| This is the parade in Moscow's Red Square, devoted to the 55th anniversary of the Great Victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War (what the Eastern Front of World War II is called in the former Soviet Union), 9 May 2000. This parade would mark the final time veterans of the war would march past Red Square. Leading the veterans march is General of the Army; Vladimir Govorov. After the opening flag ceremony, Minister of Defense, Marshal of the Russian Federation; Igor Sergeyev (to date, he is the first and only man to hold this rank), along with Moscow Military District Commander, Colonel General, Ivan Puzanov, begin their inspection tour of the troops that are to participate in the parade. Afterwards, President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin delivers the commemoration address from the main stage in front of Lenin's Mausoleum. Afterwards, soldiers sing the Russian national anthem in Red Square, followed by their march past Red Square, and a drill show at the end of the parade. Music by the Moscow Military District Orchestra, directed by Lieutenant General; Viktor Afanasyev. |