Over 10,000 St. George's Ribbons Handed Out in New York Ahead of VE Day

NEW YORK (Sputnik) — The initiative was run by the Russian Youth of America organization for the fifth year in a row with the aim to "remind Americans about our common history and about our common fight against Nazism," a representative of the movement Igor Kochan said. He noted a general interest and friendliness among those who came up to take a ribbon.

Participants of the New York event displayed pictures of their relatives who fought in World War II as part of the international ‘Immortal Regiment’ march commemorating Victory Day.

So far, 15,000 ribbons have been handed out in the United States, with a total of 25,000 to be given out by May 9, when Victory Day is celebrated in Russia, according to Kochan. At least nine US cities will hold "Immortal Regiment" marches ahead of the Victory Day celebrations.

On Monday, Kochan said that several hundred people, including veterans, siege of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) survivors, children of war and historic reenactment groups, are expected to take part in the "Immortal Regiment" march in New York. People will also march in Washington, where they will are due to walk from the White House to a World War II memorial. Events will also take place in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle.

The Saint George's Ribbon campaign kicked off on April 22 at the Rossiya Segodnya International News Agency. The campaign is taking place in 70 countries around the world.

The campaign started on April 25 in the United States, marking the 71st anniversary of Elbe Day, when US and Soviet troops met at the Elbe River in Germany.