World War II Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday with Family, Officials, and Students

Maria Efimovna Shinkevich, despite reaching the age of 100, remains lively and welcoming. With a bright smile, she greets a steady stream of visitors — officials from the district akimat, members of the city maslikhat, representatives of the Council of Veterans, military personnel, and schoolchildren, reports an Orda.kz correspondent.

Thank you for our life, for the bright sun, for the clear sky! Your exploits will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything! I wish you many happy years, so that everything is good for you,
 a young representative of the Zhas Sarbaz movement said shyly during a visit.

Deputy Head of the Local Defense Affairs Department, Yerkebulan Mustagulov, presented Maria Efimovna with flowers and a gift, delivering the traditional congratulatory message from the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Flowers for the most beautiful grandmother!
 he said with a smile.

Maria Shinkevich was conscripted into the army on her 19th birthday in April 1944. After completing training at the Moscow Women’s Sniper School under the General Military Training Program, she was sent to the front. She served as a sniper on the 3rd Belorussian and Ukrainian fronts and celebrated Victory Day in Prague.

She returned home in August 1945, having received numerous honors, including the Order of the Patriotic War (2nd degree), two medals “For Courage,” and others recognizing her service.

May 9 is the most memorable day. I still remember it with excitement and tears of joy. We were waiting for victory and believed that it would come,
 Maria Shinkevich said.

She attributes her strength to staying active and surrounded by loved ones.

You always have to be on the move, always busy with something, not be idle. You have to do everything with your own hands. And I am surrounded by my children, relatives and their love. The military and the Council of Veterans do not forget me, they always congratulate me.

Her granddaughter, Irina Guber, traveled from Kaliningrad to attend the celebration along with her family.

A long time ago, 80 years ago, my grandmother liberated the city of Königsberg. And fate so happened that many years later we came there. My children, my grandmother's great-grandchildren, were born there. I always say thank you to my grandmother. Thank you for my happy childhood, for the city in which my children are growing up,
 Irina Guber shared.

As for her wish to fellow citizens, Maria Shinkevich hopes they never have to endure what she did and encourages them to safeguard peace with all their strength.

Original Author: Inna Rutz