On third day of "Memory Watch" Beslan residents lay flowers at monument "Tree of Sorrow"

In North Ossetia, today on the final of the memory days of the victims of the terror act of September 1-3, 2004, in Secondary School No. 1 in Beslan, residents of the city and republic's leaders took part in the mourning ceremony at the Memorial Cemetery and laid flowers at the monument named "Tree of Sorrow".

Let us remind you that the three-day-long "Memory Watch" began in Beslan on September 1. The commemoration of the eighth anniversary of the Beslan tragedy took place in the former gym of School No. 1, which is now a memorial complex. On September 2, 2011, in Beslan, on the corner of Mira and Sigov Streets, an architectural sculpture composition "Kind Angel of Peace" was opened.

Today, from the morning in Beslan people are coming to the school yard people started coming to pay tribute and respect for the dead; and at 11:30 a.m. in the gym the funeral service for the dead was administered by Father Zosima, Archbishop of Vladikavkaz and Makhachkala.

At 1:05 p.m., when eight years ago two explosions were triggered; and the storm of the gym was launched, two bells were heard, and a minute of silence was held. After that, the pupils who came to the ceremony let into the sky 334 white balloons, equal to the number of the casualties of the terror act.

Then, during the funeral ceremony at the Memorial Beslan Cemetery, which began at 2:30 p.m., the names of all the 334 casualties of the terror act in Beslan in September 2004 were read aloud.

Accompanied by a metronome, in silence, the names of the hostages, special agents and employees of the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE), who perished during the attack, were solemnly announced. Then, 334 white balloons were let into the sky.

Flowers and wreaths at the monument "Tree of Sorrow" and the monument to fallen FSB special agents and MfE rescuers were laid by the head of North Ossetia Taimuraz Mamsurov; Larissa Khabitsova, Chair of the Parliament of North Ossetia-Alania; Prime Minister of North Ossetia-Alania Sergey Takoev; the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov; ex-President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity; representatives of the executive power, political parties, public organizations and the clergy.

It is planned that today late in the evening, in the yard of School No. 1 in Beslan, a slide show depicting the tragic events of September 1-3, 2004, will be held; candles will be lit in the school yard and at the cemetery.

Let us remind you that today commemorations of Beslan victims were held today in Moscow and St Petersburg.