20.12.2011
The jubilee of one of the country's best naval educational institutions was celebrated in the new building of the Central Naval Museum (St. Petersburg). Sevastopol Naval Engineering College turned 60. That remarkable event congregated the college graduates from all post-Soviet countries. Yesterday's cadets and those who finished studying long time ago were glad to meet in St. Petersburg.
Preparation to the festivity started long ago the anniversary. According to Alexander Filippov, chairman of the graduates' union, no wonder that St. Petersburg was selected as the main stage for the jubilee activities, because Russian submarine fleet originated in that city. Before getting together in new building of the Central Naval Museum for festive meeting, guests took part in memorial service for lost comrades in St. Nicholas Marine Cathedral and laid wreaths at monument to their predecessors fought in the Great Patriotic War. In the night, the guests came to the solemn jubilee party to meet with course mates, friends and comrades-in-arms. The museum's atrium turned into a scene from an old-fashioned movie about officers' ball – cadets choired, and officers danced with their ladies. The atmosphere was incredible.
The festivity was initiated by the interregional public organization of naval veterans named "Union of Graduates of the Sevastopol Naval Engineering College –
Gollandia" and personally by its chairman Alexander M. Filippov. The union was established in 2009 by graduates of the college and has a mission of mutual help, supporting of the Russian Navy's traditions, education of future Motherland's defenders, and preserving of memory about the Sevastopol Naval Engineering College, its teachers, officers, and graduates. Established in 1951, the college was the basic institution training officers for Soviet nuclear submarine fleet. Many naval engineers served in the Soviet submarines were graduates of the Sevastopol college.
