Miory Regional Executive Committee
The celebration of large families' mothers took place at the Regional Executive Committee on the eve of Mother's Day. Thirteen of them were awarded the Order of Mother, and 25 received the regional prize named after Hero of the Soviet Union Z. Tusnolobova-Marchenko.
What unites the women honored with awards is responsible and happy motherhood. Their evaluations contain exclusively positive reviews from their workplaces, with a consistent thread of information indicating that these mothers devote great attention to the upbringing and development of their children, maintain an active approach to life, and serve as an example to others.
– In every corner of the country, on the eve of the national holiday – Mother's Day – mothers who have given birth to and raised children are being honored, – said Igor Brylo, Assistant to the President – Inspector for the Vitebsk Region, addressing the honorees. – May your children grow up healthy, delight you with their achievements, become true citizens of their country, people about whom you will never be ashamed! You perform a significant feat of motherhood – and the country is grateful to you for this.
Igor Brylo presented the Order of Mother to residents of the region who had given birth to and raised five children.
The festive hall was brightened by the smiles of the wonderful women. For this solemn occasion, they were dressed especially elegantly. Each woman was accompanied by a child, and when asked whether they liked the celebration and were happy for their mother, all the children replied:
– Very happy! My mom is the best.
– Receiving such a high state award is both deeply moving and highly honorable. I am sure that all women whose maternal efforts are being recognized today share these feelings, – shared Yulia Khodos, a nurse at City Polyclinic No. 5 in Orsha. – Our family sent my eldest son, Ivan, to accompany me to this event. The rest of the children and my husband are eagerly waiting for us at home. Of course, today brings us great joy!
– We are sincerely proud of you, – said Vyacheslav Durnov, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, to deserving mothers of large families. – You are raising wonderful children who demonstrate success in studies, creative pursuits, and sports. This is your great contribution. The state consistently supports the institutions of family, motherhood, and childhood. The support system includes 11 different types of family benefits, payments, allowances, and guarantees.
As of early October 2023, family capital had been awarded to more than 900 large families. Nearly 950 decisions on the early disposal of capital funds had been made, of which 70% were for construction and purchase of housing.
In 2023, financial assistance for preparing children for the school year was provided to 23,000 families raising nearly 44,000 children, totaling 4.6 million rubles.
To enhance the prestige of motherhood and strengthen the institution of family, 20 years ago the Regional Executive Committee approved the Z. Tusnolobova-Marchenko Prize named after the Hero of the Soviet Union. Over this period, it has been awarded to 572 mothers of large families – residents of the Vitebsk region.
This year, Vyacheslav Durnov conducted the award ceremony.
– I work professionally as a mother, – smiles the prize laureate, Tatiana Pasetsnik, a parent-educator at a family-type orphanage in Postavy. – Together with my husband Yuri, we have given love and care to 19 children who needed it. Currently, we are raising 11 children. We became foster parents in 2011. And a year earlier, for giving birth to five sons (we adopted the sixth), I became a recipient of the Order of Mother. Being a mother is difficult but joyful, and I feel right where I belong; I do not wish any other fate for myself.
When speaking about the awarding of the regional prize to mothers of large families, one cannot fail to recall the heroic woman after whom the award is named. The tragic story of the 23-year-old nurse who lost her arms and legs at the front is known to every Belarusian. So is the love story of Zina Tusnolobova and Iosif Marchenko: a handsome officer married his bride who had lost her limbs and remained her support until the end of his life. Four children were born to them in marriage. In fact, only two of them were destined to reach adulthood. Zinaida devoted herself not only to household matters but was also an active public figure.
In our family, the account of my dear grandmother, Zinaida Valyuk, a recipient of the Order “Maternal Glory” Third Class, regarding her personal meeting with a legendary woman, is passed down from generation to generation. At that time, in the 1960s, mothers of large families were celebrated on the occasion of International Women's Day. A major assembly took place in Polotsk. When it was announced that the guest of honor at the event was Zinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko, and her husband Iosif carried her into the presidium on his arms, the entire hall rose to its feet. Many people wept. The applause did not subside – such was how people expressed their deep reverence for the heroic deed of a woman soldier and a mother.
It is an honor to become a laureate of the prize named after her: as if the heroine herself expresses her approval and thanks women for the high mission of motherhood, the continuation of life, and ensuring the future of the native land.