Volgograd, with its historic importance, is truly a peace messenger city. In this regard we would like to share some thought of our honorary President, Mr. Alfred L. Marder, of US Peace Council and formerly the President of the IAPMC:
"Thank you very much for the opportunity to express my feelings about my visits to Volgograd and the Mamaev Hill. I am an infantry veteran of World War 2. I recall spending many anxious hours trying to hear news of the Battle of Stalingrad. I knew that the outcome of hat struggle would be the death knell of the fascist onslaught and, on a personal note, would mean the possibility hat I would be able to return home safely.
My first visit to the Mamaev Hill was in 1988 as part of a US peace delegation. We had met with Gorbachev at the Kremlin and then sailed down the Volga to visit the Memorial. As I mounted the Hill, I was flooded with memories, memories of my activities as a young man in the anti-fascist movement in my country ,the struggles to mobilize against the outbreak of war. I was torn inwardly at the outstretched arms of Mother Russia, recalling the day I boarded the train to go the army, seeing, through the window, my Mother and Father crying as the train pulled out. As I entered the Memorial, I thought of all those who had died, all those brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers, who had perished in the war against fascism. I thought of here we were, after so much sacrifice, so much blood, we were struggling for peace against the possibility of such madness as if only a few years ago such a tragedy had not taken place.
I have been to Volgograd several times since. As an officer of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities I had the honor to participate in the traditional ceremonies in memory of the Great Patriotic War. I spoke on the occasion. I visited Mamaev Hill several times since my first visit. Each time I have been moved by this great memorial to those who died freeing humanity from the madness of fascism. With each visit, I was taken with the observation that the City of Volgograd has integrated the sacrifice of war with the resolution for peace .
Volgograd is truly a Peace Messenger City."
Alfred L. Marder
New Haven, Connecticut, USA