Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Remembering Russian President Boris Yeltsin

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev unveils the monument to Boris Yeltsin in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. February 01, 2011

Dmitry Medvedev Unveils Monument To Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin -- The Guardian

Marble obelisk is latest move in campaign to revive image of country's first post-Soviet leader

The Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, has unveiled a huge monument to former president Boris Yeltsin, the latest stage in a campaign to revive the image of the country's first post-Soviet leader.

"Yeltsin's strength helped us live through a difficult period when the foundation of Russia's statehood was being created," Medvedev said at the ceremony in Yekaterinburg, the Urals city in which Yeltsin was born and launched his political career.

Read more ....

More News On Boris Yeltsin

Monument unveiled for Russia's Boris Yeltsin -- AP
Russia's Medvedev unveils Boris Yeltsin statue -- BBC
Russia's Medvedev to unveil Boris Yeltsin statue -- BBC (Video)
Medvedev unveils statue of ‘decisive’ Yeltsin -- RIA Novosti
Russia Begins To Remember A Different Yeltsin -- Radio Free Europe
Russia Remembers Yeltsin On Late Leader's 80th Birthday -- Radio Free Europe
Yeltsin was disappointed in Putin: ex-chief of staff -- AFP

My Comment: I was there at the time, and it was truly a remarkable (and scary) time. But I will never forget what my father .... a World War 2 hero and one who lived a life seeing the revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union .... I will never forget the look on his face when the Hammer and Sickle flag went down in the Kremlin, and the Russian flag went up. He never thought he would see it in his lifetime .... but he did and I was there with him when it was done .... and we all knew it was because of Yeltsin that it was done.

The monument is a fitting tribute for a man but who was instrumental in making Russia the country that it is today.

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