Veterans of the World War II, better known in FSU as Great Patriotic War become elder and elder every year and less and less of them remain in the community. Only 65 veterans live today in Kishinev. Brave and modest, in our days they often just hardly survive in conditions of crisis and poor economic situation in Moldova. However there are some nice days in the life. February 23 is one of them. This is the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy celebrated in the USSR and later in post-Soviet countries since 1918. Welfare Center Hesed and JCC KEDEM initiated a joint action – teenagers from the JCC Haverim Youth Club visited every veteran with a small symbolic gift, songs that supported young soldiers in 1940s and greeting cards with warm words.

“I wish you never know what it means when tanks go against you”, said Vladlen Kagan, retired sergeant, invalid of the War. “Thank you for your visit. For us, veterans, communication is no less important than material assistanec from Hesed.” “All my life I struggled for fairness. Sometimes I could not find it. Now I see goodness and charity receiving so much help from Hesed”, told hardly Vladimir Pelin, 88 years old veteran, who lives alone and recently suffered from a stroke. Sarrah Afanasieva, also is 88, but she looks at least 20 years younger, because her soul is young. Almost all her relatives were killed by Nazis. On the war she was a nurse and saved a lot of wounded soldiers taking them out from the battle. With great pleasure she sang together with the young guests and even danced with them. “Such meetings give a lot of enthusiasm and emotions both to youngsters and elderly. We have to continue this project and tradition”, said Alexander Filipov, Director of Hesed Yehuda welfare center.