The Day of Rocket Forces and Artillery is a professional holiday. It is celebrated primarily by those associated with these branches of the armed forces, veterans, and members of their families. It is celebrated on November 19.
Why on this particular day?
Until 1964, Artillery Day was celebrated in the Soviet Union. It was installed in 1944 according to the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The date was not set by chance. On November 19, 1944, the Soviet counteroffensive began at Stalingrad. In this major operation, which became a turning point in the course of not only the Great Patriotic War, but also the Second World War, artillery played an outstanding role. In commemoration of the merits of the Soviet artillerymen, a professional holiday was established.
In 1964, missilemen were added to the artillerymen, since these branches of the military have quite a lot in common.
How to mark?
In missile and artillery units on this day, it is customary to congratulate officers and conscripts. Ceremonial meetings, concerts, meetings are held. If there is a military memorial in the village where the unit is stationed, flowers are laid to it. In some parts, veterans and schoolchildren are invited to the holiday.
How to mark
The Day of the Rocket Forces and Artillery can be celebrated in almost any settlement of Russia. Surely among the inhabitants of your city and village there are veterans who served in these troops. You can find out about this at the city council of veterans or the social welfare committee. It may well be that there were battles on the territory of your city or village during the Great Patriotic War. Artillery probably also took part in them. You can write an article about this in a local newspaper, make a report on radio or television. Even if your city is far from the battlefield, it is possible that some of your fellow countrymen served in these troops during the Great Patriotic War, in Afghanistan or hot spots. Maybe it was in the area where you live now that guns or shells were made. All this can be done in an exhibition in the local history museum or told to schoolchildren during the lessons of courage. The service of your fellow countrymen in the missile forces and artillery can also become the topic of the local history conference. It is also possible to carry out a historical reconstruction of any battle in which artillery took part. Interesting exhibitions are usually organized in large military museums on this day.
Exhibits of such an exhibition may include not only photographs, newspaper clippings, but also toy models of guns, military vehicles with missile weapons, etc.
Not only in Soviet times
Of course, the Day of Rocket Forces and Artillery is a professional holiday for those who served in these troops in a relatively recent time or even serve now. But the history of artillery goes back more than one century. So exhibitions, historical reconstructions, conferences, thematic concert programs can concern not only the Soviet period and the present. You can talk about the history of artillery in your area, about famous military leaders who developed guns and shells for them, about the use of artillery in famous battles since the Middle Ages.
