St George Ribbon campaign bonds the nation in WWII remembrance

Russia has launched its annual St George ribbon campaign to mark the upcoming 65th anniversary of the victory in World War Two. The ribbon is a symbol of remembrance of those who fought and defeated Nazi Germany.

A tiny piece of fabric with immense meaning – the St George ribbon may be small, but as part of the campaign launched in 2005, it has become a large part of the Russian Victory day celebrations.

In the five years of the campaign, millions of the striped ribbons have been circulating throughout Russia and far beyond, reaching Europe, the Middle East, America and even Australia! This year organizers expect a record demand.

Starting from April 22, Russians may see a particular orange and black striped ribbon appearing on cars, posters, bags, purses and many other places. The ribbon consists of a bicolor pattern, with three black and two orange stripes.

“Once you wear it, you say ‘I remember!’ Remember all those who sacrificed their lives for the victory and say ‘thank you’ to all those still alive,” says campaign co-ordinator Aleksandr Khudyakov.

The war claimed the lives of almost 27 million Soviet citizens, mainly civilians, and the 30-centimeter ribbon links a long distance between past and present, unifying generations in remembering a turning point in world history.

A small factory in Central Russia was founded a century ago. During the Second World War, just like many others, this particular enterprise worked for the frontline, producing military uniforms. And just like its workers many years ago, forging victory in these walls, today dozens of others are producing one of its symbols – the St George ribbon. 

“We've made 2,000 kilometers of this ribbon for this year's celebrations! Which is by itself very symbolic, as this is the exact distance between Moscow and Russia's western border from where the Nazis started their invasion and where they were pushed back by the Soviet troops,” says factory worker Oleg Belousov.

The black and orange stripes of the ribbon symbolize the smoke and flames of war. In tsarist Russia, it decorated the Order of St George – the highest possible military award.

“One of the most precious pieces in our historic museum is the St George Star and the Order of St George, the 1st degree. It's a very rare award – over the Order's 200 year history, only 25 of these have ever been given out,” says historian Valery Durov.

Nowadays in Russia, the Order of St George remains the most prestigious military honor.

Since 2000, only nine of them have found their heroes, but the victory colors of the St George ribbon are something anyone can wear, and they do – to show their respect and gratitude to the Second World War heroes.

To learn more about the St George ribbon’s significance, follow the link.

CIS:

Belarus

• Yevroopt stores
  Chisto Company tel.: +37529 397 9797
  

Kazahstan

• Association of Children's and Youth Organizations of the Kostanay region
  Ribbons will be available at the Association’s office: Kostanay, ul.Altynsarina, 106 (Youth Social Service), and at events held in the city from April 24, 2010 to May 9.
  

Kyrgyzstan

• Narodny store chain
  

OTHER COUNTRIES:

• Buenos Aires
  Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Argentina
  1114, Uriburu 1252, 2 piso, dep.C
  Sergey Tolkachev

Australia

• Sydney
  Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Australia
  115 Hogans Drive
  Bargo NSV 2574
  Igor Savitsky

• Canberra
  Natasha Aksyonova
  Tel. 0400337550
  Kira Savina
  Tel. 0404234193

Austria

• Vienna
  Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots in Austria
  1010 Wien, Singerstrasse 4/12
  Irina Ðœoutchkina

Belgium

• Brussels
  Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Belgium
  European Russian Community:
  Rue Docteur Haibe 2 – 5002 St. Servais
  Sergey Petrossov

• Flemish Association of Russian-speakers
  Aghajanian Arena
  Flemish Association of Russian-speakers (FARG)
  Gravin Margaretalaan 46
  9150 Kruibeke

Bulgaria

• Plovdiv
  Fatherland Society
  zh-k Trakia, bl. 267, vkh. B, ap. 6
  Olga Atanasova, Chairman

