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London - 9th May 2008 - HMS Belfast Russia-Britain VE Day Celebration on the Thames to Commemorate the Britain-Russia Alliance in the Arctic Convoys 1941-1945
LONDON-(Business Wire)-April 29, 2008 - A big day for the veterans of both nations. Russian veterans of the Arctic Convoy from the north Russian town of Archangelsk and British veterans of the Arctic Convoy from the Royal and Merchant Navy will celebrate their VE Day together in London.
In an official awards ceremony, hosted by Russian news agency Interfax, to be privately held on HMS Belfast, the 60-year anniversary Victory medal, known as the "Russian Arctic Medal", will be presented to a number of British veterans in the presence of HRH Prince Michael of Kent, HE the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Yury Fedotov and a number dignitaries. HRH Prince Michael of Kent will deliver the official commemorative message from HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. A special medal will be handed to HMS Belfast to be held in her care, honouring all crew members who are no longer with us. The Royal Signals Band will perform military music during the event, ending with the last post and followed by a minute silence. The Russian and British anthems will be accompanied by a gun salute by HMS Belfast from her 4-inch guns. A long abolished naval tradition of Pusser's Rum "Up Spirits!" will be re-enacted on the armours deck to complete the ceremony.
This celebration is supported by Peter Hambro Mining Plc, VTB Bank Europe Plc and Barclays Capital. Other contributing institutions include the Imperial War Museum, British Embassy in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Embassy of the Russian Federation in London, Rossiya - Russian Airlines, Pusser's Rum, Russky Standart Vodka, The Russia House and others. The organiser, Eugene Kasevin of Interfax Europe Ltd, is certain that this joint effort of Great Britain and Russia to celebrate their historical unity during the dark days of Wold War Two will highlight once again the strong cultural ties between our two great nations.
The VE Day event on 9th May 2008 will start at 15.00. After the ceremony, the party will move on to the touring boat Miyuki, which will take the veterans on a Thames cruise. The Tower Bridge will open in honour of the veterans. At 18:00, a larger celebration party will continue on The London Regalia by London Bridge. Russo-British City community will celebrate the victory of the allies.
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