For students of the medical college, as well as for many others, the date October 23rd, 2002, means more than human sorrow, because it was on this day 7 years ago, at 9:15 pm, that terrorists stormed the Theatrical Center on Melnikov Street, during the second act of the play 'Nord-Ost'. 56 hours later — sleeping gas, and the result — 130 victims, 10 of them children.

During the Minute of MEMORY that was held in the Alley of Roses, songs and poems dedicated to the dead and injured were heard. All were written and performed by our students.

Natalya Selivanova and Olga Korneichuk, in their poem «We Remember», were able to show how pervasive is terrorism, and how much sorrow it causes.

“We Remember”

Grieve, Russia! THOU ART ALL

Of bitter, maternal tears,

And the tears of children, who suffered,

And their unfulfilled hopes and dreams.

But how many families have suffered anguish,

Losing friends and loved ones?

And one in five disabled,

Shackled for life in thousands of chains…

The terror attack covered ancient home cities

In a bloody wave,

And with the rhythm of the frantic pace

Days and years go by.

That wind, which is called the Nor'easter (Nord-Ost)

Sowed a severe, unique sin

With slain children and slain adults

Now to exist far from all

Is our Russia! Thou art all covered with tears,

And full of unfulfilled hopes and dreams.

And in memory of those days, about that grief

The Alley of Roses blooms by us…

These lines say that, together with the relatives of the victims, we mourn. They say that this grief leaves no one unsympathetic, and how important it is to remember those for whom October 23rd, 2002, became the worst day of their life, while October 26th became for some — their last day. With them went hopes, dreams, and desires.

We are very sorry that one cannot turn back time. We sincerely regret everything that happened on that sad day. Fate is not always just. Sometimes it plays too harsh with people, and makes them suffer. We would like to bow our heads before the relatives of the victims of this tragedy, because in order to survive this pain, one needs great strength. The dead cannot be brought back, but they will forever remain in our memory, and in our hearts.

Fond memory of you all! The roses are blooming and remind us of your good souls. Fond memory of all who died at 'Nord-Ost'.

Written by Anastasia Shatokhina