It's really moving to see the pictures of the old soldiers. Surreal or maybe hyper-real. Because their photos are held up above their heads it is very much like they are ancestor spirits coming down to visit. Normally placards are just words and slogans, each of those photos says so much more. I wonder how many people were marching?
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Hey there! Glad to see you as always. There were officially over 1 million in Moscow and unofficially over 1 million in St. Petersburg. These, of course, are the two largest Russian cities. However, estimates put the total amount of marchers at over 10 million in the country (about 5% of the population). This doesn't include those that line the streets to watch the parades.
It is definitely a touching scene. There are people of all ages, ethnicities, religions, and political beliefs. This is not a political movement, it is a PEACE movement and one that nearly everyone can get behind and support because the faces on those posters are real.
A little girl was asked how she managed to walk the entire length of the parade (5 km) with her poster and flag in hand (she is only 5). She responded that it was easier than what her great-grandmother did (a triage nurse in the war). I'm writing today about what the small children had to say about Victory Day. Most of them "get it" more than adults.
Talk to you soon.