Remembering the May 9 parade … Among those who marched in the festive procession to the sounds of marches and military-patriotic songs, there were also representatives of the Rostov region. They were the cadets of the Danilo Efremov Aksai Cossack Cadet Corps. It is gratifying that 14-year-old Artyom Bludov from the village of Celina marched dashingly in their slender ranks.
A young cadet shared his impressions of the Victory Parade.
Cadet Bludov does not hide his pride, although he is a little embarrassed by the attention of journalists, because the right to participate in a grand parade not on Red Square is a great honor, the lot of the elite. Of the many Cossack cadet corps, the choice fell on their corps, because the Ministry of Defense of the country highly appreciated the educational process of the Aksai educational institution and is now "taking" it under its wing, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense. Of course, each of Danilo-Efremov's 260 cadets of the Cossack Cadet Corps wanted to march in the country's main parade, but the selection was strict. For a trip to the capital, a commission of the Ministry of Defense selected 120 boys, the youngest of whom was barely 11 years old, the oldest - 17.
“We started training back in March at home, in the Rostov region,” says Artyom, “we practiced a clear, synchronous turn of the head, learned how to properly pull the leg during the march, and strike a step. It is not as easy as it seems from the outside. The company of the guard of honor of the Rostov region shared their skills and personal example with us. We studied for many hours under their guidance."
In April, the Aksai cadets flew to Moscow. An hour and a half by plane - and now they are in a huge metropolis.
- Did you manage to see the capital in between trainings? - I ask Artyom.
- Yes, - the cadet admits with admiration, - we were at football, and in theaters, and in the Donskoy Monastery, and in the tank museum, and in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior … In general, it's easier to say where we have not been!
And this despite the fact that the boys were preparing for the parade every day for 5-6 hours, every other day they went to the Alabino training ground. In this case, it was necessary to wake up at half past four in the morning, because it was a long way to go, but without it there was no way - all the participants of the parade were jointly training at the training ground. Only the dress rehearsal took place on Red Square.
Boys marched at any time of the day, in any weather. “Once it started to rain heavily,” recalls Artyom, “our uniform was soaked to the thread, water was squelching in our boots, but we walked, it was a shame to show that it was cold and wet, that it was hard … training, especially noted our cadet corps, said: "You march better than all the pre-university military institutions!" We were so happy when we heard such praise from the Minister of Defense himself!"
The guys for their work and diligence were awarded with special commemorative medals of the ministry.
But what about the textbooks? In order to keep up with the curriculum, our cadets studied within the walls of the Moscow Higher Military Command School. No absenteeism - everything is as it should be according to the charter! And on the day of May 9, the Don guys took part in the main parade of the country. Students of the Aksai Cossack Cadet Corps for the first time, together with their mentors, marched along the cobblestones of Red Square, past the Kremlin, before the eyes of enthusiastic Muscovites and guests of the capital. Their ceremonial crew ("box") was headed by the corps director, Colonel Vasily Aleksandrovich Dontsov, who previously commanded the 22nd special forces brigade.
The whole country watched the parade live on TV - everyone who was not indifferent to the feat of Soviet soldiers who won the Great Victory over the Nazi invaders. Of course, those fighters who marched across this square with victorious banners back in 1945 did not march in the parade now: health is not the same, but the strength of the spirit remains the same! The gray-haired veterans are not just honorary, but the most important guests of the Victory Parade, a parade in their honor and glory!
“We walked along the very square along which our soldiers went to the front in 1941, and in 1945, on May 9, soldiers-liberators, heroes of the Great Patriotic War, marched. I would like to believe that we will be a worthy replacement for them, - the cadet shares his impressions. - Both my great-grandfathers went through the war "from and to": Mikhail Vasilyevich Bludov - an artilleryman, Ivan Aleksandrovich Valuisky - a tankman … Marching, each of us felt joy, and fear, and awe. Everyone tried to show their best side. I wanted to be worthy of my great-grandfathers … And also - to please my grandmother Valya and grandfather Tolya - they did so much for me, I love them very much and I am very grateful to them for everything."
On May 10, at the military airfield in Rostov-on-Don, the honorary delegation met the excellent marching students of the Aksai Cossack Cadet Corps named after General Danilo Efremov. The command of the Southern Military District gave the children a grand reception. And the director of the corps, Colonel V. A. Dontsov declared gratitude to his cadets and promised a "three-story" cake for the whole "box".
This, of course, is great, but happiness is not in the cake! And the fact that the guys had a unique chance to show their skills and combat bearing, to become elite participants in the main parade of Russia!