• Plovdiv
  Slavyanka Women’s Forum

Canada

• Toronto
  Council of Russian Compatriots

Czech Republic

• The Russian Tradition association and Coordinating Council of Compatriots
  Ruska tradice, o.s.
  Vocelova 602/3
  120 00 Praha 2

• Public association: For a Multicultural Europe
  Plzenska 370, 267 01 Kraluv Dvur

• The Chekhiya Segodnya monthly newspaper
  Havlickova 11, 110 00 Praha 1

• The Prazhsky Telegraf weekly newspaper
  Havlickova 11, 110 00 Praha 1

Chili

• Coordinating Council of Compatriots in Chili
  7510019, Santiago General Holley 2326, dept 905

China

• Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots
  200002, Shanghai, Yan’an Dong Lu, 100 hao, 1107 shi (Lianyi Dasha)
  Mikhail Drozdov

Cyprus

• Russian publishing house Vestnik Kipra
  P.O. Box 58236
  Limassol 3732
  Kristina Roosileht

Germany

• Berlin
  Dialogue Compatriots Club

• Berlin
  Intercultural Integration Tatar Union of Germany
  Wilhelm-Guddorf-Str. 24, 10365
  Venera Gerasimov-Vagizova

• Nurnberg
  Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Germany,
  Russian-German Cultural Centre
  Rothenbacher Hauptstr. 74, 90449
  Irina Fiksel

• Frankfurt-am-Main
  Russian cultural-educational and social center Istok
  Baumweg 10 60316
  Larissa Jurtscenko

• Karlsruhe
  Russian House

• Munich
  Russian Cultural Centre
  (Zentrum russischer Kultur in München, MIR e.V.)
  Schellingstrasse 115, 80798
  Tatjana Lukina

• Hamburg
  Office of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Hamburg,
  Rossisko-germanskij Business Center Kronstadt
  Neuer Wall 61, 20354

• Russian web-sites www.russian-online.net, www.russisch-fuer-kinder.de
  Ransen 2
  36251 Bad Hersfeld
  Polina Sorel

Denmark

• Russian Society of Denmark
  (Det Russiske Samfund i Danmark)
  Drejøgade 26E, 2.-201
  2100 Københavh OE
  Olga Kontogeorgis

• Russian children’s school at the Russian Cultural and Scientific Centre
  (Det Russiske Center for Videnskab og Kultur)
  Vester Voldgade 11
  1552 København V

Egypt

• Russian Compatriots Club “Alexandria”

Finland

• Helsinki
  The Finnish Association of Russian-speaking communities (FARO)

• Tampere
  Russian Club
  Tampereen Venäläinen klubi ry
  Suvantokatu 13, 2 krs., 33100

France

• Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in France

• Imperial Guard Commemoration Society
  (Gvardeyskoe Obyedinenie)

• Center for the Russian Language and Culture
  (Centre de Langue et Culture Russe)

Greece

• Coordinating council of Russian compatriots in Greece

Iceland

• Reykjavik
  St. Nicholas parish of the Moscow Patriarchate
  Oldugata 44, 101
  Tel.:. 699-12-12
  Ribbons distributed daily

• Reykjavik
  Fossvogur cemetery
  Ribbons distributed May 8 from 10:00 to 11:00

Ireland

• Publishing House “Nasha Gazeta”
  Russian House 55 O'Connell Street Lower
  Dublin 1
  Sergey Tarutin

Israel

• Union of Russian Expatriate Associations of Israel

• Russian Information and Cultural Center in the State of Israel
  P.O.B. 661, Natanya 42106, Israel

• Tel Aviv
  Union of the World War II veterans

Italy

• Cultural Association of Expatriates from the USSR

• Piedmont
  Association of Russian Compatriots

Macedonia

• Skopje
  Chayka Society

Morocco

• The “Russian Speaking Women of Morocco” association (Casablanca)

Netherlands

• Rotterdam
  Coordinating Council of Compatriots in Holland
  COVOR
  Postbus 21394
  3001 AJ

Norway

• Norwegian-Russian Cultural Centre (NRCC)

• Russian Language Centre in Oslo

Poland

• Belostok
  Russian Cultural-Educational Society
  15-097, ul. M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 8/37.

