September 14, 2011: Final celebrations of Taganrog's City Day took place on September 11, 2011. The morning started with an event organized by the Public Relations Office of the Taganrog Local Government to honor the 155th anniversary of Taganrog awarding by a special Imperial letter for the heroism its citizens showed during the siege attempts made by the British and French in the summer of 1855.
The Cossacks of Taganrog Cossacks District, whose ancestors were one of the main forces participating in city's defense during the Crimean War, together with Caucasian and Ukranian Cossacks who visited the celebrations, carrying gonfalons and colors marched down Petrovskaya Street up to the Pushkin Embankment to the drumbeat and flute sounds. The column was led by the cavalry.
The meeting was held around the Taganrog 300th Anniversary Monument on the Embankment. By old Cossacks' tradition the meeting started with a public prayer in honor of all the citizens who gave up their lives for their Motherland. A public prayer was held by the priest of the Church of Holy Life-Giving Trinity Father Konstantin. After the public prayer while opening the meeting the assistant ataman of Taganrog Cossacks District Sergey Tchalenko told about glorious heroic past of our city, its military traditions, and the defense of Taganrog during Crimean War for which it was given the Imperial letter.
Vice-Mayor Alexey Navrat made a speech in which he pointed out that the past is not only valuable on its own account, but also as some concentrated experience that we need today and further on. Only by using and enriching this day by day, the citizens will be able to make the present and the future of Taganrog no less outstanding.
The ataman of Taganrog Cossacks District, the colonel of Cossack army Alexander Shepelenko, the ataman of
Khartsyzsk Cossack Regiment Boris Berkovich, the ataman of Zaporozhye Cossack army Alexander Panchenko, the veteran of Great Patriotic War Alexey Shapovalov also spoke at the meeting. All of them told about the necessity of keeping Cossack traditions, international friendship between the Cossacks, and loyalty to the Cossack's duty.
In the end of the meeting the participants stood for a minute's silence in honor of all untimely deceased Cossacks of Taganrog Cossack District.
