Nine US Cities to Host 'Immortal Regiment' Marches Ahead of Victory Day

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On May 9, former Soviet republics, including Russia, celebrate the anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany. The day also commemorates the end of war in Europe.

The Immortal Regiment is a patriotic initiative that marks the victory. During the marches, people carry photographs of their ancestors, who participated in World War II. The first US march was held in the city of New York on May 3, 2015.

On May 7-8, the marches will be held in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington.

Igor Kochan, who coordinates the event in the United States, told RIA Novosti that several hundreds, including veterans, people, who survived during the siege of Leningrad (the modern-day St. Petersburg), children of war and historic reenactment groups, were expected to take part in the "Immortal Regiment" march in New York.

In Washington, the activists plan to march from the White House to the World War II Memorial.

In Russia, some 500,000 people gathered last year to march through Moscow's Red Square, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the total number of participants of the action was estimated at 12 million across the country.