Portugal

• Faro
  The “House of Russian Language and Culture” association

Romania

• Russian Lipovans Community in Romania
  USA

Slovakia

• Union of Russians in Slovakia

Slovenia

• International Club of Slavic compatriots “Ruslo”
  (Mednarodni klub slovanskih rojakov)
  Zaliska 54
  1000 Ljubljana
  Yevgeny Meleshchenko

South Africa

• Association of Russian compatriots in South Africa
  Tatiana Zhdanok (European Parliament)

Spain

• Coordinating Council of Compatriots

• Madrid
  Russian House federation in Spain

• Barcelona
  Pushkin Center of Russian Language and Culture

• Alicante
  Association of Immigrants from Eastern Europe in Alicante (AIPEA)
  Hotel de Entidades de Interes Social
  03010, Calle Rafael Asin 12 Bajo

Sweden

• Union of Russian Societies in Sweden (RURIK),
  Coordinating Council of Compatriots in Sweden

• Website for compatriots www.arthologram.nu
  Hägnev. 20
  522 30 Tidaholm
  Petrushenko Irina

• Society for Cultural and Economic Relations between Sweden and Russia
  Helmfeltsgatan 7
  211 48 Malmo
  Larisa Brattmark

Switzerland

• Association of Russian Compatriots in Switzerland (ARCS)

Turkey

• Istanbul
  Russian Society for Education, Cultural and Business Cooperation

United Arab Emirates

• Ribbons are distributed by the following companies and organizations: Russkoe Radio, Aeroflot, Russian Airlines, Aerosvit, Ukrainian Airlines, S7. Siberia, Ural Airlines, Russian schools in Dubai and Sharjah, The St. Petersburg State University of Engineering Economics international branch in Dubai, the Russian restaurants Fantaziya, Arbat, Nefertiti and Troika, Russkaya Kniga bookstore, the Russian food stores Moskovsky, Schastlivchik and Zelyonaya Dolina, the Parish of St. Philip the Apostle of the Russian Orthodox Church, Russian bakeries, travel agencies and car rentals.

United Kingdom

• Ellen Wilkinson School
  Queens Drive, Acton, London, W3 0HW
  Saturday, from 10:00 to 14:00

• Sarah Bonnell School
  Deanery Road, Stratford, London, E15 4LP
  Victoria Garanin
  Saturday, from 10:00 to 14:00

• Pushkin House
  5a Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2TA
  Natalya Purishko
  Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00

• David Game College
  69 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JS
  Victoria Garanin
  Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00

• Russian Dance Academy, Priory Community Centre,
  Acton Lane, Acton W3 8NY
  Zoya Alistratova
  Tuesday, Friday from 17:00 to 20:00

USA

• Washington, DC
  American Association of Russian Language, Culture, and Education (AARCE)
  8400 Rhode Island Avenue
  College Park, MD 20740
  Marina Dullnig

• San Francisco
  Congress of Russian Americans

• San Francisco
  Russian-American War Veterans’ Legion

• Russian Center in Alaska
  15705 E Mothershead Ln, PALMER, AK 99645
  Anna Vernaya

• New York
  Non-profit, charitable, educational organization Russian-American Cultural Center, Heritage (RACCH)

• New York
  Russian-American Cultural Center (RACC)
  34 Hillside Ave, suite 4 C, NY, NY, 10040

• Texas
  United Russian-American Association

• Cossacks of America and Canada
  P.O.Box 4383
  Greenville , DE 19807
  Serge Tsapenko, Cossacks of America Ataman General

• The Russian Washington newspaper
  Yelena Staroselskaya
  P.O. Box 651314
  Sterling, VA 20165

• Alex Lyubashevsky (regular participant)
  165 Osprey Hackettstown, NJ 07840