. Yakunin, Chairman of the Center of National Glory Board of Trustees, President of the Russian Rail Ways joint-stock company thanked Edgar Savisaar and his partners and expressed his gratitude to the veterans “who in their age traveled a long a way to see the celebrations in Tallinn.”
After Vladimir I. Yakunin’s speech Edgar Savisaar the Mayor of Tallinn gave the floor to Ury Kuuskemaa Arts Researcher, who showed the guests the historic building of the City Hall.
The same day all those who died fighting Nazism during the Second World War were honored at the Tallinn Military Cemetery.
Kornily, Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia, Head of the Tallinn Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchy conducted a service for the dead soldiers.
The participants of the festive events then visited the Metsakalmistu Cemetery, where wraths were solemnly placed on the grave of Endel Karlovich Pusep.
In the afternoon celebrations marking the 65th Anniversary of the first negotiations about D-Day and in honor of E.K. Pusep, the legendary pilot and polar explorer, World War II hero and took place in the Conference-Hall of the Estonian National Library. Veterans of the Second World War, experts on the history of the second front, public figures took part in the celebrations, including:
Hans de Liiu from Canada – during the Second World War he served in the Royal brigade Army of the Netherlands «Prinses Irene», took part in liberating Belgium and the Netherlands, became the first founder of the veterans of War Association of Denmark;
Hans Bertels from the Netherlands - during the Second World War he served in the Airborne Troops of Great Britain, was part of the Resistance movement;
Sergio Noya Noseda from Italy – was a partisan, prisoner of the Nazi concentration camps, veteran of the anti-Nazi movement, expert in the history of the Second World War;
Zoe Klusakova from the Czech Republic – daughter of general Ludvig Svoboda (ex-President of the Czech republic, Commander-in-Chief of the First Czech Army Corps), Vice-President of the Ludvig Svoboda Society, Member of the historic committee of the Czech Veterans Organization;
Andre Boman from France – Administrator of the Normany-Nieman Memorial, responsible for Russian-French projects.
A concert devoted to those who died fighting against Nazism in World War II was held within the celebration events. Artists and singers from Russia, Great Britain, the USA, Estonia and France took part in the concert including Alexander Raskatov, Alexander Prier, Timothy Dun, Rene Soom, Andre Bon and others.
Representatives of Russian, British, European, Canadian and American Veteran Organizations pointed out that this event will help strengthen mutual understanding and friendly relations between countries who made a contribution in the cause of fighting Nazism in the Second World War. It shows how important the Great Victory and D-Day is to all nations of the world as an example of international unity. Endel Karlovich Pusep, the legendary Estonian pilot had his share in making D-Day happen.
Translated by Evgenya Babich |
